Could chemo cause lower back pain and sciatica?

Ar you on AI's?

I had severe sciatica (L5-S1 disc herniation) before cancer, and it worsened during treatment. Chemo increases inflammation so it's possible it caused yours. I couldn't sit for dinner. Car rides were excruciating. Over the years I went to numerous PTs, had several steroid shots, and taken many meds. I refused to consider surgery. After radiation I did my own rehab. I focused on postural alignment exercises (based on Egoscue method) and nerve gliding. I took enough meds (Lyrica, anti-inflammatory, and muscle relaxant) so I could do my exercises. It took many months, but it started to work. Eventually I was able to stop all the above meds. Now I have to keep it at bay because I have flares every so often, but nowhere near as bad as before.

Maybe try a different PT. I went to at least 5 different people. Hope you find something that works.

When I started my own rehab at home, I spent ~4 hours a day on postural alignment exercises and nerve flossing. It was after chemo/rads so I was in a lot of pain and weak. The exercises aren't strenuous.

I used exercises from the book Pain Free by Pete Egoscue. There are also YT videos. There are Egoscue therapists, but I was able to manage on my own.

This is the nerve flossing I did. About 10 slow reps multiple times a day. Stop if your pain increases.

I have a thread called Thin Slices of Joy that I started when I decided to do my own rehab. It has more of the things I did. I can't remember it all. An Egoscue therapist would probably work faster, but I don't know if your insurance would cover it.

Let me know if you need more information.