A question please ?

[zigzag]

I have a question I am not sure If I am asking in the right place. Hope so anyway I hurt my back I do not have insurance and I am told I need an MRI.I have pain from my lower back going all the way down my left leg and numbness in my lower leg.No one can help me without an MRI oh well I live on IBU a lot I must say for the past 8 months since it happened.Without the IBU I would not be able to take the intense pain. Anyway I have gave up on getting help as I can not afford an MRI etc... My question is what exercise is safe to do without hurting myself anymore ? I hurt all the time anyway so I figure what the hell but I don't want to make it worse. walking ? I mean I'm just at a point where i am in tears all the time anyway I might as well get some exercise walk through the pain just push through it.Would walking be ok ? thanks any help would be great ty

[admin]

Hi zigzag

Welcome to the forum.

You might want to question the "need an MRI" advice - there are plenty of folks out there who could treat you and suggest appropriate exercises without needing an MRI. In fact some folks question the overuse of MRI's.

It sounds like you have sciatica in your leg which could be caused by a variety of things.

There are various ideas on exercises for backpain here.

If you have no insurance the hard part is finding a health professional who can provide any advice.

I find walking works for me.

In the UK the National Health Service recommends exercise according to this post.
And says for health providers to :
- Offer one of the following treatments (see box D), taking patient preference into account. Consider offering:
– exercise programme
– course of manual therapy *
– course of acupuncture
I know this doesn't help if you're not in the UK, but it provides guidance on who to turn to.

[Leeann]

Hi ~ A friend of mine had sciatica quite bad and tried this exercise and it worked. He said he held onto a chair and then extended the affected leg straight out behind him as far as he could - lift the leg if you can - but stretch it out as far behind you as you can. Do that for 10 repetitions and hold it for a few seconds each time. He said that it took away ALL his pain!!! I've had sciatica for 26 years and i tried it and I thought I'd die!! LOL It didn't work for me darn it. But I've had sciatica too long. for someone who has had it just a shorter length of time it just might work. Give it a try. Good luck. Hugs, Lee