Trying to walk
Jan. 30th, 2025 11:52 pmIn the winter, I prefer to walk after dark because I like seeing the lights in the houses on the hills surrounding our neighborhood. However, I've now experienced a new related health development - an occasional sharp pain of sciatica. This started a couple of months ago, and I could normally walk through it. This week, though, it was much more extreme. I'd start walking then get pulled up short and have to wait until the spasm of pain ended before I could resume walking. One day I got stopped six times between here and my friend JL's house, which is only a block away! After that, it didn't bother me as much, and eventually I could walk just fine.
I looked online and saw that sciatica when walking can be aggravated by cold weather, and indeed, it was only 30-35°F when this was happening. I tried again when it was 45°F, and I got much further before having one sharp spasm of pain, then it was okay. One suggestion I saw online was to use a heating pad on one's lower back before setting out, and I tried that today. It was about 40°F, and although it wasn't perfect, the experience was much better - just a few smaller twinges when I was starting out and then when I was heading back from the furthest point. So I'm hoping this is just a by-product of cold weather + aging. My back feels fine otherwise.
I looked online and saw that sciatica when walking can be aggravated by cold weather, and indeed, it was only 30-35°F when this was happening. I tried again when it was 45°F, and I got much further before having one sharp spasm of pain, then it was okay. One suggestion I saw online was to use a heating pad on one's lower back before setting out, and I tried that today. It was about 40°F, and although it wasn't perfect, the experience was much better - just a few smaller twinges when I was starting out and then when I was heading back from the furthest point. So I'm hoping this is just a by-product of cold weather + aging. My back feels fine otherwise.