Sciatica patient - time lag between exercise and pain

[bernard]

Hello Wolfy and Wellcome!

The pain lag as you experienced it is a consequence of a non respect of the graded exposure about pain and a normal recovery.

But done repetitively or beyond a comfortable range increases pain.

Exactly, you have to progress only in a comfortable range and just at the limit of pain but not as you did. Perhaps too much or too fast?

It would help if you could describe to us the exercises you've done.

[nari]

Hi wolfv

You are right - beware of any promise that something will work. "May" and "should" are key words here.

Exercise (presribed, routine, regimental) is not necessarily the way to go.
Maybe down the track - but I think it is important to look at the home situation and all the associated problems there - brushing teeth, getting dressed, sitting down, sneezing, coughing, getting in and out of the car; strategies like managing these functional activities is what most people in pain want/need, and it also demonstrates that your pain is being understood by the clinician.
I would aim to centralise the pain ( ie, shift it to the spine, get it out of the leg) if possible with the McKenzie principle; then look at what other movements might help. No two patients are the same, therefore the movements will differ - even slightly.

The fact you decided to do your own survey of pain behaviour is very creditable; but that should have been done by the PT. No one knows how many repetitions of a movement are required, it has never been established. So well done.


Nari