topic Re: Request regarding my sciatica. in Wellness

Request regarding my sciatica.

sfnative — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 01:19:54 GMT

Hi Everyone,

Not wanting to burst into the really fine on-going thread on sciatica, I felt expressing my need separately would be best.

My sciatic event began at the conclusion of doing dinner dishes on May 20th. The pain has been excruciating and complex. From the initial turn away from the sink, a sharp pain around L4-5. along with horrid muscle spasms (paraspinals I'm guessing) on a trajectory up from L4-5 for about 12 cm, including mid-glut pain shooting down to my heel. All of this occurred at the same time. I froze in pain. Couldn't move. This hasn't stopped.

Knew I had to wait the prescribed 6-8 weeks to determine if "things would settle down." Nothing settled down. Not only that, but one month later, while making a tuck in bed linens for my paralyzed left foot and toes, had horrid pain lacerate from mid-glut down to the "privates" area on the right. Last week tingling settled into the gluteal fold.

Not returning to the ortho-spine I saw 18 months ago. She dismissed me with a "So sad, too bad."

Found well-recommended neurosurgeon at very comprehensive practice, where my hand surgeon is. Have an appointment with his nurse practitioner this coming Monday the 19th, just to get me in, have films taken and get MRI/CT, then I'll see Dr. N. (Have had to wait nearly 3 months for just this appt. No, can't go to E.R. Here, we have two Level 1 E.R.s: one is for trauma only and the other for "sick" only. I don't qualify for either.

Am asking, please, for prayers or kind thoughts. I not only need a solid diagnosis, but an aggressive treatment plan, as I'm way beyond PT/massage. Am fearful, at this stage of losing bladder/bowel control.

Thank you, everyone.

XXX ~ Rebecca

Re: Request regarding my sciatica.

Terrywu — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 01:36:20 GMT

Prayers for some relief. I suffered with sciatica pain for years. For a very long time I had great relief from a chiropractor. When that stopped working I had PT and shots. Finally had surgery 9 years ago and after a lengthy recovery I have very bearable discomfort.

No no way to get comfortable as I recall. Hopefully you will get some answers. Seems you have been in pain for a long time. Wishing you well. Keep us informed.

Terrywu

Re: Request regarding my sciatica.

KentuckyWoman — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 01:41:33 GMT

Sending positive thoughts and prayers your way. I certainly hope your doctors can find a treatment that helps you. God bless.

Re: Request regarding my sciatica.

Miz — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 01:42:11 GMT

Rebecca,

I read every word and my heart goes out to you. I can't imagine how much sleep you've lost which is undoubtedly unbalancing your body further....sitting clenched, trying to find a comfortable position, stress-filled, and your mind overflowing with worry and fear. Remember, you are going THROUGH this. You will not be in it forever. There was a beginning and soon there will be an end. Hopefully 8/19 will be the beginning of some real help. Also, please look up Miranda Esmond White and try her gentle stretching techniques called Essentrics. A former ballerina who developed excrusiating pain, unable to function, and she designed this program which has helped so many people. Thinking of you...

Re: Request regarding my sciatica.

september — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 02:15:16 GMT

Dear Rebecca, My thoughts and prayers are with you. I’ve had some bouts with sciatica in the past, including one ER visit. It’s an awful thing to go through, but I’m more or less ok now. Just don’t ask me to drive a car for longer than three hours. That triggers it.

I wish you the best. Please keep us updated.

Re: Request regarding my sciatica.

vsm — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 02:24:38 GMT

Oh my, Rebecca -- it sounds unbearable. Yes, my prayers are with you and will remain with you. This is way too long to have to wait for help, which I hope will begin on Monday with a strong anti-inflammatory after your tests. My ortho surgeon prescribed meloxicam, which gave me some relief while I awaited my first epidural. I encourage you to ask that an anti-inflammatory be prescribed for you pending the results of your tests, so that you can hang on until you have whatever procedure you need. Just know that you will get through this. Please put yourself first -- make a pest of yourself if you have to. You will get through this.

Re: Request regarding my sciatica.

Alexia — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 02:29:55 GMT

So sorry to hear but I know what you’re going through. It’s really one of the most horrible pain you can have—I could hardly move after doing something so simple. Long story short, I did everything besides surgery but knew I couldn’t live my life like that anymore. I’ve gone through two disc surgeries which helped tremendously, however, in 2016 I had a fusion. I am completely pain free and living life. I hope you get the relief you deserve but please select a really good surgeon if you decide to go that way. I had the best and I thank God everyday. Good luck❤️

Re: Request regarding my sciatica.

Trinity11 — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 02:38:10 GMT

I know all too well how painful sciatica is @sfnative . Praying that you receive some relief in the days ahead.

Re: Request regarding my sciatica.

PamfromCT — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 02:44:32 GMT

Rebecca,

I am so sorry you are going through this very painful time. I am hopeful about your appointment on Monday, but I certainly hope you don’t have to wait three months til you see your surgeon. I hope there is something you can take for pain relief in the meantime. I will be praying for your recovery. And please post here after your appointment on Monday to let everyone know how you are doing.

Best wishes,

Pam

Re: Request regarding my sciatica.

haddon9 — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 02:54:38 GMT

I'm so sorry that you are suffering so much. I can't imagine how awful it must be! My brother in law had a bad bout with sciatica pain and is doctor gave him some muscle relaxants which helped ease the pain.

I hope you find some relief soon! It's a good thing you can see someone on Monday even if it's not the doctor....maybe she can get you a pain relief prescription until you do get to see the doctor.

Re: Request regarding my sciatica.

Foxxee — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 03:11:45 GMT

@sfnative

"The pain has been excruciating and complex."

Why do you say you can't go to the Level 2 center? What you have is a treatable medical condition. How is it there is no ER for people like you?

Are you sure you can't go to either one? Maybe, you could call both, tell them your problem, ask for suggestion which one to go to.

I'm thinking with excruciating pain and symptoms you describe, I wonder if you may have something more going on. I have had sciatica, nothing like you describe.

You SHOULD NOT be expected to live with excruciating pain without treatment. I encourage you to go.

Re: Request regarding my sciatica.

sfnative — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 06:20:47 GMT

@Foxxee wrote:
@sfnative

"The pain has been excruciating and complex."

Why do you say you can't go to the Level 2 center? What you have is a treatable medical condition. How is it there is no ER for people like you?

Are you sure you can't go to either one? Maybe, you could call both, tell them your problem, ask for suggestion which one to go to.

I'm thinking with excruciating pain and symptoms you describe, I wonder if you may have something more going on. I have had sciatica, nothing like you describe.

You SHOULD NOT be expected to live with excruciating pain without treatment. I encourage you to go.

@Foxxee

To answer your question, there's one Level 1 trauma center which receives "Trauma cases only." Then there's the other Level 1 center which receives "Sick cases only." "Sick" means heart attack, stroke, diabetic crises, respiratory distress, etc. I did go to this E.R. last fall when I bashed my right foot really bad. The x-ray showed about 100 micro fractrues in my foot. They gave me 10mg of oxycodone and sent me home!!! My doc asked me why I went to the ER! Hello!!! She's looking at the e-ray with all of those tiny fractures and she' asking me...

If I still lived in San Diego and had my docs at Scripps, I wouldn't be in this pickle.

If my guess is correct, I believe the disk at L4-5 is totally herniated and L4 is sitting directly on top of L5, thereby trapping the sciatic nerve at its origin. The scans will tell us what we need. Heck, plain films will tell us of gross misplacement and loss of entire disk space, so Monday will get me going in some direction. One complicating and causative factor here is that I had a total herniation, a work injury in 2011, and had to have a cage fusion and lamenotomy, with rods, screws, etc. at L5-S1. When all was said and done, I was told that typically and per textbooks, clinicians always watch the level above, as that level can become unstable. This happens to be the level I believe to be problematic at this time.

To make matters worse in this current situatuation, I'm unablle to take anti-inflammatory medications (my kidneys). My PCP has given me an rx for a prescription pain killer, which isn't even touching this nerve pain, which is not at all unusual. I'm just having to wait things out until the ball gets rolling on Monday.

Thank you for your kind thoughts and concerns.

Re: Request regarding my sciatica.

sfnative — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 06:35:44 GMT

@vsm wrote:
Oh my, Rebecca -- it sounds unbearable. Yes, my prayers are with you and will remain with you. This is way too long to have to wait for help, which I hope will begin on Monday with a strong anti-inflammatory after your tests. My ortho surgeon prescribed meloxicam, which gave me some relief while I awaited my first epidural. I encourage you to ask that an anti-inflammatory be prescribed for you pending the results of your tests, so that you can hang on until you have whatever procedure you need. Just know that you will get through this. Please put yourself first -- make a pest of yourself if you have to. You will get through this.

@vsm

Yes, if only I could take Mobic, as I know it to be a rather stron anti-inflammatory, which would probably help me right now. However, I took Mobic for 12 years, because I have chronic migraine (35 years of the same migraine), only to discover that Mobic had done a number on my kidneys, so I cannot take any anti-inflammatories ever again. My great logg.

And, yes, I will make a pest of myself. To tell you the truth, if I could tolerate a trip on a plane, I would have flown to San Diego to see my ortho spine doc several months ago. Problem is I can't even bear any more than 10 minutes in a car at present. I was the laughing stock of our lunch group on Thursday, when, after sitting much too painfully and for too long without getting up and walking around, I then tried to get back into our car. I couldn't! I really need my Cadillac back!!! Long story short, I ended up in the back seat of a friend's car. Everyone outside the car wanted to either push my bum or push my feet to get me in. I was in so much pain, I just asked them to please leave me alone and I would scooch myself into th car. Once in with my legs straight out and on the seat, somehow someone got me buckled in. Now I just need to get to the doctor's office to see the NP on Monday. Phew!

Re: Request regarding my sciatica.

HiLo — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 09:53:39 GMT

My friend had treatments done by an acupuncturist. She said it took several treatments but it has been about 4 years since and she never has had another problem.

Re: Request regarding my sciatica.

Skyegirl21 — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 11:05:12 GMT

Hi Rebecca, You should avoid leaning forward for now, that is the position that pushes the discs out of alignment and presses on the nerves. Making beds, gardening, etc may all be causing problems. Stop anything forward leaning for now.

For the pain, Get the doctor to prescribe Gabapentin (generic, not pricey). When I ruptured the L4-5, my sciatica was excruciating, and nothing helped. It was exactly as you described. The pain was so bad I think I didn’t sleep for 3 weeks... but I had no other symptoms other than intense pain.

Then he gave me Gabapentin. With that drug, you taper up slowly to your final dose, and that worked like a miracle. Gabapentin or (other drugs in that class) are specifically for nerve pain, which is harder to treat than other bodily pain.

You could also ask or research the McKenzie method for back pain. My PT follwed that protocol, and That helped me tremendously also. This all happened years ago, and with education and care, I have had no more problems since then. I wish you relief soon. Skye-

Re: Request regarding my sciatica.

cherry — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 10:52:57 GMT

I will offer my communion for the next month for those suffering from this condition. May God relieve your pain, and restore you to health

Re: Request regarding my sciatica.

Montana — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 01:38:44 GMT

@sfnative

Have you tried CBD oil? There are several online articles about CBD oil and pain management. Some are quite technical. The one below is not:

Re: Request regarding my sciatica.

1Snickers — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 14:54:19 GMT

@sfnative I’m sorry about your pain, and hope you can find some help soon!

I’ve had some similar nerve pain probably due to a stress fracture in the spine. It comes & goes but it’s nothing like what you’ve experienced.

My friends have bursitis and do stretches. I do them also, but it’s hard to stretch when you hurt! Take care & praying for you!

Re: Request regarding my sciatica.

Still Raining — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 16:06:11 GMT

There are indeed two Level 1 trauma centers in Portland - OHSU and Legacy Emanuel.

As part of their licensing requirements there must be certain specialists on-call including neurologists. In addition they also must treat cases of lower acuity. They also accept life flight. No one can be turned away for payment issues.

Neither is designated trauma versus sick. Although I think Legacy is Level 1 for pediatric cases in spite of OHSU having Doernbecher.

Might be worthwhile to check again.

Re: Request regarding my sciatica.

cherry — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 17:10:55 GMT

I will offer my communions for everyone burdened by this disease