my mother cant evin be in a confertal posision whail sleeping... its very extremly painful!!!
pleace can you hellp, and my frend tell me that it will be beter afther a 3,4 days and it may be...its onle been 1 days since the pain.She is 53 and she cant evin lay down she can onle be in a snail posision. to stow a litle pain.
@HrcakAnarhija I suggest she start using the exercise shown on the video and appl cold packs as instructed in my ebook available on my website. With frequent use of the exercise and cold packs, most people are much improved within a week or two. If things are not improving in that time frame, then I strongly recommend she see a doctor and probably get an MRI or CT scan to evaluate the problem. Good luck to her!
@ltpeguero I hope the exercise helps you.Because of the compression that your spine has to undergo, you might find inversion or traction/decompression helpful when you have the opportunity to use it. Good luck!
wow i've had sciatic pain for nearly 6 months first 3 not too bad but then had to pay a chiropracter £30 for 15 mins which helped only slightly on occasion. It ruined a great holiday and i struggled since then. Daily dosage of ibuprofen, paracetomol and amatriptolene (spelling) ice packs heat patches. Nothing workrd as rapidly as this simple move, i done it first time 10 mins ago and it did move up to my ass, thank the lord for Mr McKenzie take a bow son.
@joethepope3 I'm glad you found it helpful. Frequent use will usually get rid of the worst of the symptoms within one to two weeks. After the symptoms are gone, it is a good idea to do it a few times per day for prevention.
Ok. Done the ice pack for 15 mins stood up amd couldnt walk just pure pain although as i touched my back with my hand i couldnt feel it was frozen but pain real bad ???
@themanoruk It may take a few times for the ice to reduce the inflammation enough to notice a difference in symptoms. The pain was more likely related to changing positions than the ice pack, as transitioning from a lying down position to upright changes the pressure on the discs significantly as well as provokes spasmed muscles.
Thanx so much for posting this exercise!! I have been unemployed for 3 years and have no medical insurance and was in severe pain until I decided to google "sciatica nerve pain." I can't say thank you enough!! I have tried them and have slept peacefully for the past 5 nights!!! I do them at least 3 times a day!! Thanx again!! You are helping alot of people be free of this pain!!
@themanoruk The osteopathic treatment may be increasing the inflammation and muscle spasm. Forceful manipulation is sometimes helpful for disc herniations, but it may in some cases cause the muscles to spasm more and cause more inflammatory swelling to occur. Depending on the severity of the problem, osteopathic treatment may help after the inflammation goes down, or it may continue to increase symptoms.
Thank u for yr reply , just want to ask yr opinion, i went to osteopath 2 weeks ago he bent my back as they do and for 7 days i was in worst pain ive had , then for 3 days i felt 50% better , went to see him again and now can barely walk , is he making me worse ???, thank u so much for replying , many many thanks
huge thanks for the advice. my day started with minimal pain in the feet and later turned into lower back, buttox & leg pain. I could barely walk. this looks super easy but was harder than I thought while in discomfort but it worked great.
@themanoruk Unfortunately, that's a sign that you probably have a pretty severe and/or pretty inflamed disc herniation. I suggest you apply cold packs to the low back for about 15 minutes at a time up to every 2 hours and see a doctor as soon as you can.
I have tried this for 2 days and have gotten relief. Particularly with the stretch to the side. I feel it in the area that hurts when I stretch. Now to be consistant with it...Thanks!!
I just did this for about ten seconds and experienced some noticeable relief when I stood up. I was quite surprised. I think this is going to be very helpful. Thanks, Doc!
@davesoroka You're welcome! Frequent use initially will usually provide lasting improvement in the worst of the symptoms within a few days. Good luck!
@davesoroka In some cases a back brace will help, but to get significant improvement it usually takes a brace that has some decompressive effects on the spine as opposed to something like an elastic support belt that just restricts movement. Decompressive belts are sometimes available from health care providers, or you can order one such as the "Aspen QuikDraw RAP Back Brace" from Amazon and other online retailers.
hi, i have pain in my left buttock due sciatica but it only occurs when i try to stretch my hamstrings or groin once in awhile. Its not a intense pain but its annoying and it keeps me from getting flexible when i need to be for gymnastics. I've been giving it a rest for about 3 months because i dont want to further injure myself and set myself back. what should i do!!
@kidBoogie1 If your sciatica is coming from a bulging disc (see my "What Causes Sciatica" video), you'll need to address that in order to get the muscles to relax because the nerves irritated by the disc will keep the muscles tight. I suggest you try using the exercise from this video for a minute or so at a time, several times per day for a few weeks. Hopefully this will reduce the disc bulge and make it easier to stretch the muscles. For more info, see my website (shown on video). Good luck!
@DrGeorgeBest dr,about 4 years ago i have a back surgery L4,L5,bulging,now about 3 weeks ago i fell on my garage on the rigth side ,now i have pain under my calf ,some times hard y sometimes soft and its 24 hrs,i can still walk rigth but with pain,i did you test and its sciatica. i practice jiu-jitsu and i wonder if this can do worse to me , my fear is that in some point they tellme i need surgery again can this be possible?
@fortanell1 It is possible that at some point in the future you might need surgery again, but there is a lot you can do to prevent that. While activities like jiu-jitsu can be hard on the low back, by using preventive exercises and being careful with things like bending and lifting, it is possible that you can minimize the potential problems from jiu-jitsu. I suggest you start using the exercise shown in the video and go to my website (on the video) for my free ebook to get additional info.
@DrGeorgeBest thankyou dr. i dicide to take 3 months off from jiu-jitsu ,to see if i can recover and i will do the exercise ,how long do you think i will see improvments? or if not to see a doctor , thanks again dr.
@fortanell1 As a general rule, I would recommend you see a doctor if you are not much better within 1 to 2 weeks. If the symptoms get worse or if you develop any problems controlling your bowel or bladder, then see a doctor immediately. Good luck!
@DrGeorgeBest dr, its ben a week for me,and the pain goes from acute pain to mild ,i sleep well and walk fine but with pain, i have a question why when i go into the jacussy on the hot water i have pain , im doing something wrong?
@fortanell1 You should avoid applying heat to your low back as much as possible while you are having symptoms. Heat increases inflammatory swelling, which in turn can increase pressure on the nerve. Applying cold packs as directed in my ebook (available on the website shown on the video) will usually help reduce inflammation and related symptoms.
Hi, I have a question. I have no pain going DOWN my leg, in-fact none in my leg at all for that matter. It's only in the top right buttock cheek that hurts, is this typical of sciatica? Or does it generally run down the leg?
@DrGeorgeBest Yes, I'm thinking I could have a potential problem with a bursa, or something. You wouldn't happen to know if Bursa's tend to heal slowly do you?
@skipskops Yes, bursitis can take several weeks to clear up, and if you have to continue to sit a lot or do other things that aggravate it, it can take even longer. My suggestion is to apply cold packs as often as you can (about 15 minutes up to every 2 hours), and perhaps get a soft cushion to sit on to take pressure off the bursa.
Thank you so very much! This technique has brought me more relief in the week that I've been doing it, than in all the weeks of exercises, stretching, pain meds, etc. that I was trying before. How does it work? Am I pressing a disc back into place by this maneuver? or simply taking pressure off nerves? It's almost miraculous how much the pain has diminished.
@rgmidgett You're welcome! Most cases of sciatica are due to disc bulging (see my What Causes Sciatica? YouTube video for more info). By placing the spine in extension, it squeezes the back part of the disc, so the inner gel migrates forward, away from the nerves. With repetition over time, the disc wall starts to heal and stabilize so that you get lasting pain relief - although it is a good idea to still use this exercise a few times per day for prevention.
Dr.George, I've recently injured my lower back, about 2 months ago, and i injured it by twisting my back which is usually what I do to crack it, except this one time a sharp pain shot down my spine. Because my lumbar discs aren't bulging, should I still be doing the Mackenzie exercises? My doctor prescribed pain killers and told me it will most likely go away on its on in 3 months, but meanwhile I need to switch positions every half an hour. Do you have any advice?
He did not prescribe an MRI because he thought it was not necessary. After two months I've noticed improvements in that the pain no longer shoots down the back of my leg but rather concentrates behind my lower spine and is much milder. Is this something that I can recover 100% from and how long would it take? How do I know if I need an MRI? When can I start wrestling or lifting weights again?
@XcPromise You can't be sure that you don't have any bulging discs if your Dr. hasn't done an MRI. The fact that you are improving is a good sign, but it is hard to say what's wrong or what your prognosis is without having more to go on. I don't recommend wrestling/weights until you are out of pain. I think the McKenzie exercises are worth a try. If they don't help much, I'd suggest getting an opinion from a chiropractor to see if maybe there is a joint problem that needs to be corrected.
@DrGeorgeBest - Dr.George. I've done these exercises and noticed that the pain went from one leg to the other and made the other much worse. The emergency room doctor said it's possible that I have two discs bulging one to either side, and I guess these exercises should only be done by someone with only one disc dislocation or if their disc(s) are bulging to the same direction??? I am now in line for an MRI. Thanks for your advice.
@XcPromise Even with multiple disc bulges in different directions, the exercises are not likely to increase symptoms down either leg. Another possibility is that you have an actual rupture of the disc and the ruptured disc material is moving around - sometimes it shifts away from a nerve, sometimes it shifts towards a nerve, and in that situation the exercise could move things in an unfavorable direction. In any event, the MRI is the best next step to figure out for sure what the problem is.
This is Dr. Brian Prieto of Prieto Chiropractic & Spinal Decompression and I have a DRX9000 spinal decompression unit in my office for the past 6 years in Yorba Linda, Orange County. Glad to see some education on sciatica, great job!
Hi, my wife is suffering with sciatica and is in pain 24hrs a day. it started as mild pain in her back which as is now in the back of her right leg. the doctor first gave her naproxin but they didnt help and it came to the point (she cudnt move her leg at all) we went to the hospital where they injected her with diclofenac and gave her diazepam and tramadol. she now takes these every day but if anything the pain is getting worse and were at a loss as what to do exercises are too painful. thanks.
@1979jlb If she can't get onto her elbows, start with just lying on the stomach with the arms folded under the chest, or with a thin pillow under the chest and if things improve, try to work up to the position on the elbows. If this doesn't help at all, my recommendation is to get an MRI as soon as possible to evaluate the discs. If there is a full disc rupture, then I'd suggest getting a consult with a surgeon who does "minimally-invasive" disc surgery as soon as possible. Good luck!
Hi, my wife is suffering with sciatica and is in pain 24hrs a day. it started as mild pain in her back which as is now in the back of her right leg. the doctor first gave her naproxin but they didnt help and it came to the point (she cudnt move her leg at all) we went to the hospital where they injected her with diclofenac and gave her diazepam and tramadol. she now takes these every day but if anything the pain is getting worse and were at a loss as what to do exercises are too painful. thanks
What happens if there's no change in any of the movements? Even if I shift slightly to either side at various heights? Does that rule out a disc issue that's producing the numbness in my foot?
I don't get numbness or sciatica pains anywhere else in my leg .. I even have full ROM with my left leg and can raise it to the sky while I'm on my back.
@TheXFrame You can't rule out the disc 100%, but as I said in response to your question on the Part 2 video, the behavior of the symptoms suggests the problem could be a trigger point in the gluteus minimus. Trigger points themselves are often the direct source of symptoms but themselves are often caused by other things such as disc and joint problems.
Once any underlying problems are corrected, deep massage and stretching will usually ease the trigger point.
Doctor. George , can we have a live chat such as skype or windows live messenger? I would like to tell you more about my symptoms and hopefully it's not sciatica.
@XephiousFlash Based on your other questions, I don't think I can tell you much more about your specific case without going to the next step of having diagnostic imaging (MRI or CT) done. Since I'm not in a position to order tests for you, my advice is to consult with a doctor in your area who can get the necessary tests done. If you would like my opinion on the imaging once you get the results, let me know.
Thanks for your very helpful explanation of Sciatica...I haven't tried your exercises but will do so tonight. I do have one question: how can you rule out sciatica caused by internal bleeding? I don't have any reason to believe I have any internal bleeding, but just heard that it's one of the causes and wanted to be sure.
@leoray1234 While internal bleeding is reported to be a potential cause of sciatica, in nearly 20 years of clinical practice and dealing with hundreds of people with sciatica, I've never seen a single case, nor have I even seen a documented case study in which internal bleeding was found to be the cause of a patient's sciatica. Unless you have reason to suspect major internal bleeding (such as a recent severe trauma), I don't think it's likely to be the cause of your sciatica.
THANK YOU Dr. i do not have a lot of ideas of what i can say right now except that, your video have helped me alot in coping with my daily life routine.I have suffered with sciatica for almost 3 years now. The pain comes and goes, the worst situation was when the pain is so unbearable it makes me shiver,feverish and unable to move.Too bad i didnt find your video earlier.THANK YOU!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE VIDEO DR. BEST. I have mild disc space narrowing and disc degeneration and I have a moderate to large extruded central to left central disc w/ near complete obliteration of the thecal sac and marked left s1 nerve root impginement. Will this exercises help my problem? Or is it one those rarer cases that you are talking about?
@bebeinah With extrusions (complete ruptures of the disc), exercises usually are not effective. Unfortunately, such problems usually require surgery to get long-term relief. I suggest you look into "minimally invasive" surgery, which is done through small incisions using a scope. They can remove the extruded disc material and the recovery is usually pretty fast with minimal post-surgical complications. It's OK to try the exercises, but if the leg symptoms increase, discontinue immediately.
@DrGeorgeBest Thank you SO MUCH for the advice! I have been trying the exercises and its fine, I dont feel any pain. But that may also be because Im taking hydromorphone lol Thanks again!
@arnoldnavarro21 Both.Sciatica can be very debilitating, but in most cases it can be alleviated with simple exercises.As I said in response to your question on the Part 2 video, there are cases in which there is severe bulging, rupture, and/or severe degeneration in one or more of the lumbar discs which is too bad for exercises to help, but those cases are rare.But, even when the symptoms are gone, the underlying problem is still partly there, so preventive use of the exercises is important.
Dr. George, thanks for the videos! They are extremely helpful and found out that my chiropractor may have misdiagnosed my problem. I believe I have had this problem for almost a year now and it happened during my training for a triathlon and since then it has been hurting. What should I do? What kind of doctor should I see? Please let me know... I'd PayPal you for your advice!
@danthelion The type of doctor depends on the nature and severity of the problem. A chiropractor may be a good choice, but if you've been having the problem for a year, I'd suggest trying a different chiropractor.I suggest you look into getting an MRI or CT scan to further assess the problem (regular X-rays usually don't tell the story).Once the problem has been clarified, then I can make more specific suggestions if you like. Feel free to email me at info@ the website shown on the video.
@ashleyo154 There's only one exercise for a given person - the one position that best centralizes(explained in the video) the symptoms. I suggest doing it for 30 seconds to a minute at a time. The number of sessions depends on the severity and duration of the problem. For mild pain or for prevention, 3-4 times for 1-2 sessions per day. For long-standing and/or severe symptoms, I suggest doing the exercise up to 3 or 4 times per waking hour until the pain subsides and then cut back gradually.
@phuckthis1234 I agree that "Exercises for Sciatica" is a good video for people who have sciatica symptoms due to muscle contraction. For someone with sciatica due to a disc herniation, the methods shown on that video will usually not be very effective, and could even aggravate symptoms. To help determine what the source of sciatica is for a given person, I suggest using the tests shown in my video, Sciatica Exercises, Part 2.
Thanks for the good information . I have now been to two different chiropractors and can't seem to get an accurate diagnosis . I have pain that will start in different areas of the right gluteus when I move or sit a certain way which will then stab down my leg but stop at the knee . I can stand just fine though. I've also had accupuncture , have a large foam roller , as well as an inversion table . I'm not getting any relief and am ready to have my leg cut off ! Thanks for any info you have :)
@LostNCyberspace My Sciatica Exercises Part 2 video may help shed some light on the problem. The two most common causes of symptoms like yours are true sciatica from a disc protrusion and piriformis syndrome. Part 2 shows a way to help distinguish between them. If you don't get a clear indication of which it is, I'd suggest doing both the McKenzie exercise and the piriformis stretch. If no help within a week or so, then I'd suggest a lumbar MRI to evaluate further.
@JosephAnthony911 The exercise must be done properly for people to get the best results. For that to happen, people need to know the rules about centralization, and that takes a few minutes to explain.
On your video you use the McKenzie Exercise where you arch your back upwards but in other sciatica stretching exercise videos there is a position called the Downwards Facing Dog where you arch your back the other way (forwards), are they both correct?
I have found your videos on sciatica very helpful, thanks
@aaronlowe1000 For true sciatica related to a herniated disc, the downward facing dog exercise is a VERY bad idea! It will probably help with sciatica-like symptoms from the piriformis muscle (to tell the difference between disc and piriformis symptoms, see my video, Sciatica Exercises, Part 2), but in the case of disc herninations, the forward flexion of the spine can potentially make the disc herniation worse, and increase symptoms.
@aaronlowe1000 - I am no expert but read that there is anterior and exterior protusion. technique shown here is good for exterior protusion and the other way is good for anterior. You may do some more resarch.
Just wondering what the best position would be best whilst sleeping? For example, is it better to lie on your back with straight legs, or whether to curl up the legs??
@jamiepango Usually when sleeping on the back, it will help to put a pillow or rolled-up towel under the legs so that the knees are partially bent, as this reduces tension on the sciatic nerve. Another sleeping position that works for many with sciatica is lying on one side with the knees bent and a pillow between the knees.
@blktlbk Sleeping in a recliner is usually not a good idea, but it may be the only comfortable position in a small number of cases and for them it's OK short-term. Inversion tables seem to help with prevention but it can either help or make things worse during the acute symptom stage - more often worse in my experience. During acute symptoms, there is a tendency for the muscles around the spine to contract in reaction to the traction force and this can cause increased pressure on the discs.
@cheung86 Disc healing and symptoms are different issues. A disc can be structurally stable (about as "healed" as they get, which probably takes several months in most cases) or even surgically removed, but symptoms may remain forever if permanent nerve damage occurred during the initial stages of the disc protrusion. A disc can also be bulging and very unstable with no symptoms until the wrong movement at the wrong time. So, pain lasts anywhere from a day to forever depending on many factors.
@cheung86 Continued from my other response... Generally the better you take care of your back by avoiding excessive sitting, avoiding improper bending and lifting, and doing exercises like the one shown in the video, the faster the symptoms will go away and the better and faster the disc will stabilize (although some bulging may remain, it will be resistant to being irritated to the point of symptoms returning). More info about this is available at my website shown on the video.
@gorbax3 Really? I just checked and it looks like the exercise demo begins at about 1:40 into the video. Perhaps you were so anxious to make a snide comment that you weren't paying attention!
@wais3132 When there are major symptoms present, I suggest doing it several times per day for a minute or so at a time. In fact, it can be done 4 to 5 time per hour for a few days to try to get symptoms under control in really severe cases. It may cause some temporary back soreness doing it this much, but as long as the symptoms in the leg are going away, the back soreness is not a big concern. Once the symptoms are gone, for prevention, I suggest doing it 3 to 4 times per day.
I just spent 2 days not able to move much at all without mind numbing pain. Somebody told me about a tennis ball trick where you put it under ur butt or where the pain starts and massage it .......I just did it and I AM COMPLETELY MOBILE. I was amazed......nobody should suffer that kind of pain...PLEASE TRY THIS.....IT DOES WORK.
@crossroads2284 The suggestion is valid, but I advise others reading this to be very careful with it. The tennis ball will likely help if the problem is piriformis syndrome as opposed to true sciatica from a bulging disc in the spine (for more on this distinction, see my Sciatica Exercises Part 2 video). In the event of true sciatica, placing a lot of pressure on the sciatic nerve in the buttock by sitting on a tennis ball may only make it worse (possibly MUCH worse) - so be gentle!
hi.i'd like to ask 2 questions. 1. should i do this exercises feeling lot of pain in the left leg and having hernia discal (dont know how is hernia discal on english :)? 2. in the case of surgery what kind of risk is it for me in future? tnks
@Iliaviemeli 1. This exercise is usually very good for leg pain related to a herniated disc. But, if it does not reduce the pain in the leg or if the leg pain gets worse while doing the exercise, you should not do it anymore. 2. Most people with herniated discs get better without surgery, but it depends on how bad the herniation is. Hopefully you will not need surgery. Good luck!
I have tried everything besides surgery. I am now getting very painful shots in my back because of excrucating pain that travels down my left leg every day. I have 2 more shots to go. I might chicken out because I have already had 3 with no relief. I will try this though. I pretty much cry everyday from this injury to my back because I have tried so many different relief exercises and nothing is long term.
@Cherylyiyi Hopefully the exercise will be of help. In severe cases, I suggest doing it for a minute or so frequently throughout the day (as long as it provides centralization of the symptoms) - up to a few times every hour for the first few days to try to get things headed the right direction. You might get some back soreness doing it that much, but if the sciatica is improving, you're on the right track. Good luck!
For nearly 5 months now (!?) I've had what I/others believe is a bulging disc causing sciatica. I've been seeing a Chiropractor who has made some improvements to my pain by massage treatment etc, but in the last fortnight it has regressed and the symptoms are now as bad as they originally were.
My question;
Is it normal for this condition to last this long, as well as it go through set backs during this time?
@LetsKiosk In severe cases, it is not unusual for symptoms to continue for several months with alternating periods of improvement and worsening. I suggest getting an MRI or CT scan if possible to further evaluate the situation, as this would give a more definite assessment of the diagnosis and severity and help to define the best treatment options.
I have sciatica... It's a totally alien concept to me since I am a bit of a pain guy, and typically quite strong. I am also a Type 1 diabetic and this only started recently and being a T1 may have something to do with it. Even when walking a short distance I have to stop many times. It's frustrating because before this I was always on the go. Now I can barely make it to the corner store and on top of that, it
s stressful. Before going anywhere it's all I think about.
@HaligonianType1 The diabetes could be a part of the problem. It is even possible that what you are experiencing is not actually sciatica, but a circulation problem called intermittent claudication, which can occur as a result of diabetes. My suggestion is to have your doctor check things out and try to get a more definite diagnosis, as there would be very different treatment options for sciatica and IC.
@DrGeorgeBest I have been doing research into intermittent claudication and it appears my situation more closely relates to this. I am going to make an appointment with my doc and mention this. I read that gingko bilobo can help it somewhat so have started taking that until I can get a handle on it. Thank you for taking the time to reply.
I read through your responses looking to answer to my question, but could not find it so here it goes: If one is diagnosed with herniated disc, is it possible that it gets cured without surgery? I am talking about it going away permanently.
@TearOfMangolia It is possible for herniated discs to "un-herniate" to various degrees without surgery. In many cases, symptoms will go away even if the herniation does not, because symptoms are often due to inflammation which will often go away with no treatment at all eventually. There are cases where the disc herniation does physically go away (documented by MRI). This can occur with exercises, chiropractic treatment, and spinal decompression (a special type of traction).
Dr Best - 2 1/2 yrs ago I had a microdisecomy for a bulging disc. Since then I have had 6 very bad bouts of sciatica, but generally the back is not so good. Saw you films - ace advice and it helped. However I'm just getting over another bad episode. How do I stop having these episodes? I am desperate to put in a regime that will help prevent me going back to square one. Any advice gratefully received
@freeneety You may not be able to stop all the episodes, but you should be able to greatly reduce the frequency and severity. I suggest using the exercise shown in the video on a daily basis ( a couple of minutes at time, a few times per day) for prevention. In addition, "core" exercises for the abdominals and general fitness through walking, swimming, or other low-impact exercise will help considerably. Good luck!
Ahh, that explains it. Yesterday I started doing this exercise every 2 hours, holding for 3 mins. Centralisation was best when bending to the left. I'm much better today and thinking of upping it to every hour. Eternally grateful, even if this is just temporary x
Lovely, lucid explanation. Thank you, Doctor. Here and on other sites, the emphasis seems to be on extension, with some sources saying that flexion is counterproductive and each time you flex the spine you should counteract it using this kind pf exercise. However, my osteopath, after diagnosing a disc bulge not piriformis, recommends assuming a semi curled position to alleviate the pain. Are you able to help me understand the contradiction and reconcile the advice?
@verylikeakitten The flexed position often relieves pain temporarily because it increases the space around the nerves where they pass between the spinal bones. In cases where there is additional degenerative bone formation in the joints at the back of the spine, the flexed position may be the only position that provides relief (and extension should be avoided in these cases). Unfortunately, in the case of disc bulges, flexion tends to increase the bulging, ultimately prolonging the problem.
Hi Dr. I've had sciatic pain for over 3months now, its particularly bad after sitting or sleeping, causing a limp. After walking I always feel better. Some mornings the pain is so intense that I cannot move for 2 hours. A nuerosurgeon examined an MRI - a moderate herniation at L5/s1 & advised a microdiscetomy. However a chiropractor reckons the issue is caused by a sacroiliac problem. Am I crazy to consider the surgery? Should I get someone to check if I have piriformis syndrome? confused
I've been told I have a straight lumbar (little-no lordosis?). I am in constant 8/10 pain and have to lay on my back consistently throughout the day (even this doesn't fully relieve the discomfort). My straight lumbar is causing terrible terrible pain in buttock, back of thigh, calf (just under the knee - exterior), and numbness in my foot (and pinky toe).
Most likely the decreased lordosis is actually an effect of the underlying cause of your symptoms and not the cause iteself. It sounds like you have a bulging disc that is irritating the sciatic nerve. The straightening of the lumbar spine is most likely the result of muscle spasm also caused by the disc bulge and nerve irritation. The exercise shown in the video and the other self-treatment methods on my website are usually effective. If not, I'd suggest an MRI to evaluate further.
had pretty bad pain down my right leg all the way down to the foot since september and it got really bad over the christmas holidays due to being on holiday and being much less active as my work helps.started doing your stretches and found great relief felt 90% cured feel great still and slowly but surely getting better every passing week.Thankyou so much for this clip
Hi. I have pain in my left leg. Whenever I cough or sneeze or move the wrong way it is like a lightning bolt of pain down my left leg. It's been almost 4 months of this. I walk with my back always hunched over. I'm only 25 and I suffer from agoraphobia which makes it just about impossible to see a doctor or anyone for the matter about it. Will this be able to help me? I just want to be able to walk around my house without looking like a 90 year old man.
There's a good chance that the exercise on the video will help. I also suggest you check out the other self-treatment resources on my website. In severe cases of disc herniation or rupture, professional treatment may be necessary, but most people can get good results with self-treatment. Good luck!
hi been been uncomfortable for 3months now sore back and a pain in my right thigh when i cough or sneeze the pain increases been to see a ciropracter but it is too expensive so i have been soldiering on and getting more uncomfortable miserable and depressed am 43 and starting to walk sometimes with a limp
Your description of the symptoms sounds like you probably have a bulging disc. Chances are the exercise shown in the video will help. I suggest you do it several times per day to see if you can start getting some relief. You may also find some help in the other self-treatment techniques in my free ebook and other resources at my website shown on the video. Good luck!
It has been a week and I have very little pain. I am now only taking aspirin. I do these stretches twice a day for 10 min. Amazing how one little adjustment will melt your pain away. Thank You.
Thank you for this video! After doing the basic stretching exercises you demonstrated I feel so much better. I don't know if I actually have sciatica or not, but my lower back, thigh and knee have hurt in a very sciatica type way the past few days, and now this video has made me feel so much better. Again, thank you!
When I bend backwards I get a pinching pain in my left buttock and then if I can go further back the pain is relieved. Many times during acute periods I can't get past the pain as it's too intense. This also happens lying on my stomach and trying mckenzie.
When I wake up the pain is worse but is pretty much chronic at this point. I am able to sit without much pain these days, it's more standing and walking but after walking a while the pain tends to subside. What does this tell us?
There's probably a sacroiliac problem in combination with a bulging disc. I'd suggest getting checked by a chiropractor to see if there's something that can be done to speed up your recovery. Good luck!
thanks. i had years of chiro and an SI joint injection at one point but that didn't help. interesting study shows that a patient's treatment can best be determined from the doctors background rather than the condition - ie PTs doing PT, chiros do adjustments, ART docs do ART, etc :)
Hello. I am 19 and having very bad sciatic pain in my right leg and right side of my lower back. My doctor proscribed me some muscle relaxers and a strong dose of ibuprofen. I had some relief the first week of taking the meds but the past 2 days it feels like the meds aren't even touching the pain. I showed your videos to my doctor and she thinks it a great idea to try it out. I will keep you updated on my progress and tell you how your stretches work for me.
I went to a physio and they ended up thinking that it was maybe a disc protrusion. I will see how you reply to the other posts, as they're sort of similar. I am 26 and doing this McKenzie exercise 'centralizes' some of the pain. Is there anything else you can recommend? Is there hope for me?
If the exercise produces centralization of the symptoms, I suggest doing it frequently throughout the day. In addition, there are other self-treatment recommendations in my free ebook on the website shown on the video.
Hi Dr.George,Thanks for these great videos,I ve been diagnosed with posterior disc protrusion at L4/L5 to the left.and i have been experiencing lower back and left leg pain.Ive tried physiotherapy for a while and it actually worked but then the pain came back after a while and now iam undergoing physiotherapy again.iam hesitant to undergo surgery as iam still very young(22).should i try these exercises in this video for my case?Thanks in Advance
The exercise shown in the video will likely help. I also suggest you get my free ebook with additional self-treatment tips on the website shown on the video.
I've registered on your website and followed your exercises (thank you for making them available).
Physio hasdiagnosed me with Sciatica in left leg re hern/protuding disc in the lower spine (although no MRI to confirm). It started 6 weeks ago and has shown some improvement.
The mckenzie stretch only creates pain in my left butt, but i have an almost constant tightness in my calf and (some thigh) making moving quicker than a hobble very hard. Your thoughts on why and how to resolve this please?
Irritation of the lumbosacral nerves from a disc protrusion will often cause contraction and spasm in the calf muscle. As long as the McKenzie exercise does not cause additional pain down the leg, it is OK to use it frequently. In addition, I recommend using cold packs on the low back on a frequent basis (about 15 minutes at a time up to every 1-2 hrs) to control inflammation. Depending on the severity of the protrusion, it could take several weeks to resolve the problem.
Sciatica and numbness in the arm are probably separate problems, although they could have been brought on by the same cause. Since you have more than one issue, my advice is to try to get a referral to a chiropractor to get things checked out and find out what needs to be done. Good luck!
I've been dealing with lower back pain for years. It also feels like my neck is out as well as between my shoulder blades... I'm afraid to see a chiropractor because it feels like if someone starts torquing on me that they will break me in two. What do u think?
Chiropractic in general is quite safe, but for those who are fearful of manual manipulation, I suggest checking into low-force techniques such as Activator or ProAdjuster. These techniques use instruments that produce gentle taps that ease the joints back into motion. In my experience, low-force methods take a little longer to get the job done than manual techniques, but they work well in most cases and are a lot less frightening to new chiropractic patients.
Unfortunately, no. Sciatica with pregnancy is usually due to pressure from the fetus on the sciatic nerve rather than from a bulging disc (which is what this exercise is intended for). Some women with sciatica from pregancy do get relief from low-force chiropractic treatment because it can move the pelvic bones just enough to ease pressure on the nerve. I suggest you consult with a chiropractor who uses either Activator or ProAdjuster. Good luck!
This has been a very beneficial exercise, it has really helped me push the nerve anterior as i suffer from sciatica. Although, i think i may be overusing this stretch. Could there be damage to the muscle tissue in the lower back and upper buttock if the stretch is performed too often. Overstretching?
It's not so much a problem of overstretching or muscle damage, but it can cause some jamming and/or irritation of the facet joints in the lumbar spine, which in turn can cause some soreness and muscle reaction. This will usually resolve within a few days as you reduce the frequency of the exercise. Applying a cold pack to the low back for about 10 minutes a few times per day helps too. If the soreness remains, it can be alleviated with massage and/or chiropractic treatment.
Hi doctor, Ive had sciatica for over a year now in my right lower back/leg/calf. The pain is the worst when im stading up and not moving. I thought it has been disc related this whole time but doing the mckenzie method causes my whole leg to go numb. forward flexion causes no pain at all. any ideas?
A couple of possibilities come to mind. The disc may be ruptured so the extension cannot effectively shift the disc material away from the nerve. The other possibility is that you have bone spurring and/or ligament thickening in the joints at the back of the spine. In either case, extension will narrow the space around the nerve and cause greater compression, while flexion opens up the space around the nerve and takes pressure off. I suggest an MRI to further evaluate the situation.
I have spent 2 1/2months unable to stand up straight because of L5-S1 disc herniation. All this time I had incredible sciatic pain below the knee. It felt like someone hit my left leg with a bat, litterally, 24/7. A week ago, I was prescribed an anti-inflamatory; diclofenac sodium 75mg. After a week of taking it I now stand up straight and the pain is almost all gone!!! Inflamation, I now realize, is a huge enemy.
Just to add....it is refreshing for me to come across someone such as yourself with that sound understanding of the issues and I absolutely agree that each person has different requirements for healing and subsequent strengthening and mobilisation, what works for one sometimes doesn't work for another.
Whilst I don't wish these complaints on anyone it helps me greatly to have experienced what I have when dealing with people who have similar complaints and was always a problem when seeking help.
Hey there doc, just bouncing around your various videos and as mentioned it seems you have a very sound understanding of the issues here when there are an awful lot of "medical professionals" who don't
McKenzie's understandings, which I also discovered some years ago, were revolutionary at the time and seems are yet to be discovered by some
There are so many awful videos on youtube that promote the complete opposite, that is, forward bending, which tends to aggravate the various complaints
What seems to be missed by many health care professionals is that you have to handle each patient as an individual (which requires time and attention that is often missing in today's "managed care" world). Forward flexion may work very well for someone with spinal stenosis due to facet arthrosis, while people with disc protrusions tend to do better with extension.
As a long-term yoga practitioner and teacher I specialise these days in low back (and a few other bits) due to some long term injuries I have had to deal with which have included various bouts of very serious sciatica once requiring emergency surgery and various long periods of rehab after relapse.
The fundamental anatomical problem remains but I have never had to take medication and my quality of life has always remained high in spite of these complaints.
I have been plagued with a L5-S1 disc herniation for 2 months now with NO improvments whatsoever; even though I am resting and not working... I cant stand up straight and am living with sciatic nerve pain 24/7.Also I have lost 10 pounds despite the fact that i am eating normally and inactive... How do I know if am gonna need surgery Doc? What do u think?
my mother cant evin be in a confertal posision whail sleeping... its very extremly painful!!!
pleace can you hellp, and my frend tell me that it will be beter afther a 3,4 days and it may be...its onle been 1 days since the pain.She is 53 and she cant evin lay down she can onle be in a snail posision. to stow a litle pain.
HrcakAnarhija 5 days ago
@HrcakAnarhija I suggest she start using the exercise shown on the video and appl cold packs as instructed in my ebook available on my website. With frequent use of the exercise and cold packs, most people are much improved within a week or two. If things are not improving in that time frame, then I strongly recommend she see a doctor and probably get an MRI or CT scan to evaluate the problem. Good luck to her!
DrGeorgeBest 3 days ago
I am an Airborne Ranger for the US Army. Jumping out of planes all the time does not help my Sciatica. Thank you.
ltpeguero 1 week ago
@ltpeguero I hope the exercise helps you.Because of the compression that your spine has to undergo, you might find inversion or traction/decompression helpful when you have the opportunity to use it. Good luck!
DrGeorgeBest 6 days ago
wow i've had sciatic pain for nearly 6 months first 3 not too bad but then had to pay a chiropracter £30 for 15 mins which helped only slightly on occasion. It ruined a great holiday and i struggled since then. Daily dosage of ibuprofen, paracetomol and amatriptolene (spelling) ice packs heat patches. Nothing workrd as rapidly as this simple move, i done it first time 10 mins ago and it did move up to my ass, thank the lord for Mr McKenzie take a bow son.
joethepope3 3 weeks ago
@joethepope3 I'm glad you found it helpful. Frequent use will usually get rid of the worst of the symptoms within one to two weeks. After the symptoms are gone, it is a good idea to do it a few times per day for prevention.
DrGeorgeBest 3 weeks ago
I really appreciate u bein here and answering questions, seems like someone cares , thanks doc
themanoruk 2 months ago
Ok. Done the ice pack for 15 mins stood up amd couldnt walk just pure pain although as i touched my back with my hand i couldnt feel it was frozen but pain real bad ???
themanoruk 2 months ago
@themanoruk It may take a few times for the ice to reduce the inflammation enough to notice a difference in symptoms. The pain was more likely related to changing positions than the ice pack, as transitioning from a lying down position to upright changes the pressure on the discs significantly as well as provokes spasmed muscles.
DrGeorgeBest 2 months ago
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Thanx so much for posting this exercise!! I have been unemployed for 3 years and have no medical insurance and was in severe pain until I decided to google "sciatica nerve pain." I can't say thank you enough!! I have tried them and have slept peacefully for the past 5 nights!!! I do them at least 3 times a day!! Thanx again!! You are helping alot of people be free of this pain!!
sciaticnervepainfqa 1 month ago
Thank u so much for yr reply, can i ask ? Ive seen an osteopath twice and each time i feel worse, is it possible he is making my problem worse ???
themanoruk 2 months ago
@themanoruk The osteopathic treatment may be increasing the inflammation and muscle spasm. Forceful manipulation is sometimes helpful for disc herniations, but it may in some cases cause the muscles to spasm more and cause more inflammatory swelling to occur. Depending on the severity of the problem, osteopathic treatment may help after the inflammation goes down, or it may continue to increase symptoms.
DrGeorgeBest 2 months ago
Thank u for yr reply , just want to ask yr opinion, i went to osteopath 2 weeks ago he bent my back as they do and for 7 days i was in worst pain ive had , then for 3 days i felt 50% better , went to see him again and now can barely walk , is he making me worse ???, thank u so much for replying , many many thanks
themanoruk 2 months ago
huge thanks for the advice. my day started with minimal pain in the feet and later turned into lower back, buttox & leg pain. I could barely walk. this looks super easy but was harder than I thought while in discomfort but it worked great.
Michelle2states 2 months ago
@Michelle2states You're welcome. I'm glad you found it helfpul.
DrGeorgeBest 2 months ago
Ive just tried and it killed me as soon as i wemt up on elbows, both butt cheeks and back of thighs couldnt take it , aaaagghhhh help
themanoruk 2 months ago
@themanoruk Unfortunately, that's a sign that you probably have a pretty severe and/or pretty inflamed disc herniation. I suggest you apply cold packs to the low back for about 15 minutes at a time up to every 2 hours and see a doctor as soon as you can.
DrGeorgeBest 2 months ago
Thanks for the advice Very clear video presentation.
slithygimble 2 months ago
I have tried this for 2 days and have gotten relief. Particularly with the stretch to the side. I feel it in the area that hurts when I stretch. Now to be consistant with it...Thanks!!
TheSarahnov16 2 months ago
@TheSarahnov16 I'm glad it has helped. Good luck for continued improvement!
DrGeorgeBest 2 months ago
YOGA!
PookieMr 2 months ago
I just did this for about ten seconds and experienced some noticeable relief when I stood up. I was quite surprised. I think this is going to be very helpful. Thanks, Doc!
davesoroka 2 months ago
@davesoroka You're welcome! Frequent use initially will usually provide lasting improvement in the worst of the symptoms within a few days. Good luck!
DrGeorgeBest 2 months ago
@DrGeorgeBest Is there a good kind of back brace that can also provide relief?
davesoroka 2 months ago
@davesoroka In some cases a back brace will help, but to get significant improvement it usually takes a brace that has some decompressive effects on the spine as opposed to something like an elastic support belt that just restricts movement. Decompressive belts are sometimes available from health care providers, or you can order one such as the "Aspen QuikDraw RAP Back Brace" from Amazon and other online retailers.
DrGeorgeBest 2 months ago
hi, i have pain in my left buttock due sciatica but it only occurs when i try to stretch my hamstrings or groin once in awhile. Its not a intense pain but its annoying and it keeps me from getting flexible when i need to be for gymnastics. I've been giving it a rest for about 3 months because i dont want to further injure myself and set myself back. what should i do!!
kidBoogie1 6 months ago
@kidBoogie1 If your sciatica is coming from a bulging disc (see my "What Causes Sciatica" video), you'll need to address that in order to get the muscles to relax because the nerves irritated by the disc will keep the muscles tight. I suggest you try using the exercise from this video for a minute or so at a time, several times per day for a few weeks. Hopefully this will reduce the disc bulge and make it easier to stretch the muscles. For more info, see my website (shown on video). Good luck!
DrGeorgeBest 6 months ago
@DrGeorgeBest dr,about 4 years ago i have a back surgery L4,L5,bulging,now about 3 weeks ago i fell on my garage on the rigth side ,now i have pain under my calf ,some times hard y sometimes soft and its 24 hrs,i can still walk rigth but with pain,i did you test and its sciatica. i practice jiu-jitsu and i wonder if this can do worse to me , my fear is that in some point they tellme i need surgery again can this be possible?
fortanell1 2 months ago
@fortanell1 It is possible that at some point in the future you might need surgery again, but there is a lot you can do to prevent that. While activities like jiu-jitsu can be hard on the low back, by using preventive exercises and being careful with things like bending and lifting, it is possible that you can minimize the potential problems from jiu-jitsu. I suggest you start using the exercise shown in the video and go to my website (on the video) for my free ebook to get additional info.
DrGeorgeBest 2 months ago
@DrGeorgeBest thankyou dr. i dicide to take 3 months off from jiu-jitsu ,to see if i can recover and i will do the exercise ,how long do you think i will see improvments? or if not to see a doctor , thanks again dr.
fortanell1 2 months ago
@fortanell1 As a general rule, I would recommend you see a doctor if you are not much better within 1 to 2 weeks. If the symptoms get worse or if you develop any problems controlling your bowel or bladder, then see a doctor immediately. Good luck!
DrGeorgeBest 2 months ago
@DrGeorgeBest dr, its ben a week for me,and the pain goes from acute pain to mild ,i sleep well and walk fine but with pain, i have a question why when i go into the jacussy on the hot water i have pain , im doing something wrong?
fortanell1 2 months ago
@fortanell1 You should avoid applying heat to your low back as much as possible while you are having symptoms. Heat increases inflammatory swelling, which in turn can increase pressure on the nerve. Applying cold packs as directed in my ebook (available on the website shown on the video) will usually help reduce inflammation and related symptoms.
DrGeorgeBest 2 months ago
Hi, I have a question. I have no pain going DOWN my leg, in-fact none in my leg at all for that matter. It's only in the top right buttock cheek that hurts, is this typical of sciatica? Or does it generally run down the leg?
skipskops 6 months ago
@skipskops In milder cases, the pain may only extend into the buttock. Of course there are other possible causes for pains in the buttock too.
DrGeorgeBest 6 months ago
@DrGeorgeBest Yes, I'm thinking I could have a potential problem with a bursa, or something. You wouldn't happen to know if Bursa's tend to heal slowly do you?
Thanks for the reply by the way. :)
skipskops 6 months ago
@skipskops Yes, bursitis can take several weeks to clear up, and if you have to continue to sit a lot or do other things that aggravate it, it can take even longer. My suggestion is to apply cold packs as often as you can (about 15 minutes up to every 2 hours), and perhaps get a soft cushion to sit on to take pressure off the bursa.
Good luck!
DrGeorgeBest 6 months ago
@DrGeorgeBest Brilliant thank you for your reply! Very helpful. I'm currently sitting on an inflatable swim ring haha, seems to be doing OK! :)
skipskops 6 months ago
@skipskops It may look a bit silly, but as long as it works, that's what matters!
DrGeorgeBest 6 months ago
Tks a million
huathai 6 months ago
@huathai You're welcome!
DrGeorgeBest 6 months ago
Thank you so very much! This technique has brought me more relief in the week that I've been doing it, than in all the weeks of exercises, stretching, pain meds, etc. that I was trying before. How does it work? Am I pressing a disc back into place by this maneuver? or simply taking pressure off nerves? It's almost miraculous how much the pain has diminished.
rgmidgett 7 months ago
@rgmidgett You're welcome! Most cases of sciatica are due to disc bulging (see my What Causes Sciatica? YouTube video for more info). By placing the spine in extension, it squeezes the back part of the disc, so the inner gel migrates forward, away from the nerves. With repetition over time, the disc wall starts to heal and stabilize so that you get lasting pain relief - although it is a good idea to still use this exercise a few times per day for prevention.
DrGeorgeBest 7 months ago
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Very informative site with great comments
sciaticreview 7 months ago
Dr.George, I've recently injured my lower back, about 2 months ago, and i injured it by twisting my back which is usually what I do to crack it, except this one time a sharp pain shot down my spine. Because my lumbar discs aren't bulging, should I still be doing the Mackenzie exercises? My doctor prescribed pain killers and told me it will most likely go away on its on in 3 months, but meanwhile I need to switch positions every half an hour. Do you have any advice?
XcPromise 8 months ago
He did not prescribe an MRI because he thought it was not necessary. After two months I've noticed improvements in that the pain no longer shoots down the back of my leg but rather concentrates behind my lower spine and is much milder. Is this something that I can recover 100% from and how long would it take? How do I know if I need an MRI? When can I start wrestling or lifting weights again?
XcPromise 8 months ago
@XcPromise You can't be sure that you don't have any bulging discs if your Dr. hasn't done an MRI. The fact that you are improving is a good sign, but it is hard to say what's wrong or what your prognosis is without having more to go on. I don't recommend wrestling/weights until you are out of pain. I think the McKenzie exercises are worth a try. If they don't help much, I'd suggest getting an opinion from a chiropractor to see if maybe there is a joint problem that needs to be corrected.
DrGeorgeBest 8 months ago
@DrGeorgeBest - Dr.George. I've done these exercises and noticed that the pain went from one leg to the other and made the other much worse. The emergency room doctor said it's possible that I have two discs bulging one to either side, and I guess these exercises should only be done by someone with only one disc dislocation or if their disc(s) are bulging to the same direction??? I am now in line for an MRI. Thanks for your advice.
XcPromise 8 months ago
@XcPromise Even with multiple disc bulges in different directions, the exercises are not likely to increase symptoms down either leg. Another possibility is that you have an actual rupture of the disc and the ruptured disc material is moving around - sometimes it shifts away from a nerve, sometimes it shifts towards a nerve, and in that situation the exercise could move things in an unfavorable direction. In any event, the MRI is the best next step to figure out for sure what the problem is.
DrGeorgeBest 8 months ago
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This is Dr. Brian Prieto of Prieto Chiropractic & Spinal Decompression and I have a DRX9000 spinal decompression unit in my office for the past 6 years in Yorba Linda, Orange County. Glad to see some education on sciatica, great job!
prietochiropractic 8 months ago
Hi, my wife is suffering with sciatica and is in pain 24hrs a day. it started as mild pain in her back which as is now in the back of her right leg. the doctor first gave her naproxin but they didnt help and it came to the point (she cudnt move her leg at all) we went to the hospital where they injected her with diclofenac and gave her diazepam and tramadol. she now takes these every day but if anything the pain is getting worse and were at a loss as what to do exercises are too painful. thanks.
1979jlb 8 months ago
@1979jlb If she can't get onto her elbows, start with just lying on the stomach with the arms folded under the chest, or with a thin pillow under the chest and if things improve, try to work up to the position on the elbows. If this doesn't help at all, my recommendation is to get an MRI as soon as possible to evaluate the discs. If there is a full disc rupture, then I'd suggest getting a consult with a surgeon who does "minimally-invasive" disc surgery as soon as possible. Good luck!
DrGeorgeBest 8 months ago
Hi, my wife is suffering with sciatica and is in pain 24hrs a day. it started as mild pain in her back which as is now in the back of her right leg. the doctor first gave her naproxin but they didnt help and it came to the point (she cudnt move her leg at all) we went to the hospital where they injected her with diclofenac and gave her diazepam and tramadol. she now takes these every day but if anything the pain is getting worse and were at a loss as what to do exercises are too painful. thanks
1979jlb 8 months ago
What happens if there's no change in any of the movements? Even if I shift slightly to either side at various heights? Does that rule out a disc issue that's producing the numbness in my foot?
I don't get numbness or sciatica pains anywhere else in my leg .. I even have full ROM with my left leg and can raise it to the sky while I'm on my back.
TheXFrame 8 months ago
@TheXFrame You can't rule out the disc 100%, but as I said in response to your question on the Part 2 video, the behavior of the symptoms suggests the problem could be a trigger point in the gluteus minimus. Trigger points themselves are often the direct source of symptoms but themselves are often caused by other things such as disc and joint problems.
Once any underlying problems are corrected, deep massage and stretching will usually ease the trigger point.
DrGeorgeBest 8 months ago
Doctor. George , can we have a live chat such as skype or windows live messenger? I would like to tell you more about my symptoms and hopefully it's not sciatica.
XephiousFlash 8 months ago
@XephiousFlash Based on your other questions, I don't think I can tell you much more about your specific case without going to the next step of having diagnostic imaging (MRI or CT) done. Since I'm not in a position to order tests for you, my advice is to consult with a doctor in your area who can get the necessary tests done. If you would like my opinion on the imaging once you get the results, let me know.
DrGeorgeBest 8 months ago
This is by far the best sciatica stretch I've ever tried. the explanation is also very helpful.God bless you Doc!
nictiga 8 months ago
@nictiga Thanks for your comment. I'm glad you found it helpful!
DrGeorgeBest 8 months ago
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This is by far the best sciatica stretch I've ever tried. the explanation is also very helpful.God bless you Doc!
nictiga 8 months ago
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This is by far the best sciatica stretch I've ever tried. the explanation is also very helpful.God bless you Doc!
nictiga 8 months ago
This is by far the best sciatica stretch I've ever tried. the explanation is also very helpful.God bless you
nictiga 8 months ago
This is by far the best sciatica stretch I've ever tried. God bless you
nictiga 8 months ago
Thanks for your very helpful explanation of Sciatica...I haven't tried your exercises but will do so tonight. I do have one question: how can you rule out sciatica caused by internal bleeding? I don't have any reason to believe I have any internal bleeding, but just heard that it's one of the causes and wanted to be sure.
leoray1234 9 months ago
@leoray1234 While internal bleeding is reported to be a potential cause of sciatica, in nearly 20 years of clinical practice and dealing with hundreds of people with sciatica, I've never seen a single case, nor have I even seen a documented case study in which internal bleeding was found to be the cause of a patient's sciatica. Unless you have reason to suspect major internal bleeding (such as a recent severe trauma), I don't think it's likely to be the cause of your sciatica.
DrGeorgeBest 9 months ago
THANK YOU Dr. i do not have a lot of ideas of what i can say right now except that, your video have helped me alot in coping with my daily life routine.I have suffered with sciatica for almost 3 years now. The pain comes and goes, the worst situation was when the pain is so unbearable it makes me shiver,feverish and unable to move.Too bad i didnt find your video earlier.THANK YOU!!
hafizzs 10 months ago
@hafizzs You're welcome! I'm glad you found the information helpful.
DrGeorgeBest 10 months ago
is it okay to do more than one stretch for the herniated disk??
Jamesbodnaryk 10 months ago
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE VIDEO DR. BEST. I have mild disc space narrowing and disc degeneration and I have a moderate to large extruded central to left central disc w/ near complete obliteration of the thecal sac and marked left s1 nerve root impginement. Will this exercises help my problem? Or is it one those rarer cases that you are talking about?
bebeinah 10 months ago
@bebeinah With extrusions (complete ruptures of the disc), exercises usually are not effective. Unfortunately, such problems usually require surgery to get long-term relief. I suggest you look into "minimally invasive" surgery, which is done through small incisions using a scope. They can remove the extruded disc material and the recovery is usually pretty fast with minimal post-surgical complications. It's OK to try the exercises, but if the leg symptoms increase, discontinue immediately.
DrGeorgeBest 10 months ago
@DrGeorgeBest Thank you SO MUCH for the advice! I have been trying the exercises and its fine, I dont feel any pain. But that may also be because Im taking hydromorphone lol Thanks again!
bebeinah 10 months ago
hey dr. best is true scietica a seriose problem or is it something that thees simple excersices can take care of
arnoldnavarro21 1 year ago
@arnoldnavarro21 Both.Sciatica can be very debilitating, but in most cases it can be alleviated with simple exercises.As I said in response to your question on the Part 2 video, there are cases in which there is severe bulging, rupture, and/or severe degeneration in one or more of the lumbar discs which is too bad for exercises to help, but those cases are rare.But, even when the symptoms are gone, the underlying problem is still partly there, so preventive use of the exercises is important.
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
@DrGeorgeBest thanks! your the best Dr.Best
:D
arnoldnavarro21 1 year ago
Dr. George, thanks for the videos! They are extremely helpful and found out that my chiropractor may have misdiagnosed my problem. I believe I have had this problem for almost a year now and it happened during my training for a triathlon and since then it has been hurting. What should I do? What kind of doctor should I see? Please let me know... I'd PayPal you for your advice!
danthelion 1 year ago
@danthelion The type of doctor depends on the nature and severity of the problem. A chiropractor may be a good choice, but if you've been having the problem for a year, I'd suggest trying a different chiropractor.I suggest you look into getting an MRI or CT scan to further assess the problem (regular X-rays usually don't tell the story).Once the problem has been clarified, then I can make more specific suggestions if you like. Feel free to email me at info@ the website shown on the video.
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
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@danthelion
Please visit my site at sciaticpainrelief.co.uk and discuss things in my guestbook. Also check my sciatica videos on my channel.
Thanks
14jonny14 1 year ago
How many times should you repeat each exercise, and how many sessions would you recommend per day?
ashleyo154 1 year ago
@ashleyo154 There's only one exercise for a given person - the one position that best centralizes(explained in the video) the symptoms. I suggest doing it for 30 seconds to a minute at a time. The number of sessions depends on the severity and duration of the problem. For mild pain or for prevention, 3-4 times for 1-2 sessions per day. For long-standing and/or severe symptoms, I suggest doing the exercise up to 3 or 4 times per waking hour until the pain subsides and then cut back gradually.
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
watch "exercises for sciatica" it gets to the point and works instanly
phuckthis1234 1 year ago
@phuckthis1234 I agree that "Exercises for Sciatica" is a good video for people who have sciatica symptoms due to muscle contraction. For someone with sciatica due to a disc herniation, the methods shown on that video will usually not be very effective, and could even aggravate symptoms. To help determine what the source of sciatica is for a given person, I suggest using the tests shown in my video, Sciatica Exercises, Part 2.
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
Thanks for the good information . I have now been to two different chiropractors and can't seem to get an accurate diagnosis . I have pain that will start in different areas of the right gluteus when I move or sit a certain way which will then stab down my leg but stop at the knee . I can stand just fine though. I've also had accupuncture , have a large foam roller , as well as an inversion table . I'm not getting any relief and am ready to have my leg cut off ! Thanks for any info you have :)
LostNCyberspace 1 year ago
@LostNCyberspace My Sciatica Exercises Part 2 video may help shed some light on the problem. The two most common causes of symptoms like yours are true sciatica from a disc protrusion and piriformis syndrome. Part 2 shows a way to help distinguish between them. If you don't get a clear indication of which it is, I'd suggest doing both the McKenzie exercise and the piriformis stretch. If no help within a week or so, then I'd suggest a lumbar MRI to evaluate further.
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
its a good stretch n all but u shudnt talk so much
JosephAnthony911 1 year ago
@JosephAnthony911 Would you rather him sing or do some tricks instead?
LostNCyberspace 1 year ago
@JosephAnthony911 The exercise must be done properly for people to get the best results. For that to happen, people need to know the rules about centralization, and that takes a few minutes to explain.
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
On your video you use the McKenzie Exercise where you arch your back upwards but in other sciatica stretching exercise videos there is a position called the Downwards Facing Dog where you arch your back the other way (forwards), are they both correct?
I have found your videos on sciatica very helpful, thanks
aaronlowe1000 1 year ago
@aaronlowe1000 For true sciatica related to a herniated disc, the downward facing dog exercise is a VERY bad idea! It will probably help with sciatica-like symptoms from the piriformis muscle (to tell the difference between disc and piriformis symptoms, see my video, Sciatica Exercises, Part 2), but in the case of disc herninations, the forward flexion of the spine can potentially make the disc herniation worse, and increase symptoms.
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
@aaronlowe1000 - I am no expert but read that there is anterior and exterior protusion. technique shown here is good for exterior protusion and the other way is good for anterior. You may do some more resarch.
legendryleo 1 year ago
Thank you for the video :)
Just wondering what the best position would be best whilst sleeping? For example, is it better to lie on your back with straight legs, or whether to curl up the legs??
Thanks in advance
jamiepango 1 year ago
@jamiepango Usually when sleeping on the back, it will help to put a pillow or rolled-up towel under the legs so that the knees are partially bent, as this reduces tension on the sciatic nerve. Another sleeping position that works for many with sciatica is lying on one side with the knees bent and a pillow between the knees.
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
What about sleeping part time in a recliner? Bad or ok...also Inversion Table therapy ?
blktlbk 1 year ago
@blktlbk Sleeping in a recliner is usually not a good idea, but it may be the only comfortable position in a small number of cases and for them it's OK short-term. Inversion tables seem to help with prevention but it can either help or make things worse during the acute symptom stage - more often worse in my experience. During acute symptoms, there is a tendency for the muscles around the spine to contract in reaction to the traction force and this can cause increased pressure on the discs.
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
Well, nervous tissue Do heal. Thank you for your time and response =)
cheung86 1 year ago
Great video Dr.George! Approximately how long does it take for the disc to heal? Im still in pain after 2 months . Thanks
cheung86 1 year ago
@cheung86 Disc healing and symptoms are different issues. A disc can be structurally stable (about as "healed" as they get, which probably takes several months in most cases) or even surgically removed, but symptoms may remain forever if permanent nerve damage occurred during the initial stages of the disc protrusion. A disc can also be bulging and very unstable with no symptoms until the wrong movement at the wrong time. So, pain lasts anywhere from a day to forever depending on many factors.
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
@cheung86 Continued from my other response... Generally the better you take care of your back by avoiding excessive sitting, avoiding improper bending and lifting, and doing exercises like the one shown in the video, the faster the symptoms will go away and the better and faster the disc will stabilize (although some bulging may remain, it will be resistant to being irritated to the point of symptoms returning). More info about this is available at my website shown on the video.
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
DANG!! all talk and no action. he talks 6 minutes before he shows you ANYTHING.
gorbax3 1 year ago
@gorbax3 Really? I just checked and it looks like the exercise demo begins at about 1:40 into the video. Perhaps you were so anxious to make a snide comment that you weren't paying attention!
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
hi dr. george
how many times a day you thinks it good to this exercises. thanks
wais3132 1 year ago
@wais3132 When there are major symptoms present, I suggest doing it several times per day for a minute or so at a time. In fact, it can be done 4 to 5 time per hour for a few days to try to get symptoms under control in really severe cases. It may cause some temporary back soreness doing it this much, but as long as the symptoms in the leg are going away, the back soreness is not a big concern. Once the symptoms are gone, for prevention, I suggest doing it 3 to 4 times per day.
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
I just spent 2 days not able to move much at all without mind numbing pain. Somebody told me about a tennis ball trick where you put it under ur butt or where the pain starts and massage it .......I just did it and I AM COMPLETELY MOBILE. I was amazed......nobody should suffer that kind of pain...PLEASE TRY THIS.....IT DOES WORK.
crossroads2284 1 year ago
@crossroads2284 The suggestion is valid, but I advise others reading this to be very careful with it. The tennis ball will likely help if the problem is piriformis syndrome as opposed to true sciatica from a bulging disc in the spine (for more on this distinction, see my Sciatica Exercises Part 2 video). In the event of true sciatica, placing a lot of pressure on the sciatic nerve in the buttock by sitting on a tennis ball may only make it worse (possibly MUCH worse) - so be gentle!
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
Comment removed
jum401 1 year ago
hi.i'd like to ask 2 questions. 1. should i do this exercises feeling lot of pain in the left leg and having hernia discal (dont know how is hernia discal on english :)? 2. in the case of surgery what kind of risk is it for me in future? tnks
Iliaviemeli 1 year ago
@Iliaviemeli 1. This exercise is usually very good for leg pain related to a herniated disc. But, if it does not reduce the pain in the leg or if the leg pain gets worse while doing the exercise, you should not do it anymore. 2. Most people with herniated discs get better without surgery, but it depends on how bad the herniation is. Hopefully you will not need surgery. Good luck!
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
I have tried everything besides surgery. I am now getting very painful shots in my back because of excrucating pain that travels down my left leg every day. I have 2 more shots to go. I might chicken out because I have already had 3 with no relief. I will try this though. I pretty much cry everyday from this injury to my back because I have tried so many different relief exercises and nothing is long term.
Cherylyiyi 1 year ago
@Cherylyiyi Hopefully the exercise will be of help. In severe cases, I suggest doing it for a minute or so frequently throughout the day (as long as it provides centralization of the symptoms) - up to a few times every hour for the first few days to try to get things headed the right direction. You might get some back soreness doing it that much, but if the sciatica is improving, you're on the right track. Good luck!
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
@Cherylyiyi Do you know what they injected you with, I got one a month ago thinking it was cortizone but it was some other crap....didn't work.
snatale1 1 year ago
For nearly 5 months now (!?) I've had what I/others believe is a bulging disc causing sciatica. I've been seeing a Chiropractor who has made some improvements to my pain by massage treatment etc, but in the last fortnight it has regressed and the symptoms are now as bad as they originally were.
My question;
Is it normal for this condition to last this long, as well as it go through set backs during this time?
Thanks in advance
LetsKiosk 1 year ago
@LetsKiosk In severe cases, it is not unusual for symptoms to continue for several months with alternating periods of improvement and worsening. I suggest getting an MRI or CT scan if possible to further evaluate the situation, as this would give a more definite assessment of the diagnosis and severity and help to define the best treatment options.
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
I have sciatica... It's a totally alien concept to me since I am a bit of a pain guy, and typically quite strong. I am also a Type 1 diabetic and this only started recently and being a T1 may have something to do with it. Even when walking a short distance I have to stop many times. It's frustrating because before this I was always on the go. Now I can barely make it to the corner store and on top of that, it
s stressful. Before going anywhere it's all I think about.
Take care.
HaligonianType1 1 year ago
@HaligonianType1 The diabetes could be a part of the problem. It is even possible that what you are experiencing is not actually sciatica, but a circulation problem called intermittent claudication, which can occur as a result of diabetes. My suggestion is to have your doctor check things out and try to get a more definite diagnosis, as there would be very different treatment options for sciatica and IC.
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
@DrGeorgeBest I have been doing research into intermittent claudication and it appears my situation more closely relates to this. I am going to make an appointment with my doc and mention this. I read that gingko bilobo can help it somewhat so have started taking that until I can get a handle on it. Thank you for taking the time to reply.
HaligonianType1 1 year ago
@HaligonianType1 You're welcome and good luck!
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
Dr. Best,
I read through your responses looking to answer to my question, but could not find it so here it goes: If one is diagnosed with herniated disc, is it possible that it gets cured without surgery? I am talking about it going away permanently.
TearOfMangolia 1 year ago
@TearOfMangolia It is possible for herniated discs to "un-herniate" to various degrees without surgery. In many cases, symptoms will go away even if the herniation does not, because symptoms are often due to inflammation which will often go away with no treatment at all eventually. There are cases where the disc herniation does physically go away (documented by MRI). This can occur with exercises, chiropractic treatment, and spinal decompression (a special type of traction).
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
Dr Best - 2 1/2 yrs ago I had a microdisecomy for a bulging disc. Since then I have had 6 very bad bouts of sciatica, but generally the back is not so good. Saw you films - ace advice and it helped. However I'm just getting over another bad episode. How do I stop having these episodes? I am desperate to put in a regime that will help prevent me going back to square one. Any advice gratefully received
freeneety 1 year ago
@freeneety You may not be able to stop all the episodes, but you should be able to greatly reduce the frequency and severity. I suggest using the exercise shown in the video on a daily basis ( a couple of minutes at time, a few times per day) for prevention. In addition, "core" exercises for the abdominals and general fitness through walking, swimming, or other low-impact exercise will help considerably. Good luck!
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
Thanks! Very helpful.
slicamele 1 year ago
Ahh, that explains it. Yesterday I started doing this exercise every 2 hours, holding for 3 mins. Centralisation was best when bending to the left. I'm much better today and thinking of upping it to every hour. Eternally grateful, even if this is just temporary x
verylikeakitten 1 year ago
Lovely, lucid explanation. Thank you, Doctor. Here and on other sites, the emphasis seems to be on extension, with some sources saying that flexion is counterproductive and each time you flex the spine you should counteract it using this kind pf exercise. However, my osteopath, after diagnosing a disc bulge not piriformis, recommends assuming a semi curled position to alleviate the pain. Are you able to help me understand the contradiction and reconcile the advice?
Many Thanks
Cheryl
verylikeakitten 1 year ago
@verylikeakitten The flexed position often relieves pain temporarily because it increases the space around the nerves where they pass between the spinal bones. In cases where there is additional degenerative bone formation in the joints at the back of the spine, the flexed position may be the only position that provides relief (and extension should be avoided in these cases). Unfortunately, in the case of disc bulges, flexion tends to increase the bulging, ultimately prolonging the problem.
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
Hello sir,
i really liked your video and it helped me getting useful information regarding sciatica treatment . thanx for sharing on you tube.
abhaypathakphysio 1 year ago
You're welcome!
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
Thank for the information. I'll try this.
sueishere25 1 year ago
@sueishere25 You're welcome. Good luck!
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
I've been having this thing for 7 months and it doesn't go away
Cubano407 1 year ago
Hi Dr. I've had sciatic pain for over 3months now, its particularly bad after sitting or sleeping, causing a limp. After walking I always feel better. Some mornings the pain is so intense that I cannot move for 2 hours. A nuerosurgeon examined an MRI - a moderate herniation at L5/s1 & advised a microdiscetomy. However a chiropractor reckons the issue is caused by a sacroiliac problem. Am I crazy to consider the surgery? Should I get someone to check if I have piriformis syndrome? confused
annuv 1 year ago
Hi Dr.,
I've been told I have a straight lumbar (little-no lordosis?). I am in constant 8/10 pain and have to lay on my back consistently throughout the day (even this doesn't fully relieve the discomfort). My straight lumbar is causing terrible terrible pain in buttock, back of thigh, calf (just under the knee - exterior), and numbness in my foot (and pinky toe).
Do you have any recommendations?
Thanks so much in advance.
mikkelchap 1 year ago
Most likely the decreased lordosis is actually an effect of the underlying cause of your symptoms and not the cause iteself. It sounds like you have a bulging disc that is irritating the sciatic nerve. The straightening of the lumbar spine is most likely the result of muscle spasm also caused by the disc bulge and nerve irritation. The exercise shown in the video and the other self-treatment methods on my website are usually effective. If not, I'd suggest an MRI to evaluate further.
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
had pretty bad pain down my right leg all the way down to the foot since september and it got really bad over the christmas holidays due to being on holiday and being much less active as my work helps.started doing your stretches and found great relief felt 90% cured feel great still and slowly but surely getting better every passing week.Thankyou so much for this clip
joons5880 2 years ago
You're welcome!
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
Hi. I have pain in my left leg. Whenever I cough or sneeze or move the wrong way it is like a lightning bolt of pain down my left leg. It's been almost 4 months of this. I walk with my back always hunched over. I'm only 25 and I suffer from agoraphobia which makes it just about impossible to see a doctor or anyone for the matter about it. Will this be able to help me? I just want to be able to walk around my house without looking like a 90 year old man.
poisonedvisions4902 2 years ago
There's a good chance that the exercise on the video will help. I also suggest you check out the other self-treatment resources on my website. In severe cases of disc herniation or rupture, professional treatment may be necessary, but most people can get good results with self-treatment. Good luck!
DrGeorgeBest 1 year ago
hi been been uncomfortable for 3months now sore back and a pain in my right thigh when i cough or sneeze the pain increases been to see a ciropracter but it is too expensive so i have been soldiering on and getting more uncomfortable miserable and depressed am 43 and starting to walk sometimes with a limp
any help or advice greatly appreciated
spyda1967 2 years ago
Your description of the symptoms sounds like you probably have a bulging disc. Chances are the exercise shown in the video will help. I suggest you do it several times per day to see if you can start getting some relief. You may also find some help in the other self-treatment techniques in my free ebook and other resources at my website shown on the video. Good luck!
DrGeorgeBest 2 years ago
It has been a week and I have very little pain. I am now only taking aspirin. I do these stretches twice a day for 10 min. Amazing how one little adjustment will melt your pain away. Thank You.
Ashleyink1990 2 years ago
I'm glad to hear you are doing better. Good luck for continued recovery!
DrGeorgeBest 2 years ago
Thank you for this video! After doing the basic stretching exercises you demonstrated I feel so much better. I don't know if I actually have sciatica or not, but my lower back, thigh and knee have hurt in a very sciatica type way the past few days, and now this video has made me feel so much better. Again, thank you!
cactusruss 2 years ago
You're welcome!
DrGeorgeBest 2 years ago
When I bend backwards I get a pinching pain in my left buttock and then if I can go further back the pain is relieved. Many times during acute periods I can't get past the pain as it's too intense. This also happens lying on my stomach and trying mckenzie.
When I wake up the pain is worse but is pretty much chronic at this point. I am able to sit without much pain these days, it's more standing and walking but after walking a while the pain tends to subside. What does this tell us?
wkriski 2 years ago
There's probably a sacroiliac problem in combination with a bulging disc. I'd suggest getting checked by a chiropractor to see if there's something that can be done to speed up your recovery. Good luck!
DrGeorgeBest 2 years ago
thanks. i had years of chiro and an SI joint injection at one point but that didn't help. interesting study shows that a patient's treatment can best be determined from the doctors background rather than the condition - ie PTs doing PT, chiros do adjustments, ART docs do ART, etc :)
wkriski 2 years ago
Hello. I am 19 and having very bad sciatic pain in my right leg and right side of my lower back. My doctor proscribed me some muscle relaxers and a strong dose of ibuprofen. I had some relief the first week of taking the meds but the past 2 days it feels like the meds aren't even touching the pain. I showed your videos to my doctor and she thinks it a great idea to try it out. I will keep you updated on my progress and tell you how your stretches work for me.
Ashleyink1990 2 years ago
Good luck!
DrGeorgeBest 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Sciatica Exercise Video Program here: watch?v=3Xt0kkr74xg
HealthAndCures 2 years ago
Hi again,
I went to a physio and they ended up thinking that it was maybe a disc protrusion. I will see how you reply to the other posts, as they're sort of similar. I am 26 and doing this McKenzie exercise 'centralizes' some of the pain. Is there anything else you can recommend? Is there hope for me?
Thanks,
soncasey 2 years ago
If the exercise produces centralization of the symptoms, I suggest doing it frequently throughout the day. In addition, there are other self-treatment recommendations in my free ebook on the website shown on the video.
Good luck!
DrGeorgeBest 2 years ago
Hi Dr.George,Thanks for these great videos,I ve been diagnosed with posterior disc protrusion at L4/L5 to the left.and i have been experiencing lower back and left leg pain.Ive tried physiotherapy for a while and it actually worked but then the pain came back after a while and now iam undergoing physiotherapy again.iam hesitant to undergo surgery as iam still very young(22).should i try these exercises in this video for my case?Thanks in Advance
Awagih517 2 years ago
The exercise shown in the video will likely help. I also suggest you get my free ebook with additional self-treatment tips on the website shown on the video.
Good luck!
DrGeorgeBest 2 years ago
I've registered on your website and followed your exercises (thank you for making them available).
Physio hasdiagnosed me with Sciatica in left leg re hern/protuding disc in the lower spine (although no MRI to confirm). It started 6 weeks ago and has shown some improvement.
The mckenzie stretch only creates pain in my left butt, but i have an almost constant tightness in my calf and (some thigh) making moving quicker than a hobble very hard. Your thoughts on why and how to resolve this please?
wkdfrog1 2 years ago
Irritation of the lumbosacral nerves from a disc protrusion will often cause contraction and spasm in the calf muscle. As long as the McKenzie exercise does not cause additional pain down the leg, it is OK to use it frequently. In addition, I recommend using cold packs on the low back on a frequent basis (about 15 minutes at a time up to every 1-2 hrs) to control inflammation. Depending on the severity of the protrusion, it could take several weeks to resolve the problem.
DrGeorgeBest 2 years ago
i have sciatica and numbness in my left arm.
im sooo worried!
riotriotriot55 2 years ago
Sciatica and numbness in the arm are probably separate problems, although they could have been brought on by the same cause. Since you have more than one issue, my advice is to try to get a referral to a chiropractor to get things checked out and find out what needs to be done. Good luck!
DrGeorgeBest 2 years ago
I've been dealing with lower back pain for years. It also feels like my neck is out as well as between my shoulder blades... I'm afraid to see a chiropractor because it feels like if someone starts torquing on me that they will break me in two. What do u think?
FreedomConstitution1 2 years ago
Chiropractic in general is quite safe, but for those who are fearful of manual manipulation, I suggest checking into low-force techniques such as Activator or ProAdjuster. These techniques use instruments that produce gentle taps that ease the joints back into motion. In my experience, low-force methods take a little longer to get the job done than manual techniques, but they work well in most cases and are a lot less frightening to new chiropractic patients.
DrGeorgeBest 2 years ago
@FreedomConstitution1 chiropractors are trained, i'd seek one out..
explain your fears, etc.
riotriotriot55 2 years ago
Unfortunately, no. Sciatica with pregnancy is usually due to pressure from the fetus on the sciatic nerve rather than from a bulging disc (which is what this exercise is intended for). Some women with sciatica from pregancy do get relief from low-force chiropractic treatment because it can move the pelvic bones just enough to ease pressure on the nerve. I suggest you consult with a chiropractor who uses either Activator or ProAdjuster. Good luck!
DrGeorgeBest 2 years ago
Hey Doc,
This has been a very beneficial exercise, it has really helped me push the nerve anterior as i suffer from sciatica. Although, i think i may be overusing this stretch. Could there be damage to the muscle tissue in the lower back and upper buttock if the stretch is performed too often. Overstretching?
wader45 2 years ago
It's not so much a problem of overstretching or muscle damage, but it can cause some jamming and/or irritation of the facet joints in the lumbar spine, which in turn can cause some soreness and muscle reaction. This will usually resolve within a few days as you reduce the frequency of the exercise. Applying a cold pack to the low back for about 10 minutes a few times per day helps too. If the soreness remains, it can be alleviated with massage and/or chiropractic treatment.
DrGeorgeBest 2 years ago
Hi doctor, Ive had sciatica for over a year now in my right lower back/leg/calf. The pain is the worst when im stading up and not moving. I thought it has been disc related this whole time but doing the mckenzie method causes my whole leg to go numb. forward flexion causes no pain at all. any ideas?
BoardOnSnoh 2 years ago
A couple of possibilities come to mind. The disc may be ruptured so the extension cannot effectively shift the disc material away from the nerve. The other possibility is that you have bone spurring and/or ligament thickening in the joints at the back of the spine. In either case, extension will narrow the space around the nerve and cause greater compression, while flexion opens up the space around the nerve and takes pressure off. I suggest an MRI to further evaluate the situation.
DrGeorgeBest 2 years ago
Tx Dr. Best
I have spent 2 1/2months unable to stand up straight because of L5-S1 disc herniation. All this time I had incredible sciatic pain below the knee. It felt like someone hit my left leg with a bat, litterally, 24/7. A week ago, I was prescribed an anti-inflamatory; diclofenac sodium 75mg. After a week of taking it I now stand up straight and the pain is almost all gone!!! Inflamation, I now realize, is a huge enemy.
nickster699 2 years ago
I'm glad to hear you are doing better. Good luck for continued recovery.
DrGeorgeBest 2 years ago
Just to add....it is refreshing for me to come across someone such as yourself with that sound understanding of the issues and I absolutely agree that each person has different requirements for healing and subsequent strengthening and mobilisation, what works for one sometimes doesn't work for another.
Whilst I don't wish these complaints on anyone it helps me greatly to have experienced what I have when dealing with people who have similar complaints and was always a problem when seeking help.
cspace1234nz 2 years ago
Hey there doc, just bouncing around your various videos and as mentioned it seems you have a very sound understanding of the issues here when there are an awful lot of "medical professionals" who don't
McKenzie's understandings, which I also discovered some years ago, were revolutionary at the time and seems are yet to be discovered by some
There are so many awful videos on youtube that promote the complete opposite, that is, forward bending, which tends to aggravate the various complaints
cspace1234nz 2 years ago
What seems to be missed by many health care professionals is that you have to handle each patient as an individual (which requires time and attention that is often missing in today's "managed care" world). Forward flexion may work very well for someone with spinal stenosis due to facet arthrosis, while people with disc protrusions tend to do better with extension.
DrGeorgeBest 2 years ago
Yes you are absolutely correct.
As a long-term yoga practitioner and teacher I specialise these days in low back (and a few other bits) due to some long term injuries I have had to deal with which have included various bouts of very serious sciatica once requiring emergency surgery and various long periods of rehab after relapse.
The fundamental anatomical problem remains but I have never had to take medication and my quality of life has always remained high in spite of these complaints.
cspace1234nz 2 years ago
Hello Dr.
I have been plagued with a L5-S1 disc herniation for 2 months now with NO improvments whatsoever; even though I am resting and not working... I cant stand up straight and am living with sciatic nerve pain 24/7.Also I have lost 10 pounds despite the fact that i am eating normally and inactive... How do I know if am gonna need surgery Doc? What do u think?
Thanks in advance
I wrote to u a month ago... Nick
nickster699 2 years ago