Chapter 26: Sciatica pain

First of all, I'll be joining Dot Period Clothes today at 2pm EST on Instagram Live to talk about endometriosis and the pandemic. Please tune in!

Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. Typically, sciatica affects only one side of your body. It also causes numbness in the affected foot.

For those of you who have never experienced it, it's incredibly painful. The first time I had a flare up was when I was working for Hillary Clinton's campaign. It got so bad (because I was stubborn and didn't see a doctor for way too long) that I ended up on bedrest for a week with muscle relaxers, steroids and lots of ibuprofen. It flares up now when I'm stressed, anxious or haven't been getting enough exercise. Usually it can be fixed with a visit to my chiropractor, massage therapist or acupuncturist. Stretching and walks help too. However, with the pandemic, my current flare up required a telemedicine visit and more muscle relaxers. Not being able to visit my alternative health professionals has been a real bummer, because I am so groggy in the mornings after I take the muscle relaxers. I guess going through the pandemic drugged is not the worst thing to happen, though.

Why am I mentioning it here? Well, endometriosis growth can happen on your sciatic nerve, causing sciatica pain. It's very rarely mentioned, and very difficult to diagnose. MRIs and CTs can be used to diagnose it. Like any type of endometriosis, the only way to treat it is excision surgery by a trained endometriosis expert. Nancy's Nook is an endometriosis resource group on Facebook that vets surgeons and has multiple files with research compiled by volunteer medical experts. The group has very strict rules for its members,

but it is worth it. It's how I found my surgeon.

I hope everyone is staying home, washing their hands and practicing good social distancing. It's up to all of us to flatten the curve!