Sciatica rearing its ugly head: prevention tips

A

Anemone del Camino

Guest

• Apr 19, 2015

• #1

Last fall I headed for the Norte. But about 3 weeks before I did I started feeling a bit of pain on the bottom of my left foot and chose to ignore it. The Camino taught me, in no uncertain way, that it was plantear fasciitis, and that was a fool to ignore the pain when it started.

During the last few weeks I have been feeling sciatica acting up. And it is simply not allowed to as I am heading out on the Primitivo next month.

Anyone with any tips on how to nip this bud (butt?), I would love to hear from you. Stretches to do, to avoid? Anything, please. Primitivo is said to be hilly, and the slightest little incline is being felt.

Thank you.

 

HelenB

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances May 2014

• Apr 19, 2015

• #2

Anemone del Camino said:

Last fall I headed for the Norte. But about 3 weeks before I did I started feeling a bit of pain on the bottom of my left foot and chose to ignore it. The Camino taught me, in no uncertain way, that it was plantear fasciitis, and that was a fool to ignore the pain when it started.

During the last few weeks I have been feeling sciatica acting up. And it is simply not allowed to as I am heading out on the Primitivo next month.

Anyone with any tips on how to nip this bud (butt?), I would love to hear from you. Stretches to do, to avoid? Anything, please. Primitivo is said to be hilly, and the slightest little incline is being felt.

Thank you.

Click to expand...

I had sciatica for many years and in the last few years found that yoga has reduced the episodes from once or twice a week to a one minor one in the last six months. If you can get to regular yoga classes before you leave to learn the stretches that would help, I think it would be quite beneficial and do them every day as you walk. . Alternately she a physiotherapist to give you a set of stretches. One I found particularly good is to lay down with your bottom against the wall and your feet up the wall. I could do this if I managed to get a top bunk near a wall.

 

A

Anemone del Camino

Guest

• Apr 19, 2015

• #3

Thank you HelenB, I do like that exercise, learned in yoga class! Very good for resting legs as well.

 

peregrina2000

Moderator

Staff member

Donating Member

• Apr 19, 2015

• #4

Hi, Anemone,
Is it possible that your sciatica comes from too much sitting? A friend of mine had terrible pain and was nervous about taking a two week coastal walk somewhere in Australia, I believe. She found to her delight and surprise that walking was the cure! Fingers crossed for you. Buen camino, Laurie

 

Andrea Mayfield

it's about the journey.....

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Frances (May 2015)
Camino Portugues - Porto to Santiago (June 2018)

• Apr 22, 2015

• #5

My periodic sciatica is cured with stretching and adjustment from my chiropractor to put my hips and spine back in alignment.

 

SYates

Camino Fossil AD 1999, now living in Santiago de C

Time of past OR future Camino

First: Camino Francés 1999
...
Last: Santiago - Muxia 2019

Now: http://egeria.house/

• May 4, 2015

• #6

As @peregrina2000 said, walking might just be the perfect cure! Apart of that:

Avoid sitting down, either stand or lie down.
Make sure your backpack is perfectly fitted and as light as possible.
Strengthen your tummy muscles, they keep your spine aligned in conjunction with your back muscles.

Speedy recovery and Buen Camino! SY

 

BShea

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

(9/2013) Le Puy
(5/2015) CF
(5/2016) Le Puy
(5/2017) CF
(9/2017) Le Puy
(9/2019) RL Stevenson

• May 4, 2015

• #7

Believe it or not, I've heard wearing knee high compression socks helps. My friend wears them when she flies and swears by them.

 

A

Anemone del Camino

Guest

• May 5, 2015

• #8

BShea said:

Believe it or not, I've heard wearing knee high compression socks helps. My friend wears them when she flies and swears by them.

Click to expand...

I just bought a pair of Merino compression socks, so I guess that was a really good idea. Thanks for letting me know about this, as I walk like a geisha so extra flying powers are welcomed!

 

BShea

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

(9/2013) Le Puy
(5/2015) CF
(5/2016) Le Puy
(5/2017) CF
(9/2017) Le Puy
(9/2019) RL Stevenson

• May 5, 2015

• #9

Please let me know if they help...

 

Annie G

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Frances (2016)

• May 5, 2015

• #10

I have suffered from sciatica for years. Most recently, I joined an aquatic fitness class, Ai Chi, which is similar to Tai Chi but takes place in a warm (92 degrees) salt water pool. I go twice a week for this one hour class and it has made a tremendous difference in not only the sciatica but all my other aches and pains due to osteoarthritis and that nagging knee pain from that meniscus problem. I'm really going to miss it when on the Camino.