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Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,371
Registered: ‎06-19-2010

Sciatic Pain and Chiropractor

I have been suffering from sciatic nerve pain for over two months and it has increasingly been getting worse. My question is, I don't have health insurance, not sure if I should see my PCF first or go directly to a chiropractor. I don't want to pay for a visit if I am just to be referred somewhere else after. Has anyone had success with this issue seeing a chiropractor. I have google this question, but still not sure what to do.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,356
Registered: ‎01-03-2012

Re: Sciatic Pain and Chiropractor

I take 500 mg of Naproxen and that helps.  My chiropractor didn't help, but my pelvic PT did.  I no longer have it.  Good luck.  

 

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,247
Registered: ‎09-24-2011

Re: Sciatic Pain and Chiropractor

Just a suggestion, speaking from personal experience, I suggest you have an MRI first.  Years ago,  I hurt my back and for years was treated for sciatica.  Finally the nurse at work got me an appt with a specialist at a Rehab hosp - who immediately thought it was a disc prob and sent me for an MRI.  I had a herniated disc all thos years.  Of course, the physical therapy was not helping very much 'cause I was being treated for the wrong problem.  If your pain goes from your hips to your feet, definitely rethink the situation.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 17,491
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Sciatic Pain and Chiropractor

For the pain in the beginning the only thing that worked for me was Rx naproxen 500 mg.  Equal doses of Aleve do not work for me.  Dr. Google tells me it's the sodium that makes the difference between Rx and Aleve.  You need 2.5-3 Aleve to equal the sodium in the Rx.

 

For the cure, exercise.  Specifically Water Aerobics in the beginning.  The warm water and the stretching of that area really aleviated my pain.

 

For work, I have an Aeron Chair and that was the biggest help in the beginning while I was in pain.

 

PT did nothing for me (in fact, my PT gave me bursitis in my hip from pulling my leg.  He wanted to "try something.") 

 

 

 

 

===================================
QVC Shopper - 1993

# IAMTEAMWEN
Honored Contributor
Posts: 18,781
Registered: ‎03-13-2010

Re: Sciatic Pain and Chiropractor


@eddyandme wrote:

Just a suggestion, speaking from personal experience, I suggest you have an MRI first.  Years ago,  I hurt my back and for years was treated for sciatica.  Finally the nurse at work got me an appt with a specialist at a Rehab hosp - who immediately thought it was a disc prob and sent me for an MRI.  I had a herniated disc all thos years.  Of course, the physical therapy was not helping very much 'cause I was being treated for the wrong problem.  If your pain goes from your hips to your feet, definitely rethink the situation.


The most common cause of sciatic pain IS a bulging or ruptured disc.

♥Surface of the Sun♥
Honored Contributor
Posts: 17,491
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Sciatic Pain and Chiropractor

Good point. I had an MRI.  I blocked that experience out of my mind ;o)

===================================
QVC Shopper - 1993

# IAMTEAMWEN
Honored Contributor
Posts: 43,246
Registered: ‎01-08-2011

Re: Sciatic Pain and Chiropractor

[ Edited ]

After teaching for 36 years, I wanted to work with color and worked for a large dept. store in Ladie's Ready to Wear.  Although I was highly successful because I styled my customers, returning all those clothes-and the weight- took a toll, and I got to where I could barely walk.  I was holding my sciatic nerve with my thumb as I walked.  I went to a chiropractor and he adjusted things and told me to use ice and not let hot water hit it. One day I got to where I literally couldn't walk.  I would get out of bed and push up my legs to stand.  I also was leaning on my forearms to brush my teeth because I couldn't hold myself up over the sink!

I went to my regular medical dr, and the PA had to carry me to the treatment room!  My dr. put me on Meloxicam (Which he takes himself) to take out the inflamation and I no longer work in that area.  I have my life back now.  

 

I hope you get this taken care of , not only is it painful, it also interfered with my life!

Honored Contributor
Posts: 16,578
Registered: ‎03-11-2010

Re: Sciatic Pain and Chiropractor

go see a Dr.  and get a dx first

 

Chiroprators give me the creeps

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,305
Registered: ‎06-15-2015

Re: Sciatic Pain and Chiropractor

If it is a lumbar dusk problem....going to a chiropractor without an MRI is a mistake. Why don't you have healthcare.? ...I thought with O CARE everyone would have it.

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,012
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Sciatic Pain and Chiropractor

Since you don't have health insurance, I wouldn't tell you to get an MRI at $3000.  I had pain so bad, every step was excrutiating. This lasted 3 months while I tried various things to help. I went to the doctor who told me to take ibuprophen. I went to Acupuncture for 6 sessions. It hurt worse after each session, than it did in the first place. I tried a chiropractor which had helped in an earlier episode, but what really helped me was Physcial Therapy.  I now do the exercises dailey that I learned in PT and have been relatively pain free for 6 months now.  So my suggestion is to skip the doc and the mri and try the chiropractor and/or PT.