Hi I have sciatic pain almost 24/7 with only short breaks between flare ups. I found that stretching the hamstrings and glutes helps to some extent.I also take neurontin it also helps sometimes.You could try ice for inflamation.PT helps if you get a good thearapist.sorry thats about it for my.02
i've had it for 5 years now, ever since my riding accident.
since mine is triggered by my piriformis, i do the following: stretches (lie on back, cross ankle on other knee, then pull knee with ankle to chest works best), meds (neurontin, muscle relaxers but not great or best solution), massage therapy, and tennis balls (lie on back and place tennis ball under middle of cheek to "work out" muscle).
surgery's not an option for me, b/c of the muscle issue.
I definitely appreciate all of the knowledge you add to the board. In regards to your piriformis syndrome, you seem to manage it well conservatively. Have you ever explored a piriformis release? If so, what kept you on the conservative track.
if you mean the "removal" of the piriformis, my dr told me he rarely saw success from that. now, i know i've seen different stories online, but i've been with my dr since 1994 and i just trust him. he would refer me if i insisted, but my WORST pain was the annular tear (10/10) and my idet has been successful to-date (9 months and counting!).
i decided i could live with the si/piriformis pain for 2 reasons: 1) not daily like the tear, and 2) not as painful (usually around a 4/10, although when it's bad it's bad, like 8/10). i figured one step at a time...deal with the worst, and if it's successful then begin to think about what to do with the rest. i also had to spend 1 winter post-idet to see how bad the si would get (cold messes it up).
you know what's funny, i don't consider any of what i've been through as part of the conservative track. it's not to say i don't know what you mean...it's just more the "epic journey" that's affected my view of what that means. i mean, my problems weren't diagnosed using "traditional" methods, some of my experiences were extremely weird, that kind of stuff.
you know, release may be something i have to look into sometime...i guess i'm just hoping the techniques i've found will keep me from having to do surgery. i guess that is the real reason i've kept to the conservative track...fear of surgery. before my idet i spent 4 years feeling 85, and now i feel 35-45 (with 65 when the si/piriformis pain hits). i guess i just feel lucky i've regressed anywhere from 20 to 40/50 years!!! it's amazing how the idet has made me feel...and i'll just take that and run with it!
good luck to you, and hope all is (or turns out) well for you.
It is good to hear about positive IDET outcomes. For awhile, the docs were doing too many and were not identifying true candidates. I saw people who were put through three and four level IDETS with terrible outcomes. They everyone hears the horror stories and the treatment becomes mired in fear or the insurance companies start saying that it doesn't work.
The piriformis release is certainly not an easy procedure. I know one person in San Diego who had it and did really well. He didn't get the benefit that you do from the stretching and exercise component.
Sciatic Pain 
