I am a 43 yr old woman with 2 teens. I sit ALL day at a computer but do a fair amount of walking in the evenings. I had a bad bout with sciatica a fews years ago (brought on by a long car ride) and developed piriformis syndrome as a result. I have lower back problems (and fractured my tailbone when I was 18) so I cannot sleep on my back or stand for long periods. I drink too much soda and not enough water, I use too much salt, am overweight, and am in desperate need of a new mattress. I am working on these bad habits but it's hard when you are cranky and tired from lack of sleep. I have pain in my left hip (from previous sciatica and piriformis) that I notice during the day but I have that dull ache that keeps you up at night in BOTH hips...and have for quite some time. I just keep turning over...all night long. Car trips (and bucket seats) are BIG triggers for additional pain. Pain in my left buttocks is worse with inclines and stairs. It has become even harder to lose weight as I cannot work out like I would like to. I have noticed that I can get a good stretch in my hip when I prop my leg up to put on my tennis shoes...but I think I am overstretching my left since I do this more reflexively now to relieve the pain. I am losing hope on ever "fixing" me. When I had sciatica so bad previously, I increased my walking since that was the only activity I could do without pain. Then I developed plantar fasciitis from all the walking. To help heal the plantar fasciitis, I need to do low impact exercises. I switched to the stationary bike at the gym (the kind where your legs are in front of you) and found that I could only do this for short periods as my left leg and foot would go numb from the extension of my legs from sciatica, I guess. I am really out of alignment now...I need help! I obviously know that losing weight will help but it's near impossible with diet alone when I cannot do inclines, high mileage walking, running, or the stationary bike, especially when I work at a desk all day. Any suggestions?
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I am a 43 yr old woman with 2 teens. I sit ALL day at a computer but do a fair amount of walking in the evenings. I had a bad bout with sciatica a fews years ago (brought on by a long car ride) and developed piriformis syndrome as a result. I have lower back problems (and fractured my tailbone when I was 18) so I cannot sleep on my back or stand for long periods. I drink too much soda and not enough water, I use too much salt, am overweight, and am in desperate need of a new mattress. I am working on these bad habits but it's hard when you are cranky and tired from lack of sleep. I have pain in my left hip (from previous sciatica and piriformis) that I notice during the day but I have that dull ache that keeps you up at night in BOTH hips...and have for quite some time. I just keep turning over...all night long. Car trips (and bucket seats) are BIG triggers for additional pain. Pain in my left buttocks is worse with inclines and stairs. It has become even harder to lose weight as I cannot work out like I would like to. I have noticed that I can get a good stretch in my hip when I prop my leg up to put on my tennis shoes...but I think I am overstretching my left since I do this more reflexively now to relieve the pain. I am losing hope on ever "fixing" me. When I had sciatica so bad previously, I increased my walking since that was the only activity I could do without pain. Then I developed plantar fasciitis from all the walking. To help heal the plantar fasciitis, I need to do low impact exercises. I switched to the stationary bike at the gym (the kind where your legs are in front of you) and found that I could only do this for short periods as my left leg and foot would go numb from the extension of my legs from sciatica, I guess. I am really out of alignment now...I need help! I obviously know that losing weight will help but it's near impossible with diet alone when I cannot do inclines, high mileage walking, running, or the stationary bike, especially when I work at a desk all day. Any suggestions?
December 6, 2011 - 10:47amThis Comment
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