Issues with sciatica

[artist4perry]

Sorry I have not been in here much. I am having serious problems with sciatica. It hurts to sit, walk, lay down...you name it.

I just started to see a specialist, he has ordered an MRI and he thinks I have a possible ruptured disc. He was talking options of shots to surgery so it doesn't sound good right now. Good thing is Summer break is 4 weeks and 3 days away, if I have to have surgery that would be the time to do it. I get a bit edgy when they talk about cutting near the spine.

I am in severe pain almost all day. But I am not too keen on a bad doctor whoopsing on a part of my body that can result in paralysis.

If you guys would...keep me in your thoughts and prayers and hope for something to end the pain safely. I am getting pretty tired of feeling old when I am not really old. Back issues suck.

[Journey/Survivor]

I was having severe pain from sciatica about 6 months back.

I went to physical therapy, and was prescribed Naproxen, which is more or less like Advil.

If you're able to, I would recommend that you go to physical therapy, or at least buy a book that specializes in back exercises. I believe that someone on MR suggested a book called 'Treat Your Own Back?' I never did buy it, but it had great reviews on the internet.

Even though I did take the Naproxen that I was prescribed, I recommend that you try to not take a lot of the prescription drugs, since they are very bad for you in many ways.

Turmeric is supposed to be great for reducing inflammation in the back. In fact it's great in many different ways, including reducing the risk of cancer.

I've heard about a couple of products called "Curamin" and "Zyflamend" that are supposed to be great at reducing pain and inflammation. Unfortunately, they are rather expensive. But I hear that they work great.

I just recently found out that a lot of my own back pain was caused by a lack of Vitamin D. I wasn't getting any sun all winter long, and wasn't getting any vitamin D from the sun. Since I've been taking vitamin D supplements every day, my back pain has been drastically reduced.

Google some info on vitamin D. I can't stress enough how much it's helping to relieve my back pain.

Apple cider vinegar may help too? Add some into a glass of water and drink it.
By the way, some back pain is caused by dehydration. Even if you don't feel as if you're dehydrated, you may be enough so that it can cause back pain?

I strongly recommend that you look into some of the suggestions that I made.

If you have any questions regarding my suggestions, feel free to ask me.

[Journey/Survivor]

I forgot to mention that you might also think about a "TENS" unit to help relieve the back pain.

I do recommend that you discuss what I've recommended to you with your doctor. However, keep in mind that most doctors have been taught to treat everything with either prescription drugs or surgery, and not very many of them are educated about more natural alternatives. If the doctor can point to a specific reason why you shouldn't do something that I recommended, then don't do it. But if he or she can't tell you a specific reason not to do it, then give my suggestions a try.

[Rick]

Praying for you Ginger. Sounds like Bill knows what he's talking about. There is good advice in there. Ibuprofen is a good anti-inflammatory, but you're probably already taking it. Prednisone is the king kong of anti-inflammatory meds, but it's steroidal, so you have the side effects of that. I'm sure an injection will be steroidal too, but it will be local, so it's not as hard on the rest of your system. I've had to take Prednisone at one dose or another since I was in my 20's for Chrons, so you CAN take it and live a fairly normal life. I just get pissy at times.

Please keep us updated on how you're doing.

[Marabelle]

I hope this helps from PopSugar column:

Half Moon
If your sciatica symptoms are caused by sitting or standing for long periods, stretching the outer leg can offer instant relief.

Stand on your hands and feet in Downward Facing Dog. Step your right foot forward between your hands, and rise up into Warrior 1. Open your hips, arms, and chest into Warrior 2.
Place your left hand on your left hip and stretch your right arm straight out, creating length through the right side of your body. Shift weight onto your right foot and lift your left foot up. Plant your right palm flat on the ground under your shoulder.
Distribute your weight evenly between your right hand and foot. Lift your left arm up and gaze toward your left hand. Hold for five breaths and then release the pose, coming into Downward Dog. Then try Half Moon on the left side.

Figure Four
This relaxing variation of Pigeon really targets the tight piriformis muscle, which is a common cause of sciatica.

Lie on your back with both legs in the air. Place your right ankle on your left thigh above your knee. See the shape of the number four? It is there, just upside down.
Reach your right hand through the open space created by your right leg and grab your left hand, which is reaching around the outside of your left thigh. Slowly bend your left knee toward your chest. You should feel a stretch on the outside of your right hip.
After five breaths repeat on the other side.

Pigeon
Take this pose as deeply as you want to target the areas of discomfort around your lower back, hips, and thighs.

From Downward Facing Dog, step both feet together and bring your right knee forward between your hands so your outer right leg is resting on the mat. If your hips are more open, inch your right foot away from you. Make sure your left hip is always pointing down toward the mat.
Stay here with your hands resting on your hips or your right leg, or walk your hands out in front of you, allowing your torso to rest over your right knee.
Hold here, breathing into any areas of tightness and tension for at least five breaths. Then place your hands on the mat in front of you, tuck your left toes, and step your right foot back. Repeat Pigeon on the left side.

Go to the web site and there will be pictures to help with the poses! Check with your doctor first but it is helpful for back pain!

[tater1977]

Journey/survivor those are all great suggestions.

I had ruptured discs and some other injuries & couldn't sit/lay for long ..
for 9 months. Most of the time I stood up & walked
in circles trying to get some relief.
Took all the Drs suggestions, their pills, Physical therapy, & swimming.
Got the steroid shots... but had to get them once every 2 months...because the
relief does wear out.
Drs pass you off..if you complain about back pain.
If they can't see the "boo-boo with a BIG bandaid" on it..
they wash their hands of the patient..
One Orthopod (radiologist) did a lumbar myelogram on me..& azzhole took out 3 tubes of spinal
fluid instead of just one..possibly two..that they needed to inject the dye..
That friggn headache they tell you about ..doesn't describe the HELL
..I went thru... Flat on your back for 11 days with projectile vomiting
(all over an admissions lady)...
Dizziness not controllable...Beats any hangover you could ever imagine..
Too dizzy to eat or drink..so they hook you up to fluids..
Anyway...
Had a CT scan & showed injury to the vertebrae..& that was it..No treatments done.
Then I did go to an orthopod who
sent me to a "sports injury doctor"...
& I will tell you if you can find one...run..don't walk to get an appt. & take
your MRI with you..
This is where I got the help & relief from the pain...

Still when the weather changes...I can tell a day ahead of time lol..

Muscle spams are still something I deal with along with the SI joint pain..
but its managable..with the right Doctors who give a shit...
& you need to learn about this & what is best treatment for you...
what works & what doesn't...

All the oxycontin & muscler relaxers they had me on.. was bullchit...
You've got to learn to deal with the pain level..once you get straightened
out ..that you know what your body can handle..
I quit both cold turkey..only on bad days now..do I hit the
trammadol...break it in half...
I know theres a lot of great drs out there..just have to search for one...
Good Luck...

[tater1977]

I forgot to mention that you might also think about a "TENS" unit to help relieve the back pain.

I do recommend that you discuss what I've recommended to you with your doctor. However, keep in mind that most doctors have been taught to treat everything with either prescription drugs or surgery, and not very many of them are educated about more natural alternatives. If the doctor can point to a specific reason why you shouldn't do something that I recommended, then don't do it. But if he or she can't tell you a specific reason not to do it, then give my suggestions a try.

*****

Yea I forgot the TENS unit..My chiropracter loaned me one of his..

[majik]

Severe prolonged muscular tension ! Let It Go.
Let go of trying to fix it, trying to fix it is not letting go it will bring more tension. When everything has been tried unsuccessfully take the shortcut.... there is only the opposite left, don't try just Let It Go. Its relaxing stress free in the moment, its simple let it all go just for a moment. Now let go of letting go and what is left, its experience itself and what is experienced comes and goes so Let It Go.
Probably not what you want to hear but here it is....

Its easier than surgery.

[artist4perry]

Thanks for all the info and kind words.

Majik...just wow. I need a translator for your posts. LOL

I have used Tens units, shots, been to therapy, tried exercises of all kinds, I don't use Meds except to sleep when it is so severe that I cannot sleep, this has been going on off and on for over 20 plus years and I have just in the last 5 to 6 months had a stint that never lets up or goes away. Normally it is short lived. My brother has back issues as well and they told him it is somewhat genetic...great.

I go for an MRI soon and he will tell me what he suggests on the first of May. I will let you know what he suggests then. Right now I just kind of wanted to apologize for not being around much, and to ask you to keep me in mind and think good thoughts my way.

Marabelle I might try a few of those stretches I have done many the doctors have given me to do and they just aggravate it, but who knows what something will do till you try it a time or two?

Your exercises remind me of an old joke:

A young warrior asked the village medicine man about how the village folks got their names...He said when Little Bear was born...I looked over the ridge and saw a small cub...that is how he got his name. When Lapping Brook was born we were camped near a small stream. So why do you ask Oh Barfing Dog?

[Marabelle]

Go to PopSugar and they have demos as well! Hope it helps. Make sure to check with your doctor! Good luck!

[majik]

Thanks for all the info and kind words.

Majik...just wow. I need a translator for your posts. LOL

Well put your glasses on my dear.
You know I mean well I hope, I had back problem for 18 months and the only relief I could get was standing and who can stand all day. Tried everything and in the end just gave up accepted it and it went away. Same thing with other health issues I've battled battled for years and years, the more I tried to fix them the worse it became, in the end gave up and let go and the suffering lessened to where its liveable. When there is no where left to turn and doctors say beyond medical help that was what was left, maybe you have to be there to get it...... anyway.
The best way to win a 10 man tug o' war is to simply let go of the rope.

[artist4perry]

There you go Majik! Much more understandable when you don't write in mystic ways. I am sorry you had a bad stint with your health. Maybe they can or can't help me, we will find out for sure in a week or so. Right now I am to the point where I struggle to walk sometimes or to get out of bed. The pain is extreme and doing nothing is not an option. I have to live and I go all day without anything for the pain because I need to be focused on my job and my life. I don't want to overdo Tylenol or Ibuprofen either so both of those have to be taken in extreme situations to not hurt my health in other ways. I do appreciate your trying to help though.

Marabelle I will check out that site tonight. It can't hurt to try, if it does I can just stop doing them. Hugs and thanks!

[artist4perry]

Went to the doctor tonight. I have a bone spur on the S1 vertebra and the protective layer around the nerve is almost gone. The spur is stabbing into the nerve. Today to get me by for the pain he gave me an epidural shot. I almost came off the table. Then he said Oops I missed, it is too low, so he had to go in again...a little higher. OW! I hope it helps. He is talking I will need surgery before long to shave the bone spur off. I might have to repeat in in a few years down the line. Right now he wants to see if I get relief from the shot. I know I have a couple of days to see if it works but I am shaking like a leaf from the discomfort of it all. He does not want to do surgery till he feels it is necessary. The earliest will be around the end of June. We will see what he decides to do then.

[Journey/Survivor]

I hope you feel better soon!

I've been reading more about Sciatica the last night or two. Like I mentioned, vitamin D is supposed to be very helpful for dealing with back pain, including sciatica. It's helped me a lot!

B12 and magnesium are very important as well.

Omega 3 fatty acids are very important too.

Seriously, research them.

[artist4perry]

Thank you Journey/Survivor. I appreciate your comments, I will look into this. Right now till that piece of bone is gone the pressure is not going to go away. But if the vitamins help then that would be great. I was just trying to let everyone know what the doctor said.

My husband seemed impressed by him. I like him, he is the first person to find out what has been bothering my back for a few years now. Most have just said I don't know and sent me home with a few pills. This is the first doctor that could show me clear as a bell what was bothering me by just looking at the MRI's.

I was able to see the bone spur myself and see that the fatty area that protects the nerve was shrunken and the bone sticking straight into the nerve. If shaving it later will give relief I am all for it. I have had too many years of just dealing with the pain and it interfering with a normal life. He said later down the line they would have to go in possibly and use something to enlarge the area around the nerve to protect it.

I have to say I usually keep my cool about these things but I broke down and cried. After years of frustration I finally seen what was the source of the pain. I cannot tell you guys what just knowing what the problem really is feels like. I was about to give up on ever finding the trouble and just dealing with it as I have always done.

[Journey/Survivor]

Thank you Journey/Survivor. I appreciate your comments, I will look into this. Right now till that piece of bone is gone the pressure is not going to go away. But if the vitamins help then that would be great. I was just trying to let everyone know what the doctor said.

My husband seemed impressed by him. I like him, he is the first person to find out what has been bothering my back for a few years now. Most have just said I don't know and sent me home with a few pills. This is the first doctor that could show me clear as a bell what was bothering me by just looking at the MRI's.

I was able to see the bone spur myself and see that the fatty area that protects the nerve was shrunken and the bone sticking straight into the nerve. If shaving it later will give relief I am all for it. I have had too many years of just dealing with the pain and it interfering with a normal life. He said later down the line they would have to go in possibly and use something to enlarge the area around the nerve to protect it.

I have to say I usually keep my cool about these things but I broke down and cried. After years of frustration I finally seen what was the source of the pain. I cannot tell you guys what just knowing what the problem really is feels like. I was about to give up on ever finding the trouble and just dealing with it as I have always done.

I understand that the pain will not go away completely from vitamins alone, seeing as you have the bone spur. I hope it didn't come off as I was trying to say that it would. As far as I know I do not have any bone spurs or other problems with any of my bones, and I'm still not able to get ALL of my back pain to go away, even with all of the vitamins and other supplements. However, they are helping me a great deal.

Even if you can get a little relief from the supplements, it's worth it, provided that you can afford to buy them.
Like I mentioned, I've heard GREAT things about Curamin drastically helping to reduce back pain. But it is expensive.

Good luck!

[artist4perry]

Thanks! I just took it you were trying to help!