Shea Butter
★★★★★
Slippery Elm Bark Tincture
★★★★★
Stretching
★★★★★
Stretching
★★★★★
I was doing some exercises that were supposed to help increase energy, and I accidentally discovered this simple exercise sequence that cured my sciatica.
I suffered from sciatica for at least 15 years, once or twice a month, for 3 or more days at a time. I tried chiropractors & all sorts of stretching, supplements, etc; nothing helped. I always felt if I could just "pop" that little gumball-sized spot in my pelvis where all the pain started, I would feel great relief.
So all you do is this: a plank position (like a push-up position) with your feet about 12" apart. Hold for several seconds (it may be difficult). Now look up to the ceiling and lower your pelvis until it's just hovering over the floor, and again hold for several seconds. This position is also known as upward-facing dog in yoga.
Just switch between plank & dog several times. ( I believe the article recommended 3 sets of 4). You can rest by doing downward-facing dog.
If you are not strong enough for this, or can't get down on the floor, you could try this bracing yourself against a wall (remember wall push-ups from gym class?).
It may not "work" immediately. I think it took a couple of weeks, then one day as I was getting into my car, my back "popped"! And I have been sciatica-free for years. If I ever feel that tension starting to build, I just do this a couple of times; I truly truly hate push-ups, but it's worth it.
I gave this remedy to a stranger that I was chatting with at a juice bar, and a couple of weeks later we ran into each other again. I didn't recognize her right away, but she almost knocked me over in her eagerness to give me a hug and thank me! I like to pass this along whenever I can...I hope it helps!
(Traverse City, Mi)
12/23/2010
★★★★★
Thank you so much, I've had sciatica on and off frequently for several years. It would just pop up and sometimes it would last a few days, sometimes weeks. Well, I've been dealing with it for a couple days now, so sore it was painful to walk. And I just tried the plank and upward facing dog stretch and it was immediately gone! Thank you thank you thank you! I'm so excited that I don't have to deal with it anymore! I just did each position 4 times alternating back and forth and then a second set and it was 95% better after that!
Stretching
★★★★★
1.- sit on the floor. Cross on right leg over the other with the heel lined up with the knee of the left leg and then twist towards the right. Balance with your arms. Hold for a few seconds and then do it with the other leg;
2.Sit on the floor or in a chair. Clasp your hands over the right knee (leg is bent) and push against your hands and hold. Then put your hands on top of your bent knee and push up against your hands. It seems to align the bones in your hips and work the muscles that are irritating things. Of course you repeat on the other leg.
(Limerick)
07/06/2014
★★★★★
Wow - I just did your second exercise there for 20 seconds each and all the tightness disappeared. Thanks so much!
Stretching, Magnesium
★★★★★
Swimming
★★★★★
Tennis Ball Technique
★★★★★
Tennis Ball Technique
★★★★★
I travel a lot for work. I am generally very healthy and fit, but this sciatica thing has been getting intolerable. It flares up and disturbs my sleep, messes up my mood and makes sitting through a two-hour plane flight very unpleasant (I know, I need to stand periodically). Stretching helps and I also use a trigger-point ball and vibrating massager, but the tennis ball remedy is kind of amazing. I guess it realigns things.
I like the earthclinic site a lot. There are a lot of good tips. Thanks, everyone :-)
Tennis Ball Technique
★★★★★
Lying down on a firm surface (not your bed -- too soft), place a tennis ball under one of your buttocks. Massage your buttock with the ball by using your body weight to shift into a position that will apply pressure to the area. Once you hold an area for about 10-15 seconds, move on to another section. You will be hitting all the acupressure points on the buttock with this technique. Once finished, move the ball to the other buttock and use the same technique to release the tension in that buttock as well. You will be amazed at how many painful pressure points you have in your buttocks - lots!
Be forewarned, this technique is quite painful (perhaps too painful for some people), but it never fails to cure sciatica. When needed, we do it late at night just before going to bed. In the morning the sciatica is gone.
Tennis Shoe Technique
★★★★★
I tried this method and on first shot, I felt the pain melt away from the muscles in my buttocks. It was a miracle. I have been sitting on the sneaker for hours in each day since and I am happy to say that I am experiencing more and more hours each day with less pain.
It is not clear, so I want to state,
I use a low rise, sturdy sneaker (tennis shoe) sole down, back of shoe in the front. This sole is nearly an inch thick. I feel an upward pressure on my "sit bones". And as one poster said, maybe it is pushing my pelvis and spine back into alignment. I'm not sure. I but can vouch for it's effectiveness. It costs nothing to try.
At work, I cover the sneaker in a knit legging. Hoping no one notices. But it's that or change jobs so I am not sitting all day. That's not going to happen! Good luck to all those who suffer with pain.
(West Virginia)
09/08/2022
★★★★★
Hi Michele, where do you place the tennis shoe under the leg that causes you issues or just sit on it regular like a cushion, I see a few people are unsure, and I want to try it myself as I have really bad Piriformis syndrome. Thank you
(Md)
09/10/2022
Motivational Doc (Dr.Alan Mandell) has a seated piriformis stretch video…..might help.
(America)
11/07/2022
(Scotland)
05/23/2023
(London, United Kingdom)
11/17/2023
★★★★★
The tennis shoe is placed between the legs. You should feel pressure on both of your "sit bones". I'm using it now, it really works.
Tennis Shoe Technique
★★★★★
After sitting on a shoe for 10 minutes (it hurt a lot the first time! ) I got up and actually felt less pain in my calf. I was shocked! Gradually throughout the day I sat for longer periods of time and after 3 days I am just about pain free! I honestly can't believe it! Thank you so much for this suggestion!
(Jersey)
09/28/2017
I think the shoe method works because you are getting pressure off the sciatic nerve and getting the spine into better alignment. Sitting cross-legged sometimes helps with this, too.
Modern cushy furniture is murder on the back and the nerves in it.
(Divide, CO)
06/25/2020
★★★★★
I can't express my gratitude enough for this method of healing ... it has taken two days of sitting on a tennis shoe 😂... but I am feeling so much better and I'm so grateful for those of you who have taken the time to help others ... thank you so much! I'm most grateful!
(Usa)
06/26/2020
How does one sit on a shoe? Is it under the leg or between the legs?
Tennis Shoe Technique
★★★★☆
Tennis Shoe Technique
★★★★★
Tennis Shoe Technique
★★★★★
