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Freedom from Sciatica Back PainHaving suffered from sciatica pain for several years, I’m happy to say that it has been five years since my last knockdown, drag-out flare up and I’m working proactively to keep it that way. Now don’t get me wrong; Ms. Sciatica has tried to clear her painful throat a few times, but when she did I knew it was because I had slacked on my preventive protocol. Just one “Ahem” from Ms. Sciatica was enough to get me back on track.

What Am I Doing to Keep My Sciatica Pain at Bay?

Well, I’m doing quite a few things.

Sciatica Pain Relief Tool #1: Hydration

First of all, I’m staying hydrated. Dehydration for sciatica sufferers can bring on an attack. Healthy spinal discs are well hydrated. Chronic dehydration causes the spinal discs to lose their healthy full-fluid sponginess. The more dehydrated the discs become, the increased likelihood of back troubles. Check out Dr. Sebastian Lattuga’s blog post Disc vs. Dehydration, Don’t Risk It.

Sciatica Pain Relief Tool #2: Antioxidants – Vitamin C

I make sure to keep my body saturated with as many antioxidants as I can. I try to get the majority of my antioxidants from foods. To that end, I eat plenty of green leafy veggies, colorful berries and take vitamin C. I take far fewer vitamin C capsules now than I had in the past. I also switched from synthetic vitamin C to Pure Radiance vitamin C made by the Pure Synergy Company. They use natural, non-synthetic forms of vitamin C and my stomach seems to like it much better.

To quote from one of my favorite Doctors of Nutrition, Dr. Andrew Saul, “long-term inadequacy of vitamin C causes weak spinal disks.” Vitamin C helps in the production of collagen. Low levels of collagen contribute to unhealthy spinal discs. It is my goal to help my discs become and remain healthy so I try to maintain adequate antioxidant and vitamin C levels.

Sciatica Pain Relief Tool #3: Lower Back Nodule Massage

I found out that the little nodule on my lower back to the right of my spine is referred to as the back mouse. While my back mouse doesn’t bother me 98% of the time, I find that massaging it on the rare 2% of the time when Ms. Sciatica starts clearing her throat makes things feel better.

TENS Unit for Sciatica Pain Relief

Sciatica Pain Relief Tool #4: Electronic Stimulation

When my chiropractor recommended purchasing a TENS unit, I jumped on it. I didn’t realize just how much relief it would provide. When I feel twinges of the tell-tale sciatica tightness, I zap it with the TENS unit. It usually only takes one 30 minute session to set things straight.

Sciatica Pain Relief Tool #5: Back Decompression

I have a simple and not so simple method of decompressing my back. The simple method is my kitchen counter. I place both hands on the kitchen counter and lift as much of my weight as I can. I’m too tall to lift my feet off the ground, but by leaning slightly forward, I’m able to take quite a bit of weight off of my lower body. Doing this helps to stretch my back. The trick is to relax the back muscles while shifting weight to the arms/hands to decompress the back.

The not so simple method for decompressing my back is an inversion table. Yes, I went online and purchased the Ironman 4000 inversion table. It does wonders for my back, but my ankles aren’t so fond of it. With inversion tables, you must start slow and very slowly increase the incline and duration of time spent on the inversion table. I think I might have increased both the incline and amount of time too quickly as my ankles got angry. I didn’t want to shift anger from my back to my ankles, so I took time off from the inversion table for my ankles to recover. In the meanwhile, I’ve been using the kitchen counter method.Inversion Table for Sciatica Pain Relief

FYI, both methods have gotten the nod of approval from my chiropractor. As a matter of fact, I believe the back decompression method has reduced the frequency of my chiropractic visits. Prior to implementing my back decompression practice, I made 3 visits to the chiropractor.  Since I purchased the inversion table in late April and began implementing the decompression practice, I’ve only had 1 chiropractic visit and that visit was because I did something to my neck.

Sciatica Pain Relief Tool #6: Proteolytic Enzymes

I believe I’ve written about them before. If not, here’s the scoop. Proteolytic enzymes are great for pain and inflammation. They’re my ibuprofen replacement. They’re gentle on the stomach and instead of negative side effects, they have positive side benefits.

I started out with bromelain/papain and eventually switched to natto/serrapeptase. I only switched because I had a difficult time finding the bromelain/papain at a reasonable price. For some reason, my capsules doubled and then tripled in price so I opted for a less expensive alternative. Enter Doctor’s Best Natto Serrapeptase. I take a few proteolytic enzymes several times a day for a day or two to knock out any pain or swelling.

Sciatica Pain Relief Tool #7: Magnesium

I have a transdermal spray of magnesium that I put on every day after I shower. I spray it all over and then follow it up with my usual lotions. Early on I took oral magnesium, but I found that over time I got tired of taking capsules and opted for the transdermal method instead. According to Dr. Sircus, oral magnesium takes about a year to “top off” a depleted magnesium condition while transdermally takes about 2 or 3 months.

I haven’t been to a doctor to have them test my magnesium levels, but the body has its own regulating system. If I take too much magnesium orally, I’ll have a very upfront and personal relationship with the bathroom. If I spray too much magnesium transdermally, my body will take what it needs and not absorb the rest. Gotta love the magnificence of the human body.

Sciatica Pain Relief Tool #8: MovementRebounder

Sitting at the computer all day is asking for a sciatica flare-up. I use walking and rebounding on a mini-trampoline as my exercises of choice (I use the JumpSport model 250). That followed with a few minutes of stretching exercises has been keeping things fluid and pain-free.

In summary, my routine seems like a lot, but if you’ve ever had a full-blown sciatica attack, you’ll do whatever it takes to avoid having another one.  Recently things have been very quiet for me so I haven’t been decompressing my back daily (although I probably should). Also, the TENS unit is used on an as-needed basis.  I really haven’t had the need to use it for quite some time.  I do, however, keep hydrated, eat properly, take vitamin C, spritz with magnesium and engage in mild forms of exercise/stretching daily. As such I haven’t had to pull out the big guns. The big gun in my case is my chiropractor.

In my last flare-up 5 years ago it took several months of working with my chiropractor to feel good again.  The further down the sciatica road you go, the longer it takes to get back on the right track. I do what I do in order not to go down that road again!

Sciatica Pain Relief Tool #9: Prevention is Key

Prevention is important not only with sciatica, but with any condition that compromises the body. Instead of giving your power over to a doctor and pharmaceutical company, why not educate yourself. It will take time, effort, experimentation and help from professionals other than the traditional family doctor before you get things right, but once you get things right it’s golden!

Update 8/2/18: Still free from sciatica pain!

Another Update 1/23/20: Still free from sciatica pain!


About the author: Felicia has learned the hard way that health, whether good or bad, is a result of daily choices and habits. On this blog, Felicia shares what she’s learned and the healthier choices she now makes as a result of her new knowledge. She hopes to encourage others to experiment to find alternative solutions to nagging problems (she’s also is a bit of a tree hugger and likes to share ways to lighten the toxic burden on the environment).

in Back, Chiropractor, Sciatica

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Theresa September 9, 2020, 2:17 am

    I’m 25. Suffered a high ankle sprain to my left ankle in July of last year while drinking (I’m a lightweight). The ankle healed after 6 months of physiotherapy but I’ve been plagued by lower back pain (maybe 4 months post-ankle-injury) ever since. It’s progressed to upper back pain, neck pain and now diffuse pain in arms, chest and rib.

    It’s horrible. Everyday I feel a pang in my chest I think “is this it?” but the ECG came back normal. An MRI of my whole spine showed no significant – significant enough to be causing my symptoms – herniations, just evidence of muscle spasm and lordosis. I suspect my muscles have trapped my nerves and that’s why I feel sciatic pain, tingliness and have disorientation in my hands. I’m at my wit’s end trynna figure this out – the doc’s think it’s all in my head or psychosomatic due to my anxiety – so tomorrow I’m going in to check my magnesium level. I hope this saga will end soon. I’m so glad yours did.

    • Felicia September 11, 2020, 9:24 am

      Hi Theresa,

      So sorry to hear about your pain. I do not think it’s all in your head. There’s definitely something going on there.

      If you’ve read my journey with sciatica, it took a while before I figured out how to correct things. In reading about your condition, I have to wonder about your diet. Sometimes these issues, such as magnesium deficiency, muscle tightness, and back problems stem from the body not receiving the necessary nutrients to rebuild itself, thus making you susceptible to sprains, and lengthy healing.

      You’re a young woman and shouldn’t be undergoing these issues. I’ve noticed in my years of reading and researching my own health, that carbs and sugars tend to deplete the body of necessary minerals. Unfortunately, most tests will not pick up certain levels of nutritional deficiencies and thus render the prognosis of “It’s all in your head.”

      I don’t know enough about your daily habits, but maybe you should take some time to reflect on your diet and do research accordingly. Between stretching, movement, chiropractic and nutrition, I was able to resolve my sciatica issue. I believe you can find the key to your health issues too. If I can be of help, please let me know.

      Wishing you the best!

  • Glenys T November 24, 2019, 3:37 pm

    I’m 63 and over last few months was having excruciating lower back pain and spasms, diagnosed after xrays and consultation as osteoporosis, plus sciatic nerve problems. Blood tests also showed a high calcium level and kidney/renal issues. Chiropractor helped, but were still taking up to 12 paracetamol tabs per day plus codine and ibuprofen if needed as prescriptions. We instead decided to consider our diet. To address the calcium imbalance we started taking 2000iu of vitamin D3 with 200mcg of K2. For the inflammation, some tumeric tablets and magnesium cream rubbed daily on our upper legs and buttock area. After just 3 weeks of this the pain is almost gone and down to just 2 paracetamol per day, if needed…

    • Felicia November 25, 2019, 7:18 am

      Thanks for sharing your journey, Glenys. It’s further proof that we are what we eat! Too many times we run to the doctor to cure conditions that we ate our way into. I’m so happy to hear that you’re doing better and even happier to hear how you did it. You’re an inspiration!

  • Marsha Thornton December 20, 2018, 11:38 pm

    Not sure if my other comment went through.
    I have had severe sciatica nerve pain for 10 months that started with hip pain due to a herniated disc.
    I have tried everything. Would you be willing to refer me to your chiropractor? I am willing to travel.

    • Felicia December 21, 2018, 7:51 am

      Yes, Marsha. I’d be willing to refer my chiropractor. How about we discuss the details offline. I’ll email you.

  • EP April 22, 2017, 10:50 am

    I have done ALL of the above except trampoline. No relief yet and i am four months with this agony. Was VERY active more than anyone i know. Sciatica flated ivernight and has not left

    • Felicia April 22, 2017, 3:24 pm

      EP, I’m sorry to hear about your sciatica flare up. My only suggestion to you is to make sure you have the RIGHT chiropractor to begin your journey of healing.

      During my sciatica episodes I had to change chiropractors. The first one I went to would see me weekly with no improvement. The second one I went to started out with 3 sessions a week. Each session was about an hour if not longer. As things got better he reduced number of weekly sessions He not only explained to me what was going on to cause my sciatica, he did hot sonograms, deep tissue massage (and I mean painfully deep), spinal manipulation and electronic stimulation.

      He explained what he was doing each step and gave me exercises to do for each step of the journey. The initial exercises were very mild because of the severity of my condition. He also recommended hot Epsom salt baths.

      It took about a month and a half to rectify my situation. I had let it go too far and we had a long arduous fight to get me back in shape. He was a lifesaver. Not all chiropractors are as detailed in their approach. I realized that after my experience with my first chiropractor.

      He was the one who recommended the inversion table and several of the other methods I use to keep things at bay. So, my recommendation to you is to find the right chiropractor to lead you on your way to health.

      If I could be of any help, please let me know.