Anybody out there ever have severe sciatica?

[MOMFUDSKI]

Looking for which kind of doc to go see in which to be diagnosed properly (MRI, whatever). I will be seeing my primary this week and AGAIN ask her to refer me to someone and for an MRI. Last visit, she said here are some gabapentin pills and take IBU and that is what happens when you get older. You will have to rely on pills. WHAT? I am convinced the insurance companies are directing the docs how to run their business in order to save money. Richest country in the world . . . . Lousy healthcare for sure. Cripes.

[Srkdqltr]

1. I went to an orthopedic surgeon. He put spacers in my lower back ti keep the nerves from being pin

That was probably 10 years ago. I can't say if that would help you as everyone is different. Something to try.

[bottomofthehill]

2. Ask for a referral to a physical therapist.

[MOMFUDSKI]

8. Been there, done that.

Doc's office only sent the hip XRay and forgot the lumbar one. DUH. So the PT worked on the Trocanter and all got worse over the course of 6 visits.

[Sogo]

16. Sounds like the problems was both with the doctor not sending the X-rays

and the physical therapist not waiting to have all the information needed.

[anotherOKIE]

21. yes to PT

I am a firm believer in PT. A good therapist or PT clinic will keep you on your feet if you are diligent about following their interactions.

[rso]

3. Sciatica

I had a serious case some 20 years ago while posted in Rome. The MRI showed a herniated disk pressing on the sciatic nerve, but I was treated conservatively with anti-inflammatories and a short course of steroids. It worked for a while, but things deteriorated and I started limping. That’s when microsurgery to shave off part of the offending disk was performed and I have not had any issues since then.

[diehardblue]

4. I had severe sciatica, from hip to down my leg. After medication and physical therapy did not

help, I got some advice from an older nurse who believed in non medical treatment. it worked within a day and I have not had pain since that time.

She suggested I use whatever pain cream I had and then apply a consistent cold compress. I am not suggesting it is what you should use, but it worked for me. The cold compress, instead of a heating pad was the key.

[notdarkyet]

13. I've spent a lot of pain time over my back. Volteran cream and tiger balm are my go tos for

Pain cream. I used tiger balm all over last night. I like it.

[notdarkyet]

14. I've spent a lot of pain time over my back. Volteran cream and tiger balm are my go tos for

Pain cream. I used tiger balm all over last night. I like it.

[2naSalit]

22. I use that method...

For a lot of my pain and swelling that happens regularly. I also make a comfrey salve that I use sporadically to kill the pain too. IB works for immediate yet incomplete relief.

I also use some stretches once the icing and/or IB has started working and lessened the swelling. One is so simple but it helps if the problem is simple misalignment pinching on nerves.

[FarPoint]

40. I myself suffer with sciatica lately...

Bought new mattress Dreamcloud and using heating pad ..good posture ...improving but not there yet ..I'll try the cold packs

[OnDoutside]

5. No, you need to get movement to get rid of the sciatica and to

do that you need the pain relief. Take the pills and as soon as you feel the relief get walking. You need to do both so that it eventually reduces, and then you can phase out the pain relief.

[Raven123]

6. I would think someone specializing in spinal surgery- neurosurgeons and orthopedic spinal surgeons

Individual practices vary, so you should check before making an appointment.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

7. Yes, the pain was excruciating, it started at the base of my spine and radiated down my

left leg, I could barely get out of bed I was in so much pain, went to the Chiropractor, got my back adjusted and haven't had a problem since.
The Dr. told me to quit carrying my wallet in my back pocket, now I carry it in my front pocket and, as I said, no problem since.

[MOMFUDSKI]

15. I have seen a chiro twice in last week

and he has me doing icing for an hour. 2 more appts this week. I cannot walk 25 paces without being in severe pain. This started in March so I am more than frustrated. Thanks for all your comments.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

17. I sincerely hope you get to feeling better.

[Ocelot II]

9. Sciatica can have a lot of possible causes.

I had a mild case a few years ago which seems to have gone away (I lost a lot of weight and have been walking quite a bit; maybe that helped), but a friend had a lot of trouble with it to the point where she had to walk with a cane. She went to an orthopedic specialist, got an MRI, and was prescribed physical therapy as well as pain medication, and she's better now. You probably should see a neurologist or an orthopedist to determine what's causing it (it could be age-related but it isn't necessarily). Sometimes it's a compressed disc. Surgery is a last-ditch treatment, but pills are only the first option. Don't be satisfied with being brushed off with just being told you're old and you should take some pills.

[Sogo]

10. Have had back and sciatic problems much of my adult life due to a sports injury in high school.

From my experience, the best thing for structural problems is physical therapy and chiropractic care with a chiropractor who does NUCCA adjustments.

Good luck.

[womanofthehills]

11. Lots of exercises online to help with sciatica

Helped me. Go to Bob and Brad “ most famous physical therapists on internet” on you tube. Check out their sciatica videos.

https://m.

[MOMFUDSKI]

18. Been Bob and Bradding for weeks now!

Thanks.

[anotherOKIE]

12. Best thing for me...

The best thing for me is to walk and then sit only for short periods. Sit a short time and then get up and walk around. Don't sit in an easy chair that conforms to your body. Change chairs throughout the day; a soft chair and then a hard chair. I do take aspirin and/or Tylenol (generic store brand), but try to limit that to only night time when the pain interferes with sleep. Maybe a sacro brace that isn't too tight can be worn at times. An orthopedic specialist might be the way to go but I wouldn't let them do any surgery unless I thought about it for a long time. I am sorry you have that.

[MOMFUDSKI]

19. Thanks.

A friend has had the cement put in between discs. I will just keep pursuing help.

[roamer65]

20. Yup I had it for about a year.

I was lucky. PT worked for me.

[Disaffected]

23. The causes and treatment of sciatica vary

and it can be quite simple or very difficult to treat but I would urge you to stick with SBM (science based medicine) and don't pay attention to anecdotal evidence (what works or may appear to work for some folks may not be beneficial at all to you and may even be harmful).

The conventional medical system always has its issues and in the end may not be able to help you much but the alternatives are almost always likely to be unhelpful or worse.

[nilram]

24. I thought this looked interesting

Link to tweet

But I don’t have severe sciatica, just some similar pains.

[central scrutinizer]

55. The first stretch he does works for me

Opens the channel for the piriformis muscle. Seems to offer immediate relief for me. And it can be done sitting in a chair anywhere.

[mcar]

25. Get a new PCP

Any physician who tells you severe pain is just part of aging is engaging in ageism - and is lazy as well.

[MOMFUDSKI]

38. I plan on telling her that if she will not refer me

somewhere to get an MRI to find out root cause I will find another PCP. Gotta advocate for oneself these days. Pills, schmills.

[mcar]

45. Ridiculous that you have to fight for an MRI

Good luck.

[MOMFUDSKI]

39. I plan on telling her that if she will not refer me

somewhere to get an MRI to find out root cause I will find another PCP. Gotta advocate for oneself these days. Pills, schmills.

[Native]

58. So glad to hear this! Mcar is so right.

[crickets]

41. +1000000

[irisblue]

26. Yes, I have 2threads in this forum- Chronic Health Conditions

post 1-https://democraticunderground.com/11475259

post 2-https://democraticunderground.com/11475283

So far, the peel & stick tens unit has been helpful

[SheltieLover]

30. Like minds... 👇

[SheltieLover]

27. IrisBlue got tens unit & said it's helping her!

https://www.democraticunderground.com/11475283

[malaise]

28. One of my siblings uses yoga and

Tiger Balm she says both work very well

[canetoad]

61. I agree

Certain stretches and positions are magic for the sciatics.

[malaise]

64. And you should know

[cilla4progress]

31. I have a massager that really helps

with tight muscles. It looks kinda like a scarf - here's a link. https://www.resteck.com/

This may be unpopular, but about 25 years ago I had bad sciatica where I lost feeling in my toes. Medical doctor advised exercises and PT. I chose to try chiropractic. I lucked out to find a great, understanding - HUMBLE - DC (I told him I was a non-believer; he asked me to just give him 30 days).

After 2 weeks I had feeling back and my sciatica resolved!

As other posters here have said, there can be different causes. This is just what worked for me


Results may vary.

[dweller]

32. Had a herniated disc in my back L5/S1

Dr wanted to operate, Insurance wouldn’t approve, so put me in PT
Had pretty bad sciatica the whole time, so PT put me in traction, and the hernia ruptured and my left leg went stone cold numb.
Surgeon operated without Insurance approval as he feared I’d be eventually be permanently paralyzed in that leg. No pain after surgery and the feeling came back slowly in my leg, but not my foot which is still partially permanently numb.
I was put into PT back rehab for strength training and blew out the disc again ☹️
2nd surgery fixed it again, and was given a permanent partial disability rating of my back and left leg … but no more pain afterwards and that’s been since 1995, so as long as I don’t lift too much, I’m good to go.

You probably need the MRI to look at Spinal discs, we are all susceptible to back injury as we age … I don’t think we were meant to be upright our whole life 😐

Good luck

✌🏻

[MOMFUDSKI]

36. Your case is exactly why I would like an MRI up front to rule out

anything that can really go sideways with the wrong therapies. I am more than willing to exercise, chiro, etc. once I know none of it will hurt me permantly. Thanks for your story.

[Quakerfriend]

33. Yes, my husband has had it severely- comes and goes

every five years…

He gets physical therapy if it gets really bad.
Does back exercises throughout the day, uses small stim device (bought on amazon), and also wears Beactive+ on his lower leg.

Never got MRI and will not take pain meds- just occasional Tylenol.

The Beactive+ leg wrap acts on pressure point & really does help.

-Hope you feel better!

[scarletlib]

34. Acquaintance recently had severe sciatica. She went to hospital and had an epidural shot in the

leg for pain. It was outpatient. Has helped quite a lot. There is also an FDA approved device called Be Active that is worn externally on leg that is supposed to be helpful. Just google device for sciatic or beactiveplusdeal.com for information.

[flor-de-jasmim]

35. I went an entirely different route: keto/carnivore diet

I started in June 2022 and within a week or two my overall level of pain was down substantially. While I am not completely pain-free, my sciatica pain is much less frequent and not as debilitating.

Good luck.

[crickets]

37. I managed to mess up my back some years ago and

at one point had severe lower back pain and stabbing pains radiating from my right hip down my leg. It was pretty bad for a while, to the point that I could only sit in a firm, straight backed chair, and only for short periods at a time. Couldn't sit for long, couldn't stand for long... it was not fun. Physical therapy helped, as did a course of muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory meds, but what really helped was a home TENS unit. I got this one:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O7CM12W/

It's easy to use and it does help. It stimulates the muscles in various areas of the body, depending on where you place the pads. It's a bit like an internal pulse massage. You have control over how strong the signal is, so you set your own comfort level. FYI on the listed cautions: I do not experience any side effects or skin issues at all when using this, and I have pretty sensitive skin.

I paid less than the current list price, but right now it is way on sale, so it's a thought if you are interested. I know there are some other DUers (I believe Quakerfriend & irisblue mentioned this above) who've used this or similar who might chime in if they've had success with it.

Talk to your primary doctor about a referral to an orthopedist, perhaps? Back pain and sciatica are miserable to go through, so good luck, and I hope you find some relief soon.

[Sympthsical]

42. Went to a chiropractor

An actual normal one. Not a quack one that cures everything with adjustments and thinks you need to come in once a week for several years because you have good insurance.

I injured something once by lifting just the wrong way, and my piriform muscle seemed to have locked tight over the nerve. I couldn't sleep. Even getting in and out of the car was impossible. Nothing was doing. Doctor couldn't manage it. I even tried acupuncture out of desperation (mysteriously, did not work! mysteriously!). So, I went to this chiropractor in Oakland.

He went to adjust the area of pain around my right glute, and it squished. You could hear the fluid in it. He put the electric TENS pads on it, and zapped the muscles for awhile. Just, instant relief. I think I made a sound only reserved for fourth dates when the muscle unlocked after months of pain.

We did two or three follow ups and also worked on gym posture stuff while there to make it worthwhile (apparently sit-ups are for idiots).

Never had a problem again. That was probably ten years ago.

[MOMFUDSKI]

46. Wow.

Happy to hear you were helped.

[iamateacher]

43. Chiropractic Care....

If I did not have a chiropractor, I would have had to have surgery and medication, like my mother did. (Scoliosis) Medicare pays for it and I don't have to live in pain.
Doctors will seldom recommend chiropractors, luckily I had a GP whose wife was a runner, and swore by chiropractic care.
That said, physical therapy is wonderful and I swim, which is of great benefit.

[mainer]

70. Sorry, but chiropractors were useless for me.

A neurologist + maybe neurosurgeon are what’s needed.

[highplainsdem]

44. It's important to find out the cause of the sciatica before deciding on a specific treatment

or therapy, including treatment for pain.

I've had sciatica occasionally, typically at least once a day, for 40 years, following a bad fall on black ice that damaged my sacroiliac. I did not opt for surgery to fuse the joint, which sounded too risky to me, as well as having a terribly long recovery time.

I had physical therapy and had cortisone injections during the early months, but those didn't help a lot.

I don't take prescription painkillers, because I need my brain to work properly and I once found out it didn't when I was taking those.

I did take a lot of ibuprofen for a while, sometimes 24 tablets a day, which I would not recommend to anyone. My kidneys survived that because I take supplements that protect them.

I also used an overbed table as a desk for a while.

Mostly I've been helped by two ways of coping that I had to come up with myself.

I move around a lot, since staying one position too long, whether sitting or standing or lying down, can sometimes make the sciatica worse.

And I learned to tune out pain, via meditation and self-talk and imaging. It also helps NOT to think about or talk about chronic pain. Obviously that isn't possible at first, but when you're dealing with a condition for which there is no good treatment and it does cause some pain regularly, it's best to learn to tune it out.

[MOMFUDSKI]

47. IBU is pretty much a no-no

for me as my kidneys are shot from the diabetes. But then doc said go ahead and take IBU. WHAT? I think she has to go.

[LuckyCharms]

68. Please, do not, under any circumstances,

take IBU if your kidney function is compromised.

Sounds like there is something wrong with your PCP.

For the sciatica. see if you can get a referral to an orthopedist or a spinal specialist.

However, there is no reason your PCP cannot order an MRI, which would probably be the prudent thing to do.

I hope your pain subsides soon!

[Chalco]

48. PT with the right therapist

I spent 6 months with one set of therapists and they helped with symptoms.
I'd feel somewhat cured, but then it would come back over and over.

Then found Frank who fixed the cause. Turns out it had to do with the way I walked,
slept, held myself. I kept walking with my feet pointed out. Slept without a pillow between
my legs. Walked with my head looking down.

He said that the body needed to form a rectangle in order to avoid sciatica.

I last saw him 3 months ago. Not a single ounce of pain. I do exercises he suggested
every morning and evening, climb stairs the way he told me to, walk the way he told me.

Cured.

[SomedayKindaLove]

67. Good posture can alleviate/fix a lot of muscular-skeletal conditions

And sciatica can be caused by muscle imbalances.

Important to realize even if an MRI shows spinal issues, those issues in the spine could be caused by muscle imbalances. Sometimes a muscle can refuse to let go and be tight, sometimes it can be overstretched and become tight, sometime it can even forget how to move.

Such imbalances can pull the spine and/or the hips out of balance. The good news is muscles are trainable. Which is why I think it makes sense to exhaust physical modalities first. The root of many pain issues may be caused by an unbalanced pelvis. It can tilt too forward or not have enough tilt. One side may be raised higher than the other. Or one side may be rotated forward.

A good PT, the right yoga, Somatics, Feldenkrais, and physiologists videos on YouTube, Integrated Positional Therapy (which focuses on balancing the hips) may offer relief. A good rule of thumb is if any physical movement or stretch increases pain, back off. And if there are ways to hold your body that are pain-free, visit those positions as much as possible.

[in2herbs]

49. Acupuncture, CBD oil, chiro and a pillow or something of that sort for lumbar support when you sit.

The CBD may take a few days to really kick in. I suggest 2500 - 4000 mg bottles and dosing every 4-5 hours until you begin to feel relief. Then back off doses as long as your pain is gone/diminished, but you'll always have to take CBD.

[montanacowboy]

50. Have an appt at end of the month

with a Psysiatrist - for possible ablation procedure - have tried everything else pills, exercise, PT, epidural injection, and a year of acupuncture. I hope to get some relief from that.

[mahina]

51. These guys are super

Bob and Brad have a lot of videos on sciatica.

One of their vids on sciatica is about the big lie. May be relevant. ( non trump related)

On their website they have Excercise programs for it too.

I listen to them.

Good luck!

[Dysfunctional]

52. I am 79, I have sciatica and 5 bulging disks in my lower back.

My sciatica has not been a big problem lately and I use my TENS and Diclofenac Sodium Topical Gel a few times a month now. I started going to the gym 4 months ago and workout 6 days a week alternating upper and lower body workouts. I wear a weight belt and use weights that are 50% of my maximum 1 rep using a slow motion, not jerking the weights. I feel better after my workout. Have you tried working on your core? I also lost 65 pounds this year down to 150. I do use Gabapentin but mostly for neuropathy in my legs.

[mopinko]

53. yeah, had about 6 mos of it thanks to a chiro.

had a fall at work, just soft tissue injury. the electro massage helped, but the adjustments gave me a crippling case of sciatica.
rec u stay away from chiros. i took a therapeutic yoga class, through my healthcare provider, which helped immensely.
it was a miserable 6 mos tho.

[SYFROYH]

54. Gabapentin is super cheap.

If thats all you need, you're in good shape

[MLAA]

56. Husband had severe sciatica. Interfered with walking and very painful.

Tried PT, medical massage and acupuncture. Didn’t help. Then I got him a recumbent bike machine. Had him do short 10 minute to 15 minute sessions. It worked liked magic opening up whatever was pinching sciatica. Now he does it once or twice a week for maintenance.

Good luck.

[Runningdawg]

57. Intermittent, treated successfully with Kratom after pills, exercise, chiropractor and Med MJ failed

[CanonRay]

59. I got physical therapy

specifically electro therapy on the lower back. After several months of treatments, the pain was gone. I have my own TENS unit now for the occasional flare up.

[canetoad]

60. MRI or CAT scan

What helps me most is hot laser therapy from a physio. Apart from that, struggle through and time usually makes it ease off.

[iemanja]

62. If you want to avoid surgery

You could go to somehow in rehabilitative (sports) medicine. They tend to be orthopedists but not surgeons. I had bad sciatica a while back and stretching really helped. Physical therapy can also help, and the doctors often prescribe it.

[Easterncedar]

63. Ice all night

I slept with ice packs on my lower back after about a year of increasing pain. I think it was what turned it off. That and not doing the 11-hour drive to my hometown so often. I have had rare and short-lived flare-ups since, but it has been 10 years since the worst bout. Good luck! It’s a miserable condition.

[iemanja]

72. I've been told that you should only do 20 minutes icing

Without for 20 min, and then on again for 20.

[brer cat]

65. I had terrible sciatica due to a herniated disc.

I tried a chiro, PT, and shots from pain mangement. I wound up with a neurosurgeon for a discectomy and fusion. It was very successful and relatively painless. I take gabapentin for occasional nerve pain in my legs.

[egduj]

66. Yes. Get an MRI.

Several things can cause sciatica and you need to know what's aggravating that nerve before treating it.

[mainer]

69. Gabapentin works well for nerve pain

I had a pinched nerve in my neck and the drug tided me over until I could have surgery. It’s non-addictive and is usually used as a seizure med, but it definitely takes the edge off. You may need surgery eventually, but this is not terrible advice.

[lindalou65]

71. Severe sciatica treatment

I don't know if I recently had 'severe sciatica' but I was very miserable for a number of weeks. My MD recommended physical therapy which worked wonders for me. At the same time, my right knee was swollen and eventually had to be drained so I could barely walk for a while. I did also take both Tylenol and Ibuprofen for the pain.

There are some incredible physical therapists out there so I hope you give that a try. Good luck!

[GoodRaisin]

73. I suffer from sciatica. I know this from an MRI ordered by my neurosurgeon.

Mine is caused by compression of my spinal cord in the lumbar region of my spine.

I would suggest if you want to really know what causes yours, do the MRI. A neurologist could help you with this.

Your Primary might give you gabapentin that may mask the pain. I would still want to know what’s causing the pain, in case you have something more serious going on. I have some unfortunate experience with this to share. My Primary gave me gabapentin that I took for a couple of years that helped my pain - until my cervical spine became too compressed and I started losing functions. This led me to an MRI and subsequent emergency cervical spine surgery, too late, and I was left with permanent spinal cord injury, loss of functions such as being able to write, and severe neuropathy in hands, arms, legs, feet that will never go away and gabapentin doesn’t help it.

That’s why I say don't be satisfied with a pain pill until you know what’s really happening. Get the MRI and be safe. Good luck.