Sciatica ... oh the pain

12 years ago

I'm on my third bout of sciatica problems in 18 months. It comes on suddenly and takes forever to resolve even with prednisone and stretching exercises. This time it started after sleeping on a hotel bed last weekend that was too soft.

Doctor has told me mine is not caused by a pinched nerve in the spine, but by it being pinched by muscles. It originally began a few months after I started hiking a lot.

Anyone else suffer from sciatica? It takes me 20 mins to get out of bed and hurts for a couple hours. The pain is incredible. It calms down at the office and the rest of the day.

I have tried ice and ointment (Dr. Schultz ... great stuff!) but I want it gone for good. I put a call into the doctor on Tuesday asking for a prescription for prednisone but so far have not heard back.

Any helpful advice?

Jodi-

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Comments (21)

socks
12 years ago
No advice, but lots of sympathy. Does physical therapy help?
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jannie
12 years ago
I know how it hurts. I've had it off and on since 2001. A massage helps, I can get one at my local manicure salon.You have my sympathy, Jodi.
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Darren........tell me more about that product. Devorah.....I think you might have told me about some exercises awhile back, but I forget. About a month ago, I began having really bad aching legs (mostly the left one). I decided to go to physical therapy for it instead of MRIs, surgeons, etc. Its helped a little, but I still have to take tylenol most of the day, and nighttime is usually awful. I finally called the doc and told him I'd have the MRI, but it needed to be an open-sided one, since I'm very claustraphobic. Unfortunately, the spine doc there said it had to be the closed one. They could give me a sedative, but I just can't do it. I'm thinking, no matter what they might find, the treatment will probably be close to what I'm getting now.....which is strengthening and stretching all the muscles in my leg and hip, lower back, and abdominals. I get alot of pain in my hip, where sciatic usually starts, but then I just get cramps/aching, spasms everywhere down my leg (rather than that shooting sciatica pain). Did you ever have an MRI? Was it a closed tube? What exercises do you do that helps so much? My knee doc said I have "piriformis syndrome" which is sciatica, but from being squished by the piriformis muscles, rather than pinched coming out of the spine.........but without an MRI, we'll never know for sure. My physical therapist has been gently massaging the area, and boy does that make it hurt the next day....but then it feels better for a few days. I have fibro, which really complicates everything, since my muscles always hurt. I'm thinking you have fibro too, right? I guess I'm feeling like a big wimp for not going through with the MRI....but right now, I just can't do it.....even with sedation. But it comforts me somewhat knowing that I'm probably doing good things for my muscles, etc. Sorry for rambling.
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EllenP123 , I have been mulling over what to post since I read the above last week. I am sure you did not intend it to be humerus but I laughed reading that you" went to bed 49 and woke up 100". I have been struggling with horrific leg pain for over two years. I daily think holy moly how in the world do people with chronic pain function.Although I have been dealing with my leg pain for months I am not going to categorized it as chronic. My first reaction to my leg pain was to see an ortho specialist who dx the leg pain as stress fractures since I had carried over 900 pieces of granite over a two week period. Yup I counted them. The M.D. gave me a few packets of celebrex that was given to him by the pharmaceutical sales rep. I told the Doctor I am allergic to Aleeve. Alleeve makes me swell and I gained five pounds after three doses. I was smart and had removed my wedding band . It took a good week to reduce the swelling since Alleve has a long half life. Those who are allergic to aleeve are recommended not to take celebrex. I questioned the Medical Doctor who assured me I was misinformed. I took one dose on the way home since the leg pain was horrific. Within two hours I was a mess. It felt as someone was squeezing my heart. I did not need to be hospitalized but monitored . I no longer take Motrin since this is a sister NSAID of celebrex and Aleeve. My point is there are some majorly hubris doctors out there who screw up at your expense. I have had a few nights where I cry cause the leg pain is horrible. No position soothes the ache . I have tried rest, aspirin, warm soaks, ice packs, massage therapy,accupuncture and a dose of darvocet . I came across a book a few years ago about how the body is aligned in two parts. While attempting to find a position to relieve the pain I massaged my toes, foot pad, achilles tendon, tibia ,fibula, knee,thigh, hip ,butt and lower back with a tennis ball. What I figured out is that the pain is in my knee area but when I massage the upper thigh and achilles the pain goes away. A few years a go I had tennis elbow from shoveling the driveway for five hours. When I massaged the shoulder blade and my pectoral muscle the elbow pain disappeared. Pain is not simple . One must identify the source. For me the pain is due to overused muscles and menopause. I am tiny but can llft 60 pounds with ease. If you gave me 62 lbs I balk. I think for some the pain we are experiencing is the lose of estrogen so our tendons get brittle. I too went to bed feeling great and awoke with the crippling pain. What i found that works is to take care of yourself. Take breaks when doing your chores. Swim. Stay active. Place down pillows under your hip and knees at night. Take calcium with magnesium DAILY eat bananas three times a week. The potassium helps with any cramps MAssage your legs from toes to butt with a rolling pin or tennis ball. Make sure you stretch the ham strings( the rear thigh leg muscles). So after two years of several medical visits, accupuncture treatments and masseuse visits for me I figured out what works for me. Some who go into menopause never experience leg pain whereas others are crippled. I was 45 when the periods stopped. My male ob gyn said this was impossible. Sorry but not everyone is a text book case. I have had some wonderful male physicians but at this point in my life I need someone who is informed on a women's life cycle. THe key is to enjoy life. Drink the coffee if it makes you feel good. You will need to experiment with your diet , and supplements. I found that black cohosh did squat. Eating the bananas and religiously taking my calcium with Mg helps. You are not alone. Pilates helped too!!!!!! My mind is racing since I need to get my chores done. A sip of wine at night helps some. For me a little rhum took the pain down a notch. My best solution is the stretcthing and staying active. I am still in pain at times but I can manage it.
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I have sciatica problems that stem from Piriformis syndrome (basically the muscle deep up in your butt is knotted up). The Piriformis knotted up feels like I am sitting on a ball, on my right side. This causes pressure on the sciatica nerve causing lightening bolt type pains down my leg, my calf really hurts and my feet are tingly and partly numb. Some days it's worse then other's. When this first started a few weeks back I went to see a massage therapist who specializes in deep muscle massage. It helped quite a bit and I felt better for about a week, till I tripped over the cat and it wrenched my back. So here I am again... I have researched it on the internet and watched utube videos on exercises to do. I have to say the ones I am doing are really helping. I also bought one of the massage foam rollers. They are about 8" round and 18" long maybe. There are all sorts of video's on utube how to use them, you basically sit on them and roll in different directions. I bought the roller at Walmart. They have two kinds, one is a smooth dense foam for 17.00, the other has nubs on it, I chose the one with nubs for 23.00 I used it yesterday 3 times and twice today and I can honestly say it has helped I alternate with cold and heat. I have found that laying on an ice pack when I go to bed gives me the most relief. I also read where spinal decompression can be very helpful with sciatica and Piriformis syndrome. You might want to research that on the internet, looks logical to me when I read about it. From what I read a lot of people with other back problems benefit from spinal decompression also. Sounds kind of scary to read "spinal decompression" but it's not, they put a harness on you and you hang upside down, for a while, which releases pressure on the spine. My daughter has a friend with one of these in her home, she swears by it for her back pain relief. I have not as yet gone to see the doctor, I don't want muscle relaxers and or pain medication. I don't want to mask the symptoms if I can do some things myself at home, so that is the present route I am taking for now. The exercises on utube are really very simple and a lot of them are created by physical therapist's. I am not sure if everyone can actually get rid of sciatica, for some it's a recurring problem. But if a person can figure out exercises that work for them to get relief it would certainly be great.. best of luck to you... I do know how painful it is.
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maxmom96
12 years ago
Jodi
Have you tried a chiropractor? I've had sciatica, although mine was from a pinched nerve. The chiropractor has been a much better alternative for me than having to go the drug route, and my doc has kept me going pain free for over 20 years. I did opt to continue going on a maintenance basis rather than emergency intervention when it flares up.
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maire_cate
12 years ago
I get twinges in my sciatica and have for probably 15 years. But one morning 8 years ago the pain woke me up and I couldn't move. The pain was intense. I tried Advil and a heating pad. The pain finally dissipated after about 4 hours.

Then a month later it happened again. So I went to my neurosurgeon and it was a pinched nerve. He gave me cortisone shots and that solved it for years. Lately I have been getting the twinges again so I'm keeping an eye on it just in case.

As for a chiropractor - after the neurosurgeon and orthopedic surgeon reviewed the Xrays and MRIs of my neck and spine they warned me to avoid any manipulation due my bulging discs and spinal stenosis.

It's interesting that we both experienced it after sleeping.
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tobygirl
12 years ago
Sorry, but no helpful advice from me. Prior to my bout of sciatica in 2001, I had never experienced such pain. I woke up with the pain down my leg, after doing some intense gardening the day before. Even with chiropractic, I wasn't back to normal for eight weeks. If I ever get it again, I will definitely seek help from a medical doctor.
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Jodi_SoCal
Original Author
12 years ago
Yep, been seen by a chiropractor on many occasions without success for a myriad of problems.

Like Maire, I too have bulging discs and severe spinal stenosis in my neck. Chiropractors are very hesitant to touch me and I'm scared to death they will do harm to me at this point.

Massage is much more therapeutic for me but when you wake up one morning and can't walk because of the pain, a massage is not a practical solution as I have to go take a shower and get to work.

I'd like to learn some stretching exercises that will address my particular cause (muscles, not spinal) but the PT department of Kaiser, my health care provider, is too many miles away for me to visit, even on an occasional basis.

I may ask about the cortisone shot if the prednisone doesn't help, which reminds me, I need to call the pharmacy to see if my dr. called in the prescription.

Jodi-
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lydia1959
12 years ago
Try candied ginger slices. Sounds nuts, but a lot of people at earthclinic swear by it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Earth clinic sciatica
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mare_wbpa
12 years ago
So sorry Jodi. Hope you're feeling better soon.
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Jodi_SoCal
Original Author
12 years ago
Very interesting Lydia ... I love ginger and Trader Joe's carries candied ginger that I've been wanting to try. Guess where I'm going tonight. :-)

I did call the pharmacy and my prednisone is waiting for me. I might give ginger a chance before starting the pred, though as I'm screaming out in pain tomorrow morning, I may scream for the meds. The pain is so bad I think I'm going to pass out. This is not fun for a very active person like myself. Ugh.

Jodi-
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sleeperblues
12 years ago
I would suggest getting a referral to a pain clinic and getting an injection. Taking oral prednisone for any length of time is not a good idea. It requires tapering doses, also.
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pekemom
12 years ago
I've had it on and off for a few years. So far the pain is
not as bad as some report but sometimes a "catch" will stop
me in my tracks, don't know if I'm describing it well.
Sometimes I limp for a while on one leg or the other.
I went to the Dr, he gave me ibuprofen, looked at my legs
and said the circulation was good, nothing else much could be done. Went to my Chiropractor, got more relief that way.
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lynn_d
12 years ago
I'm sorry you are suffering, Jodi. I will probably jinx myself, but no trouble with sciatica for a few years.

Does anyone else here read Dr. Andrew Weil's site? I get emails from him daily, pertaining to my RA and diabetes. He also recommends ginger.
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sue_va
12 years ago
I can definitely emphasize. In addition to spinal problems, I have bouts of sciatica, usually brought on by bending over.

Went to the pain clinic, had the injections, and the doctor there sent me to an excellent therapy clinic to be evaluated for a TENS Unit.

They recommended I get one so I did. It is a great help on a PRN (as needed) basis.

Ask your doctor about this.

Sue
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joann23456
12 years ago
Sciatica pain is just awful-you have my sympathies. One thing I read about was to lie on the floor and put a tennis ball under you on the most painful part. You then roll around and use the ball to massage you. It definitely helped me.

Also, once you're feeling better, walking is a great way to keep sciatica from happening again. I used to have pain from sciatica pretty often, but since I've been walking a couple miles a day, I almost never feel it, and it's never as bad as it used to be.

Best of luck.
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Jodi_SoCal
Original Author
12 years ago
Joann, the tennis ball therapy should be pretty easy to do, my husband is a high school tennis coach and there are always a hundred or so tennis balls around on any given day. :-)

I hike/walk several times a week so got the walking part down but in reality, I never knew the pain of sciatica until I started hiking. Supposedly the muscles in my gluteus maximus are so tight they are pinching the sciatica nerve which to me means I'm buff but I can assure you, I am not. :-)

My husband sent me an email yesterday about using heat on the area so last night, even though it was hot, I slept with a heating pad on low under me. Bounced out of bed no problem today. Have not started the prednisone or ginger. Perhaps heat is the answer.

Jodi-
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alisande
12 years ago
Nothing helpful from me, Jodi, except my sympathy. I've had sciatica, and hope I never get it again.

I woke up this morning feeling sensitivity on the outside of my right heel and an ache in my right lower back, and I thought, Oh, I hope this isn't the start of sciatica. I wonder if it has anything to do with something I had at physical therapy (for my shoulder) yesterday: They had me lie on a half-round length of firm Styrofoam for two minutes. Odd sensation.

Hope you get over this soon!
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Jodi_SoCal
Original Author
12 years ago
Sciatica update ...

The heating pad my DH suggested did the trick, have not had any problem since the night I slept with the pad set on low.

So now I have an emergency stash of Prednisone in case I have a bout that heat won't fix.

Jodi-
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joann23456
12 years ago
I'm glad to hear that, Jodi!

Having Addison's Disease, I always have enormous amount of Prednisone on hand. Does wonders!
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petaloid
12 years ago
I'm very happy to hear that you are feeling better.
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lynn_d
12 years ago
Glad you are feeling better, Jodi!
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Cherryfizz
12 years ago
You have my sympathy too Jodi, I hope you are feeling better. I had sciatic pain once so bad I couldn't move. Never want to experience it again!

Anne
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Sciatica ... oh the pain

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