Exercises to AVOID with Sciatica (STOP Making It Worse!)

[@elizabethwatts8754]

Thank you for this information. These exercises are exactly those I have been doing as part of my routine for two years to try to relieve my calf side sciatica pain, as recommended by more than one doctor. I’ve had every treatment possible and except for epidurals, nothing had helped. I immediately stopped these exercises and saw a huge improvement right away. All this time I have been making myself worse. Thrilled that I found someone who knows his subject, just brilliant,

[@lisahibler3096]

OMG This is an awesome video! I have been doing the laying down stretch for my sciatica thinking I should be getting better (but not!). I've had one online PT tell me to do this exercise with my foot pointed up and it is painful. I've had another that shows the foot pointed outward. Less painful but the leg stretch isn't. This is one exercise that I WON'T be doing anymore! Thank you Will!

[@sandypound1181]

You learn things everyday! I've been doing so much wrong!

[@entparekh]

Excellent explanation, this type of videos will remove the wrong concepts in many ones.

[@FionaWalsh-q3g]

Your videos are so helpful. I've had chronic sciatica for years & also have cauda equina syndrome. Please can you show what are the safest exercises for this syndrome? Thank you.

[@Mohammed-ok5eb]

Hi Will, Thank you... I was doing those exercises... I will avoid... Thank you...

[@valentinabrown9693]

thank you you foror information and for for your help, for your attencion to seniors and i was doing wrong exercises

[@paulhobday9272]

Great advice and noted, Top Guy Will!

[@mischka54]

Mornings are worse for me - trying to put a sock on is extremely painful!! I sit down, cross my leg over the other knee and SLOWLY bring my foot up enough to just reach to get the sock on!! That gives a painful stretch to the buttock and I’m sure just damages things all over again. But by the end of the day things are much improved. Perhaps I should use one of those gadgets that help with socks until it gets better? What do you think Will?

[@taniawatrelot6754]

Thanks you. It is very interesting. My question is how to walk with a sciatica...because the leg is stretched and it is painful. Doctors say to keep walking. I am not convinced. I feel more my sciatica and I think your vidéo explains why in fact. Thanks you ( from France. Sorry for the mistakes)

[@karahamil3657]

Good gawd I’ve been doing all of these ! Thank you !!!!

[@HT-Physio]

No problem! Hope stopping them helps!

[@s.m.g.m2015]

I have sciatica in my right leg all the way down to my toes. The pain is unbearable. It did ease at a time,now and it got worse. If i keep the knee bend, i feel comfortable. Now, if i have the leg straight when lying down, so as i get back up i am in serious pain. Then i have to turn to the medication and wait for them to kick in

[@nigelwalsh804]

Stretched etc and did other exercises and went the full circle. Walking 3+ miles a day. Seemed to be getting no better. Then looked at your advices and what not to avoid. Took you advice. No better. Finally gave up on everything and returned to doing what I was doing before and have noticed a noticeable improvement. Perhaps I don't have sciatica but pins and needles was bad and it had to be a nerve problem. Generally feeling much better so given up on all this widely available advice and just do what I think I should do. However I am particularly impressed with many of your other exercises for other aspects of fitness for us oldies so will keep up with them. Pehaps its all in mind but hardly think so as it was quite crippling this time last year. My answer is to not give up and just keep walking.

[@angelica0269]

Hi! 👋 now I need to know which exercises are best to help me recover from bulging disc and sciatic pain. Can you please send me d me the link to your video with this information? Thank you 🙏

[@MarkPearce-u7m]

Love your videos m8, the most educational of all, thank you.👍

[@alexrossi4464]

I got sciatica 2 months ago! Worst pain ever. I could barely stand, walking hurt, sitting was weird because my leg hurt. I tried doing some of the bridge, cobra, exercises but I immediately felt intense pain! I should have just rested for a week or two( at least). And slowly , and carefully done some of the stretches that felt comfortable ( only). Gradually now, I can do the bridge, and cobra exercises, but not all the way( yet). My Satiaca pain is slowly getting better( 2 months in). Now I can walk, fast, without much pain, and when I get up it's less painful and my body warms up faster. Standing in place is still an issue. But hopefully that will go away soon! I didn't do anything except the stretches,, lying on the floor or foam cushion( lower back), eating g healthfully like usual, and took aspirin. I did start working out 💪 again, carefully, and modified the exercises. Don't do the exercises or stretches until you're ready! A bit of discomfort is ok, but not intense pain! I don't believe in surgery or drugs. I don't go to the doctor unless ( .dying). I do think most healthy people will get better on their own with rest, time, and patience❤. I'm doing it! .

[@januszinvest3769]

Thanks for including the timelines; it helps to visualize how long the recovery may take. How are you feeling now? Have your symptoms faded away?

[@alexrossi4464]

@@januszinvest3769 it's funny, because at first , the pain was so intense, I couldn't visualize a full recovery, as it was very slow and gradual. The first month, will be awful..by the second month, you'll be able to walk, and move around, a lot better, but you'll still have some pain and discomfort. And by time you hit the 10, 11, 12 , week mark, most of the pain( if not all ), should be entirely gone. Yes, by the 3rd month I was fully walking( miles), working out, standing in place, carrying heavy objects etc. basically, back to normal. 7 months later, I see I am back as strong as before, however, I do get a tingle , in the leg it happened, from time time, when I'm doing certain exercises/ or stretches, lifting my leg , very high, in a certain position. But other than that, the pain is entirely gone. You can also modify any of the exercises or stretches you perform to avoid the slight , tingle, especially while still in recovery. I'd say I'm 95 percent back like I was before: no pain, just a tingle every now and then. I can even raise my leg, and rest my ankle on the other leg( tingle), buy that's it. Before, I couldn't even tiey shoe!!! It was terrible! .

[@melissaberry9002]

Great informative video, thank you so much!

[@HT-Physio]

My pleasure!

[@krishnakumari650]

Hi like your videos. I have pain in both legs specially I feel in my feet while standing . Is any way to consult you. I am 60 years old.

[@adityas4160]

Hi Dr. If the stretches help feel better would you recommend doing it.

[@dimpleksai8585]

Wow i had been doing the lying down stretches for a week and now my sciatica is so bad i cant move an inch. Wat the heck. Why is it recommended then?? I wish i had watched this video before . Thanks now i need to figure out how to make this better. But the pain is too extreme and i cant even get up or sit or stand for more than a minute. Any suggestions please?

[@SK-cz1cj]

That's right, but doesn't tight hamstrings put pressure on knees and cause leg cramps? What's the alternative? My dr. gave me vitamin e supplements as an alternative. Is that right?

[@Skirkly]

My pain hurts right at L5 which is sore to touch, radiates out to the hip and down the FRONT of the thigh and groin area. It is not in my back of my leg. I suppose the facet joint is sore and stenosis I have is pinching the nerve and maybe not my sciatic nerve. So, I have no idea what not to do except I cannot sit in a chair and stretch my legs out straight. But I will not do the things in this video either just in case.

[@Adventures-and-More]

But the laying stretch is also used for nerve flossing, which is a good thing, right?

[@missophelialee]

Hello Will. Appreciate your video ..Can one with herniated L4,L5 S1 do squats as a core strengthening exercise?

[@jillbolt6825]

I have been doing "Sciatic Nerve Floss" which is more or less the same as your third "don't do" example. It does relieve the pain, and my sciatica is improving. Should I stop doing this?

[@HT-Physio]

This is a great question - true sciatic flossing is usually safe because it actually avoids stretching the sciatic nerve. I made a video about this topic here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKfKm4eardhmZqc

[@jillbolt6825]

@@HT-Physio Thanks Will, that's put my mind at rest!

[@hegotaspare]

Stretching my hamstrings helps my pain I think the tip is to keep your back straight as possible to avoid making the disc bulge worse. I sat on the floor with legs straight and gradually sat up with my hands on the floor for support felt the steering my legs and that stopped the pain for a time.

[@janechambers9980]

Do squats stretch the hamstrings? How about jumping? Running?

[@HT-Physio]

Squats don't typically stretch the hamstrings but there are other problems with squats. This video might be useful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fma3dXqNfrF2hK8

[@dmd7472]

Any safe stretches for Hams whilst having a bulge? Thanks

[@jakafe1188]

my physiotherapist tried to make me do the third exercise lol

[@HT-Physio]

Oh dear :(

[@EthelKounde]

Same I can’t trust mine anymore

[@amferns1554]

Do you have to refrain from doing these exercises even when the sciatic nerve is not inflamed, but you have had a bad bout of the sciatica (about 11 months ago) & have numbness in two of the toes??

[@sumithrab3359]

Cant see full video of ur excercise. Tell which excercise is good for sciatica

[@nothinchill]

Really interesting intuitive video. I do have one question, since my sciatica is coming from shortened, tight muscles in the pelvic region my hamstrings and calves are likewise extremely tight. At some point, don’t we need to stretch these muscles out? Is this advice to stay away from hamstring stretches for an acute episode of great pain and then resume once tolerated? Thank you for your insight

[@patriciafagoaga2609]

Hello Dr. Is only been a day of listening to your advices and in only this short time, I’ve learned so much and understand what is agrevating my pain so much. Question. Is cycling a safe exercise? I recently got a peloton bike and boy! It irritated my back so much. I have a bulging disc on L5, I have been suffering from pain since about 4 years! Done pretty much everything and nothing has help for once.. it is like a mountain.. some days up and some days down…

[@noone-tk6yc]

Do you have a video best for ciatica?

[@michellehamilton7366]

What about strtching the leg against the wall when lyinging down

[@microporetape]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I have L4 L5 bulging disc. I enjoy using rowing machine. Am I stretching my hamstring when rowing? Would you recommend this type of activity with my condition? Thank you!

[@queenofpositivity7266]

I have the same problem and I read that rowing machines aren’t good for your lower back/ sciatica.

[@yaretagnel4874]

Im 29 with piriformis. Do you have another video mentioning what to do instead?

[@vishnubhat7075]

Sir, Watched your video as I am also suffering from sciatica.I have spinal stenosis. Can you please send me the link regarding the excercises I must do.At present I am doing the third excercise and found my problem not improving . Kindly send me the link. With regards,

[@HT-Physio]

Hi there - I have the following videos that offer advice around exercising with spinal stenosis and sciatica that may be of interest! kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4aooJaFZ9OBhrc kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJyzfYialq-Enbs kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3SwfH93ltWUq68

[@shauryakumar3547]

Hey incase we have to strech our hamstring with herniated disc before working out ( provided i dont have symptoms anymore) how should it be done Thankyou!

[@daughterofgod777]

So what hamstring stretch can you do?

[@lindahoganson8721]

See his Gentle 10-minute Stretch video for hamstring stretch.

[@walaaali1876]

Excersie starts at 4:35 m

[@702Blunt]

I had sciatica with a pain of 2 and my chiropractor said to workout and stretch and now my pain is at 10 as soon i get off bed. I think stretching is what made it worse.

[@zamanbab4]

what about hamstring exercises such as prone leg curl i can make my hamstrings tight with this but you know when i do it i gotta stretch my hamstring and strain it.

[@attoufek368]

It's getting so confused each chiropractor said something different Who we should believe Who we should believe?

[@rashmikumarrastogi354]

Liking for your cuteness. Watching for my betterment 😅

[@shimtiw]

I was living in a world of fools. Thank God you look like saviour now. What's your recommend exercises for mild disc bulge?

[@HT-Physio]

Thanks for the kind words! I will make a video covering this topic soon.

[@ianpoole594]

My sciatica gives calf pain should i therefore be avoiding stretching my calf muscles ?

[@HT-Physio]

Advice here is different for everyone and depends on a lot of factors. Sorry I can't be more specific!

[@ianpoole594]

@@HT-Physio OK, thanks for your reply anyway.

[@toadhall5041]

My American PT had me doing exercise three with a strap. Yikes, I pay that PT to give me exercises to make me worst.

[@gerrysicat2602]

Hi its me again… regarding those exercises when i have buttock pain in my left side. I used to do that number 1 exercise and honestly it makes the buttock pain go away… is my buttock pain sciatica or piriformis syndrome?

[@gerrysicat2602]

Im 58 years old btw.

[@ANSARALI-rz7ft]

but when i do lie down hamstring stretch i feel better i found its sciatica nerv unpinch or untrap exesise it is wrong?

[@HT-Physio]

The video is guidance that applies to most - but not all - people. It would be sensible to get assessed by a professional. Good luck!

[@joycem8490]

My P T just told me to do the stretch , it does not bother me or feel better.

[@adeejinnz]

@@joycem8490PTs don’t get near to the level of training/study that physiotherapists do.

[@melissaarchie5686]

Its presumptuous to ask people to like a video before they've watched it 😊

[@realaveragegamer3053]

what about a 30 year old with an over 50 year old back 😫

[@arterynosferatu672]

💜️

[@kcdautel8075]

I don’t agree with this. If I don’t stretch my hamstrings regurlaly my sciatica gets worse. If u have a sedentary job u have to stretch your hamstrings. My chiro also promotes stretching hamstrings.

[@jennateller4974]

Every case of sciatica is unique. With your case, I’m sure the magnets the chiropractor is using are very helpful, too! Instability and lack of endurance are core to a majority of sciatica cases.

[@queenofpositivity7266]

These aren’t exercises but stretches. The title of this video is misleading.

[@rick7557]

Stretching exercises are still considered exercises 👨‍🏫

[@hsd3801]

You are missing the point