Sciatica....like a toothache in my entire leg.

[Carolina]

I've probably already told you, my Sjogren's Angels, about my first episode EVER of sciatica.

I can't believe other people have had this and I didn't give them the honor and sympathy they so richly deserved.   My bad.  And here I am starting my third week.

Tomorrow I go for an MRI of my lumbar spine.  I guess the doctor will know where to inject the cortisone if there is a place that is causing this 'joy' in my life.

You know I can't take the big guns, codeine or codeine analogs.  And I already take four Aleve a day and 3600 mg gabapentin.  So I up my gabapentin and my Medrol.  But that is getting old and I need a real solution,not one I'm cobbling together out of my array of medications for other purposes.

Enough already!

What have you, my Angels, done for sciatica?  How have you avoided repeat attacks/episodes/tortures?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Hugs and ouchies, Elaine

[Carebear]

Dear Elaine,

I feel your pain, literally.  Or at least I have once had sciatica.  I used physiotherapy to stretch and strengthen the surrounding muscles, chiropractic treatment, and acupuncture.  It was a long process (sorry) but I am rarely reminded of all those painful months.  Frankly I think the chiropractor was the most helpful.

I didn't use pain meds or cortisone injections.  Not because I am a tough guy, but rather because no one offered!

Good healing to you, Elaine. 

[Dolly Dimples]

Ahhh poor Elaoine, it just goes on and on with you, I dont have any answers.

      I am reduced to tears with my osteo arthritic spine, so cant imagine what your going through,,

      I am unable to take my Naproxen since I had the stroke in May, and to be sure I really miss it,
        although Doc said it could have caused the stroke in the first place.    Why are meds so variable!
                          Hope it all settles soon,  Dolly x

[jazzlover]

I take curcumin .. and strengthening exercises do help. I'm not exactly sure why mine got better, but it used to be horrible.

I know that several years ago when I began working out at cardiac rehab, one special machine REALLY helped.

It's called an ergometer bike. Something about it just totally strengthens the lower back. 

I hope you can find some relief, because yes indeed .. it's awful.

[irish]

I have been having sciatic since 1964 and can't count the times. It is bloody miserable and can go from the hip down to the heel or settle in every other place in between. Sleeping at night is awful and for years I had to sleep on my back with 2 pillows under my knees. I have slept the last years on either side with a small pillow under my abdomen that helps to keep my pelvis from tipping. If you keep the pelvis from tipping then the back is more straight and there is less pressure on the areas that press on these nerves.

These last months I have had a lot of pain that is sciatic to me and my neurologist says that it is pressure in the area of spine on L5 and it goes down in the specific pattern that can be seen on some of the images of nerve pathways.

To be honest I finally came to the conclusion years ago that this pain frequently follows the 6 week rule. Whether you go to the doctor or not it lasts 6 weeks. Actually, a person learns what to do to treat their own pain I think. Now, when we age our bones and muscles aren't as good and I do think that it is harder to recover from these attacks. Cold packs are often useful and help decrease the inflammation. Sometime a warm pack helps also. Change in position during the day helps and also some exercises do help to strengthen the muscles that hold our body in correct alignment.

The old prednisone is given at times but generally the NSAIDS are given. I have never taken a "pain" pill for sciatica and have been able to get some relief from my warm rice pack and good positioning. Hope that you can get this to settle down cause it does raise havoc with our lives. Good luck. Irish

[jazzlover]

I also sleep with a pillow under my thighs. It helps... I've done it for years.