Sciatica

[Volt]

Like others, reading this has made me feel your pain. C6/C7 herniated and 2 discs in the lumbar area. I <3 my prednisone and percocets, heating pads, electro stim, traction for the neck,..... damn getting old sucks but the other option is worse.

[shilala]

My backbone looks like it got run through a sausage grinder. I got some hardware installed last year that took care of the bottom, but I've still got a dozen herniations, Schmorl's nodes, Tarlov cysts, and a lot of degradation of the bone. A few endplate fractures, too.
The best management for me is lots of ice coupled with anti-inflammatories and rest. Once the swelling/inflammation is out, the pain goes to a reasonable level.
I read all the stuff you mentioned, Moses. You're right on the money. In my experience, there's no sense in stopping doing anything I want to do. My back will go south if I'm working hard or hardly working. There's really no rhyme nor reason. So I just do whatever I want and suffer the consequence when it arrives.
It takes a long time until anything gets better, but you sound like you're on the right track.

[mosesbotbol]

Going on two weeks and still in much pain. Went to chiro twice and now upping the ice more frequently. Was able to ride 15 miles yesterday and actually felt strong. The riding position did not irritate nerve. I notice the tight piriformis muscle adding to problem. Stretching it is so painful initially, but worth it. It takes longer to warm up to get a good stretch if I go to the treadmill.

Going to be hard to refrain for weights, but as long as I can bike, I'll wait it out.