I was laid low with sciatica in January 2013. At the time I was running 50 miles a week plus some swimming. When it kicked off I almost fainted with the pain. Not pleasant. I used a physio who combined stretching exercises with back strengthening. I had nearly two and half months with no exercise but I have now picked up significantly. Still some twinges but I completed Ivors Dream (walking). Find a physio you trust - it's worth the investment. Think positive.

look for a chiropractor attached to a university.i went to the university of glamorgan you get a head to toe assessment then 6 free treatments and £15 therafter.its similar with other universities im told.i had torn my hip which when it healed it went into knots which in turn caused lower back pain and very bad sciatica.after treatment and following exercises i was told to complete i was fully cured

I went to a good chartered phyiotherapist, specialising in sports injuries.

He did a lot of work on my hip flexor muscles, and lower back, and he gave me tough exercises to do every day. It it did the trick.

Hi Bill - the only difference [I think] between Naproxen and Ibuprofen - is that Naproxen is a stronger anti-inlammatory. It is also important to recognise that the term sciatica is a very general term used when there is some form of irritation to the 'sciatic' nerve - however it is important [in order to determine the right treatment] to get to the root cause. It can be related to the 'spine' with irritation of nerves by displaced discs - or it can be related to the hip itself [like bursitus - an inflammation/irritation of the fluid sac]. The physio/exercises to help may be very different. Just passing this on - as I've learned a lot recently - and found it very enlightening.

Thanks Bill. Mine was enforced rest as too painful to move - its getting better with strong prescibed pain killers and Ibruprofen. I've learnt a labout spinal anatomy in the process.

i had been in agony with sciatica for years and done everything to try and ease it, stretching exercises, resting, ignoring it, blood tests, then went to a doctor who prescribed naproxin 500mg that he said was specific to help ciatic pain and i must say that since getting them i have had a couple of episodes but before getting the tablets it was almost daily, i must say i exercise and gym work in some shape or form almost every day so resting was never an option, i hope this is of some good to you, bill

Any 'walkers' ever had sciatica. I might be experiencing this - hip pain and down leg. Any tips for pain reduction, and getting it better?