Re: Sciatic leg pain

[Guest guest]

(MAS) wrote:

> I was wondering if anyone else had ever had this pain so badly that it

prevented you from moving. If so is there something that helped you.

Hi

I had sciatic pain to the point that is went all the way down from my back into

both of my feet. Pain meds were next to useless to me. I went through months

of physical therapy, spent lots of time in traction etc. In the end, the only

thing that helped me was surgery to correct the cause. It's been almost 14

years since the surgery and the sciatica has not returned.

--

Lyndi

[Guest guest]

Yes I been there and what works for me is heat alternated with ice. If you can

get someone to give you a back massage that would help to.

If you have any anti anflamatory meds that helps as well. I have bad sciatica

and I know what its like not to be able to move or lift or sit or breath with

out pain.

I am only 26 and I know this lol but Sometimes meditation helps to. I turn on a

favorit cd and listen to it. Cancel out all other things around me. Let me body

go limp like sagietti and consentrate on what I am hearing. Sometimes that help

and it realy helps if you can do this while taking a bath.

I have 3 kids so I know how you must be rolling your eyes wondering were you'll

find the time but you be surpized what you can get done. In the mean time I hope

this helps you and god bless.

[Guest guest]

(MAS) wrote:

> I was wondering if anyone else had ever had this pain so badly that it

prevented you from moving. If so is there something that helped you.

,

I'm having the same problem. Last time it happened I had pain shooting down my

left butt cheek and all the way down to my knee. My pain doctor gave me a series

of 3 shots that were called spinal epidurals. And they worked wonderful for me.

It is about time to have them again the pain is starting up but not that bad

yet.

It has been two years since the first set of shots.

Carol from NC

[Guest guest]

, I had a similar experience about 6 mos. ago. I was referred

to a neurologist and had an eipdural injection which brought relief

immediately. The pain has not returned.

I also had an epidural last week for pain from a couple of degenerated

discs. The Dr. (orthopod this time) used flourescope to place the

medicine right around the disc. So far, I have felt much better. I

go back next week to see if I need any follow up injections, which is

not unusual, I guess.

So, don't hesitate to seek help for the pain. Be insistent!

Sue

[Guest guest]

First thank you very much to Lyndi & Connie for your suggestions.

The reason I joined this group was to hopefully find out what other

people have tried to relieve their pain that maybe I haven't. I have

DDD in my L4 & L5, with arthritis in my lower back and sciatic pain.

I have had two surgries (on my L5) already and I agree that after

both the sciatic pain decreased but sadly has come back worse than

before. We just found out that the L4 is now contributing to the

pain.

We are looking into another surgery but I am a single mother

of an active 10 yr old boy, so surgery that puts me down is hard to

schedule.

My PM, surgereons, ect have exhausted every avenue of surgical, non-surgical &

medication options and we are all left scratching our heads. The meditation is

one thing I haven't tried and will definelty give it a shot.

The issue I have with the bath thing is I can't sit on a hard surface for more

than a few minutes without it causing more pain. does anyone else have that

issue? People have suggested hot baths and hot tubs but I just can't do it.

Also the back massage issue, my back shakes uncontrolably when

ANYONE touches it. My doctor says it's a defense mechanism. After 7

years he still can't touch me unless we proceede very slowly.

That is why I won't see anyone else, they just reach down and touch my

back and it goes crazy. It's kinda funny, my doctor and I laugh

about it. So that rules out any kind of back massage.

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions, things that you may have

tried that might help me. I am at my wits end! Basically we are

keeping me as comfortable as we can on meds right now until I am

able to try another surgery.

Again thanks for the suggestions and I look forward to more!

Take care,

MAS

[Guest guest]

I don't have it as bad as you, but my sciatic nerve acts up sometimes

and I do yoga stretches to work it out. Standing forward bend, and

seated forward bend are the two best ones. Also half-twist and child's

pose. Don't do this if you don't know what you're doing! Have someone

who knows yoga show you the correct way to do the postures.

K2

> Yes I been there and what works for me is heat alternated with ice.

If you can get someone to give you a back massage that would help to.

[Guest guest]

I have had injections as well. Actually I just had an injection

right into both of my discs and since then that is when the sciatic

pain got worse. I have had many, many injections before and never

had a reaction like this so I assume there is a new problem rearing

it's ugly head. If it's not one thing its another!

The one thing that did work for me many years ago, he went in and burnt off my

nerve endings (well that is the dumbed down explanation he gave for me to

understand). That worked very well for both of my legs, maybe

I will have to look into that again.

I really appreciate all of the people who have offered me advice. I

have been dealing with chronic pain for 7+ years now and am glad I

have found people who are dealing with similar issues that I can get

some imput from, new suggestions of things I may not have tried that

have worked for others.

I have finally come to terms that this is my life and I have to live with it. It

makes me feel better that I am NOT alone in this world.

Dealing with PM doctors, surgeons, ect can be exhausting, more so when they have

tried everything and I have seen just about everyone I can see and I am none the

better.

This started when I was 24 yrs old, I am now 31 and have many more years to live

I just have to accept it and figure out how to live a happy life like this, and

that is NOT easy!

Again thank you all so much for listening and helping me. It's very

comforting

[Guest guest]

MAS,

have you ever tried acupuncture? I've got lower back issues and have found it

helps a lot.

Although the acupuncturist tells me it will only help 1/5 of most " back pain "

people , it might be worth a try.

Also have you ever tried any type of cushion in the bathtub? Maybe one might

help with the hard surface issues.

Jim

[Guest guest]

>Jim wrote:

>have you ever tried acupuncture? I've got lower back issues and have

>found it helps a lot.

Jim,

Actually the ONLY thing I have not tried is acupuncture. Mainly

because I feel that it like PT is an ongoing treatment to relieve (not

fix) the pain.

I have had terrible luck with PT and refuse to go again. I have heard the same

about acupuncture, it may or may not work.

Also my insurance company only covers certain amount of visits

per year, so if i needed to go once, twice, ect per week in order to

benefit from it, i would end up having to pay for most of it which i

can not afford to do.

Thanks for the input! I will try the cushion in the tub, that I never thought

of.

MAS

[Guest guest]

i too have bilateral sciatica. my ortho dr. said i was one of the few patients

he had ever treated that had it on both sides.

i noticed you said you stand up at work. i am a florsit and stand sometimes 15

hours a day (or used to) when i first started having problems, my hip went out

of socket and was laying on my spine.

my sister in law brought it to my attention that i stood with my hip really

thrown out to the side. i never noticed this. she said it was always the same

hip. now i am very concious about shifting my weight from one leg to the other.

honey i feel you pain as they say. it can be excrutiating. if i turn over on

either side in my sleep anymore, i wake up almost in tears. it is horrible and i

know,.

i took the steriod and cortisone shots for 2 years and finally they stopped

working. the dr. put me off work and i just about lost everything i had.

then my dr. who is a missionary was in mexico building a church and hurt his

knee(hes a former football player for uk) the dr. down there used a different

medicine in his shot and it did wonders. well, my dr. went back to school to

learn to give these injections, the whole time telling me he couldnt wait to

give them to me. now i take them everymonth.

they do not cause weight gain, and the bone deteriorzation that the others do

and im back to work and climbing the bleachers at the b ball games again. i also

found a nice upstairs apartment that i couldnt have possibly lived in a year

ago.

i called his office today to get the name and his nurse said she would return my

call mon. am. i would love to share this with everyone here. it may not work for

all but it has given me my life back. when i made this move, i actually carried

my stuff upstairs.

i cant say i am pain free but oh god, im so much better than before. he told me

it strengthens the muscles and repairs them. i promise ill get the name. hope it

helps each and every one of you. hope you have some relief soon

i also go to an OMT . some people think its crazy, my surgeon did, but its kept

me working and enjoying life. he doesnt crack or pop you like a chiro. he just

rotates those discs right back into place. my ortho had had me in that therapy

for 3 years now and it has changed my life.

it is called orthopedic message therapy. it IS NOT a message , like a normal

message. i guess thats why people laugh at me.

you should look one up or check it out on the internet. between the shots, the

therapy and my meds. i now have a life. oh yeah i slip every now and then and

the pain is horrible, but more than not, its tolerable now. ill let you know.

connie