I have lower lumbar DDD and to some extent some sciatica as well. Stretching and exercise seems to help me the most. I also use an inversion table (briefly a couple times a day; contraindicated in those with high blood pressure). I used to use nortriptyline (low dose) for nerve pain but now I'm off that. I do take supplements such as resveratrol, Rutin (Swanson brand, 250 mg with lunch), soy isofavlinoids, and some quercetin (now or Jarrow brand) with breakfast as well as turmeric with lunch and these supplements might help lower the pain, somewhat. Bioflavinoids in general might help lower pain - but I think the citrus bioflavinoids cause more pain (not sure why). I'm pretty sure some of the other supplements may actually lower pain and help fight inflamation and promote healing.

Sciatica was more of an "add on" issue for me and mostly involved burning sensations in the legs and accompanied muscular tension in the lower legs - not weakness or extreme debilitating pain (so far). My biggest symptom was sitting pain as well as stiffness (a hallmark of myofascial pain). My DDD probably fuels it for me but proper stretching and exercise (Pilates reformer, TRX suspension for core and do intense psoas / hip flexor stretches, too, and very deep breathing to release tension (while I exercise)) really helped me (and I have less sciatica / burning, too).

I also had piriformis syndrome (buttocks spasms & can cause sciatica) and all kinds of tension in upper legs, too (tight IT bands, tight areas/ trigger points in quads, glutes and upper hamstrings). I learned all this working with various therapists. Again, stretches and exercises for piriformis, glutes, helped me. Trigger points (i.e. "charlie horses" in the muscle) in that area can refer pain and tension to the buttocks and surrounding areas and possibly cause sciatica. TRX suspension core routines work glutes well, try the figure 4 stretch against a wall for pirifirmis (or get a piristretcher from miracle stretch). Rollga foam rollers are good, too, for rolling legs and glutes and possibly into the sciatic notch, etc., - they effectively are like having various sized massage balls available. Electrical stimulation of tight areas might help. Some chiropractors have e-stim or you can buy a TENS/EMS unit for yourself. I had very tight glutes and this probably contributed to my sciatica and other pains. Try rolling tennis balls or 4 or 5 inch massage balls on the glutes or along the upper hamstrings to get rid of trigger points (you may need to rest on trigger points for several minutes to get rid of them). Yes, Myofascial pain and tension is probably caused by some type of nerve compression – but it can be made better or made to go away with the right stretches and exercises (possibly) - and the tight muscles can possibly cause sciatica and other pains. Mine got a lot better. I still have a little sitting pain is all.

Try everything, and listen to your body. BTW, a TRX system, a Rollga roller (these are curved) a TENS /EMS system and a pelvic therapy wand will probably cost you less than 1-2 Myofascial release treatments will cost. My thinking is getting rid of this was a do it yourself project for me – but I actually enjoy stretching and exercising. Also, I found working the stairclimber at gym as well as weights, pilates, TRX really helped. Stretching and exercise could help many people.

Sciatica is a symptom - not a diagnosis. It can come from pinched nerves in the spinal discs or other nerve compression - including in the hip areas - from other structures / tight muscles. So there isn't necessarily just one cause or just one symptom that goes with it. Some of this may be beyond those interested in just sciatica - but if you also have pains / spasms in the lower back and hips here are some other books to read. Chronic pain gets harder to get rid of the longer it goes on. Books to read: "Headache in the Pelvis" by Anderson and Wise, Life after pain (Dr. Jonathan Kuttner; a quick and easy read) and Pain Free (by Peter Egoscue) – but I prefer more intense exercises than his simple e-cises ("A muscle that does not move becomes a muscle that can not move" -Egoscue). Also, "Heal Pelvic Pain" (Stein) is good. When you get nerve compression and possibly whole regions of tension – like I had. You may have tension you're not really aware of – you just feel the pain/ spasms/ other nerve pain (burning/tingling) and even other parasthesias (altered sensations also including sweating and ciruculatory effects). The steps above helped me greatly get back to almost normal. Good luck.

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