Expert: Michael - 6/12/2007

Question
QUESTION: hi!
i am 35yrs /male/ weight 60kg/ build normal.
having sciatica pain last 9 weeks.
in the start having numbness on the left feet three fingers.great pain inthe left buttock and leg.
after taking medicines (muscle relaxant and pain killer) for almost 6 weeks my nubmness is recoved 95% pain  is recovered 80 %.

MY PROBLEM:

Still now I CANNOT WALK/STAND STRAIGHT.
AFETR WALK FEW MIN. AGAIN FEEL BURNING PAIN IN MY left BUTTOCK.
FEEL PAIN IN MY LEFT PART OF BACK AND NECK.

please advise me some message for this pain.as i have stop taking medicines and i try o avoid walk also fedup of this pain.

thanks
regards
aurfan


ANSWER: Thanks for your inquiry, aurfan.

I will try to answer your question as simply as possible. First of all, I am including the following URL website to the Mayo Clinic's approach to Sciatica in hopes you will find appropriate answers to your situation:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sciatica/DS00516/DSECTION=2

After reading the different sections, determine if Sciatica is really what you have.

Secondly, has this condition of Sciatica actually been diagnosed as such by a doctor?  I would recommend that you seek a second opinion from a Chiropractor as you might be dealing with something totally different after this long.

IMHO, I would recommend you not get a massage until it is determined exactly what your condition is.

Sorry I couldn't advise further.
Michael, LMT


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hello Michael,
thanks for the weblink.
Yes i am suffering from sciatica. any my Dr. also said so.
he advise me some muscle relaxantmedicines in the start.
my pain in leg is almost over. My problem is i still cannot walk or stand ...in other word i cannot put weight on my effected left leg.
is there any massage for such pain?
hope you can help me... thanks
regards
aurfan
London

Answer
My recommendations would be to determine if the pain you are having is caused by your muscles, nerves, or bone. Not much a massage can do for bone-pain.  Cold compresses would help for nerve-pain or muscle-pain and applying a mentholatum-based balm to either would probably provide temporary pain relief.  I would also recommend stretching the affected leg muscles to activate them again.  As far as massage is concerned, unless the muscles are very tight, I would recommend a basic Swedish relaxation massage to try to calm the muscles and temporarily alleviate some pain.

Hope that helps you,
Michael, LMT