Sciatica and other pain

[Kristian]

MAT51- Has your doctor tried steroids (like prednisone in higher doses) and or strong anti-inflammatory drugs to help with the sciatica pain?  I have sciatica down both legs and also get the groin pain like you do from an L4 and L5-S1 compression.  The prednisone helps significantly when I get major flares, some people majorly benefit from Epidural Steroid Injections done under flouroscopy called ESI that I would recommend asking a pain or orthopedic doctor about for help.

When things are really bad I will lay down and put an ice bag on my spine right at the belt level (where L5 is) and this will quickly help calm things down.


Hope some of this helps you find some relief.  I know many of the people on the board have also felt the severe searing pain and or numbness episodes you have been experiencing.

[MAT51]

Thanks so much Kristian. Since I posted about this several things have emerged. The first is that my doctor and the neuro PT have explained that the L5/S1 will not be the cause of my groin and genital pain. The pain I would and do have radiates from my left buttock down the back of my left leg into my little toe. Yes I have this pain but it's very mild compared to the lower back and groin pain.

My doctor therefore is sure that the pain I'm experiencing relates to the Sjögren's small fibre neuropathy. But even if they felt it was the herniated disc I don't think they would offer me steroids or guided injection for it somehow. They don't think it's inflammatory - they say it's part of common degenerative disc disease which apparently is just age related.

The other issue I've had is that I've had small petechiae spots on my feet and shins. I sometimes get these but in this instance they have been larger and dark purple on the top and sides of my left foot. I asked a doctor because I was concerned that the blood in my pee, lower back pain and spots might be connected. She agreed that Vasculitis is a strong possibility.

So far I've only been offered nerve pain anticonvulsant drugs. I was on steroids for six months before I arrived here and they worked very well. But now my new doctors refuse to let me try them again or even have a steroid injection. I'm hoping this might change when I see my rheumatogist again a week tomorrow - but she might first want to biopsy the spots if they return  - to establish whether this is some sort of Vasculitis. So I really fear i may go untreated for a while longer. My GP had put me on Lyrica for the neuropathic pain in my groin I'm taking it reluctantly because I'd prefer to have been offered steroids but I am in too much pain to argue! X

[Scottietottie]

Hi 

I found physical therapy, inserts in my shoes to correct foot roll and Amitriptyline at night helped with sciatica. if I forget to take the Amitriptyline it comes back - but not as bad as it was before. I only take 10mg of it - more is too drying.

Hope you find a way to get relief.

take care - Scottie