Sciatica? Weird nerve issue and pain

[pugilistico]

So quick background story: back in 2020, I had extreme pain in my lower back and couldn't do any lower body lifts like squats and deadlifts. My physical therapist gave me stretches and exercises mainly to strengthen my glutes, and my back has been getting slowly better, but it is always sore/feeling tight. In the gym I've mostly been doing upperbody movements with some light squats and glute exercises. My back felt better so last month as a test, I carefully squatted up to 70kg and deadlifted up to 80 and my back felt fine! I was so stoked to have squats and DLs in my routine again.

Then a few days ago, I deadlifted 100kg. The first set was fine, but then on the second set, my form wasn't perfect and I felt pain in my lowerback, and I stopped immediately. I was like, shit fuck but it'll probably get better with rest and stretching. I'll have to take out DLs from my workout again for a while.

My lower back was hurting again and felt very stiff during the following couple days and but felt better after stretching and more glute exercises. Then yesterday, I was walking and I felt one side of my hip feeling very tight. I tried to stretch it but my range of motion was very limited because of how tight it was. And it got kind of scary when my leg in the knee and shin area started to feel numb and tingly. I can't tell if my lower back pain was somehow transported to my hip, or if the hip pain is so severe that it's overriding my back pain.

When I got home, it started to hurt more so I took some painkillers and stretched more. I started to look up videos on youtube to see if I can figure out what the issue is but I can't tell what exactly it is. Is it sciatica? A pinched femora nerve? Hip bursitis? There are way too many disorders.

When I lay down, having my leg straight out hurt so I had to basically sleep in a fetal position with my legs folded. Because of the pain, I took a few tramadol along with valium and smoked weed so I can numb myself enough to fall asleep.

When I woke up this morning the pain was even worse. This sucks because I really wanted to go trekking in the forest this week. I'm limping around my house to do anything.
I'm going to the doctor in a bit but I'm wondering if anyone else had experienced something like this and if so, how did you fix it?

Cliffs:
Had bad lower back pain.
But all of the sudden have extreme hip pain.
My leg around my knees and shin feel numb.

 

[Cole train]

If it feels in your leg its generally nerve related

I had minor bulged disc which pressed a nerve and i used to lose control of my right leg, like it would go out right under me, took 6 months to heal.

Mcgills big 3 is what i recommend for back stuff which is 90 percent shitload of walking, helped a lot imo

 

[William Huggins]

Sounds like Super AIDZ v3.1.............

 

[KBE6EKCTAH_CCP]

I am no stranger to herniated disc and this sounds like a herniated disc. Can you go get a scan/professional diagnosis or do you live in Freedom Country without adequate insurance?

If it's a herniated disc, first thing you need to do is come to terms with the fact that it's gonna suck for a while.

First, you are going to rest it for a week. Do not stretch it, do not strain it, let it heal. Take anti inflammatory it will help. Take slow walks.

Once the pain is gone from your everyday life (typically after a couple of weeks) start doing some core strenghtening exercises and stretches like front planks, side planks, dead bug, mad cow happy cat or whatever the fuck it's called. There are good YT vids out there. Figure out your routine and stick with it. If you run you may start running again in increments. The above stage typically lasts one to two month.

After 3 months you may start your activity again but in increments and slowly. I hurt re-herniated my back with deadlift too a few months back. It took like 2 months until I started judo again, slowly at first now I am pretty much fine. It may be that you belong to the not so small group of people (incl. myself) who are compromised by the DL. Think about.

Please take the above advice seriously. Herniated Discs can degenerate into a serious condition if ignored. Numbing means that you should definitely be extra careful and that your nerve is compromised.

On the bright side, herniated discs generally do heal. But you have to be patient and smart about it. Good luck bro.

 

[jimbob27]

Sciatica from a damaged disc sounds like the most likely culprit. Hip impingement can also cause sciatica-like symptoms but that usually has a more gradual onset. The fact it happened during a deadlift and you've got numbness and tingles away from the site of the injury... definitely sound disc and nerve related.

When you're healed and ready to start lifting again, you should look some form tutorials that specifically concentrate on the valsalva maneuver, and how to properly use a weighlifting belt to brace your core, and take the stress off the spine.

Deads and squats are easily one of the most effective tools you have to strengthen that general area; however if you're not using your diaphragm properly, you're not doing the lifts correctly, and increase your chance of injury, even if your form looks great in the mirror.

I first injured my back when I was a teenager, and I've been sucessfully managing it with heavy squats and deads for the last 25 years. I've tweaked it several times since then, but never during my normal sensible weightlifting sessions.

 

[pugilistico]

Mcgills big 3

Thanks for the suggestion. I realized I've been doing some sort of variation of those exercises. I also have my leg go out from under me sometimes. I also fell walking down the stairs earlier. It's like one leg had no strength in it whatsoever. The muscles are also twitching a lot when I'm sitting. It definitely has to be a nerve issue.

I am no stranger to herniated disc and this sounds like a herniated disc. Can you go get a scan/professional diagnosis or do you live in Freedom Country without adequate insurance?

If it's a herniated disc, first thing you need to do is come to terms with the fact that it's gonna suck for a while.

First, you are going to rest it for a week. Do not stretch it, do not strain it, let it heal. Take anti inflammatory it will help. Take slow walks.

Once the pain is gone from your everyday life (typically after a couple of weeks) start doing some core strenghtening exercises and stretches like front planks, side planks, dead bug, mad cow happy cat or whatever the fuck it's called. There are good YT vids out there. Figure out your routine and stick with it. If you run you may start running again in increments. The above stage typically lasts one to two month.

After 3 months you may start your activity again but in increments and slowly. I hurt re-herniated my back with deadlift too a few months back. It took like 2 months until I started judo again, slowly at first now I am pretty much fine. It may be that you belong to the not so small group of people (incl. myself) who are compromised by the DL. Think about.

Please take the above advice seriously. Herniated Discs can degenerate into a serious condition if ignored. Numbing means that you should definitely be extra careful and that your nerve is compromised.

On the bright side, herniated discs generally do heal. But you have to be patient and smart about it. Good luck bro.

Thanks a lot for your input. Because of my lower back pain, I've been stretching a lot and maybe a bit too hard. I saw some videos saying depending on your issue, stretching could be a bad idea. I'm going to try to do nothing for the next few days and do the core exercises you mentioned. This sucks because I've been getting back in the gym and making gains and starting to look ripped again, but now that's down the drain for now. Meeting women will be difficult too.

 

[pugilistico]

Sciatica from a damaged disc sounds like the most likely culprit. Hip impingement can also cause sciatica-like symptoms but that usually has a more gradual onset. The fact it happened during a deadlift and you've got numbness and tingles away from the site of the injury... definitely sound disc and nerve related.

When you're healed and ready to start lifting again, you should look some form tutorials that specifically concentrate on the valsalva maneuver, and how to properly use a weighlifting belt to brace your core, and take the stress off the spine.

Deads and squats are easily one of the most effective tools you have to strengthen that general area; however if you're not using your diaphragm properly, you're not doing the lifts correctly, and increase your chance of injury, even if your form looks great in the mirror.

I first injured my back when I was a teenager, and I've been sucessfully managing it with heavy squats and deads for the last 25 years. I've tweaked it several times since then, but never during my normal sensible weightlifting sessions.

The weird thing is that the tingles happened days after the last time I was in the gym. I stopped deadlifting immediately after the pain, then didn't go to the gym at all. And suddenly last night the back pain transformed into hip pain and leg numbness.

 

[Cole train]

Thanks for the suggestion. I realized I've been doing some sort of variation of those exercises. I also have my leg go out from under me sometimes. I also fell walking down the stairs earlier. It's like one leg had no strength in it whatsoever. The muscles are also twitching a lot when I'm sitting. It definitely has to be a nerve issue.


Thanks a lot for your input. Because of my lower back pain, I've been stretching a lot and maybe a bit too hard. I saw some videos saying depending on your issue, stretching could be a bad idea. I'm going to try to do nothing for the next few days and do the core exercises you mentioned. This sucks because I've been getting back in the gym and making gains and starting to look ripped again, but now that's down the drain for now. Meeting women will be difficult too.

I say walk more than stretch, atleast it helped me a lot more but im no doctor

 

[KBE6EKCTAH_CCP]

Thanks for the suggestion. I realized I've been doing some sort of variation of those exercises. I also have my leg go out from under me sometimes. I also fell walking down the stairs earlier. It's like one leg had no strength in it whatsoever. The muscles are also twitching a lot when I'm sitting. It definitely has to be a nerve issue.


Thanks a lot for your input. Because of my lower back pain, I've been stretching a lot and maybe a bit too hard. I saw some videos saying depending on your issue, stretching could be a bad idea. I'm going to try to do nothing for the next few days and do the core exercises you mentioned. This sucks because I've been getting back in the gym and making gains and starting to look ripped again, but now that's down the drain for now. Meeting women will be difficult too.

Bro, fuck your gains, fuck looking ripped, just rest, no stretching, just take walks. Then do the core exercises slowly. It will suck for a couple of months but then you ll be fine.

 

[pugilistico]

Bro, fuck your gains, fuck looking ripped, just rest, no stretching, just take walks. Then do the core exercises slowly. It will suck for a couple of months but then you ll be fine.

Even walking hurts right now. Did you limp around until you it slowly got better?

Also how did it affect your.. bedroom activities? I just started seeing a girl and it doesn't look like I'll be able to do much now.

 

[KBE6EKCTAH_CCP]

Even walking hurts right now. Did you limp around until you it slowly got better?

Also how did it affect your.. bedroom activities? I just started seeing a girl and it doesn't look like I'll be able to do much now.

Yes in the acute phase, say one week, I was limping. But that phase doesn't last long if you let it rest and you will experience quick improvement.

Also, no fucking in the acute phase in my case but I am married, so I can live without fucking for a week.

 

[666]

I also have sciatica. You can't squat, run or deadlift anymore. Have fun with the morning planks and supermans.

 

[Bojka]

If you're experiencing pins and needles sensations and legit numbness, you should obviously be getting an MRI of your lower spine. The lumbar nerves transmit pain to the legs and, if the pain in the knee is severe enough, that could mute the brain's ability to perceive pain elsewhere.

Don't bother with stretching. It isn't very productive outside of training additional range of motion. And it can just aggravate the pain even if it provides momentary relief. Most physiotherapists are terrible. If you do anything that way it should be a routine for core and hip stability.

Most issues like this are myofascial related, but if you have actual neurological signs that's nerve related. Sometimes people perceive neurological signs (pins and needles, numbness) when there aren't any though. If you have sudden sharp pain then it's a lot more likely to be nerve related. If it's more of a prolonged ache then it's more likely to be muscular.

 

[BB in Crazy!!!!]

I am no stranger to herniated disc and this sounds like a herniated disc. Can you go get a scan/professional diagnosis or do you live in Freedom Country without adequate insurance?

If it's a herniated disc, first thing you need to do is come to terms with the fact that it's gonna suck for a while.

First, you are going to rest it for a week. Do not stretch it, do not strain it, let it heal. Take anti inflammatory it will help. Take slow walks.

Once the pain is gone from your everyday life (typically after a couple of weeks) start doing some core strenghtening exercises and stretches like front planks, side planks, dead bug, mad cow happy cat or whatever the fuck it's called. There are good YT vids out there. Figure out your routine and stick with it. If you run you may start running again in increments. The above stage typically lasts one to two month.

After 3 months you may start your activity again but in increments and slowly. I hurt re-herniated my back with deadlift too a few months back. It took like 2 months until I started judo again, slowly at first now I am pretty much fine. It may be that you belong to the not so small group of people (incl. myself) who are compromised by the DL. Think about.

Please take the above advice seriously. Herniated Discs can degenerate into a serious condition if ignored. Numbing means that you should definitely be extra careful and that your nerve is compromised.

On the bright side, herniated discs generally do heal. But you have to be patient and smart about it. Good luck bro.

This. I had the same thing. It was like turbo sciatica. The L-5 disk was pinching my entire femoral nerve and it was pure hell. Some of the worst pain in my entire life. Ended up getting an epidural, lots of nerve and pain meds, and 2 months of PT. It took 4 months before I could control my leg good enough to run again.

 

[BB in Crazy!!!!]

Even walking hurts right now. Did you limp around until you it slowly got better?

Also how did it affect your.. bedroom activities? I just started seeing a girl and it doesn't look like I'll be able to do much now.

Take his advice and take care of yourself now. If it gets any worse or doesn't start to get better I would see a doctor and get an MRI. Trust me, if it gets really bad, sex is the last thing you'll be worried about. To give you an idea, I spent 4 days peeing off the side of my deck while laying down because everything was so tense and so painful I couldn't pee upright regardless of if I was sitting down or standing. And that was on Oxy.

I seriously wish I had recorded myself for that entire week just for reference. I slept on the floor for 2 months because the bed was too uncomfortable. I only ended up sleeping a few hours a night due to the pain waking me up. I had to have my wife help me up, pull my pants up, help me to the deck to go pee all on a few occasions. Fucking hell. I cried because the pain was so bad 4 separate times, and I have a pretty decent pain threshold.

 

[Spounman]

When my sciatica acts up, I get a pulsing/stabbing pain in my ankle and its triggered by putting too much weight on my right butt cheek. If I adjust how I'm sitting it goes away. I've had this for 20+ years

 

[Slothbroth]

I used to have this issue and then I followed this anti-inflammatory elimination diet and my pain disappeared.

The AIP Diet : What is it and what foods should you eat and avoid?

The AIP diet is a protocol designed for those with autoimmune disease to lower inflammation and nourish the body! But what can you eat?

unboundwellness.com

For me, gluten and soy are 2 of the biggest triggers and those 2 are in everything. Alcohol will also trigger my sciatica which rarely bothers me otherwise.

It might do nothing but it's free to try so..

 

[pugilistico]

Take his advice and take care of yourself now. If it gets any worse or doesn't start to get better I would see a doctor and get an MRI. Trust me, if it gets really bad, sex is the last thing you'll be worried about. To give you an idea, I spent 4 days peeing off the side of my deck while laying down because everything was so tense and so painful I couldn't pee upright regardless of if I was sitting down or standing. And that was on Oxy.

I seriously wish I had recorded myself for that entire week just for reference. I slept on the floor for 2 months because the bed was too uncomfortable. I only ended up sleeping a few hours a night due to the pain waking me up. I had to have my wife help me up, pull my pants up, help me to the deck to go pee all on a few occasions. Fucking hell. I cried because the pain was so bad 4 separate times, and I have a pretty decent pain threshold.

Damn man. My issue isn't as bad as your's but I'll heed it. I also have pain peeing while standing so I've been sitting down to pee.

The girl I'm seeing came over last night and we tried to have sex but due to the mix of painkillers (I took a bunch of tramadol) and the pain, I couldn't stay hard enough so we gave up. Probably won't attempt it again for a while.

Today I woke up with a lot of pain but it's gotten better throughout the day. Moving around seems to have loosened it up a bit. And I've been doing "nerve flossing" movements I found on youtube.

Another weird symptom I've been having is constant muscle twitching in my thigh but that seems to have disappeared. Still limping though and my leg gives out randomly so I fell on my ass today while going down stairs.

I used to have this issue and then I followed this anti-inflammatory elimination diet and my pain disappeared.

The AIP Diet : What is it and what foods should you eat and avoid?

The AIP diet is a protocol designed for those with autoimmune disease to lower inflammation and nourish the body! But what can you eat?

unboundwellness.com

For me, gluten and soy are 2 of the biggest triggers and those 2 are in everything. Alcohol will also trigger my sciatica which rarely bothers me otherwise.

It might do nothing but it's free to try so..

Luckily I don't drink that much and I haven't had any desire to drink ever since this issue started.

 

[PaddyO'malley]

Finding the root cause of your pain over the internet is quite tricky, but it definitely wouldn't be a bad idea to temporarily stop lifting and focus on (re)educating yourself on the muscles of the hips and torso.

While it could be a herniated disc, statistically speaking, it's more likely due to incorrect movement patterns resulting from muscular imbalances. These imbalances can lead to incorrect loading and movement, leading to tightness and overuse injuries, as well as potentially causing more severe injuries in the future (like a herniated disc).

Tight hip muscles can compress or irritate nearby nerves. When a nerve is compressed, it can cause pain, tingling, and numbness along the nerve's path. The femoral nerve, sciatic nerve, and obturator nerve can all be affected by tight hip muscles, leading to referred pain down the nerve's path to the thigh, lower leg, and even the foot.

Imbalances or weaknesses in the torso muscles can lead to spinal instability during exercises like squats and deadlifts. This instability may cause the load to shift to other muscles that are not strong enough to handle it, leading to increased tightness and overuse injuries.

Some vids that might help:
McGill Big 3, as a poster above mentioned. Several butchered versions of the Big 3 are on YouTube but here's a legit one:


Lateral pelvic tilt. Understanding this will give you a healthy understanding of how the muscles of the hip and torso work together to stabilize the pelvis and lower spine. Not to mention, it might be one of the issues you're dealing with.



Hope dat helps fam don't worry ting heal up try again next tayum

 

[KBE6EKCTAH_CCP]

Damn man. My issue isn't as bad as your's but I'll heed it. I also have pain peeing while standing so I've been sitting down to pee.

The girl I'm seeing came over last night and we tried to have sex but due to the mix of painkillers (I took a bunch of tramadol) and the pain, I couldn't stay hard enough so we gave up. Probably won't attempt it again for a while.

Today I woke up with a lot of pain but it's gotten better throughout the day. Moving around seems to have loosened it up a bit. And I've been doing "nerve flossing" movements I found on youtube.

Another weird symptom I've been having is constant muscle twitching in my thigh but that seems to have disappeared. Still limping though and my leg gives out randomly so I fell on my ass today while going down stairs.


Luckily I don't drink that much and I haven't had any desire to drink ever since this issue started.

Dude I don't want to alarm you or anything but the leg giving out and you falling down cannot be a good sign and it is not a common symptom of a mildly herniated disc, but rather of a seriously herniated one. I would strongly recommend getting an MRI/diagnosis.