One of the pleasures of trapped sciatic nerves is that there is so little that one can actually do, beyond snarling at everyone in sight, lying on the floor and reading. If you cannot walk, drive, stand, sit, sleep, blog, empty the dishwasher, pick up a heavy book, retrieve soap in the shower, lace up shoes, even twist the cap off your favourite cologne (Imperial by Guerlain) without sending lightening bolts to your ankles, there's not much left to occupy one's time but haunt the chiropractor's office, snarl and read - and I've done a lot of all three this week.
It's driving me nuts, this enforced inactivity, but at least the view of the living room from the rug (Kravet, wool and silk) is novel. I wish I could be a good patient (or even just be patient) but I'm a man. Oh, by the way, if ever you're in this state do avoid sneezing.
Hello:
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing we can suggest. No quick fix, no immediate remedy, no recommendation, no advice to be offered, no consultant to consult. We fear that, in all likelihood, you will have to continue to suffer and we are so very, very sorry. But do not do so in silence. In the circumstances it helps to scream.
Our very best wishes for a speedy return to good health.
Poor Blue, all I can say is 'been there, done that'. I feel your pain.
ReplyDeleteI too suffer from sciatica, but all is not lost! It's very important to stretch it properly, (google it, and You Tube has some interesting exercises to show you). Also, if they're available, good masseurs are a godsend. I'm looking forward to returning to mine in Bangkok.
ReplyDeleteHATE to imagine the suffering you're enduring, I will share my experience FWIW: please be sure to get the underlying cause isolated and treated since "sciatica" is a symptom of an underlying cause, not a medical condition unto itself [aside from being given its own code for billing and referral purposes]. Underlying causes as you might suspect, form a spectrum of possibilities, i.e. treatment for one differs greatly from treatment for the other, so to speak. So a general purpose approach to your particular condition might be prolonging your pain rather than alleviating it. Once I got to a true physical therapist [with a true PT degree/degrees], the underlying cause was finally isolated and treated, restoring my mobility [and sanity]. Columnist is right, stretching and specific exercises appropriate to your underlying cause will bring much needed relief.
ReplyDeleteDear All, thank you! I wrote the post really just as a temporary sign-off in the hope that next week I could return to normal blogging - as I hope I shall after the MRI. Again, thank you!
ReplyDelete"after the MRI"
ReplyDeleteI am SO relieved to hear this, dear man! Til then, ta ta!
Oh dear Blue, here we all are, a group of sad-sack sciatica sufferers and sympathizers. I lost nearly all of last summer, gripped in that awful pain. Along with stretching, the heating pad was my best friend. Hope you will soon be on the mend.
ReplyDeleteFlo. thank you. Ta, ta - I have not heard in years!
ReplyDeletesmilla4blogs, thank you. Long may you not suffer again from it!
ReplyDeleteOh dear! Do hope you are keeping yourself mildly sedated until the MRI (gin is it?).My husband, the long tall guy has suffered from this and now is fixated on doing his daily exercises and walking. He does say for all of his efforts that spending time "helping" me in the garden shows him that my "gardener's yoga" of bending and stretching is an extreme sport. While I prefer the comfort of heat, I'm afraid that ice (on your back not in your drink) may be the better choice. Do keep us informed so we can help you groan and bear it.
ReplyDeleteHome before dark, thank you. I wish I could say that my preferred sedative, a Manhattan, was working but no, it is Vicodin but only at night. I'm very lazy about any form of exercise - anything long-term repetitive bores the pants off me. However, things are going to have to change. I have been strtching for weeks and bending can only be done for me by my chiropractor.
ReplyDeleteAll, thank you!!
ReplyDeleteOh you poor thing ~ this sounds awful. At least it means you can read masses of books without feeling in the slightest guilty.
ReplyDeleteAnd you can even snarl without feeling guilty too. Suddenly it doesn't seem quite so bad!
But in all seriousness, I hope it improves very quickly. (Your temper as well as the nerves!)
Happily, it appears that you can still tap out a witty, albeit brief, post. Sending many good thoughts your way. In the meantime, indulge in old movies and new novels...
ReplyDeleteOne of your more handsome creations - one of the very few instances, I'm certain, where the insertion of brand name details enhanced the sense by intensification rather than allusive distraction. Be uncomfortable whenever you like. :)
ReplyDeleteSarah Melling, thank you. Old movies, certainly - last night was a Mrs Bradley made for TV film with Diana Rigg. Also watched The Tourist and loved it both times.
ReplyDeleteBlue Fruit, thank you. I've never felt guilty about snarling - one of my many failings, I'm afraid. I'm not one of Jesus' Little Sunbeams! But, as I say, thank you.
ReplyDeleteLaurent, how kind! Thank you. :)
ReplyDeleteArrived a bit late to give you tea and sympathy as well, darling. I have a good man who massages elite athletes when he's not addressing the beached whale that is moi.
ReplyDelete