Good question... I dunno what is the answer. I'll do some investigation and get back to you if I bump into an answer. You should email the people at Nutrisystem as they probably know..

Curry, absolutely! My SO has back issues (has had 2 shots, physical therapy, etc.). He saw my success on Nutrisystem and decided to see if dropping 20 lbs. would help, so I bought extra Nutrisystem food at Big Lots and he's been working the plan now for 2 months. He's down 17 pounds, and during that time started doing a LOT of core strengthening exercises, including crunches and stretching..

His back pain has all but vanished now, and he's been "discharged" from physical therapy. But you have to be VIGILANT with the stretching - if he goes more than a day without, his back starts to tighten up again...

I've had back problems for a long time and know very well the pain that can hit you from something as simple as a sneeze. Sadly sometimes I even know the pain which can uccur simply from turning and twisting innocently. I had hoped it would get much better with the weight loss, but so far it has not. My chiropractor said the benefit will accumulate over time so maybe eventually it will get better, but not yet...

I have had sciatica for years. It first started after a long session of snow shovelling. Losing weight will help somewhat, but you need to learn what it was about your body position during that sneeze that caused your pain. After a second attack from snow shovelling, I switched to a snow blower and haven't had an attack in years. It was putting the leverage on my spine with the shovel that caused my sciatic nerve to be pinched. Holding any weight in front of your body like that will often cause it, which is why they always tell you to lift with your legs and keep weight close to your torso..

Most sciatica attacks will resolve themselves with a few weeks of rest. Surgery should only be considered as an absolute last resort and only after enough time has passed so you know the pain is not going to get better on it's own. Avoid any positions that put undue pressure or leverage on your spine. If sitting for long periods, get up freaquently and strech and walk. I found that sleeping with a pillow between or under my knees helps quite a bit. It keeps the spine straight and lets the sciatic nerve rest without further aggrivation.

They worked wonders for me...

Thanks guys.. that's actually very encouraging and yet another reason I should be losing this weight! Promise, that site was very helpful and I lol'd at the title of #3 (Hotel Pillow Recovery). I'm intrigued about acupuncture now. That's something I'd like to check out..

As Perfect had stated, I think it has been the weight of my stomach pulling my lower spine forward that is also the problem (that sneeze, I bet, probably just put it over the edge). I would hope losing said gut will help straighten out my spine so as to unpinch the sciatica nerve...

:::Arm up, held high..me, too!:::.

Oh, yes...at my heaviest, I would get sciatica so bad that I couldn't move! I would be in tears...and have to appear in court within a few hours. It was awful!.

Since losing over 100 pounds on NutriSystem (actually, after about the first 50), NONE!.

I attribute it completely to weight loss!..

I can attest that even 5 measly pounds can take the strain off your back! I couldn't stay 'bent over' for more than a couple minutes at all... like to load the dishwasher even!! It was awful. I'd have to go sit down and take the load off my back. Couldn't walk to the corner of my street at all. [all of about 100 ft. lol].

Even a 10# weight loss made all the difference in the world! I don't feel ANY pain or strain on it now... and I know it can only get better! I'm down almost 17#s now... and already I can feel a lot more agility returning...

I was sparring at my karate class wednesday night. I wear shoes to spar to help alleviate jamming my toes. I kicked a guy in the stomach and my shoe caught in his T-shirt. When I tried to pull my leg back, I wrenched my back..

I could barely get up yesterday. I went to an orthopedist yesterday and he x-rayed my back. Fortunately, there was no disc damage or misalignment. I simply strained my lower lumbar muscles. I am in the throes of muscle relaxers as I type. Back spasms suck, incidentally..

I think I need to up my ab/core workout. Thanks for the link PromiseGiggy. Interesting...

Hopefully, next time you'll have the good sense to do what I do - hit 'em with an Estwing 24 oz w/ wafflehead...

Nah, Ruger P-89. You don't have to stand near as close..

Additional benefit - no back strain at all...

You need to see a chiropractor. The sudden onset and pain pattern that you described is classical disc problem. The discs, however don't just herniate normally. The vertebrae above and below most likely were misaligned causing abnormal pressure to be exerted on the disc. You should get it checked out even if the pain is gone. Degenerative discs don't often show symptoms until there is a significant amount of progression. You should get on top of the problem before it gets to that point...

I've been wearing this cast for one day now and man, is my lower back hurting right now. I'm starting to think that all that fat I was carrying around was actually holding me together. I lose 92 lbs and start falling apart, jeez. Did I mention my back hurts. Whine, complain, whine, complain, whine, blah, blah, blah........

I feel the same way. But I really feel my pain and disconfort is using parts of my body that I haven't used in over 20 years...

I keep telling my wife that everytime I visit the gym I seem to awaken another long sleeping muscle...there are a couple in my upper back that are a bit annoyed at me this week for bothering them after all these years...

I started Wii Fit this evening. Geez, only 13 minutes of actual time recorded and the pain in my legs is unreal. Just shows you what really bad shape I'm in. But It's a start...

Weight certainly contributes to several different kinds of back pain. But, there are also genetic diseases like arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and spurs, unrelated to weight that can cause back pain. Without going into my whole pathetic story of back pain, let me simply say: lose weight, exercise, see a highly recommended physical therapist, and work at being happy. Depression and back pain are a bad mix..

There is a time for resting/recovering from the initial event that caused the pain, but eventually getting up and moving are very important. As someone else mentioned, strengthening the core muscles is VERY important. It gets easier as the weight decreases, but can be done at any weight. Walking has been the best thing for me. Start slow, but keep working at it..

Good luck...

I really think the best course at the onset of sciatica is.

Not.

To keep moving too much. Most of the time it's caused by the nerve being pinched by the disc and moving too much initially will continue to aggrivate the nerve. It doesn't really start getting better until the inflammed nerve calms down after a while. That's why anti-inflamatory drugs are most often prescribed..

I've always found that several days of bed rest with the leg bent (with a pillow under it) will do more good than continually aggrivating the condition. Once the episode is passed is when regular exercise is needed to prevent a relapse and pelvic tilts are the best way to start...