Ugh... I have been SOOOO annoyed lately. I got married in mid-October and right after I came back from the honeymoon, I started having this pain in my lower back. I think it might be a sciatic nerve problem bc it starts in my back and then runs down. It hurt whenever my right heel touched the ground -- not an excruciating pain, but definitely a sharp pain.

So I did zero exercise these last two weeks (UGH!) despite wanting to. Yesterday, I noticed the pain subsided a bit so my husband (!) and I went to the gym. I got on the treadmill to test myself out and... IT HURT SO MUCH TO JOG! And jogging is my #1 favorite exercise. I started to try to do it twice and I just couldn't. I hurt badly whenever my right foot hit the ground. I got off the treadmill and moved to the lower-impact elliptical and did that for around 50 mins. ... *sigh* I'm not a huge fan of the ellpitical... I was working with all my might on it at a high resistance but I didn't *feel* like I was exerting myself like I feel on the treadmill. I was hardly sweating.

I'm so annoyed at this stupid injury or whatever it is. It's totally thrown a monkey wrench into my exercise. I'm going to try doing an exercise video tomorrow morning and I will return to the gym tonight and, I guess, ride the elliptical some more (booo ). I don't even know what caused it -- I didn't overexert myself exercising bc when it happened, I hadn't worked out in almost a week. BLAGH! I'm so annoyed!

Does anyone have any tips for making the most of my elliptical time? Does anyone have any tips for getting rid of sciatica??

Thanks! Boo!

(I hope everyone had a nice Halloween, btw)

I had somewhat of the same thing happen this summer. Except then my muscles got really tight and wouldn't take in water and my leg/foot swelled up. Which made me laugh out loud when I read your post because my aunt (who is a massage therapist) asked what I'd been doing and all I said that was "abnormal" was that I actually got to see my boyfriend, who was playing arena football 9 hours away, for an entire week.. if you know what I mean. I wonder if the same thing happened to you, since it was your honeymoon and all? Anyway.. I just went to my aunt 3 times a week for about 2 weeks and she fixed it. Massage therapists are usually able to help you more with nerves and muscles than chiropractors, she's my lifeline! Good luck

Must have been a good honeymoon! Haha just kidding, but congrats on the marriage!
I would suggest a chiropractor. My Mom swears by hers.

My suggestion, see a doctor.

Rather than continuing to push the injury, why not see a doctor? Pain is your body's way of saying "Hey, something is wrong". If you never know what that something is, a problem that is relatively minor now can turn into a BIG deal down the road. I'd see what your doc has to say before continuing any exercise that has any effect on the back.

Hi everyone, thank you for your replies! The injury may, just MAY, have something to do with Honeymoon activities. Maybe.

I do want to see a doctor, but the pain has basically subsided now except when I tried to jog. Also, it's a VERY busy time now at work and at school and I just don't think I will have time to go to the doctor's. I will give it another few days and then I guess I will have to see the dr. This really s*cks!

In terms of major injury, I always tend to think of the time spent at the doc's office as a preventative measure to keep me from spending even MORE time laid up later. Back injuries can be absolutely miserable, and can get worse VERY quickly, with seemingly innocent movements like bending over, etc. If one hour at the doctor now saves you 2 weeks out of work later because you aren't able to MOVE, it'll be worth it. After all, if you don't have time for that 2 hour doctor visit, you CERTAINLY don't have time to be laid up long term, right?

Hope you're feeling better soon!

Are you sure you're not pregnant? My sister had the same symptoms and it turned out she was 4 months pregnant without even knowing!

And may i also suggest laying in hot water in a bath tub it helps a whole lot.

No -- I'm almost 100% sure I'm not pregnant. I had my TOM shortly before the wedding and my husband and i decided 2 months before the wedding to ...umm... abstain... from certain activities from then til the wedding night (we're weird... what can I say? lol). So I really doubt that I am pregnant. But yeah, I heard of pregnant women getting sciatica too -- I think that happened to my mother when she was pregnant with me.

You might wanna get one. After all, it is the most advanced piece of technology you will ever pee on...


I had a friend get sciatica and she also swore 100% she wasn't pregnant either. Not only did she have a mirena, she never missed a period and gained no weight. She was in the midst of getting x-rays on her hip and back and the tech told her she was pregnant. Turns out she was nearly 5 months pg. She's about the size of a house now (he's almost 9 lbs), still in disbelief, and she's having him via c-section next week.

Sciatica can be excruciating when it wants. Back issues run in our family on the womens side, therefore, alot of us have issues. I deeply suggest you try and get to a doctor when you can, atleast narrow it down as to whats causing the pain. The only other suggestion until that point is to take some advil to keep the pain and inflammation (if it is sciatica) down. Ive also found that rounds of heat, and cool (not COLD, cool) can help ease some of the back/leg/foot pains associated with sciatica. Hope this helps a little!

...

If I am pregnant, I will be VERY displeased. ... and confused.

I'm still almost certain that I am not pregnant, but when I start to feel kicks, I will take a pregnancy test lol