I want to run again

In january I picked up a case of soda in the grocery store and took an injury that set my sciatic nerve on fire. Since then Ive been suffering with it and after numerous trips to the drs, Ive had zero relief. Mainly, its the outer portion of my right thigh. I feel it most when Im in bed and put pressure on it. My regular dr says when my sciatic nerve finally calms down he wants me in the gym 5 days a week....while my orthopedic dr says no activity except swimming. The problem with that is im a cop and my days are filled with activity. Last thursday I took a fall and injured my shoulder, and im wondering if all these injuries are because I stopped excersing. I really want to start running again but im afraid to injure myself further, any thoughts on this?

I had sciatica. I would not suggest running . Running is a high impact and that may aggravate the nerve again. But walking (make sure you have really good shoes and good track to walk on (concrete may not be best) and swimming or any other low impact activity - may do a lot of help and not cause damage. 

The nerve hasnt calmed down since january. My dr said it could take months or it could never settle down. Im really just not happy, not getting excersize....but im unsure about what kind would be best. I cant swim so thats out of the question.

What about yoga? or Pilates?

http://www.pilates-back-joint-exercise.com/sciatic-nerve-exe rcises.html

yoga helped me a lot. It is harder than it look. Rowing is also good. 

Beside that - what helps the most when I have that issue - is a great chiropractor and acupuncture with electrical needles simulations (tens) . It sound weird but that helped me more than any other treatments. 

You cannot swim because you do not have a pool or you cannot swim because you don't know how to swim?

If you have access to a pool there is plenty you can do that is not swimming such as water aerobics, water walking and more.

I have suffered with that for 8 years. I am a dancer and years of office chair sitting I think pinched the nerve off in my lower back. 

A chiropractor helped immensely and taught me that icing when its flared up helps a ton. It basically is your muscles flared up and swollen and closing off the room the nerve needs to exist without hurting you. Ice reduces the swelling and makes it less painful, big time! I use a big ice pack, lay on the floor with my knees bent so my lower back gets flat on the floor and ice it for 20 minutes. First it will be cold, then it will burn, then it goes numb. Trust me, numb is awesome.

I get deep tissue massage each month and that helps a TON.

I have disk degeneration in my lower back and have done physical therapy and lots of yoga, ballet, and now belly dancing. The more active I am, the less likely it will flare up. Core strengthening will be your best friend. I know it hurts like a beach right now, but ice it every couple of hours and stretch. Google core exercises and you can start slow and work your way up. In the long run you will be fine. I don't take anything more than ibuprofen for the worst days when I have gardened or done something too intensive for too many hours. Stabilize your core, and you will get back to running. 

Good luck!