Please - need quick help! Sciatica numbness/pain is unbearable

01-09-2011, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arggg

I've had sciatica successfully treated by a chiropractor in one or two sessions. Chiropractic is not for everyone, but it's done miracles for me.

It depends on the Chiropractor the first time I had the issue I went to a Chiropractor on my plan twice a week for 4 months. When I spoke to someone who has gone before he asked did he give you exercises with the adjustments I said no, when I questioned him after 4 months he gave me some kind of a story. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to resolve the issue. It seems to need more since I have several tears plus there is almost no space between L1 and L2 when he was looking through the scope for my epidural shot it looked like there were almost touching each other. I am trying to control the inflammation but the wrong move too much walking, sitting causes pain.

01-09-2011, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhatisPain

It depends on the Chiropractor the first time I had the issue I went to a Chiropractor on my plan twice a week for 4 months. When I spoke to someone who has gone before he asked did he give you exercises with the adjustments I said no, when I questioned him after 4 months he gave me some kind of a story. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to resolve the issue. It seems to need more since I have several tears plus there is almost no space between L1 and L2 when he was looking through the scope for my epidural shot it looked like there were almost touching each other. I am trying to control the inflammation but the wrong move too much walking, sitting causes pain.

It definitely depends on the chiropractor. No chiropractor should treat you without an x-ray or digital scan. It also depends on the problem. Fortunately mine was musculoskeletal and didn't involve torn ligaments or inflammation or tumors or anything - I was just "out of whack". Nevertheless, it worked.

09-25-2011, 08:37 PM

I totally understand. I too have sciatica for over three years. I have tried everything from Pt to more holistic remedies. When I saw the doc at the pain clinic he wanted to put me on methadone. How can I function with that? I herninated a disc with my second surgery,and have a lot of scar tissue. So I can't have the neurostimulator. Have you checked into that? Don't have another surgery!
By the way, this is my first time ever responding to a message board. So not sure what I am doing yet. Also what helps me to sleep is Tizanidine, which is a muscle relaxant.

09-25-2011, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhatisPain

It depends on the Chiropractor the first time I had the issue I went to a Chiropractor on my plan twice a week for 4 months. When I spoke to someone who has gone before he asked did he give you exercises with the adjustments I said no, when I questioned him after 4 months he gave me some kind of a story. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to resolve the issue. It seems to need more since I have several tears plus there is almost no space between L1 and L2 when he was looking through the scope for my epidural shot it looked like there were almost touching each other. I am trying to control the inflammation but the wrong move too much walking, sitting causes pain.

Please tell me what is a tear? I have a tear and when I asked my dr about it her reply was "it can't be fixed" but what is it?

09-25-2011, 11:48 PM

Dear tja, you have almost exactly the same symtoms as my hubby. Next month he will look into surgery. One thing he has is his left toe feels frozen but when I touch it, it is warn. But to him it is freezing and he'll put 3 pair of socks on. Anyone here of this? But good luck to you.

09-29-2011, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tja

I am new here and have read many threads and gotten lots of good information. I would be so appreciative of any help anyone could offer here!!!

History-Quick Version:
L5/S1 lamenectomy 2/1/10. Difficult recovery but totally pain and numbness free within 3 months.
10/15/10: Twisting injury at work brought back pain. Numbness returned.
11/10: MRI results-L4/L5 disc herniation, L5/S1 disc bulging
12/10: ESI which reduced symptoms but did not eliminate.
Current: Last couple of days have been miserable pain and numbness which seems worse than before the shot. Back to my neurosurgeon tomorrow ...

My neurosurgeon is very confident he can fix this without surgery. First thing he did was take me out of work. Then scheduled an injections. I have had this before surgery through my Spinal Specialist, but this one was different. This doctor used Xrays throughout. He actually cared about my pain and well being and spent a great deal of time with me. My previous injection was done quickly and the doctor could have cared less about me, and it only made it all worse.

He has kept me off work and "off my feet." I had a reduction in symptoms which was wonderful, but in the last couple of days it has come back with a vengeance! The pain is in my low back, left buttock and my leg. The back and butt pain are very sharp and acutely painful and worsen with sitting and extended standing. I also get electric shock type pains in my rear/very upper thigh. The leg pain is a deep, very painful ache (not such a sharp pain, but just as bad). The numbness is the WORST. It is always in my lower leg and can spread to my upper (I would have expected the opposite.) It causes a heavy, numb foot and calf (front and left side of my calf) and weakness. The numbness will tingle (pins and needles) at times and will spread to my upper thigh front and back. I also at times get the feeling of things crawling on my leg in those spots.

I go back to my doctor tomorrow and am concerned about further referrals for injections. I know I have only tried it limited times, but I don't know how many times I want that sharp object and injections near by nerves. But nothing else is working! I have always been in shape and very active and being stuck off my feet is making it all worse psychologically, much less I feel like physically I am just losing muscle tone which I need, right?? I don't know how to navigate from here and am looking for help about these symptoms! THANK YOU for any help!

I hope that by now you have found help and hope. I am new to this board, but have been suffering with similar pain for at least 15 years and finally went to a neurosurgeon who specialized in back, neck and scoliosis. I would have had back surgery for the L5/S1 except that I broke the upper arm bone and had to have surgery and now therapy for shoulder involvement which hurts as badly as the broken arm. My advice for you is to see someone like I found.

If you have a specialist that you trust, ask that person for a recommendation, and go see him. They see these problems and do the surgery daily and thus know what to look for. I was fortunate in that the first person I saw was a very good Nurse Practitoner who had just had this surgery by the doc I was going to see. She was hopping around and out of pain and that is how I began to trust the doc. Good luck it you haven't had this fixed. Mopperhead

09-30-2011, 06:02 AM

Hi there,
I am a newbie too. Not sure exaclty what I am doing. I have been going through what you have for over three years now. If I would of had my second doctor as my first, I am confident I would not be living with Sciatica. That is exactly what you are going through. I was able to work out four days a week. I started training for make a wish foundation. My passion was riding. Instructors from the gym would compliment me, and say wow, your legs are so muscular. Now, i am so flabby. I had all the injections. I have scar tissue, and a herninated disc. Went to pain clinic,and totally broke down, and I have to see the psychologist there for my depression. Really,am I depressed? So I totally understand where you are coming from. I just started taking methadone. It makes me loopy, and tired. I don't even care anymore if I become addicted. If it kills the pain that is all that matters. Have you tried any on the nerve blocks? Valium helps me. There are muscle relaxants too. If I didn't have the scar tissue, i would have seriously checked into neurostimulation. Surgeons don't recommed it.

I hope you find a solution. Try to enjoy your weekend.

09-30-2011, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moppethead

I hope that by now you have found help and hope. I am new to this board, but have been suffering with similar pain for at least 15 years and finally went to a neurosurgeon who specialized in back, neck and scoliosis. I would have had back surgery for the L5/S1 except that I broke the upper arm bone and had to have surgery and now therapy for shoulder involvement which hurts as badly as the broken arm. My advice for you is to see someone like I found.

If you have a specialist that you trust, ask that person for a recommendation, and go see him. They see these problems and do the surgery daily and thus know what to look for. I was fortunate in that the first person I saw was a very good Nurse Practitoner who had just had this surgery by the doc I was going to see. She was hopping around and out of pain and that is how I began to trust the doc. Good luck it you haven't had this fixed. Mopperhead

Thank you so much for sending your kind words. I actually just had a two level fusion surgery at L5/S1 and L4/L5 on August 29th by a neurosurgeon. He took the discs out and places spacers, and fused with rods and screws. But it was a rough surgery. He had to clean a lot of nerves out of scar tissue from my laminectomy, the area was really compressed and my muscles were super tight. I am a month out now and still in a LOT of pain. But different pain. My nurse told me tues at a postop appt that if I could read the notes from the surgery I'd understand why I was in so much pain. Ugh!

I hope this resolves with time. My pain starts now in my lower back, goes into my hips (LOTS of pain in my hips), down the front and side of my thighs, then in my calves it is awful and almost unbearable at times. The left is worse and goes into my foot and even up to my 3 middle toes! I have loss of some sensation in my hips, the side of both of my calves, and then also on the front of my left calf and top of my left foot. My doctor says my nerves are all fired up from the surgery and all the cleaning up they had to do in my nerves.

Currently I am on MORE meds than I was before surgery, but hoping it all works out. I am ready to be done being a patient and just be an active person again! I hope your back issues can be resolved! It is hard to live with that pain - it must be super hard to do for 15 years! Hoping the very best for you!

09-30-2011, 07:40 AM

tja ~

The hip pain is unfortunately quite common over lower lumbar fusion. It has a lot to due with the fact that you are now a solid, immovable block in those lower segments that used to carry the brunt of all the spine's movement. Your body, all the soft tissue, muscles and fascia, are healing and becoming rearranged. Your body is getting used to a new alignment and some things are stretching and lengthening and others may be shortening up a bit. The sacral area now has to pick up the slack. The SI joints, which were not designed to move much at all, now are required to move a bit more. This is where my greatest pain comes from....

The SI joint pulls a bit; the piriformis, which runs horizontally across the buttock and attaches over by the hip, can become irritated and even inflamed. The sciatic nerve runs directly under the piriformis, so when the piriformis is irritated, it can cause a flare in sciatic pain. While I've been in PT, we've been working extremely carefully to find ways to strengthen the glutes, piriformis, etc. without causing a sciatic flare...and it is not easy!

Remember that ice, or a gel pack, are your friend. People sometimes forget about using ice after surgery, but it often works at least as well as the pain pills.

You are very early in your recovery. Unfortunately, it takes the nerves a long time to calm down and start to regenerate. Keep walking and learn to listen to your body. Avoid doing too much too soon...you want to avoid causing inflammation if at all possible!! And remember that rest is every bit as important as the walking...so don't feel you are being lazy if you feel like sleeping a lot. Lumbar fusion is a very physical surgery...it is a major trauma to the body, and it takes awhile for the body to bounce back.

09-30-2011, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tetonteri66

tja ~

The hip pain is unfortunately quite common over lower lumbar fusion. It has a lot to due with the fact that you are now a solid, immovable block in those lower segments that used to carry the brunt of all the spine's movement. Your body, all the soft tissue, muscles and fascia, are healing and becoming rearranged. Your body is getting used to a new alignment and some things are stretching and lengthening and others may be shortening up a bit. The sacral area now has to pick up the slack. The SI joints, which were not designed to move much at all, now are required to move a bit more. This is where my greatest pain comes from....

The SI joint pulls a bit; the piriformis, which runs horizontally across the buttock and attaches over by the hip, can become irritated and even inflamed. The sciatic nerve runs directly under the piriformis, so when the piriformis is irritated, it can cause a flare in sciatic pain. While I've been in PT, we've been working extremely carefully to find ways to strengthen the glutes, piriformis, etc. without causing a sciatic flare...and it is not easy!

Remember that ice, or a gel pack, are your friend. People sometimes forget about using ice after surgery, but it often works at least as well as the pain pills.

You are very early in your recovery. Unfortunately, it takes the nerves a long time to calm down and start to regenerate. Keep walking and learn to listen to your body. Avoid doing too much too soon...you want to avoid causing inflammation if at all possible!! And remember that rest is every bit as important as the walking...so don't feel you are being lazy if you feel like sleeping a lot. Lumbar fusion is a very physical surgery...it is a major trauma to the body, and it takes awhile for the body to bounce back.

Wow, I cannot tell you how much your post has helped me understand this. My doc just said at my last appt to listen to my body. But I don't get detailed explanation of what is going on in there. My x-ray looked good so everything is still in place. I have a hard time not feeling lazy ... I am used to being very active and like someone mentioned above, I feel like I am turning into a big blob. I understand that becoming active again really depends upon me learning to rest now and work up to being more active through my walks.

Thank you again so much. I needed to hear all of what you said - it helped me a lot.

09-30-2011, 10:20 AM

I had herniated discs L4/L5 with numbness and excruciating pain that brought me to the ER. I had a cortisone epidural which worked completely for 6 months. I know people who have had numerous injections and it actually ended up causing deterioration so I wouldn't suggest muliple injection. In 12/10, I had the discectomy performed in NY. I am 90% better with no real pain. I will always have to be careful when working out and lifting things, but the surgery fixed me.

Please - need quick help! Sciatica numbness/pain is unbearable

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