sciatica - Page 3

luvdoodles · ‎06-19-2010

Boy, I can relate to the pain. Had an MRI and herniated discs were pressing down on my sciatic nerve, L4 and L5. Had surgery in January. It seemed to be a little better. Long healing period. Severe pain came back again. Another MRI, another herniated disc. Not having surgery again yet, my dr. a spine specialist, gave me an rx for aquatic therapy which I start next week. I would ask your dr for an MRI and see what your problem is and continue from there. Cortisone shots did nothing for me. Extremely painful, hope you find a solution fast.

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

@luvdoodles wrote:
Boy, I can relate to the pain. Had an MRI and herniated discs were pressing down on my sciatic nerve, L4 and L5. Had surgery in January. It seemed to be a little better. Long healing period. Severe pain came back again. Another MRI, another herniated disc. Not having surgery again yet, my dr. a spine specialist, gave me an rx for aquatic therapy which I start next week. I would ask your dr for an MRI and see what your problem is and continue from there. Cortisone shots did nothing for me. Extremely painful, hope you find a solution fast.

@luvdoodles. What discs did your have surgically removed, and which disc is now herniated. Answer only if you want, I am just curious.

I had my 1st Spinal issue years ago and the pain was isolated only at the biggest nerve in the human body, the Sciatic nerve. I ended up having open back surgery to remove completely ruptured L-5 and S-1 discs. When I woke up my leg pain was completely gone.

I was back playing hockey and running in 6 months, which my doctor said was enough time for scar tissue to build between the 2 removed discs. Of course that included daily multiple exercising to strengthen the Ab muscle group, and regain and add to the flexibility of all of the muscle groups on the posterior side of my body.

Haven't had a hint of Sciatic pain over many decades now. I did however rupture my L-3 disc, but it had zero effect on my Sciatic nerve. The L-5/S-1 pain was strictly isolated on my right side, from my butt all the way down to my foot. The L-3 was minor pain in comparison, and it effected my left hip and knee.

Watched on a monitor while my friend, who is a Spinal Specialist removed the fragmented pieces of my ruptured L-3 from my spinal column. About 2 hours later I walked out of his office pain free. That was in 2009 and very little spinal, or referred pain since.

hckynut(john)

conlt · ‎03-16-2010

I have it everyday because I have a torn L4 which always leaks fluid onto the nerve. I control the pain with tramadol and tylenol. The last really bad exacerbation that I had was in 2011 and it lasted about 2 to 3 months with excruciating pain. My physical therapist friend taught me a safe exercise to do. Lay on the bed or with a towel that is twisted longways, lift your leg and place the towel over the bottom of your foot holding both sides with your arms. Then flex the front of your foot down towards you, keeping the leg lifted. I do about 20 times, 3 sets twice a day. I also have a pilates and those leg exercise help me a lot, I think because they are stretching the muscles. Also, lay on your side with a pillow between your legs. In the shower I use shower gel because if I use soap and it falls, it is difficult to pick it up when I am in that pain. I love my beeekman soap and do use it but Korres shower gel when in pain.

conlt · ‎03-16-2010

I cannot take Advil or Aleeve for more than 10 days in a row. It makes my blood pressure go up. As someone stated sitting is the worst thing you can do, walking if you can is the best. I have been instructed not to sit more than 15 min at a time. At work, I get up and walk around the office or down the hall to the bathroom. Luckily, I have a job that I can do that with. Good luck with this. In all the herniated discs that I have had and I have had many and the torn L4, my back was never in pain. The pain has always been in my butt, my legs, or in the case of the cervical spine, in my lower arm below my elbow (I almost had to have surgery for that one). The pain is excruciating. Good luck.

luvdoodles · ‎06-19-2010

From what I understand my L4 and L5 discs were not totally removed. The way he explained it to me he created a window in those discs to relieved the pressure off my sciatic nerve. L4 causes back pain which radiates down the front your right thigh, L5 causes pain down to your butt, back thigh and sometimes all the way down to my knee and calf.

It's still my L5 that became herniated again, but said it was small and he hopes it will shrink back on it's own. I didn't really follow drs orders as I should have such as no lifting or bending. My daughter had a baby a week after my surgery and I was helping her out. Mom, Dad and baby just moved into their own place last week. I am hoping this will help my healing process plus the aquatic therapy.

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

@luvdoodles wrote:
From what I understand my L4 and L5 discs were not totally removed. The way he explained it to me he created a window in those discs to relieved the pressure off my sciatic nerve. L4 causes back pain which radiates down the front your right thigh, L5 causes pain down to your butt, back thigh and sometimes all the way down to my knee and calf.

It's still my L5 that became herniated again, but said it was small and he hopes it will shrink back on it's own. I didn't really follow drs orders as I should have such as no lifting or bending. My daughter had a baby a week after my surgery and I was helping her out. Mom, Dad and baby just moved into their own place last week. I am hoping this will help my healing process plus the aquatic therapy.

@luvdoodles

Thank you for your reply. I was just curious about your L-5 and was wondering if it had been removed, what would have been causing the return of your Sciatic problem. Many times the L-5 can be the source of Sciatic pain. All 3 of my discs were completely ruptured and when that happens choices for treatment are very few. Once the disc material is floating around the Spinal canal, according to my Ortho friend, he always suggests removal.

Post any type of intrusive spinal surgery, the post-op care and exercises are a must. I took no chances with either of mine(and many were available to me), because I wanted to return to playing hockey and running as soon as possible. From my first surgery decades ago, and up to this present day, I still follow my strengthening and stretching exercises to protect my back from further issues.

Like any other medical issues, there is no guarantee that things will not occur again, but I prefer getting as many of the plus actions on my side of the ledger as possible to prevent future injuries to my spine. Needless to say, they can really be debilitating to anyone.

I hope.your doctor(s) get to the source of your problem and do what is necessary to get you permanently to being pain free.

hckynut(john)

luvdoodles · ‎06-19-2010

Thanks John for your advice and support. Hope this water therapy will help me and I can follow up at home too since we have a pool. Glad to know there is hope.

Reba055 · ‎06-23-2014

@hckynut wrote:
@luvdoodles wrote:
From what I understand my L4 and L5 discs were not totally removed. The way he explained it to me he created a window in those discs to relieved the pressure off my sciatic nerve. L4 causes back pain which radiates down the front your right thigh, L5 causes pain down to your butt, back thigh and sometimes all the way down to my knee and calf.

It's still my L5 that became herniated again, but said it was small and he hopes it will shrink back on it's own. I didn't really follow drs orders as I should have such as no lifting or bending. My daughter had a baby a week after my surgery and I was helping her out. Mom, Dad and baby just moved into their own place last week. I am hoping this will help my healing process plus the aquatic therapy.

@luvdoodles

Thank you for your reply. I was just curious about your L-5 and was wondering if it had been removed, what would have been causing the return of your Sciatic problem. Many times the L-5 can be the source of Sciatic pain. All 3 of my discs were completely ruptured and when that happens choices for treatment are very few. Once the disc material is floating around the Spinal canal, according to my Ortho friend, he always suggests removal.

Post any type of intrusive spinal surgery, the post-op care and exercises are a must. I took no chances with either of mine(and many were available to me), because I wanted to return to playing hockey and running as soon as possible. From my first surgery decades ago, and up to this present day, I still follow my strengthening and stretching exercises to protect my back from further issues.

Like any other medical issues, there is no guarantee that things will not occur again, but I prefer getting as many of the plus actions on my side of the ledger as possible to prevent future injuries to my spine. Needless to say, they can really be debilitating to anyone.

I hope.your doctor(s) get to the source of your problem and do what is necessary to get you permanently to being pain free.

hckynut(john)

@hckynut Sacroiliac joint problems can cause pain very similar to sciatica caused by disc problems. One of my many other issues, so I know. It's often overlooked too. Just thought I'd mention that.

luvdoodles · ‎06-19-2010

I just looked up sacroiliac, very interesting, Not sure if that applies to me. I also had spinal stenosis. I see my dr at the end of July but will bring it up. Btw, I like your font, so easy to read.

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

@Reba055 wrote:
hckynut wrote

@luvdoodles

Thank you for your reply. I was just curious about your L-5 and was wondering if it had been removed, what would have been causing the return of your Sciatic problem. Many times the L-5 can be the source of Sciatic pain. All 3 of my discs were completely ruptured and when that happens choices for treatment are very few. Once the disc material is floating around the Spinal canal, according to my Ortho friend, he always suggests removal.

Post any type of intrusive spinal surgery, the post-op care and exercises are a must. I took no chances with either of mine(and many were available to me), because I wanted to return to playing hockey and running as soon as possible. From my first surgery decades ago, and up to this present day, I still follow my strengthening and stretching exercises to protect my back from further issues.

Like any other medical issues, there is no guarantee that things will not occur again, but I prefer getting as many of the plus actions on my side of the ledger as possible to prevent future injuries to my spine. Needless to say, they can really be debilitating to anyone.

I hope.your doctor(s) get to the source of your problem and do what is necessary to get you permanently to being pain free.

hckynut(john)
Sacroiliac joint problems can cause pain very similar to sciatica caused by disc problems. One of my many other issues, so I know. It's often overlooked too. Just thought I'd mention that.

@Reba055

It is always good for all of us to learn something they did not know. Thank you for passing on this info to myself all that read this thread.

hckynut(john)