Henry’s Second Wind: How He Got His Retirement Back from Sciatica Pain
When Henry R. retired in Michigan, he and his wife had big plans. After years of early mornings and long workdays, they were finally free to slow down and savor life together—long drives up north, afternoons on the water, and staying active all year. Henry was especially excited to open their cabin up North.
Then sciatica pain entered the picture.
Carol Kremer, Licensed Acupuncturist at Livingston Acupuncture explains “Sciatica pain often begins in the lower back or hip and travels down the leg, following the path of the sciatic nerve. It can feel electric, burning, stabbing, or numb all at once. For many people, even small movements can trigger intense nerve pain.”
“It felt like a lightning bolt shooting from my back straight down my leg,” Henry shared.
Carol finds this pattern incredibly common in her clinic: “You’d be surprised how many patients suffer with sciatica pain. Nerve pain can be unpredictable and frightening, especially when it starts interfering with daily life. Sciatica doesn’t just hurt—it changes how people move, sit, sleep, and even breathe. Muscles tighten to protect the painful area, which can increase stiffness and pressure on the nerve over time.”
“Sometimes it burned so badly it felt like my leg was on fire,” Henry said. “Other times it feels like pain just explodes out of nowhere.”
That kind of burning or shooting sensation is a classic sign of nerve irritation. When nerves are inflamed or compressed, pain can travel and feel much more intense than muscle soreness.
At his cabin up north, Henry couldn’t do the things he had always loved. Launching his boat in the spring or clearing fallen branches after a big storm became impossible. Every time he tried to bend or twist, the pain would take his breath away. He’d go to lift a branch and that shooting pain would drop him right back down.
“In our clinic, we often see people stop trusting their bodies when pain keeps ‘surprising’ them. That fear of movement is just as limiting as the pain itself. Even sitting in the car for long drives becomes a problem.” Carol shares.
Sciatica pain often worsens with prolonged sitting because it increases pressure on the lower back and hips, compressing the sciatic nerve.
“I couldn’t be in the car for more than half an hour,” Henry shared. “My leg would start burning and tightening up, and we had to pull over again and again.”
When Henry began acupuncture care, he hoped for fast relief—but nerve pain doesn’t resolve overnight. “We always remind patients that chronic pain didn’t develop in a day,” Carol explains. “The body needs time to calm the nervous system and reduce inflammation. Consistency is what allows real healing to happen.”
Slowly, things began to change. The sharp, electric pain episodes became fewer and less frequent. The burning wasn’t constant. Henry noticed he could sit longer, move with less fear, and stand without bracing for impact. Before long, Henry could get on the boat without pain and help around the cabin again. The drive up north no longer felt like an obstacle course of painful stops.
“It honestly felt like I got my life back,” Henry said. “My wife and I can finally enjoy our time together the way we imagined.”
At Livingston Acupuncture, our goal isn’t just pain relief,” Carol adds. “It’s helping people get back to living the life they worked so hard for.”
💛 A Gentle Reminder for Anyone Living with Sciatica
Sciatica can shrink your world. It changes how you move, how you plan, and how safe you feel in your own body. But Henry’s story is a reminder that progress is possible—even when it’s gradual.
If pain has been running your schedule, know this: healing doesn’t have to be rushed to be real. With patience, support, and consistent care, life can start to feel open again.
Call us at (810) 505-5014 to talk about what’s possible for you.