Sciatica

[Crystal]

No it's not a new breed of pet.

it's my pain in the butt! literally! Does anyone else here have sciatic nerve pain? I think I might be having a hard time now due to lifting. I have given up most big dogs that I can't lift, except a few I just don't have the heart to.

Today I did two at one stop, and I just can't give them up, they are old dogs with problems and I love them, been grooming them since the beginning of my grooming career.

But got home today and I think I pulled my groin muscle AND a little pain in the rear too from sciatic nerve pressure. I have another doctor appointment, but I hope that this is not chronic for me. I think next is physical therapy.

Is there still life in grooming after back problems? I'm afraid for my grooming future. My doctor already told me previously not to lift if I can help it. I had to spell it out for him that I am mobile and work alone, so he said make it 30 to 40 pounds - around here that's a maltese. Just kidding- but seriously, that limits the types of dogs I can groom - bigtime!

[Bearmtn]

If you don't get it under control it could end your grooming. I had trouble for many years, from grooming. I had a good chiropractor that kept me going. Than my back got bad and ended up on workers comp. I than had physical therapy and exercises. I got better, but not well enough to groom that much and a year later had surgery, which I wish I had had before. I have been back to grooming 4 years now.

Thing is I not only had pain in my rear but down my leg with loss of feeling in my foot. My hip hurt so bad that I could hardly walk. Sounds like if you take care of your back you could get it under control. Lifting heavy dogs and bending over too much, and especially bending over to pick them up is very bad. Learn correct lifting habits. Always break your knees when doing so. I break my knees at the tub, as I am too tall for the tub.

[toomuchfunbnme]

That is really painful. I hope that it doesn't worsen and affect your grooming further. Heated seats in your van might feel nice.

[Helly]

Sciatica can be one of the most excruciating pains you can experience. I fell several years ago and ruptured a disc, resulting in severe sciatica. The "My whole leg is on fire, and I feel like I'm sitting on a knife" type of pain.

I went to my chiro for a month, and it started getting better. Then, as I was getting in my car, it came roaring back with a vengence. I ended up in the ER it was so bad.

Gave up on chiro, went to doctor. Went to another doctor. Went for MRI, then to two neurologists. Went to hospital and had surgery. Woke up with a painful incision, but the rest of the pain was GONE!

Did it stay gone? Nope. I still have aches, I still get a stabbing pain in my butt once in a while. My feet are numb, and I get the creepy crawly sensations down both legs sometimes. But I can live with it. And I don't do really large dogs anymore.

Everyone is different, and every injury is different. I'd give chiropractic a chance, and see if he/she can open the disc space enough to get the pressure off. It often works miracles. In my case it didn't because a piece of disc was torn loose and moving around. A chiro can't fix that. But they can often work with a bulging disc.

[diamienono]

yes there is. I went to my chiropractor and found out I had a pinched nerve. I am now almost all better. I have started using my eliptical to strengthen my back. I will get better soon and have a strong back. I will not give up doing my big dogs. I just work smarter not harder.

[cassidy1]

Back Pain

I am currently dealing with lower back pain myself, I just found out I have arthritis in that region. Its a big bummer but there is alot that can be done. I would ask your doctor to refer you to the pain clinic at your hospital. When sciatica flares you can get steriod injections which immediately reduce the inflammation. There are other new therapies with ultrasound and the like that can help. I tried physical therapy and ended up with hip pain which I never had before! I know that keeping your core toned is important and something that I am going to work on once my back settles a bit. Do you have a ramp in your van? I would really try to devise that and steps and then have the dog climb from the tub onto the table. Good Luck!

[Raggs]

I have scoliosis and it's pinching my sciatica. I'm in pain every single day. I don't let it bother me. There's nothing that can be done for mine. If I step wrong or sit wrong it shoots more pain down my right leg. I know how ya feel.

[RevWind]

massage/chiropractor

Depending on what is causing the sciatica, a regular massage or chirop. visit could be in order. If it is caused by a muscle entrapment (like the piriformis muscle) then a massage on your low back, gluteus muscles (aka, your butt) and the hamstrings would be of great help. People don't realize how much tension is stored in your butt. Honestly, a good butt massage can be REALLY helpful for low back pain and some nerve pain. You can request that your massage therapist work through the sheets if you have privacy issues. Otherwise, just the area being worked (aka, one cheek) is exposed at any given time. If it's caused by a nerve impingement, then a chirop. visit would be more appropriate. Definitely back it up with an occasional massage to help keep the spine and muscles where they belong. If you own your own business (which I hope to soon) you can write it all off as business/health expenses I'd imagine.

Another thing you can do on your own, especially if it's a muscle problem, is stretch your thigh and butt area. Cross your leg, and hold under your knee and pull it towards your chest for a good stretch to your glutes.

[minkyboodle]

I find then my back/sciatic nerve is acting up that stretching/yoga really really helps. Mine isn't usually a constant pain, its just sometimes and usually will only show itself if I've been standing on one leg and go to put the other down and that other one i wasn't standing on gives way with a slight pain down that leg. Luckily it isn't all the time, but stretching and yoga really really help out.

If you can find a place to learn how to properly lift stuff, how to properly stand and such will help a lot. Try to learn how to use your abdominal muscles instead of your back muscles will help too.

[Plexi]

Yes, I am having problems again with my sciatica nerve, I went to the Chiropractor and he made it so bad I couldn't even hardly walk out of his office. So with ice/heat for 4 days and Aleve pills, it started to stop hurting so bad but still hurts alot. My husband just bought me a inversion table that you hang upside down, see if that helps. humm

[mustluvdogs1]

Hope you went to Chiro.

I limit my bus to 40lb. If you go bigger try weekends when a man may be near to lift..or get lady ...not worth the long term pai.n. HSN used to sell Dr Hos' little electric current deep muscle massage. I turn it way up. It is w/ AA bateries. dial hi/lo 10/20 min. Sticky pads wet and relax. It is like a strong carpert shock..but IT Works I love it..Low go sleepy time. When sticky gone yI have roller massage chair..from bed N bath.. not as good..casn make worse.y.ou can get roll on like deodorant bottle of sticky used for medical appliance .Try it...not too expensive for relief. Exercises in pool messed me up sciatica...Chiro wouod have had me for months..stopped pool frog legs and I got betterr. I know.. spasms with foot on brake.Yeoooweee.Moist heat pad helps too.Set Alarm or you can fsll asleep and it could be dangerous. 20 minutes tops. Ice 20 back and forth. Frozen peas if not Chiro ice.

[k9stylist1968]

People don't realize how much tension is stored in your butt.



THAT'S why my butt is so big.... all my tension is stored there! heeheeheehee

[diamienono]

People don't realize how much tension is stored in your butt.



THAT'S why my butt is so big.... all my tension is stored there! heeheeheehee

I guess that is why my butt is HUGE lol

[Puttin510]

People don't realize how much tension is stored in your butt.

THAT'S why my butt is so big.... all my tension is stored there! heeheeheehee

That was funny, sort of a loaded statment. LOL
New here,
I totally agree with the stretching. When I would get that tingly feeling in my leg at night when I was trying to sleep, I'd get up and stretch my calve and my ankle muscles. Much much better. I notice when I have too much extra weight it bothers me, when my weight is decent, no tingle.
After going to the chiropractor that is what saved me.
If you can groom without bending to much, you will be better off. Hard to do probably in a van.
Strengthen your back, try to keep weight down.

[Crystal]

Last night my husband helped me out by giggling my butt and I laid on the floor and he sat in a chair and massaged with the heal of his foot. That actually worked really well, today I felt pretty good.

I haven't been getting pain like Helly mentioned from the fall, which sounds like that really was horrible for you Helly. Sounds like it was enough to say some really bad words.

For me, it seems to be more of a dull ache and it usually starts hurting late in the day after a long work day, sometimes on the ride home and it's been painful for a day or two at a time.

As soon as I get the ok from my doc, I think I will start doing some strength training and visit a chiro. I wish everyone the best of health for their grooming.