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Sciatica anyone?

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Posted 10/31/2011 10:18 AM (GMT 0)
cry  I woke up at 3 in bad pain (9). I have sacroiliac joint dysfunction which is similar to sciatica and this is new pain, but in old spot!

It is bone/nerve pain in center of leg from waist to knee, pulsing very sharp. Heat or ice cannot reach it. See my new pain doc wed, but does anyone have any non-drug remedies besides motrin or heat?

I know we have the experts here. I thought sitting up would help but it isn't...no rest for the weary-lol

Thanks and take care

Maggie

Posted 10/31/2011 11:40 AM (GMT 0)
I have the sciatic pain, usually starts in my gluteus muscle, which everyne likes to laugh about even though it's not all that funny to me anymore.  The butt muscle cramps shooting pain down my leg and into my back.  I sit on an ice buddy during those times.  I feel for you.
Posted 10/31/2011 11:41 AM (GMT 0)
Maggie, I have been having pain like that lately.  The moist heat helps the most.  I also find if I walk around a little it seems to get a little better.  I also will sometimes massage my legs...moving upward towards the hip.  (My massage therapist taught me that for my vericose veins.) 

 

I also love a product called Sombra.  I use the Warm Therapy type.  My massage therapist gave this to me, too.  It's a gel and when I put that on, in a few minutes it calms the pain down!  I also have that in a roll on.  I keep that on my nightstand and, when the pain wakes me up, I just grab that, roll it on, and go back to sleep....don't even have to get out of bed!  smilewinkgrin

 

Sherrine

Posted 10/31/2011 12:00 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much ladies. Fortunately pain is off and on now

I had had series of 3 injections for this 6 months ago which helped alot. Have you all found relief there?

No there is nothing funny abou that pain. I will check out sombra and an ice buddy (is that a rice bed buddy you put in freezer? And moist heat is better idea than just heat-gets deeper.

Thanks=hope y'all have a"pain in the butt-free day-lol

Maggie
Posted 10/31/2011 12:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Maggie,

Sorry to hear about your siatica. I had sciatica many years ago. It was very difficult for me to stand. When I began seeing a good chiropractor he took care of it. He determined one of my legs was shorter than the other. He had me wear a wedge in my shoe and adjusted me several times and his treatment took care of it. I never had sciatica pain again.

Good luck to you.
Posted 10/31/2011 12:33 PM (GMT 0)
With one leg shorter than tyhe other, did you only have the sciatic happen from one side of your body though?
Posted 10/31/2011 12:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hey all,

I don't have sciatica per se, but I have arthritis in my right hip that throws me off because my poor left hip is doing a lot of work. Then of coarse BOTH hips hurt, then the pain decides to spread from my gluteus' down to my toes. Luckily being on the meds that I am, the pain has been dulled down 20 fold! I also do weekly/bi-weekly, depending, injections of marcaine into my neck and lower back. On bad but not awful days, I sit on my heating back, on REALLY yucky days I take a nice hot bath *watch a movie on my laptop to relax:)*, and put my TENS (Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) machine on my sore parts and stay in bed if need be. My poor hubby's stuck taking care of me those days, which lately, there have been a lot of with the weather acting weird *Ontario, Canada*.

Anywho, I just wanted to say that, but also how much I appreciate this site:) Those are awesome tips, especially because the hardest pain on me in a flare comes from my hips and lower-lower back, tail bone included. Honestly though there are some days where nothing works and I'm stuck, aka lately, lol.
Posted 10/31/2011 12:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Deb25,

Yes, I had pain in the sciatica area of my lower back only on the rt side. I don't want to sound like a broken record because I've mentioned how much my chiropractor has helped me, if it wasn't for chiropractic care I would be experiencing much more pain than I am now. But you have to be careful of which chiropractor you choose. I saw one many years ago who made me feel worse than before the first appointment. I believe I saw him approximately 3 times. Nothing he did helped. He was the kind of chiropractor who performed a few cracks and didn't seem to know what he was doing or why.
Posted 10/31/2011 1:02 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks to all of you-lots of good stuff to try.

I have always wanted to try a chiropractor instead of being dependent on so many meds, but worry about gettiing the one who understands my condition. The wrong one can do some damage. But the right one seems to make alot of difference. I guess I could ask my Pdoc, he is open to alternate health care. At least after wed, I should have meds just in case

Hot bath, moist heat or ice buddy, I'll let ya know what works.

Thanks for answering so fast ladies
Maggie
Posted 10/31/2011 1:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Maggie,

You could always speak with a chiropractor, as I did with mine, on the phone before you go in. I would ask the receptionist on the phone before you speak with the doctor if the doctor is knowledgeable about helping fibro. Then there is the free consultation before you have any treatment done.

Good luck to you.
Posted 10/31/2011 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
I am familiar with the sciatica pain. I find sometimes those little heat pads help. Or sometimes I use the lidoderm patches. They are prescribed, but good for nerve pain. I hope you feel better soon Maggie.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 10/31/2011 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
Sciatic pain can be some of the worst....before my back surgery I was on vicodin 24/7 and muscle relaxers. I ended up with a dropped foot...it dragged behind me and had to literally pick it up to throw into the car when I got in. Back surgery gave me my foot function back but I still have permanent nerve damage in my front of my right leg from the knee down. This leg is my weaker leg and at times I need to use my cane. I was unable to drive a car for a year. Prolonged impingement of nerves can cause this kind of damge.

My regret is that I ignored my sciatica for so long hoping it would go away on it's own...when the pain became so excruciating I couldn't take it any longer is when I sought help. I was referred to a neurosurgeon and ended up having a lumbar laminectomy.

For those who haven't sought help for their sciatic pain, please get it evaluated to see what is the cause and what treatment is available. NSAIDS, heat, and vicodin could only do so much. I still will have an attack of sciatica from time to time, my lower back will be visibly swollen and turn black and blue, and that sharp familiar pain will go down my buttocks , right down my leg. Thank goodness that pain is not continuous any more.

I hope you all find relief soon!!!

Hugs, Robin
Posted 10/31/2011 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
Wow Robin,

You have had it bad... Mine comes every once in awhile. I can live with it. But it does hurt bad. I keep walking on it hoping it will go away. Like I say, I don't have it often. I feel for those who do though.

Hugs to all and a good day.

Karen
Posted 10/31/2011 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
I am soo sorry...mine isn't that bad...yet! Pain doc did an mri to rule our nerve root impingement and came up with sacroiliac joint dysfunction w/o root impingement. Shots a year ago did help for 8-9 months, but when they wore off, it is worse than before.
I'm sorry you had to have surgery, that seems to be last resort.

Karen-I have one more lidoderm patch I forgot about!!! Thanks for reminding me!!

Medfree-Z- good idea

Y'all are the best..I knew I'd hear from someone...sorry you have to share in this pain.

Taking Katie to counselor soon...will post after counselor.....Katie seems to be getting headaches from welbutrin. Lord , I hate to see my daughter on any meds, nevermind side effects...I just hope she adjusts quickly. She has youth on her side-lol-

Off to find pain patch-talk to you later
Maggie
Posted 10/31/2011 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
Oh and I forgot bunbun- my flares are almost always from waist down too. Sometimes hands and shoulder joints like to jooin the party-lol

Maggie
Posted 10/31/2011 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
Maggie,

Let us know how Katie's session goes. Does she take anything for the headaches? Though welbutrin can make you tense, and it could be from tense muscles in her neck and shoulders. That is where many of us carry our tension. I hope that the therapist can help her.

I am glad that I reminded you of your last lidoderm patch. I have a few of them saved. I haven't had a script for them in awhile. I place them on my hip, kind of on the upper thigh. It seems to be really tender there. You will notice if you put the slightest amount of pressure with your finger, it will hurt like heck. I guess that is how you can tell if it is sciatica.

Keep us posted on Katie's appt. And your very busy week.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 10/31/2011 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
Monday down!!!!!

Katie saw a psych nurse practitioner very briefly (10 min) alone then she called me in to discuss "meds"...insurance will not approve XL w/o 6 week battle so we go with regular generic welbutrin. And she added trazodone for sleep...I understand how important sleep is but sometimes thAT seems like that's alll they want to do is prescribe and BYE!!

So a little disappointed, she knows her meds but is a little condescending, I don't know...Katie said in the car I thought I was seeing a counselor and I said me too-I guess she is her counselor and maybe next session will be longer and better quality. Today was just meds...

Very excited aboout sister's visit, planning all the seafood we are going to grill and boil, grill some fresh veggies and walk around Old town-we have a historic downtown which was lovingly restored after Katrina.... and gardens to die for...she is staying at a cute little B&B so we can sit in the garden or walk on the beach and have our heart to hearts....

Anyway, one day closer to doc appts and I can't wait-that will be stressful but productive..thanks for all the support

Sciatica is better moving a little. I hope it behaves tonite

Maggie
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