Sciatica No Fun

Feel for you guys. I had back surgery too, L4-L5, abot 19 yrs ago. Have another disc that constantly rubs. Have tried every thing and have lots of gizmos. Everyone is different but what always works for me are:

1. Acupuncture. Find someone who is actually Chinese if you can. This is always a last resort for me (mostly because of cost), and 3-4 sessions later I am usually good for months.

2. TENS unit. Costs $20-30, just Google a place to buy one. Put the pads on, leave 'em on for hours as you work, watch TV, whatever. I've given several of these away to friends who have had issues, same advice, they all say it helps too. Here's an example of the type of machine I'm talking about -- I don't know anything about the site but this machine is fine, no need for the fancy/spendy ones:

https://www.tenspros.com/tens-7000-2nd-edition-digital-tens-unit-dt7202.html

3. If heat, stretching and strengthening doesn't work (usually all stretching is a bad idea), I use ice and Aleve (Naproxen Sodium) together for the sole purpose of knocking down the angry nerve, which causes the pain. My wife hates when I take the Aleve -- I take 2 every 4-5 hours if bad, 3 every 4-5 hours if really bad. Usually just for a day or 2. After back surgery they gave me prescription Naproxen Sodium (anti-inflammatory) that were like 2-3 over the counter ones per pill.

4. Physical therapy/training -- When I could afford the $ and time to do this a couple times a week, it was great. Got a lot stronger in the core, legs and b*tt, and man it made a huge difference. Much less pain.

Yoga also can help -- I just put a YouTube one for backs on. I just don't have the best patience for it lol. I also stay away from chiropractors. I absolutely believe they help lots of people, just not me.

Stems cells is interesting thanks @ColoradoTJ -- I will look into it.

 

Bulged disc here, L5 S1. Besides losing some weight, stretching and running 2 miles a day this has helped but I was also prescribed Gabapentin. My 600 mg is a fairly low dose. Its 600 per day taken over the course of the day.

I know surgery will be in the future but this helps me and has kept me doing pretty good going on three years. Main problem with me was a lot of hours in a vehicle and 25lbs cinched down on my waist and hips

 

My breaks failed on my log truck coming down the mountain and flipped upside down pinning me under it. I shattered teeth, had to get a transfusion from major facial lacerations, bone chip broke off in neck and 5mm herniated disk pushing on my sciatic nerve to name a few things. It took months to get a doctor to prescribe Norco for me which helps some. The next best thing I use is a 1-1 CBD-THC. Norco isn't strong enough for this kind of pain. That works better, but it doesn't leave you very functional. What works best is steroid injections for the sciatic nerve. It doesn't last long maybe a month or 2 for me before wearing off. The other thing I did was buy a soft temperpedic mattress with an adjustable base. A high end mattress is a must. Massages can help. For me surgery will be required. I have noticed getting in water is helpful. Even if it is just a bath. Getting the pressure off the nerve is the only thing to stop that pain. Some of the best relief I had was getting in the ocean. The combination of cold and the pressure reduced effects of buoyancy were helpful. I haven't been able to try mutch else.

 

I’ll chime in..17 years as a mailman and the heavy boxes of dog food from Amazon finally got the best of me. Bulging disc in my L4 L5. For the past 3 years, I have gotten a Cortisone shot every year. I’m done with the shots and in need of a permanent fix. Fusion is what’s on the table but I’m not interested in something that is just gonna rear it’s ugly head years later.
As I sit here typing this, I am experiencing the same exact pain that you are. Left side that shoots down the leg. I’ve tried a TENS unit with no luck. I do all the stretches I’ve seen online with little relief. The only thing that I can do to relieve the pain is walk. Once I’m done walking though, the pain comes right back.
I’m so done with this pain. I’ve tried Gabapentin but it caused me to have nausea. Naproxen and Acetaminophen do nothing but screw with my stomach. I’m at a total loss.
I’ve been tempted to read Dr. Sarno’s Mind Body Connection. I’m a big Howard Stern fan and he swears by it. It basically says that pain is created by your psyche. Idk. My MRI sure does show it to be a physical and not mental issue.

 

My turn...I’ve had back problems for nearly 20 years. Chiropractors helped years ago but now I have several herniated discs and stenosis in several vertebrae. I went through spinal decompression therapy last fall that wasn’t cheap - but helped. I was taking 12 Advil a day and I’m now pretty much Advil free.

I’m worried about cortisone shots and surgery - but the last 3-4 years my back pain is so bad I can’t really exercise much.

 

I've had two surgeries for disc ruptures. Prior to the surgery, I couldn't walk or eat as the pain was so bad. All a result of too many jumps in the Corps. Although the surgeries took away the serious pain, it did not fully alleviate. Couple things did wonders: 1) a sleep number bed, 2) yoga to maintain the curvature of my spine, 3) planks to strengthen my core. I've been pain free for years now due to the bed and the daily yoga and planks. If you can go without the surgery, I highly recommend not having an invasive surgery unless there are no other options.

 

Mirror image if what your going through. I also agree with getting up and walking. I had a bad night last night. Pain was really bad in my shin area, but throughout my leg. I have an appointment with my chiropractor, but it's 8 days out. Aleve and muscle relaxers are not helping. I haven't ever had a MRI, and someone on this thread mentioned to get one(thanks) so I'm off to get it done.

Thank you and everyone else with the help and suggestions. This shits no fun at all

 

The things we do to abuse our bodies when we're young but it's something I've learned to live with but at times I've been laid up for a couple days. I do daily stretches first thing in the morning and act like a wimp when lifting things by asking for help and those who don't will shed tears when they get older and their sciatica is on the warpath.

 

Yeah, you can't sit, can't walk, or can't lay down.

 

The shin pain is the worst with the ankle pain a close second. Before I knew it was Sciatica, I thought there was something really wrong with my ankle.

 

Whats your sleep number? Ive had one for 13 years and Ive always kept it at 100

 

Adding a couple things to my above post:

1. The right mattress -- right for you -- is KEY. If you have an old mattress, it's probably time to spend on a new one. I could never find any advice on what to buy for back pain, but I can tell you that foam toppers were the worst for me. That's what my acupuncture gal said too. Honestly what I did was go to the mattress store, lay down on a bunch and pray for guidance. So far so good with the one my wife and I went home with. It is firmer, no foam on top.

2. I've heard that the real CBD oil (non-hemp, maybe some of the THC in there) is good for pain. I've never tried any but did use a CBD cream my wife's uncle sent -- who's in that biz -- and it was amazing for acute pain (not back). If you can find someone who knows about that stuff and get some -- if you don't have any prior substance issues -- might be worth a try.

 

I'm down to 40, with both an elevated head and foot on the mattress. That was the other aspect that helped, being able to lift both the head of the bed and the foot.

 

Thanks for the tip. Ill play around with the numbers

 

You have to get an MRI to see where the nerve is impinged. Everything else is guesswork. It might be caused by inflammation, it might be caused by a bulged or herniated disc, it might be caused by some other structural abnormality, and it might be caused by scar tissue your body is producing.

A discectomy around L4/L5/S1 (likely your problem area) is run of the mill these days.

Recommend a light stretching routine.

You may luck out and have it go away or respond well to anti-inflammatories. Don't count on it though.

If you are having constant sciatica for more than a few months I would strongly consider an orthopedic procedure. Long term nerve damage and/or drop foot start to come into play. Nerves are slow to recover, if they ever do.

Lot's of Dr's do back surgeries these days, but I would seek a neuro-surgeon if you go this path.

Best wishes.

 

This is good advice. Mine was bad enough that I had drop foot and had to teach myself to lift my foot to walk. I now have permanent nerve damage below the knee and 3 of my 5 toes.

 

Update, Went to urgent care to get me something to ease the pain till I get to my chiropractor. I will say the prednisone has eased the pain a lot. I was able to cut my properties today. Salute!

 

Being responsive to prednisone is a good sign, and indicates you are dealing with an inflammatory cause. Could be a good candidate for an epidural injection...

 

Yep. This is literally what I had going on in 2005. Back, leg, etc. were KILLING me, and the only comfort was sitting reclined with knees bent. Went to my doctor who prescribed Vioxx right before it went off the market...did little to nothing. Went back and saw a physician's assistant who said "Walk across the room on your heels." I thought he was nuts, but did so.

Turns out he was not nuts; I had drop foot on the left hand side; and a subsequent MRI revealed a small L5/S1 herniated disc. Got a microdiscectomy 15 years ago last month, and aside from some scar tissue in my lower back (may have a procedure to have it removed in the future if necessary), it pretty much removed all the pain. Now I just need to make sure I stand more, stretch, etc.

 

I had it for several years. Tried injections that didn’t work. So I founded a great specialist that did an L2-S1 Laminectomy. Knocked the pain right out. No rods or screws needed.

 

Situps, 10 a day to start, then after 1 week move up to 15-20, add another 5-10 each week until you get to 50 x twice per day. This may take 45-90 days but it will resolve the core problem, lower back muscles are much stronger than stomach muscles. Luck.

 

If that ain't motivation, I don't know what is

 

Alright, so I figured I’d pile on here.

Had a traumatic spinal injury at work, and have her Herniations/bulges at L3/4/5(S1). Completely occluding my sciatic nerve. I have no pain or sensation in my left thigh. Was told I’d have to medically retire and fuse my spine.

Went to kerlan and jobe out here and did pt, chiro, epidurals, etc. The best remedy for me (which saved my career) was a combo of strength training (modified), daily stretching morning/evening, and yoga. Check out pinkbike.com videos- search yoga for low back pain. Took a disability rating, but it saved my life.

best advice I can give is cultivate a positive mental outlook, dedicate hard work to personal rehab, and do what is best for your body. Eat clean, stay off RX, and stretch out your body.
Flexibility = strength.

 

How's it going?

 

I had a lot of chronic back issues in my adult life and likely cause was doing dumb#### stuff in my early years. Threw it out bad last fall while reaching down low to purge my sprinkler system. Decided I had had enough and needed to dedicate time to try and find things to aid/fix the issues without any surgery or pain meds. Bought an inversion table and religously use it 3-4 times a day for 2 minutes up until today and built up my core and to be honest, feel better now than I ever did in the younger days. Firm believer in inversion tables and core strengthening at your pace to help anyone with back problems out.

 

Well the prednisone has helped me get through the day. The pain comes at night outta nowhere, and wakes me up out of a dead sleep. The pain is really bad at the shin, but also in the lower back/ ass . Had my first appt yesterday with my chiropractor, and it's my L-5. Also she had me walk across the room on my toes and heels. I did ok on the toes, but my left heal gave, which says I have a weak nerve. I wanna try to beat this through physical therapy, stretches, and other things then going MRI route. She did say that if I am not responding, then x-rays and a mri would be the next step. I had this years back on my right side, but no where near the pain I'm going through with my left side. Last night was the worst night, thought about cutting my left leg off above the knee with my new Portacable SawZaw, that's how bad it is.Thanks for asking appreciate it

 

After experiencing severe back pain, I now understand why so many people get hooked on opioids. The pain is inescapable.

Stay on it brother.

 

Well, I've had about 6 total hours of sleep in the last 3 days. Pain continues to wake me out of a dead sleep at night around 1-2 . I told myself I would take the conservative approach to my sciatica again. but this time around has been brutal. I got my primary Dr to give me a referral to a orthopedic, and have an appt next thurs. My chiropractor said sometimes this could go on for 6 months, and some just steer through the pain until it's gone. I laughed at her and said if I was 25 yeah. but no.
I did buy a Tens Unit to hopefully help. I've used one before and it helped with some lower back pain.
I also have been using a CBD Salve 600mg. It seems to help some, other than at night when all hell breaks loose. I have been looking into the oil too, but can't take full spectrum cbd as I get drug screened, and don't want to take that chance. Looking at The non THC side of it.

 

Why haven't I seen this thread??? I found others with l4 l5 disc problems!

Mine happened from a twisty pulley slippy fall. You know, I was lifting with my back while twisting and yanking....got the job done tho. Now I have flare ups every three or four months almost 7 years later...physical therapy didn't help, haven't gotten cortisone yet. Maybe that would work. What helps is actually core workouts. After I get through the initial break in and pain and misery it feels normal. But usually I'll pop a top and lay down on the couch.