Has anyone ever suffered from sciatic pain not from karting or heck even from karting and was able to fully recover to get back behind the wheel? The past month+ I’ve been experiencing this and its definitely looking like it going to put a damper on the racing I could go on and explain the situation and how I’ve been to clinic 2x and hospital 2x doing physio, chiropractor and massage to start and have been since the beginning :-S
My first time in a real race kart I made 2 sessions and knew I had an issue. I parked it next to a fence to help myself out. Had trouble standing, limped, etc. I raced 6 weeks later. Still had trouble standing, limped, etc.
I used to race bicycles at a weight of around 130. Now I weigh 210 and don’t look it. I carry a lot of weight that doesn’t show. Upper legs and butt. That can crowd the sciatic nerve.
What helped was time, stretching.
I did this a little: I am not recommending this without a caveat.
(look up tennis ball sciatica) It was painful at first but seemed to make a difference. A LOT of folks say use the tennis ball. It may not be the way to go. Do your research first. It might be an antiquated/wrong thing to do.
Incidentally so did a session in an arrive and drive rental kart, go figure.
Then look @ this; (also AthleanX in general) for a counterpoint
I feel he knows better than most people and follow what he says in general.
Thanks @Mike_Clark see this is kinda what i was looking for as i am suffering from piriformis syndrome causing the sciatic pain. Ive had friends tell me to do the tennos ball before but i never seen the point and knew it woukd just be extremely painful. Have you been successful in returning to the track without issue? If i read your story right you started with the tennis ball technique and thought it may have helped until you did a arrive and drive session? Have you been able to overcome the issues?
I’m not sure if it was the tennis ball as I did the stretching at the same time.
I felt better after getting an arrive and drive session. I went to the track with a group and promised my wife I wouldn’t drive. 1 guy couldn’t make a session so I took it. I felt better after the session.
I would drive with the problem. I could lift the kart, but walking wasn’t fun. Eventually it didn’t bother me much. I feel it once in a while when I get up in the morning. I am 55 years old though.
I have only done rentals in the recent past. Working on getting back in my own again. Next rental race I may race 2 classes back to back. I am thinking about adding a pad for the padding and to take up slack in the big rental seats.
I am not sure if it was the bumps, curb, vibration or if it was just time. I didn’t think I had any prior issues before but ended up realizing I’d go numb if I sat on a hard surface too long.
As Jeff Cavalier points out the sciatic nerve is not that deep, so probably easy to get at in a kart seat.
Mike,
Sorry to necro this thread but perhaps this would help. I bought this for my sim rig as I have sitting issues due to being butt-less. This might help under you in a kart (or something like it). It does raise you an inch or so, however. I can now drive endless laps where without it it was 1/2 hr before discomfort got too much.
Pricier but perhaps worth it?
Dom,
Thank you. I have been toughing it out. I felt it a bit this Sunday.
I can be frugal:
https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/academy-sports-outdoors-seat-cushion#repChildCatid=1617217
I commend you on your frugality and common sense sir. The memory foam is pretty good and there’s a bazillion Chinese knockoffs.