Some sit-ups and now have sciatica

[JimmyV]

Hi there,

I did an ab and core workout 5 days ago and everything seemed fine afterwards, that is until the next day. When I woke up I noticed that there was some pain down the back of my right thigh, at the bottom of my back and some tingling in my foot. I thought it was just some DOMS but now I realise that it is sciatica and the pain is getting a little worse.

I will probably go and see my Dr soon , but I just wanted to get some advice from people that might have had such problems and know how to get through it. I am not taking any pain killers, as it's not that painful, but just really uncomfortable and annoying.

Cheers,
JimmyV

 

[donjob]

see a good chiropractor before a doctor. some things doctors are useless for. until then try a heating pad and if you have a girlfriend or wife a nice massage, maybe some stretching. this has never happened to me and i'm totally pulling all this out of my ass, but it should work. except for the chiropractor thing, i'm not pulling that out of my ass. i never go to chiros but i would in your situation, a doctor ain't gonna do shit for it but possibly perscribe you pain meds/tell you to take tylenol, or if they "think" it's serious enough want to do surgery. or send you to therapy. next time don't push yourself too hard if you're not used to it man. don't let this discourage you from working out man! i've never injured myself lifting, you just need to get in tune with your body and know what you can and can't lift, also know your absoloute limits.

 

[Ocdude]

What are you on currently? Would you say you have had any back pumps that may have inflamed the nerves?
Either way, I'd say give the sit ups and lower back a break if the pain continues. Strenuous workouts are only going to make it worse bro. And ^^^^ definitely go see a chiropractor for a consult, just to see what he finds.

 

[JimmyV]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Currently I am 8 weeks into a Test E cycle (@500mg/wk), hCG, Aromasin, Avodart. I was getting back pumps like crazy at the start, but less so now. So I guess that might have had an effect.

I will carry on working out as if anything, it helps the nerve twinging quite a bit. If it continues, I will go see a Chiropractor (thanks, I wouldn't have thought about that).

Thanks again!
JimmyV

 

[SlimEuroTraveler]

Hi there,

I did an ab and core workout 5 days ago and everything seemed fine afterwards, that is until the next day. When I woke up I noticed that there was some pain down the back of my right thigh, at the bottom of my back and some tingling in my foot. I thought it was just some DOMS but now I realise that it is sciatica and the pain is getting a little worse.

I will probably go and see my Dr soon , but I just wanted to get some advice from people that might have had such problems and know how to get through it. I am not taking any pain killers, as it's not that painful, but just really uncomfortable and annoying.

Cheers,
JimmyV

Sit-ups? I haven't see anybody doing sit-ups in a long time.... With all the new ab machines and all, I thought that was an exercise of the past !!!

I am sorry to hear about your pain, but as a back pain sufferer, I can tell you that whenever back pain radiates down your leg then you have a problem that warrants a little more than a heating pad. Chiropractors.........well, half the people love them and the other half find no relief. In my experience, it seems that they are only helpful when something is knocked out of place (disc shifted or something). On the other hand, they are kind of tricky. Business is never "booming" for them and they like to extend treatment 'just because.' They are never transparent about what the problem is and most of the time they just don't know. They are only privy to whatever shows on that iconic x-ray machine, but nerves are causing the pain and they cannot explain something they cannot see.

My advice

See your general practitioner / regular doctor --- like donjob said, the doctor's first impulse will be to send you home with Tylenol, but tell him you'd like to see a specialist (either a neurologist, or my favorite, a physiatrist ----- pronounced: "fis-eye-a-trist"). You will get much more face-to-face time with the physiatrist, because they are like glorified neurologists who try to understand the root of pain and to address it. They do not like to prescribe to address symptoms unless absolutely necessary.

Note: If you can get in to see a physiatrist without a referral from your general practitioner, then I encourage it. It's all going to depend on your insurance policy and what they require.

Nerve pain is not something you "wait and see" about. Sciatica is just a symptom of another problem. The underlying problem could have been present for a while, but maybe the sit-ups exacerbated it ... and now you feel it.

Good luck man,

 

[MrMitcheyBoy]

Eurgh I hate does ab machines, nothing beats good old fashioned sit ups, v ups, crunches.

 

[briancushing5610]

Hi there,

I did an ab and core workout 5 days ago and everything seemed fine afterwards, that is until the next day. When I woke up I noticed that there was some pain down the back of my right thigh, at the bottom of my back and some tingling in my foot. I thought it was just some DOMS but now I realise that it is sciatica and the pain is getting a little worse.

I will probably go and see my Dr soon , but I just wanted to get some advice from people that might have had such problems and know how to get through it. I am not taking any pain killers, as it's not that painful, but just really uncomfortable and annoying.

Cheers,
JimmyV

Sit ups are very dangerous exercise imo. They put an extreme amount of stress on the discs on the lower back(can result in disc herniations!) Look up work by Dr stuart mcgill for more info. There are much better exercises like planks, ab wheel, front squats, medicine ball throws etc. I know bashing sit ups goes against bodybuilding dogma but I think it needs to be addressed.

 

[MrMitcheyBoy]

Sit ups are very dangerous exercise imo. They put an extreme amount of stress on the discs on the lower back(can result in disc herniations!) Look up work by Dr stuart mcgill for more info. There are much better exercises like planks, ab wheel, front squats, medicine ball throws etc. I know bashing sit ups goes against bodybuilding dogma but I think it needs to be addressed.

That's only if your a dumbass and pull yourself up with your hands behind your neck. If you do them properly with your hands across your chest there's no problem.