Sciatica Help Please

[HeyWayne]

I get Sciatica (too many horseriding accidents in my youth!).

I always felt that if I could hang upside down somehow that it would straighten me out and relieve the pain which went right down the back of my right leg.

We invested in an inversion table and it does really help, even on a shallow incline I can hear my back going crack crack crack - its great!

I have an inversion table if anyone wants it? I'm too big for it.

[piskieinboots]

I have an inversion table if anyone wants it? I'm too big for it.

will it make me taller?

[HeyWayne]

will it make me taller?

If you hold on to heavy weights at the same time, it just might...

[Pumpkin Becki]

will it make me taller?

But not as tall as Wayne (or maybe that is why he is sooo tall!)

[HeyWayne]

But not as tall as Wayne (or maybe that is why he is sooo tall!)

No, I'm afraid my height is a result of my Mum going through the hard times of the 70's. To save money, she'd wash me in my clothes and then hang the whole lot out to dry by my ankles.

[Pumpkin Becki]

No, I'm afraid my height is a result of my Mum going through the hard times of the 70's. To save money, she'd wash me in my clothes and then hang the whole lot out to dry by my ankles.

Yes, we've seen the washing line remember! (They were electricity pylons - for those who missed it )

[HeyWayne]

Back on topic - Shortie, before doing anything, I'd suggest seeking a professional opinion to ascertain the cause before treating the symptoms if you haven't already done so.

[piskieinboots]

I concur with Wayne - Shorty get proper medical advise, we can all offer what works for us in here but you really need to know what you have before kicking off with a fixing plan

[Pumpkin Becki]

Absolutely!

[SlugLobber]

Hi Shortie (or soon to become Longie??),

Your employer should provide you with a VDU workstation assessment as part of Health and Safety Bulls*t-I mean legislation. Ask for one from your HR department. In it they will assess the height of your screen, your chair, distance away from screen, angle of chair back, whether or not you need a footrest (if you cannot see at the correct angle/distance/height with your feet FLAT on the floor, you have to have a footrest).

If sciatica is a direct result of your position at work, then OH (Occupational Health) is obliged to rectify it. As a guide, you should be taking a break every hour to do non-desk activities.

Until you get it sorted out, make sure that you have your computer screen top level with your eyes (so that you just about look down to the screen content). Your lower arms and wrists should be horizontal, as should your thighs, with the chair back supporting the SMALL of your back. OH also can provide chair supports, which I had when I had sciatica.

As for medication, when I suffered I was on Tramadol and diazepam. I was feeling very happy on Christmas Day last year, with no alcohol!

For cure, I changed jobs and started using the pool at work. I haven't suffered sciatica since March, when I started swimming.

ETA: The only reason I know about this is because I have to perform room and lab inspections, for Health and Safety. I didn't CHOOSE to know it!!