Re: [Paddlewise] Sciatica (was shoulder exercises for paddling)

One device I found helpful is to place water bottles under my knees when
paddling.
The relief to knee pain has been amazing, and the slightly bent knee
posture seems
to help my back also.

Brad

On Sun, Feb 19, 2012 at 6:36 AM, Jennifer Pivovar <jpivovar_at_headwinds.org>wrote:

> Doug,
>
> One workaround I haven't seen mentioned is this:
> Be sure to support your thigh just behind the knee whenever you sit,
> especially in a kayak or car.  In your kayak, if your seat is high then
> a pool noodle or two (modified if need be) crammed in front of the seat
> might work and is cheaper than customizing minicell.  I actually removed
> my seat altogether, sit on the bottom (on a yoga mat) and support the
> leg with foam.  In the car I drive with a rolled up blanket across the
> front edge of the seat with the seat obnoxiously close to the pedals.
> This is present tense because I am in month 8 of my second persistent
> sciatica attack.  Fortunately it seems to be on the mend.  The first
> lasted >2 years :(.  No doctor, chiro, bodyworker of any stripe was able
> to figure that one out either.
>
> One thing I just discovered that also seems to help is topical
> magnesium.  Go get some epsom salts and put one pound in a hot bath and
> soak 2-3 times er week.  I though this was a joke until I actually
> finished installing my tub and tried it.
>
> FWIW, I attribute the healing of this attack to taking up Yin yoga,
> specific series of long-held postures targeted toward feeding the joints
> and ligaments below the muscular level (google it).
>
> Aren't we a creaky bunch?  Just don't stop!!
>
> Jennifer
>
> On Sat, Feb 18, 2012, at 10:41 PM, Doug Lloyd wrote:
> > See doc on Monday, so far he's done nada.
> > This sciatic pain is harder to fathom and seems to affect every part of
> > life, not just paddling.
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