Sciatica MRI

I have had painful sciatica in my left butt and leg for six months. Diagnosis: Spinal stenosis, disc degeneration and protrusion, etc. etc. Goes with the old age territory. (I'm 84). No pain while lying on my right side or standing bent forward or sitting down. But if I sit for more than a few seconds pain is much worse when I stand up. I have had two MRI's, three epidurals, physical therapy all with no lasting relief. The second epidural worked but lasted only one day.

 

VERY strange experience with the second MRI last month (February 9, 2008)--pain in my leg was excruciating while I lay on my back with both legs stretched straight out and only a small pillow under my knees. Pain so bad I came close to asking the technician to stop.The MRI lasted for 40-45 minutes and during the last few minutes the pain subsided. When I stood up the pain was gone completely! I was able to walk normally, erect, without bending forward, for a few hours. Amazing. I thought maybe the sciatic nerve was deadened by the pain. I didn't think an MRI could have any therapeutic effect but my doctor told me other patients had reported some benefit from an MRI, although none so dramatic as mine. When I got back home I sat in a comfortable chair and fell asleep for half an hour. When I woke up and stood up the pain was back. 

 

Can anyone explain this?  I always thought magnetic therapy was snake oil but now I'm not so sure. After my experience with the MRI I bought a magnetic back brace but don't feel any effect. Of course it's nowhere near as powerful as an MRI.

 

I've had four acupuncture sessions. After the third I felt less pain but after the fourth it was worse. Don't know whether to continue. Any advice?

 

Casarena   

WOW! I so admire you. Not many 'seniors' your age are so computer literate. I know they scared my folks who would have been about your age.

I agree with above...likely the position you were in for a while. I'm no scientist but I've had similar things happen from just the position I am in. Possibly a nerve became "unpinched" and once you relaxed it went back to where it usually is. I have pinched nerves that run down both legs and some days it's tolerable and others I can barely walk.

But...if it was something to do with the MRI machine then sign me up! Is an interesting toping to research.

Keep in touch,
Chutzie

Hi, Casarena,
I'll chime in with the others to welcome you and congratulate you for making it this far in life. You go girl!

I'm 58 and about 6 months ago had a lumbar fusion at 2 levels (a diskectomy was done before the fusion). I've posted in other threads about my results, which haven't been so great, but my neurosurgeon told me I was only one of a couple of his patients who continued to have problems, and that evidently the minimally invasive approach didn't work for me. He wants to do a traditional surgery and as far as I'm concerned no way will I let that happen! But others do evidently have some success, but they're probably not posting on this board. I would look very cautiously at surgery, especially as we get older our bones and spines are deteriorating and surgery of any type may just make things worse. Has your doctor recommended surgery as an option?

Like others, I tend to think what happened with the MRI was likely due to postural issues and that makes me think that possibly you could do some readjusting at home of your body mechanics. Did your PT ever train you in sitting, moving, etc.? Maybe you could at least make it a little better, even if you can eliminate the pain completely. From what I know of acupuncture, it's not a cure but can help manage pain and if I had the money I'd be getting some treatments myself. Look at surgery very, very cautiously. I'm sure others will attest to that also.

Hi there Casarena and Welcome to HealingWell!

I cannot claim to be any kind of expert with Sciatica or Magnetic Therapy but I felt compelled to come over and say hi and I hope you get the answers you are looking for here. I dont come across many older people here on HealingWell... Depression is dominated more by 16-25's. I think its fantastic to see that HealingWell is reaching all types and ages of people.

Good Luck to you!

Darren

Casarena,

I don't usually visit this forum, but heard you were here and wanted to welcome you to HealingWell.  I know you will find this group to be very supportive.  I am also impressed with your computer skills at your age.  Good for you!  When did you learn to use the computer?  Just curious.  I am 57 and I know a lot of people my age who won't even try to learn to use a computer.

Take care!

Carla

Thanks PALady, Darren, Sherrine, Carla and dakotagirl. Your interest is much appreciated. Incidentally PALady, I'm a guy, not a girl. I'm surprised at so many comments about my age; I don't think of myself as old. When I was in the army during WWII I didn't think I'd reach this age. Among other jobs I had my main MOS was Ordnance Bomb Disposal officer.

Does anyone have something encouraging to say about arthroscopic, minimally invasive spine surgery? I think of it as a sure-thing but last resort if acupuncture and another epidural don't work.

Thanks again.

Casarena

Oops forgot the question about the arthroscopic surgery!

I had both knee's doen via the scope and they left little tiny scars that faded to almost nothing a few years out. I was done and headed home about 2 hours post-op so that worked well for me as I had several kids at home and didnt have anywhere for them to stay if I was going to have to be hospitalized for any amount of time.

The 1st time I did have alot of post op pain on days 2 and days 3 and even had to go to ER to get ahead of the game,one of the drawbacks of not staying in the hospital is also not getting scheduled injections of pain meds or a pain pump and having to rely on meds by digestive means taking longer to get to work.

This pain could have been my bad as I also was injected with large amount of lidocaine in the knee prior to closing the entrance and for more then 24 hours did not feel the knee at all and so I probably did alot more moving of it then should have if I was protecting it due to pain I could feel on movement right? So when the caine wore off I was left in horrific pain,also had not been taking meds due to not feeling the pain and once it gets ahead of you its hard to get control of it.

The 2nd time around I was smarter and was up on the knee without assist of crutches or cane on day 3,not reccomended by the way and totally against Doc posts op orders,but hey that's me! I had total pain control without intervention by way of ER and was started in PT on day 6 and did very well. I had several knee scopes over the years and one total knee replacement which was done via the open way and give me the scope anyday!

I had a total of 4 stitches once and a few staples with the other times versus an entire set of 27 the invasive route.

As for spinal arthroscopy I cant shed any light here as I dont know anyone that has used it nor have I but know alot of folks who have had shoulders,knees and hips done this way and all have had no complaints with it.

Keep us informed as I am interested in hearing which way you decide to go.

I like the others are amazed at your computer lit,most folks aging are terrified of the things and at 50 I seriously had my doubts when I first got one that I would ever be able to do more then turn it on and look at me now! I dont know when to shut up and turn it off! LOl

Thanks PA Lady. Glad your knees are better. Good point about not hearing from those who have had successful arthroscopic
back surgery. Maybe only the unlucky ones post their bad experience.

As for my computer skills, I worked until I was 80 and had to use a computer in my business. Now I'm addicted to it.

Thanks again.

Casarena

Casarena, I do want to thank you for your service to our country.  War is horrible, but I don't have to tell you that!  If you can make it through that you definitely can make it through this problem!  You are smart and using your head before jumping into surgery.  I haven't had arthroscopic surgery but I know many that have and had great success with it.  It wouldn't have lasted this long if everyone had problems with it.  But, my advice to  you is to thoroughly check out the doctor doing the arthroscopic surgery, if you go that route.  Hopefully the acupuncture will work for you!  Have a good day!

 

Sherrine

Welcome to Healing Well and I am so glad you found us here.......

It is an honor to have you among us on HW

LYN

Thanks, Gramps. I'll ask.

Casarena

I've taken up to 2,400 mg. of ibuprofen for over 20 years for pain from fibromyalgia but, I also take Prilosec to protect my stomach.  2,400 mg is the highest SAFE dose you can take.  If you take more, be sure to take it with food.  That helps protect your stomach, too.  I always check with my doctor and my pharmacist, too, before taking any new medication.

 

Sherrine

Casarena, Surgery of any kind is always a last resort and I'm glad that you're working on other options first. That said, when surgery is required, arthroscopy is almost always the preferred methos as it allows for easier/quicker healing. However, not everything can be done via arthroscope and even when a procedure can be done via scope, finding a qualified and experienced surgeon for that procedure is not always easy. I will admit, you are certainly in the right place to find such a surgeon. NYC has so many hospitals and so many specialists that you'll undoubtedly find a good one.

I am also in NYC and have an excellent Pain Mgmt Doc who specializes in spinal problems and even does some spinal procedures himself. I'd be happy to share the info with you if you're interested. His office is on the Lower East Side, just near Joint Diseases. Hey, maybe one day we can meet for a cup of coffee or something. If your interested, feel free to send me an email. Just click the envelop under my name.