I injured my back about
18 months ago. I couldn't lift or try to lift for 4 months after injury. I had back weakness and radiating pain that went from lower right side of back, down right ass cheek, down side of leg. Took about a year after injury to feel somewhat normal. I have had recurring back spasms and slight sciatica since then, but it usually comes and goes in short bouts. However I tweaked my back about 4 weeks ago deadlifting, I had back spasms that I thought may have been back pumps (I was running gear). The spasms subsided and I was pain free after maybe 15 minutes. I felt fine, no problems until about 2 days afterwards.
Now for the past 4 weeks I have been getting bouts of sciatica. It does not impact my strength and I am not experiencing any noticeable back weakness. Usually I am getting a very irritating tingling sensation that runs mainly down my right lower back, down ass cheek, and occasionally down side of right leg. Sometimes it is coupled with pain. When I am squatting or deadlifting it actually feels better, but about 2 days later, sometimes next day I get a flare up.
Is it safe to lift through this? I never had x-Ray or MRI from when I hurt my back 18 months ago because I was in a place where I was not afforded the luxury of decent healthcare. If I was experiencing severe pain or back weakness I would have backed off on lifting already. But I don't know if continuing to lift is prolonging this flare up or will it subside on its own regardless? I am close to the point of seeing a doctor. I can't take NSAIDs for pain relief due to GI issues and Tylenol doesn't do anything when there is pain. The tingling/tickling sensation is almost worse than the pain and it drives me crazy.
The stretches I have read about doing for sciatica actually irritate the problem and make the tingling worse. Though if there is pain the stretches tend to lessen it and tingling takes its place. I know narcotic pain killers would help but no doctor is generally willing to write a script not even for Tylenol 3 w/ codeine. The idea of spending months on narcotics isn't too appealing either. Though I wouldn't take them every day.
18 months ago. I couldn't lift or try to lift for 4 months after injury. I had back weakness and radiating pain that went from lower right side of back, down right ass cheek, down side of leg. Took about a year after injury to feel somewhat normal. I have had recurring back spasms and slight sciatica since then, but it usually comes and goes in short bouts. However I tweaked my back about 4 weeks ago deadlifting, I had back spasms that I thought may have been back pumps (I was running gear). The spasms subsided and I was pain free after maybe 15 minutes. I felt fine, no problems until about 2 days afterwards.
Now for the past 4 weeks I have been getting bouts of sciatica. It does not impact my strength and I am not experiencing any noticeable back weakness. Usually I am getting a very irritating tingling sensation that runs mainly down my right lower back, down ass cheek, and occasionally down side of right leg. Sometimes it is coupled with pain. When I am squatting or deadlifting it actually feels better, but about 2 days later, sometimes next day I get a flare up.
Is it safe to lift through this? I never had x-Ray or MRI from when I hurt my back 18 months ago because I was in a place where I was not afforded the luxury of decent healthcare. If I was experiencing severe pain or back weakness I would have backed off on lifting already. But I don't know if continuing to lift is prolonging this flare up or will it subside on its own regardless? I am close to the point of seeing a doctor. I can't take NSAIDs for pain relief due to GI issues and Tylenol doesn't do anything when there is pain. The tingling/tickling sensation is almost worse than the pain and it drives me crazy.
The stretches I have read about doing for sciatica actually irritate the problem and make the tingling worse. Though if there is pain the stretches tend to lessen it and tingling takes its place. I know narcotic pain killers would help but no doctor is generally willing to write a script not even for Tylenol 3 w/ codeine. The idea of spending months on narcotics isn't too appealing either. Though I wouldn't take them every day.
