Sciatica!!!

[Nemo2]

So, how have you been doing? I gather not all that great since you are pursuing more treatment? What are your current symptoms?

Actually I'm waaaay better than I was when we returned from Spain last Spring....it's just taken me this long to get an appointment with a specialist.

I take one extra strength Tylenol with breakfast for the arthritis in my lower back; this gets me mobile and it's rare that I need to take another one.

Hip pain is vastly improved, (although I do still get moments when my right ankle spasms), and I'm back to doing about 45 minutes a day on the elliptical.

One problem, that may be unrelated, or interrelated, is an anticipated one from when I was knocked down and my left foot was run over by a large truck almost ten years ago.

Although I wear orthotics, my left foot seems to be supinating to a greater degree, which of course throws everything else out of kilter. In fact, after some contemplation, (I didn't want to get new orthotics which would 'solve' the foot rolling outwards, only to have that negatively impact the rest of the skeletal structure), just hours before the surgeon's office called I had finally made an appointment with the podiatrist......which I subsequently postponed until I receive more input.

So...I'm hoping that somebody can look at the interactions between the whole unit rather than 'fixing' individual symptoms.

¿Quién sabe?

 

[HadEnuff]

Well, being run over by a truck has to explain some things. I sometimes tell DW that I feel like I've been run over by a truck, but I speak in hyperbole.
I'm glad to hear you are doing better. Good luck moving forward.

 

[Nemo2]

Well, being run over by a truck has to explain some things. I sometimes tell DW that I feel like I've been run over by a truck, but I speak in hyperbole.
I'm glad to hear you are doing better. Good luck moving forward.

Here, in deference to the squeamish, is the 'nicest' of the pics of that event:

The paramedics that attended feared I might lose my foot, so they bypassed the closest hospital and headed straight to the trauma unit.

Onwards & Upwards.

 

[Bamaman]

My wife has been under the care of pain management about 15 years. She's had surgery for spinal stenosis, a number of steroid shots (under flouroscope) and a couple of double nerve ablasions. Our observations:

1. Every person with back problems is going thru Physical Therapy--a number of times.
2. We're somewhat afraid of some chiropractor techniques are doing more damage than good.
3. We'd rather use a neurosurgeon than a orthopaedic surgeon.
4. Only accept steroid injections under a flouroscope. Otherwise, the doctor's just guessing where the canal is, and that's not the way to do it.
5. Steroid injections must be done in series of three--a month apart. That's quicker than Medicare wants to pay for. Often, it's the third shot that puts you over the top.
6. If controlled substances are required to relieve your pain, take them exactly as prescribed. Many get relief and don't take their whole prescriptions--bad. Take'em all.
7. Don't worry about getting addicted to the pain medicine. Your main concern should be to get yourself back into society. The meds can very often keep you from being an invalid.
8. If you continue in pain, get yourself to a pain management clinic that's run by an anestesioligist with a fellowship in pain management. They're real deal--not a regular M.D. claiming to be a pain specialist that gives shots.
9. If the pain management is just shots only and no medicine management, go to another clinic. It takes both to get pain relief.

Unfortunately, state regulations are getting tougher because of physicians that are "candy men" prescribing pain meds to those without physical ailments. We're now required to pickup written prescriptions for controlled substances in person, and Medicare is billed about $360 per month for the office visit AND a $120 mental health analysis. And many of our local pharmacies don't even stock controlled substances, and we have to chase around to find the meds.

Under a great pain management M.D., my wife's back is not causing any problems. But as in so many arthritis situations, problems are moving elsewhere--this time to the top of her feet. There's a joint on top of your feet, and she has no cartlidge in it. She's barely able to wear shoes. So far, she's had to have orthodic inserts in her shoes, and the shoes (for women) are Alegra brand with "rocking bottoms."

Medically, she's using Volteran Gel which is a pain reliever and minimizes swelling. It's a Godsend for any pain--including backs. And she's using across the counter lydacaine cream.

Last week, I ordered a Quell device. It's electronic and kind of like a TENS device stimulating the nerves to the brain to stop pain in the back and legs and feet. So far, she says it's improving her level of pain. Quell has just been on the market a couple of years, and it's getting great ratings on Amazon.com for non-medical pain relief.

 

[W2R]

Nemo, you are lucky to have a foot at the end of your leg, after an accident like that! Whew, that was terrible. It's a miracle that you can even walk at all. Kudos to your doctors.

 

[Nemo2]

Under a great pain management M.D., my wife's back is not causing any problems. But as in so many arthritis situations, problems are moving elsewhere--this time to the top of her feet. There's a joint on top of your feet, and she has no cartlidge in it. She's barely able to wear shoes. So far, she's had to have orthodic inserts in her shoes, and the shoes (for women) are Alegra brand with "rocking bottoms."

Ouch...that sounds terrible, I hope there's something that can be done to alleviate the situation?

Medically, she's using Volteran Gel which is a pain reliever and minimizes swelling. It's a Godsend for any pain--including backs. And she's using across the counter lydacaine cream.

Both of us us Voltaren once in a while for temporary relief.

Last week, I ordered a Quell device. It's electronic and kind of like a TENS device stimulating the nerves to the brain to stop pain in the back and legs and feet. So far, she says it's improving her level of pain. Quell has just been on the market a couple of years, and it's getting great ratings on Amazon.com for non-medical pain relief.

Last transatlantic we spent some time with a South African couple who currently live in Panama and they were big proponents of this item.

 

[Nemo2]

Nemo, you are lucky to have a foot at the end of your leg, after an accident like that! Whew, that was terrible. It's a miracle that you can even walk at all. Kudos to your doctors.

Shortly after the accident I mentioned to one of the doctors in Ottawa that the bone on the top of the foot didn't appear to be aligned properly. He replied that as long as it healed they didn't care about alignment.

To which I replied "If it was your foot I wouldn't care either".

 

[jzajzz]

Have you looked into working with a Chiro ...

I'm partial to gonstead Chiros because they try to find the root of the problem and correct it .. rather than just relieve pain ..

Here is where you go to find one in your area
Home - Gonstead Clinical Studies Society

You should still vet him .read reviews .. make sure he's a good one.. One good sign is that he takes an Xray before he gives you a plan.

 

[jazz4cash]

Reviving this old thread to inquire if anyone has tried this:
Natural Sciatica Relief System 2013 (3 DVDs) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CF48I9Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_e-VEDbD38HR7W

I just started the stretching exercises and optimistic it will help my condition.

 

[jazz4cash]

When I hear right butt cheek with pain radiating down thru right leg, to me it sounds like piriformis getting tight and pressing on the sciatic nerve. You can google piriformis syndrome and find some specific exercises to help with that. Worth a try.

This best describes my symptoms and consistent with what I learned in the videos I cited above. Had this for many many years and chiropractic adjustments don’t help much. Fortunately it mostly affects me while sitting and walking relives the pain.

 

[Sunset]

Now I know the name for my pain.
This past summer, I was digging some large hole, think of 2 graves to understand the size of the hole. Pushing all the dirt uphill 30 feet away.
Needless to say after a couple of weeks my butt hurt when walking.

Luckily for me, a few weeks rest and it seems to have gone away. It was crippling at it's worst.

Hope the exercises work for you.

 

[harllee]

I occasionally get back pain and related butt check pain. The last time it happened I used some of the hemp CBD oil on my back and butt and that plus some stretching exercises really helped.

 

[MissMolly]

Well stop checking your butt and maybe the pain will go away

 

[JoeWras]

It is mentioned above. There is sciatica from piriformis and there is sciatica from nerve impingement at the spine.

Piriformis is treatable and very common. Usually time heals this.

I've had both. I find the muscle relaxer "baclofen" helps for piriformis. Your doctor may not know about this one. It is usually for MS. It is a mild muscle relaxer that doesn't have groovy psychoactive effects. For me, just makes me a bit tired. It works in my case. I use it about once every 2 weeks, even though the prescription is 3x per day. Last me forever.

 

[harllee]

One other thing I do when I get back pain/sciatica is to wear back brace for a few days, it really helps me. I have one that is marketed for golfers, it has a back brace attached to legs so it will not ride up or down.

 

[daylatedollarshort]

I didn't read all 4 pages but acupressure balls, moist heat packs and yoga are a 100% cure for me for any flare ups. Mainly the acupressure balls. Dolphin shaped massage tools where the dolphin nose can be stuck right into where the nerve is pinched and loosen things up work for me, too.

 

[MrsHaloFIRE]

Another vota for y9ga and stretching. When the booty grabs, I get on the mat

 

[WestUniversity]

Finally read the whole thread. I feel for all of those with this kind of pain. For me back pain is the worst but sciatica is a close second. Hurt my back snow skiing many years ago and it flares up every now and again. Sometimes from over exertion, sometimes from simply moving the wrong way. I can usually tell when I’m getting close on the over exertion aspect but it’s a crap shoot on moving the wrong way.

Sometimes the pain is so bad it takes my breath away, other times I simply need to take it easy for a while. Usually ibuprofen and laying on a heating pad fixes it (Yeah I know I should probably use ice instead).

Thankfully the sciatica has been an infrequent visitor, but boy do I hate it when it shows up. Typical pain thought, from the lower back, down through/across my right butt cheek and down the back of my right leg to my knee. Will continue to watch this thread with interest as time passes. Prayers for healing to all currently suffering from either of these conditions...