Re: need leg pain advise

[Guest guest]

Hi Debbie,

I know what you mean about the hip and leg pain. I was doing a straight

10-hour shift (no breaks) as a cashier at a convenience store/gas station. I

used an anti-fatigue mat behind the till plus there was a stool that I was

able to lean against, when it wasn't that busy. Concrete floors are the

worst for the back. I also used a rice bag for my lower back and/or neck, as

well as magnets on the pressure points of the hip. As soon as I got home, I

used the hot-water bottle to help relax the muscles around the sore points.

Of course, none of this eliminated the pain but it did reduce it to a little

more tolerable level. If you are not standing in one location, then try

using carpet underpad in your shoes, instead of the anti-fatigue mat.

Soaking in hot-warm water helps relax the muscles, at night before you go to

bed (hot shower is an alternative, though not as effective). Any relaxation

methods help. I was doing this along with taking maximum daily amount of

acetaminophen with codeine, in the end before I was able to quit full-time

and be accepted for disability.

My doctor, also recommended some massage to loosen the tight muscles.

Llweyn

need leg pain advise

I was hoping anyone may know what I can do for hip, leg pain besides

live on pain meds. I am waiting for medicaid and SSDI (months still

to wait) so had to take a part time job to get by. Well, I have to

stand all day (6-7hrs a day) the pain is horrible, but I have no

choice. The leg pain etc has become so severe and 24 hrs now and I

can't stand it. But I have to have an income.

I cannot go to the doctor to see if anything else would help since no

insurance. I have nerve damage to my legs and was thinking, would

this standing all day make it worse? And my flatback issue worse?

Would vitamins maybe help?

I know none of us are docs but thought someone may have experienced

the same problems and/or have some advise from their own experience.

Thanks!

Debbie

Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment

Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any

advertised products.

[Guest guest]

Debbie....I am not sure how similar our situations are...but all

my " pain " was piriformis (butt area) and tingling/numbness sciatic

type stuff down the leg. I can't stand for long, although there are

times at work where I must, so it is/can be very painful.

Dr. Rand had suggested standing with one foot on a stool to try to

ease the situation but that didn't work.

I am finally slightly more comfortable after a long 6months and a

variety of things. Maybe after all, time for healing is the main

thing....who knows...but what has seemed to work (in concert with

Bextra, then Toradol for awhile) was a elastic support belt my local

ortho prescribed. At the time I hadn't had the MRI, so it was

suspicion that L5 had herniated...and it turns out that was/is the

problem and the nerve is being pressed and the pain referred

downstream....

The long and short of it is, for me, if I wrap the support belt very,

very, very tightly around my very low waist/pelvis, for some reason

it is taking the load off that nerve or muscle group enough to get

the pain back to " tolerable " . I also had a epidural spinal injection

about a month ago which helped...but the belt still is a " must " if I

am up and around at all. Through the worst of it I also iced almost

constantly when I was home a night. I think the muscles were so

traumatized from being in spasm for 2-3 months while we were figuring

this all out that the ice really helped the muscles heal a bit too.

I also worked with a muscular therapist, who, if nothing else, was

able to get the muscles out of spasm for a time. She was the best

emotional support I had going through...but insurance didn't cover

her so it was just a luxury in some regards...although I do think

some of the work she has now done further up the spine is improving

the muscles there that have huge loads on them as the flatback has

progressed....there are lots or adhesions/scar tissue low back that

seem better these days.

Are you able to take anything, either anti-inflamitory or pain killer

wise? Does your diagnosis explain where or why you are having leg

pain? Will your doctor play around with medications til you find a

good combo?

I hope you can find some relief....Needless to say, I am no doctor,

you situation is doubtless quite different from mine and you should

consult you physician before changing anything you are doing.

Cam

[Guest guest]

Hi Debbie,

I agree with Cam on the elastic belt thing. If I have to stand for

any length of time I wear an elastic corsety-brace-thingy that

velcros in the front. The tighter the better! Mine goes from just

below the breasts to down over my hips. It's amazing how it helps

take the pressure off the nerves. - Plus my husband loves it because

when I wear it over my clothes I look like the St. ie Girl! He

keeps asking me for a beer in a mug! Maybe try one.-The brace- not

the beer! (Although that may help too!) I ordered mine online

through a company called " Supports USA " .

from Long Island

-- In , " cammaltby "

<cammaltby@y...> wrote:

>

>

> Debbie....I am not sure how similar our situations are...but all

> my " pain " was piriformis (butt area) and tingling/numbness sciatic

> type stuff down the leg. I can't stand for long, although there

are

> times at work where I must, so it is/can be very painful.

>

> Dr. Rand had suggested standing with one foot on a stool to try

to

> ease the situation but that didn't work.

>

> I am finally slightly more comfortable after a long 6months and a

> variety of things. Maybe after all, time for healing is the main

> thing....who knows...but what has seemed to work (in concert with

> Bextra, then Toradol for awhile) was a elastic support belt my

local

> ortho prescribed. At the time I hadn't had the MRI, so it was

> suspicion that L5 had herniated...and it turns out that was/is the

> problem and the nerve is being pressed and the pain referred

> downstream....

>

> The long and short of it is, for me, if I wrap the support belt

very,

> very, very tightly around my very low waist/pelvis, for some

reason

> it is taking the load off that nerve or muscle group enough to get

> the pain back to " tolerable " . I also had a epidural spinal

injection

> about a month ago which helped...but the belt still is a " must " if

I

> am up and around at all. Through the worst of it I also iced

almost

> constantly when I was home a night. I think the muscles were so

> traumatized from being in spasm for 2-3 months while we were

figuring

> this all out that the ice really helped the muscles heal a bit too.

>

> I also worked with a muscular therapist, who, if nothing else, was

> able to get the muscles out of spasm for a time. She was the best

> emotional support I had going through...but insurance didn't cover

> her so it was just a luxury in some regards...although I do think

> some of the work she has now done further up the spine is

improving

> the muscles there that have huge loads on them as the flatback has

> progressed....there are lots or adhesions/scar tissue low back

that

> seem better these days.

>

> Are you able to take anything, either anti-inflamitory or pain

killer

> wise? Does your diagnosis explain where or why you are having leg

> pain? Will your doctor play around with medications til you find a

> good combo?

>

> I hope you can find some relief....Needless to say, I am no

doctor,

> you situation is doubtless quite different from mine and you

should

> consult you physician before changing anything you are doing.

> Cam

[Guest guest]

On the corsetey/support thing......I should add that although I

consider myself fairly slim, when I tighten this puppy up it sqeezes

all flab up.....I don't have that St. ie girl look that

alludes to!!!

.....but it is a small price for the abilty to move about as I

wish.....

My local doc offered a more substanial/full body option, so maybe

what speakes of would offer better suppport and a more

streamlined appearance! good luck, Cam

[Guest guest]

Is it the Elastic Abdominal Support?

I had one they gave me to support after my hysterectomy last year.

It wraps around your abdomine?

-- In , " nanfash "

<nanfash@y...> wrote:

>

>

> Hi Debbie,

>

> I agree with Cam on the elastic belt thing. If I have to stand for

> any length of time I wear an elastic corsety-brace-thingy that

> velcros in the front. The tighter the better! Mine goes from just

> below the breasts to down over my hips. It's amazing how it helps

> take the pressure off the nerves. - Plus my husband loves it

because

> when I wear it over my clothes I look like the St. ie Girl! He

> keeps asking me for a beer in a mug! Maybe try one.-The brace- not

> the beer! (Although that may help too!) I ordered mine online

> through a company called " Supports USA " .

>

> from Long Island

>

>

> -- In , " cammaltby "

> <cammaltby@y...> wrote:

> >

> >

> > Debbie....I am not sure how similar our situations are...but all

> > my " pain " was piriformis (butt area) and tingling/numbness

sciatic

> > type stuff down the leg. I can't stand for long, although there

> are

> > times at work where I must, so it is/can be very painful.

> >

> > Dr. Rand had suggested standing with one foot on a stool to try

> to

> > ease the situation but that didn't work.

> >

> > I am finally slightly more comfortable after a long 6months and

a

> > variety of things. Maybe after all, time for healing is the main

> > thing....who knows...but what has seemed to work (in concert with

> > Bextra, then Toradol for awhile) was a elastic support belt my

> local

> > ortho prescribed. At the time I hadn't had the MRI, so it was

> > suspicion that L5 had herniated...and it turns out that was/is

the

> > problem and the nerve is being pressed and the pain referred

> > downstream....

> >

> > The long and short of it is, for me, if I wrap the support belt

> very,

> > very, very tightly around my very low waist/pelvis, for some

> reason

> > it is taking the load off that nerve or muscle group enough to

get

> > the pain back to " tolerable " . I also had a epidural spinal

> injection

> > about a month ago which helped...but the belt still is a " must "

if

> I

> > am up and around at all. Through the worst of it I also iced

> almost

> > constantly when I was home a night. I think the muscles were so

> > traumatized from being in spasm for 2-3 months while we were

> figuring

> > this all out that the ice really helped the muscles heal a bit

too.

> >

> > I also worked with a muscular therapist, who, if nothing else,

was

> > able to get the muscles out of spasm for a time. She was the best

> > emotional support I had going through...but insurance didn't

cover

> > her so it was just a luxury in some regards...although I do think

> > some of the work she has now done further up the spine is

> improving

> > the muscles there that have huge loads on them as the flatback

has

> > progressed....there are lots or adhesions/scar tissue low back

> that

> > seem better these days.

> >

> > Are you able to take anything, either anti-inflamitory or pain

> killer

> > wise? Does your diagnosis explain where or why you are having

leg

> > pain? Will your doctor play around with medications til you find

a

> > good combo?

> >

> > I hope you can find some relief....Needless to say, I am no

> doctor,

> > you situation is doubtless quite different from mine and you

> should

> > consult you physician before changing anything you are doing.

> > Cam