Any of you motherfuckers have a rehab protocol for a sore sciatica? Mine's been killing me for like a week. It was bugging me a bit two weeks ago but I decided to work through the pain. It only really hurts for the first few reps of a squat, row or any set that involves leaning over.
It's not like the soreness/pain I used to get in my lower back when I first started lifting. It only kind of pinches when I bend into certain angles. It's actually not that bad, but I'd prefer it not hurt at all over only hurting a little or in certain positions.
My gym has foam rollers and I was messing around with them but I don't really know what I'm doing.
Damn! Dude, if I ever experienced any sciatica symptoms again during exercises I would certainly stop those immediately and find alternatives that don't aggravate it, but that is just me. I don't do any exercises leaning over now unless with support.
Maybe switch to split-squats for a little while, and chest-supported rows, etc.
When my foot was going numb whenever I sat my ass on a chair, I did a lot of McKenzie-style stretching. Lie face down on the floor and note how your back feels. For me, the pain would increase for a bit and then slowly dissipate. If you feel pain down a leg while lying down and then after a minute or two it centralizes in your lower back that is good. If it doesn't work out like that, then lying face down might not be effective.
I did that though for several weeks and then eventually the nerve root just heals. Though I was careful to not aggravate it and would take time off to let it recover.
Oh, and ICE YOUR BACK. You definitely don't want to be heating your back or nerve root that'll make it worse. Those hot showers? Reduce them to warm or even a little on the cold side.
Cat/camels, nerve flossing, etc. But definitely take it easy.