So in October, I went to the E.R freaking out because I had this pain coming from my back, to my hip, and down my left leg all the way to my ankle. I literally thought my leg was trying to fall off. The told me I have an issue with my sciatic nerve. They gave me medicine to help with pain and to go see a physical therapist for stretching. So far, no medication has helped..and no physical therapy has helped. I keep continuing with the therapy because I'm hopeful something will work..but, it just seems like in the last 2 months...nothing has worked. I've read everything I can possibly think of on the internet. Read all kinds of medical books.. I just wish and pray not to be like this forever. There has to be a way to control it.

Does anyone else here have this problem? Maybe you can tell me your secrets on what you do to help the pain???

P.s. Thank you to whoever sent me the Long Brown Jingle Bell Hat after reading this! That was very kind of you! :)

Been there, suffered that. I know how you feel and wish you a speedy recovery! Oh, and apologies in advance for the long ramble! There are many causes for sciatic pain so I can't promise what helped me will work for you, but it might help to hear from others who have survived similar symptoms :)

For me, the pain originated in my spine and was caused by a disc that was pressing two vertebraes against each other. The whole area was inflamed, and this inflamation was affecting the nerve, which sent these lightning bolts of pain down my legs all the way to my toes.

Ibuprofen helped a bit, physiotherapy didn't (I was in too much pain to do any stretching or other excercises), so I went to see a chiropractor who had helped my husband with his shoulder pain before. It only took one session where she simply pressed the disc back in its correct place. I felt a bit better immediately, but the inflammation took a long time (can't remember how long exactly, but several weeks for sure) to heal completely. When I was feeling up to it, I picked up the physio's instructions again, and about a year later I started doing yoga, which has helped a lot with my back pains in general.

Now, whenever I feel the first pang of sciatic pain, I pick up my trusty foam roller and work on my upper back (my problems tend to pop up in the area around my scapulas). This usually helps: the problem won't escalate and it'll go away in a day or two.

^^they have the right ideas. Ibuprofen, and exercises. I didn't have a foam roller but my PT gave me some tennis balls to use to work out places that hurt. Eventually I couldn't afford PT anymore but I manage at home with Ibuprofen and a heating pad.

I also have an OMRON electrotherapy machine and it's AMAZING. They have long life pads and it's an investment up front but it's worth it. Keeps any flare-ups under control.

Good luck

I'm just gonna be monitoring this thread.

I have sciatica too and it seems like the only thing that's been helping me (Up to this point) has been shots in my back + neurontin. The shots have been really helpful til now but I have some other stuff going on with my back I have to get checked out. The rollers/machines sound amazing though, I need to check them out.

First off, how's it going? Any changes?

Secondly, do you know where it originates? It could be a lower back issue. Try standing on your toes, and then going from standing normally to standing on your toes.If you can't or have difficulty you need to see a back doctor. A lot of leg pain, particularly neurological leg pain is actually caused by compression of the spine in the L vertebrae, or the spine right above the hips. You'll have to experiment and see what happens, but part of the problem could be you're too loose; in which case you need to strengthen your back, leg and hip.

Also try swimming. After my back injury swimming was the only thing that didn't hurt.