The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Candied Ginger Slices
Posted by Angela (Antioch, California) on 11/17/2008
★★★★★
Amazing, the spasm on my leg from the my sciatica pain have improved after the 3rd day on eating the ginger slices along with some yoga exercise. I eat about 5 to 10 slices a day and I am feeling much better after a week. My last sciatica pain last nearly 2 months which was 2 years ago. It is definitely worth of trying.
Candied Ginger Slices
Posted by Mariana (San Pablo, Ca.) on 09/23/2008
I was wondering if it also works with powdered ginger? I used 1 tablespoon with water. I guess I am hoping this also works.
Candied Ginger Slices
Posted by Anna (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) on 09/12/2008
★★★★★
Candied ginger slices for scatica:
My husband suffers from sciatica for weeks in a stretch about four times a year. It started hurting him really bad (not able to function without OTC painkillers) few days ago. Two days ago I read here about candied ginger. Yesterday he snack on it- about 10-12 slices which is a lot but he found 1. he likes the taste 2.everybody in his work seems to like it too and wants to have some! It was his first night without painkiller! The pain is gone! Early morning, which used to be worst, he sensed "something" along the nerve, but it even wasn't painful or lasting. It is so hard to believe - but IT IS A FACT. (I learned meanwhile that ginger works against inflammotion; whatever the reason-it has worked!)
Candied Ginger Slices
Posted by Elaine (Butler, NJ) on 08/27/2008
★★★★★
Iv'e been eating the ginger slices for about a week now, I don't know how it works, but it is working. The pain is almost all gone. It's nice not to be taking excederin every four hours. I snack on about 5 or 6 slices a day. Thanks for the tip!!!
Cold Showers
Posted by Burness Speakman (Fredericktown , MO)
★★★★★
I read about the cold showers here 3 days ago. I have experienced whole body pain for as long as I can remember. Recently it has become unbearable to try and sleep without double doses of over the counter pain killers. The legs throbbed, prickley needles in the soles of the feet, leg muscle pain, skin pain, hip pain, numbness in the shin area. It was building up for years. I was ready to check myself in somewhere but I do not go to doctors. Anyway to continue. After reading the messages, I went and took a cold shower. This was the afternoon. Just before retiring I took another. This one really affected my body. Gasping and panting but not painful I stayed in the shower. For the first time since I could remember I had a peaceful night sleep. No pain in the legs at all, no numbness, no prickleys. I took three the next day with the same good results at night but with one more added strangeness. My Bowel Movement turned green. Not a dark green a kackie green and I was not constipated as usual. I gathered my bile was flowing. I had come to think I had a gallblader problem years ago but never associated the whole body aches with it. There might be some siatic nerve situation involved also, but I don't know. All I do now is that this seems just short of a miracle for me. I certainly hope it continues, because I don't know if I ever want to take another hot bath again as long as I live. Oh, the energy and high spirits are there too as others reported. Bless you all.
EC: Read more about Cold Showers here.
Chair Exercise
Posted by Helen (Austin, Texas) on 07/30/2008
★★★★★
I get minor sciatic nerve pinches regularly. A woman at a conference showed me a simple exercise, and a massage friend later said that's the exercise he teaches to everyone.
Sit in a firm chair. Cross your knees. Clasp both hands outside the knee and pull it towards it's opposite shoulder (right knee towards left shoulder.) Won't move more than an inch, but you should feel the pull on the side-near back buttocks area.
Do this for 20 seconds every time you sit down, and the pain should be gone in less than a week.
Keep doing it once daily to prevent recurrence.
Actually, doesn't have to be a real firm chair but starting that way helps you feel where the pull should be.
Also, massage guy said, stop sitting so much! And when you sit be sure to get up and move significantly every 45 minutes or so. Chiropractor said "Get a stand-up desk, sitting is unhealthy."
Build times of standing into your day. I made a habit of standing up when talking in the phone. At conferences and friendly meetings I often get up and stand in the back of the room for a while, especially if I had to drive an hour to get there.
Pain Caused by the Piriformis Muscle
Posted by Dan (Markham, Canada) on 07/15/2008
★★★★★
If you have pain in your lower back called sciatica it may be caused by what is called Piriformis muscle -- this might be the cause. This muscle runs from the outer bone of your hip to the lower part of your spine. In some people the sciatica nerve may run right through the Piriformis muscle. When sitting too long this muscle will tighten and become inflamed, causing the sciatica nerve to cause what is called sciatica. The pain will run down your leg to your foot. the Piriformis muscle is there to help you rotate your leg. When your foot is turned to the right the muscle becomes tight and when you turn your foot to the left it becomes stretched.
Candied Ginger Slices
Posted by Hugo (E Freetown, MA) on 02/27/2006
★★★★★
I was on a diet so I made lite candied ginger slices to suppress appetite. I was also suffering from severe sciatica and back spasms. After a week both disappeared. It was by accident that I discovered the total relief of lower back problems. I am 64 yrs old. I have discontinued ginger and my back has been pain free.
Tennis Ball Technique
Posted by Earth Clinic (USA) on 07/10/2008
★★★★★
We have used a tennis ball for severe sciatica pain (from martial arts training), but have a different technique than Russ's tennis shoe remedy.
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
Posted by Russ (Farmington, New Mexico) on 07/10/2008
★★★★★
My name is Russ and I would like to add some information to your web-site, (great web site by the way, I love it). I have a way for people that are suffering from Scyiatica to ease and eliminate their pain. No cost at all, just simply sit on a tennis shoe with the back of the shoe facing forward on a semi firm chair. It hurts at first but the pain subsides. My pain was totally gone with in 2 hours. I believe the way it works is the shoe supports your tail bone allowing your gluts to relax allowing your slipped disc to fall back into place. Works wonderfully well and people will be very grateful for this information.
