topic Re: I may have sciatica! in Wellness

I may have sciatica!

ALRATIBA — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 23:05:26 GMT

The story of my “fall” in early November is on another thread.

Saw doc today it looks like “the fall” caused sciatica. Seeing a specialist next week to confirm diagnosis and rule out another condition the name of which I don’t recall.

Re: I may have sciatica!

goldensrbest — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 23:25:10 GMT

My poor mom has this,.for 4 days so far, she is 84, she says her leg just gives out on her,and pain.

Re: I may have sciatica!

Havarti — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 23:29:57 GMT

I feel your pain! Sciatica is very painful. Physical therapy is the only thing that helped me and I tried just about everything. Try very hard not to bend your back - it only makes it worse. That is hard to do because we take for granted so many things we do that require bending the back. Hope you get relief soon.

Re: I may have sciatica!

Nonametoday — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 23:36:48 GMT

@ALRATIBA wrote:
The story of my “fall” in early November is on another thread.

Saw doc today it looks like “the fall” caused sciatica. Seeing a specialist next week to confirm diagnosis and rule out another condition the name of which I don’t recall.

@ALRATIBA

If you have sciatica, it is very obvious. It is immeasurably painful and each time I have a flare, it requires steroid injections and Medrol Dosepak.

Perhaps the other condition is spinal stenosis, which sometimes is the cause for sciatica.

Re: I may have sciatica!

meem120 — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 00:51:24 GMT

I've had many bouts over the years. It's very painful. Sometimes the prednisone and shots have worked, sometimes not PT worked the best! Also acupuncture. My last bout lasted 4 months. Then I woke up one morning and it was gone. You get so use to the pain it's almost hard to realize it's gone !, I hope you feel better soon.
I don't have spinal stenosis

Re: I may have sciatica!

Icegoddess — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 00:51:41 GMT

I get mild bouts occasionally. You just can't find any position sitting or laying that is comfortable. However, for ME, the best thing is to keep moving. Walking seems to help it more than anything. Just sitting is the worst.

Re: I may have sciatica!

meem120 — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 01:14:37 GMT

I agree. Sitting is the worst thing to do. Keep moving. Use a walker if necessary.

Re: I may have sciatica!

ALRATIBA — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 01:50:53 GMT

@meem120

I do use a walker (arthritis) and live in NYC and no alternative re walking. It’s was painful but I made I back and forth to beauty salon o Wednesday because I really needed my hair done! 4 blocks each way.

Re: I may have sciatica!

ALRATIBA — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 01:54:46 GMT

Today .. I did about about 8 blocks for doctor and then back and forth to drug store for prescription and ice pack stuff.

Re: I may have sciatica!

hckynut — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 02:23:14 GMT

@ALRATIBA

With me there was no "I may have". I have had many painful injuries and other issues with my body, but! Sciatica was/is a very easily recognizable physical ailment. The sciatic nerve is the biggest in the body, and the pain usually corresponds.

In my particular case the cause was 2 completely ruptured lumbar discs. The very bottom 2, the L-5 and the S-1. When completely ruptured, in my case, surgery was my only option.

This was a long time ago and there were no 1" incisions made for this surgery. Spent over 3 weeks in the hospital, which included my 35th birthday. I have since had a 2nd surgery to remove my ruptured L-3, this was an "in-office" surgery. I watched the whole procedure on a TV monitor. A 1" incision, and I was in and out in less than 3 hours.

How was your "maybe sciatica" diagnosed? Where is your arthritis that has you needing a walker? I looked for "your fall", but could find no thread in this Wellness Forum, started by you titled "Fall". Where can I find it? Wishing you well with finding relief.

hckynut

Re: I may have sciatica!

Desertdi — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 04:52:12 GMT

@hckynut is right...........there is NO "maybe". Keep moving. Google for some exercises that "may" help. Hope you find some relief.

Re: I may have sciatica!

qualitygal — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 12:21:45 GMT

I've heard it's the worst! I hope you get relief soon!!!!

Re: I may have sciatica!

gjc57 — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 16:15:22 GMT

I have never had this problem but the lady who does my nails had pain sitting. We discussed the similarities of sciatica with her pain. I had seen a sciatica pillow advertisement and she ordered one. The pillow is shaped like a bicycle seat. This pillow takes the pressure off of the nerve when sitting. She was so happy because she had to sit for her business. She ordered more pillows to use in her car and home. This may not help everyone.

Re: I may have sciatica!

hckynut — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 16:22:01 GMT

@qualitygal wrote:
I've heard it's the worst! I hope you get relief soon!!!!

Hi @qualitygal

What you've heard is right. Might not be "the worst" for everyone, but I can tell you from my many experiences with pain! It ranks right up there with the worst. Can incapacitate many people, decrease mobility for others, while also limiting ones independence.

hckynut

Re: I may have sciatica!

chrystaltree — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 17:44:54 GMT

If you are experiencing low back pain, you do have sciatica. Sciatica is not a disease, condition or diagnosis. It just describes the the type of back pain you are having. That's why you are going to the specialist, the specialist will determine why you are having the back pain. What is causing the back pain. After that, he or she will develop the treatment plan.

Re: I may have sciatica!

conlt — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 17:54:07 GMT

I have had Sciatica off and on for years. I never know when it is going to flair up. I have been in the ER, the doctors office, I have had steroids, opiates, muscle relaxers, anti-inflammation. The pain is unbearable. The last 3 years have been pretty good and I credit that towards massage therapy 2 X per month. I have a massage therapist who really knows how release the sciatic nerve from the muscles in the buttocks. I do take tylenol 2 X per day and I always take a muscle relaxer at night but overall I have not had severe sciatica in 3 years. My siciatica was so severe that I could not sit to post on these boards or even have the desire to.

Re: I may have sciatica!

ALRATIBA — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 18:05:20 GMT

Thanks for advice and comments. I have a high pain tolerance and between cold packs and NSAID meds I’m doing just fine.

My doc sent the hospital “fall” hospital records and his exam over to specialist to confirm diagnosis and management plan. Since pain is connected to “the fall” - sciatica isn’t the only diagnosis possible. But we are treating pain until then. Specialist has phys therapists on staff. Been through PT twice so I’m aware of the process.

I’m really in good shape. Takes me a bit longer to get around but I CAN manage really well. I’ve managed with arthritis since 2006 so this really isn’t that big a deal. I’m going out for a walk a bit later.

Re: I may have sciatica!

AuntG — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 23:08:31 GMT

@ALRATIBA my understanding is it is quite painful. That fall you had was nasty!

Re: I may have sciatica!

meem120 — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 15:42:19 GMT

Really anything can set it off. The last time I had it was due to having an MRI and laying still for 45 minutes to an hour. Weird!

Re: I may have sciatica!

hckynut — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 16:31:27 GMT

@ALRATIBA wrote:

" I’m really in good shape. Takes me a bit longer to get around but I CAN manage really well. I’ve managed with arthritis since 2006 so this really isn’t that big a deal. I’m going out for a walk a bit later."

@ALRATIBA

Wasn't able to find the story about your fall. I'm a little confused here. " I'm really in good shape" and takes a bit longer to get around.

Just wondering! Always interested in the "why" of falls, even my own, especially if I am not ice skating, but just walking somewhere. I have been a "Klutz" all my life, but don't remember ever "just falling down". Taken some bad tumbles(these not while ice skating), but I always know what caused me to fall.

Glad you seem to be getting along better.

hckynut