Question
I believe I have a S1 sciatica due to an herniated disc.
I read the other day a previous question on your website posted by Beau on the 5/16/2007 "Sciatica - Making progress?" and I must say that his problem sounded rather very familiar to me (if you have any news on how he did manage his problem, it would be very interesting). Indeed, I am having a very similar problem whereby it started by a pain in my hip mainly, and 2 days later I had a cramp feeling in my left calf for 2 days with also some numbness feeling following the S1 pattern. After another 2 days, the cramp feeling to my left calf disappeared but instead I could not contract my calf almost anymore though I could still feel it. The pain has got much lower, in my hip after a few days, but now I am affraid that I wont be able to contract my calf to 100% anymore, although it is getting slowly better. Shall I expect that after time, and with stretching and localised exercise on my calf, I will recover its functionality to 100%?
Also for my numbness feeling on pattern S1, shall I expect it to go away? What shall I do to improve my situation?
Importantly, I went to see the doctor, but it takes ages to progress and I will only go for MRI in 1 month time or so and I would like to make as much as I can (and as soon as I can) something to recover my left leg to its 100% operability.
For information I do stretch a lot, and bike/swim as well and I try to decompress my back through traction kind of position.
Would you recommend an inversion table?

Thank you very much for your time and Best Regards.
Franck

Answer
hi frank,
   depends on your age and condition of your spine. if you have an mri that will give you a definitive diagnosis of disc herniation (it is the only test to confirm that) x ray can also help to see why you have pressure on that sciatic nerve. often times, these conditions will improve on their own . But, you risk damaging your spine over time and that is irreversible my friend. you have sciatica for a reason, either a disc problem (bulge or herniation) or a spinal misalignment putting pressure on that nerve. Either way you should have it checked by a chiropractor and x ray should be your first diagnostic test done to see if there are subluxations (misalignments) in your spine. the danger of ignoring it or letting it pass on its own can be damage to your spine that again cannot be reversed. swimming is best because it is non impact, an inversion table can be used but should ask your doctor first. there can be a disc protrusion and an inversion table in rare cases can make it worse. So, be careful but it is a possibility to use (once your chiropractor has looked at your x ray and or mri)
the numbness and calf cramp is from the pinched sciatic nerve and can cause nerve damamge over time (takes a long time for that to happen)
it takes time to heal but with chiropractic care you will heal much faster and more effectively too. good luck, let me know if i can be of more help.
ps- running isn't the best if it is a disc problem. eliptical(spelling) trainer is better. and swimming is best.  
if your located in nyc you can come by our office for a free evaluation.