No, it's about the riot in '71.
Sciatica
- Thread starter pharman
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No, it's about the riot in '71.
My sciatica started in 2000, and was caused by a bulging L4/L5 disc. Over the next 11 years, I tried different treatments and remedies for it -- physical therapy, a chiropractor, nerve blocks, exercises -- with varying degrees of effectiveness...but all I was really doing was postponing the inevitable.
Finally, in the fall of 2010, the disc ruptured, and the only option left at that point was surgery. My doctor performed a laminectomy and discectomy, removing pieces of crumbling bone and disc material. Six months later, I slouched, which ruptured the disc all over again, and my doctor had to repeat the discectomy. No problems since then, thank heaven!
Good luck to you, Pharman...please keep us posted...
Finally, in the fall of 2010, the disc ruptured, and the only option left at that point was surgery. My doctor performed a laminectomy and discectomy, removing pieces of crumbling bone and disc material. Six months later, I slouched, which ruptured the disc all over again, and my doctor had to repeat the discectomy. No problems since then, thank heaven!
Good luck to you, Pharman...please keep us posted...
Mine is being controlled by nerve cauterization. l and various doctors tried a host of other "cures" and this was the magic bullet. Procedure takes about 10 minutes, can be done w/o anesthetic (if you don't mind about 30 seconds of discomfort) and last for as long as 18 months.
cherrypointmarine
Member
I've never had it , but after 2 failed back surgeries I can tell you about nerve pain . At one time I was at 1600mg of nuerontin daily . To say I was in a daze is saying so mildly . My pain Dr finally decided it was time for a spinal cord stimulator . After the healing and figuring out the levels , I felt like a new man , and mentally I was . I worked my way up to walking my girls , 2 Aussies , 3-4 miles a day , which I hadn't seen in years . If they tell you surgery , look into this , you will be thankful you did . If you want any info , shoot me a PM .
Faulkner
Member
I know exactly what your experiencing.
Mrs. Faulkner's acted up on her last November, just kind of popped up out of nowhere. It was absolutely debilitating and we did everything we could to remedy it short of surgery; drugs, injections, physical therapy, traction, hot and cold pads. Nothing worked. I purchased every size, shape, and density of pillow currently manufactured to try and get her to a comfortable position with varying degrees of unsuccessfulness. The pain was so bad that for about three months she was mostly confined to a wheel chair when she wasn't in bed or a recliner surrounded by pillows.
Finally, after an MRI in June the neurosurgeon said we'd exhausted every option but surgery. The bulging disc at L4/L5 was sitting on the nerve causing it to be enflamed. After over six months of pain from her right hip all the way down her leg to her foot, she was ready.
She had surgery July 8th to fuse L4/L5 and install two screws and four bolts. She slowly came out of her drug induced stupor the next morning and the first words out of her mouth was, "thank God, the pain is gone!!"
The first week following the surgery was pretty rough due to residuals of the surgery, but the sciatica problem was gone. She has to wear a back brace for 12 weeks when she's not in bed, but as we enter week 11 she has pretty much healed up from the surgery and she's had ZERO pain in her leg. The surgery was a true blessing for her, and me, and she is back on her feet pretty much doing anything she wants. (I have a pickup truck load of odd shaped pillows I need to get rid of too.)
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have had it for a few years,got to the point about 2Pm everyday had to sit down. Dr sent me to PT helped a little. Therapist suggested a pain Dr, have recieved 2 injections in spine, first one lasted 3 months. Still counting down on the last one. Stretch my friends it does help,I can tell when I havent. Good luck to All !
Sciatica has been the bane of my existence for a little over six months now. Started easy enough upon waking, first few steps were a bear, electric shocks running down my left leg. I went huckleberry picking up on a ski slope stepped into a hole, falling back on a log I was stepping over...ain't been right since. I couldn't drive my new car for more than a couple miles without stopping to get out and stretch it out. Been driving my Model A for nearly everything since, no problems, even with the clutch. Been seeing an acupuncturist and deep massage therapist, every other week, doing floor exercises. It is much better now, I started taking Turmeric a week ago...its getting better by the day. Inactivity is not your friend with this stuff, we all need to be more active, drink more water, blah blah blah...but no kidding.
I've suffered from it for years, I'm 64 and it first hit me at about age 30, or maybe younger. It comes and goes, depending on my activity, weight and/or me doing something stupid to set it off.
I have found that a good chiropractor is what works best for me. I've been to a few. My most favorite and absolutely the best ever, unfortunately succumbed to stomach cancer a few years back. Than man was a magician when it came to dealing with my back problems.
I'm still searching for his "re-incarnation", but some local docs have helped some. A neurologist just last year suggested I have "exploratory surgery".............. NO THANKS
I am considering acupuncture next, since I am now having nerve pain in the bottom of my feet. Sometimes even keeps me awake at night, and difficult to wear shoes all day.
Getting old is not for sissies as they say, and neither is nerve pain, wherever it comes from.
I have found that a good chiropractor is what works best for me. I've been to a few. My most favorite and absolutely the best ever, unfortunately succumbed to stomach cancer a few years back. Than man was a magician when it came to dealing with my back problems.
I'm still searching for his "re-incarnation", but some local docs have helped some. A neurologist just last year suggested I have "exploratory surgery".............. NO THANKS
I am considering acupuncture next, since I am now having nerve pain in the bottom of my feet. Sometimes even keeps me awake at night, and difficult to wear shoes all day.
Getting old is not for sissies as they say, and neither is nerve pain, wherever it comes from.
OP
Thank you for all your responses...
I want to thank you all for your responses...there sure are a lot of people affected by this disorder...you all have given me several options to explore...I appreciate this...currently the pain is letting up a little bit...I have to check in with my doctor later this coming week to see if an MRI is in order...Roger
I want to thank you all for your responses...there sure are a lot of people affected by this disorder...you all have given me several options to explore...I appreciate this...currently the pain is letting up a little bit...I have to check in with my doctor later this coming week to see if an MRI is in order...Roger
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Ask for a referral to an Ortho. spine surgeon or a Neurosurgeon Quickly. Been there, done that and have C4,5&6 fused. C-3 is giving problems now, see Ortho. spine surgeon first of next month. Did pain management shots for 2 months thanks to “ book reading” insurance idiots.
Don't be afraid to ask your PCP for some chemicals; that's what they're for. I get so many young medical professionals that freak out when they see what I take. Bunch of Debbie Do-Gooders that think I'm gonna turn into a junkie and buy those dinosaur tranquilizers. I'm 65. I think it's a little too late to learn how to bang some street drugs into my veins. If I take the drugs as prescribed and keep them in my system more often than not that's all I need. To each his own.
twodog max
Member
Before loading up on meds CAREFULLY read up on the side effects. The doctors have me taking gabapentin. I have almost all the side effects to one degree or another. At times they make me goofy as a road lizard. I have tried to quit but pain returns and then I can't sleep and my BP goes through the roof. Between a rock and a hard place is an accurate description.
What I have found is that there are many causes for sciatica pain. Until such time as an MRI reveals the exact cause of the pain, and there are many, your individual treatment course is an unknown. My biggest problem was an improperly read MRI that missed the real reason for the pain I had. The neurosurgeon found it right away. He also said surgery would cause more problems than it would fix. Anytime a surgeon says you do not need surgery stick with them.
What I have found is that there are many causes for sciatica pain. Until such time as an MRI reveals the exact cause of the pain, and there are many, your individual treatment course is an unknown. My biggest problem was an improperly read MRI that missed the real reason for the pain I had. The neurosurgeon found it right away. He also said surgery would cause more problems than it would fix. Anytime a surgeon says you do not need surgery stick with them.
Paul in Nevada
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I fought this for months. What cured me were hip rotation exercises on a Pilates machine.
Beneficial exercises, massage therapy or chiropractic manipulation and acupuncture have gotten me through a crushed L1 vertebra and this current sciatica episode. We all need to keep active and pay attention to what we're doing while working or doing anything strenuous as we age, it ain't fun for most of us. I'm doing floor exercises every day for no less than fifteen minutes, just to stretch it out and with everything else I'm doing fine without any medication. I do take herbal supplements like Turmeric for inflammation and rub in a good CBD oil every evening before bed...seems to be working, every day is better than the one before, did some power washing on the patio and sidewalk today.
i fought what i thought was sciatica for 2 months before i went to a Back Doctor come to find L 3,4 and 5 Vertebra where out of line here it is 5 months later 6 pins and screws fusing them together surgery was last week on 27th . dont mess around to long
my nereves are just now waking up and have some pain until they calm down
my nereves are just now waking up and have some pain until they calm down
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hemiram
Member
I've had at least some sciatica for about 24 years now. I was 42, and simply picked up an almost empty bag of cat litter (Maybe 1 pound left in it) and wow, was it bad. I missed almost 3 weeks of work from that first bout with it. It cleared up almost as suddenly as it started, I was hurting bad, and I had to deskunk one of my dogs, and bending over him in the tub made 90% of the pain disappear by the time I was done. By that night, it was totally gone. I would have spells of it about every 3-4 months, usually lasting 4-5 days. None was as bad as that first one.
This 3-4 months between spells coninued until 2007, when I severely injured myself in a stumble and fall. Since then, the intensity has diminished a lot, I don't have it bad enough to miss work or not do something I really want to do. But its almost always there a little if I'm standing up. If I stand still, it slowly intensifies to the point it's really unpleasant and at the same time, my right knee goes partially numb. My back is severely messed up, bad discs, arthritis, and other things are all happening at once. Tens devices sort of worked, but I would rather have the minor pain than the feeling it gave me. Salonpas and other "hot" stuff does nothing, rest seems to be the only thing that helps. I have had a couple of surgeons look at my back and both said, "Wow, you're really messed up!", both didn't recommend surgery, which was a shock. So far pain shots are a bust, they didn't work for my mom, either. PT was a disaster, as usual with my PT experiences. I'm only pain free sitting down. Lying flat on a bed is pretty bad, laying flat on an X-Ray table is almost as bad as it gets.
I see Oxycontin in my future.
This 3-4 months between spells coninued until 2007, when I severely injured myself in a stumble and fall. Since then, the intensity has diminished a lot, I don't have it bad enough to miss work or not do something I really want to do. But its almost always there a little if I'm standing up. If I stand still, it slowly intensifies to the point it's really unpleasant and at the same time, my right knee goes partially numb. My back is severely messed up, bad discs, arthritis, and other things are all happening at once. Tens devices sort of worked, but I would rather have the minor pain than the feeling it gave me. Salonpas and other "hot" stuff does nothing, rest seems to be the only thing that helps. I have had a couple of surgeons look at my back and both said, "Wow, you're really messed up!", both didn't recommend surgery, which was a shock. So far pain shots are a bust, they didn't work for my mom, either. PT was a disaster, as usual with my PT experiences. I'm only pain free sitting down. Lying flat on a bed is pretty bad, laying flat on an X-Ray table is almost as bad as it gets.
I see Oxycontin in my future.
7shooter
Member
The only thing that helps me is chiropractic although daily stretching ecercises seem to prevent the problem.
I tried this twice, but no luck. I believe the medical name is "nerve ablation".
