causing MORE sciatic pain? Anyone else ever experience this? We have had a hot tub for many years. Previous to this last re-injury, I could go in the tub and get some relief from my back pain.

This time, however, each time I try it, my sciatica gets much worse and the numbness in my right leg and foot increases tremendously. I can only guess that the hot water is causing more swelling? Has anyone else ever experienced this?

I am still waiting for our medical insurance information, was effective Jan 1st, but hubby's company still has not given us the info. I reallllllllly need to find a new GP who can refer me for PT or Chiro or something!

Anyways, just curious if this is just my weird body or if this occurs for anyone else?

Thanks and hugs,
Vickie

I was told by my surgeon to put heat on my back. Someone on here said to use ice . I can't remember who and it doesn't matter but heat is the best thing for me. My surgeon said Hot baths and heating pads or water bottles. I'm not sure what your problem is so I can't give you a true answer plus I'm not a Dr. Can you believe that ? :dizzy:

Hope your feeling better

HI,
Welcome!:wave: I would have to agree with you, the warm water will increase blood flow and that would increase pain. I know my nerve damage gets much worse when I'm in the cold so the temp must play a part in it's intensity. I know I always get relief when I get in a hot tub, I'm so sorry thats not working for you, hopefully it will go back to helping soon. Try staying out of it for a few days and see how it is after that.

Good Luck

God Bless

Carol

So maybe it works for nerves and not muscle ? It helps me.HI,
Welcome!:wave: I would have to agree with you, the warm water will increase blood flow and that would increase pain. I know my nerve damage gets much worse when I'm in the cold so the temp must play a part in it's intensity. I know I always get relief when I get in a hot tub, I'm so sorry thats not working for you, hopefully it will go back to helping soon. Try staying out of it for a few days and see how it is after that.

Good Luck

God Bless

Carol

Shawley,

Thanks for responding so quickly. I posted my big ol long dx from my MRI on here, might have been bumped back to page 2 or so by now.

Basically, I have re-injured L4-5 and now have L5-S1 abnormalities. I am in constant pain, but after trying the hot tub, couldn't even bare weight on my right foot. Hubby had to nearly carry me back into the house.

I do get relief from my heated seat in my car, but not the hot tub??? It is killing me because it does help with the back pain, but I can't chance it with the resulting issues with sciatica and numbness. Might get stuck in there all day till hubby gets home from work, lol!!;)

Anyways, just curious!

Thanks again,
Vickie

OMG ! Don't get stuck in there you'll shrivel up and disapear in the hot tub. :D I really don't know why your having pain from the tub. I don't have one so I don'tknow, but it feels good to lay back in my bath tub. Ask your Dr. I have to look up your DX where is it ?Shawley,

Thanks for responding so quickly. I posted my big ol long dx from my MRI on here, might have been bumped back to page 2 or so by now.

Basically, I have re-injured L4-5 and now have L5-S1 abnormalities. I am in constant pain, but after trying the hot tub, couldn't even bare weight on my right foot. Hubby had to nearly carry me back into the house.

I do get relief from my heated seat in my car, but not the hot tub??? It is killing me because it does help with the back pain, but I can't chance it with the resulting issues with sciatica and numbness. Might get stuck in there all day till hubby gets home from work, lol!!;)

Anyways, just curious!

Thanks again,
Vickie

I know heat helps me and vibration from my recliner. In response to the hot tub, could it be the force of the water jets that are causing the pain?

I know heat helps me and vibration from my recliner. In response to the hot tub, could it be the force of the water jets that are causing the pain?

Hi, I usually don't use the jets, they are more bothersome than helpful at this point. I dunno, guess my body is just weird! :jester:


Hugs,
Vickie

Maybe you've already got some inflamation in there and the hot tub exasperates it. Like Carol said, heat increases blood flow, so while it may be good for some things, if there's inflamation it could make it worse.

I once had a doctor tell me that the heat versus ice thing was really a matter of personal preference. In some cases, there's a scientific reason why one works better than the other, but mostly it's a matter of the person. Heat might help one person and the next person with the same problem will be worse with heat. The same with ice. I have a girlfriend here who had a fusion just before Christmas. She has a special belt with a pouch in the back to hold her ice pack, and she swears by it. Nothing else gives her the same relief. That would put me over the edge! Heat, heat, and more heat for me!

Just my little input...

Blessings,
Emily

I could get into a hot tub, but I don't think I could get out:eek:

Rose

My surgeon gave me a script for a hot tub so we could take it off on taxes. I don't know what i would do without it. my hubby likes the jets, but i prefer to sit in the deepest part up to my neck and just let the heat soak into my body. Kinda like the cannibals with their hot pot for the victums I would think> LOL

My hubby had the deck rebuilt so that it is on 2 sides of the hot tub. the tub is 18" higher than the deck so I can sit on the ledge, swing my legs in and go under (yea, sure). It is like our own little lake--very little, but I miss Minnesota. There you go.

I guess the extra heat is causing too many issues, or maybe it is the jets pummeling your sore areas?

be safe....

I'm 7 mo out from a ruptured L5-S1, with a degenerated L4-L5. The therapy pool at the rec center was instrumental in a decent recovery early on, but now it brings weakness to my left leg. I often excercise first, so things are already warmed up. Perhaps the extra blood flow causes inflamation. I get in feeling ok and get out feeling bad, though I'm ok while I'm in it. The weightlessness is great, but while getting out I feel more like I did right after the injury - in pain and vulnerable. I do, however, try to direct the jets at my low back to get relief - I've wondered if this is an irritation to those nerves.

Because it seems to helps my back, I have a theory (a total WAG). It relaxes my back muscles which are tight and fatigued from protecting my peripheral nerves. They are no longer protected in this relaxed and swollen state, thus, the symptoms. Not real encouraging.

I think that you are not alone in this, but I don't know what to do about it. I hope it is a passing phase, because for a while it was just the best.

I think I'll look in to one of those ice pack belts.:eek: While I hope it is effective, I'm afraid it just won't be the same. Good luck

Hi Vicki and welcome to the board,

I personally love the hot tub and have had only 1 bad experience. It relaxes me so much, my back loves it. When I get in, I don't wanna get out. I wish it could work for you like that.

The one bad experience happened when I had done alot of walking that day, and over did it a little in the yard. I had went to my sister in laws and got in thinking this is what I need. Well, I got out feeling so sore and could barely walk, the pain was outta the park.

But like the others have said it's really dependant on the individual and what their body can accept.

I hope it's just a one time thing for you and you can get back in and enjoy it. Take care,

Bernie

I wonder if I could get workers comp to buy me a Hot tub if my Dr. prescribes me one ?My surgeon gave me a script for a hot tub so we could take it off on taxes. I don't know what i would do without it. my hubby likes the jets, but i prefer to sit in the deepest part up to my neck and just let the heat soak into my body. Kinda like the cannibals with their hot pot for the victums I would think> LOL

My hubby had the deck rebuilt so that it is on 2 sides of the hot tub. the tub is 18" higher than the deck so I can sit on the ledge, swing my legs in and go under (yea, sure). It is like our own little lake--very little, but I miss Minnesota. There you go.

I guess the extra heat is causing too many issues, or maybe it is the jets pummeling your sore areas?

be safe....