My Sciatic Nerve Is a Pain

     I am having trouble with my sciatic nerve.  This is the first time in my life that I have had such trouble.  It hurts from my hip all the way down to my foot.  I’m going to my doctor tomorrow afternoon.  I couldn’t get an appointment sooner than that, or I would already have seen him.

     The good news is that I can get relief by sitting in a recliner and being perfectly still.  I’ve developed a lot of compassion for people with chronic pain and am very thankful that I am able to have a respite from my current pains.  I have also developed a lot of compassion for anyone who has chronic back problems.  I think that in my oblivious youthfulness I just didn’t get it.  Now I do.

     My mom has had sciatica.  When I talked about it with her, I said, “I feel like I’m too young to have a problem like this.”

     She replied, “I was 40 when it hit me the first time.”  I am 44; I guess I’m not too young. 

     I did some research and found that there can be several different causes of this condition.  I hope that my doctor (and others, if necessary) can help me find what’s causing it in me.  If possible, I’d like to find a permanent solution.

     Providentially I talked to an old friend of mine today who has suffered from the same condition.  In his case, his hip bones are the problem.  He does exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles in his lower back in order to help keep his hip bones in place.  He still has a flare-up every two years or so.

     I also talked to my pastor who has occasional lower back pain.  “Welcome to middle age,” were his kind words.