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Sciatica pain.....what are my options? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter RokNRole
- Start date
I didn’t continue with the poses but it’s been feeling better for a while. Getting more rest seems to be the biggest help along with drinking less. I had some weird wrist pain for a while too that’s improved. I’ve been drinking less and doing more coke which doesn’t seem to be causing any physical pain.
Regardless I’m aging as well and more and more is breaking down.
Nemesis
Footballguy
A medial branch block is usually only temporary where they do the injection and see how it reacts. I just had one a week ago in my C5, C6, C7, T1 and have round 2 scheduled for Jan 8th. If it goes like in the past, i will then be scheduled for a Rhizotomy (Radio Frequency Ablation)........where they will use an injection needle to find the specific nerve facet involved and "burn" some of the outer layers of the nerve. I have had Rhizotomies done many times In the past, and the relief lasted almost 18 months (and then the nerve grows back and you can go back in and have the procedure done again). Both the Medial BB and the Rhizotomy performed on me only required a local anestetic and i was able to drive myself home from the procedure. These are options that most people don't even know exist and are worth looking into.......so LMK if you have any questions.
What is a medial branch block used for?
Medial branch nerves are small nerves that feed out from the facet joints in the spine and carry pain signals from the facet joints to the brain. A medial branch nerveblock is a procedure in which an anesthetic is injected near small medial nerves connected to a specific facet joint.
Radiofrequency Ablation Success Rates. Success rates vary, but typically about 30% to 50% of patients undergoing this procedure for low back pain will experience significant pain relief for as much as two years. Of the remaining low back pain patients, about 50% will get some pain relief for a shorter period.
Pretty good info here: https://www.spine-health.com/treatment/injections/radiofrequency-neurotomy-facet-and-sacroiliac-joint-pain
PIK95
Footballguy
Hawks64
Footballguy
PIK95
Footballguy
I have three herniated discs and both of my legs get numb at difderent times. Luckily I have been playing through but this recent North East cold shot is killing me. It's like ten degrees day and night.
Hawks64
Footballguy
If you really have pins and needles in your junk it's time to call the dr asap. Literally the only thing my ortho told me, if you get numbness, or incontinence call me immediately. Go to the ER while you're calling me.
The pins and needles is pretty close to numbness, I'd be on the phone right now if it were me.
Jayrod
Footballguy
Sciatica had taken me down a few years ago and I still have some permanent tingling in my left foot as a result. What was happening was my hips were rotating out of position and the muscles were fighting each other and ended up pinching the nerve. It got so bad that I the only position I could find where I wasn't in excruciating pain was to lie flat. My guess is that it was a result of how I had been sitting at the office and in my car...constantly leaning to the right.
I tried a boatload of things to fix it; PT, chiropractic, massage, stretches, acupuncture, etc. Spent thousands of dollars with little to no remedy. I was determined to fix the root cause and not just treat the pain (for which I had started taking Percocet). I was about 37 and still in moderately good shape, but had gained some weight.
I finally ended up getting the block injection to stop the pain, which was effective, but in a few months, it returned. Once again, I was getting desperate not to end up having to lie down all day long. It was then that I finally went to a different chiropractor and got the advice I had needed all along.....do squats.
Literally, all I ended up doing after months of pain and thousands of dollars was simple, basic, body weight squats. No gym, no special rotation balance move with rubber bands, no walking in a pool, no stretching a specific stretch every day....just stand up, squat down...do 50 consecutive every day until the hip is retrained how to properly function. Within a week I was seeing major improvement. Within 2 weeks I was fully functional. Within a month I was back to about 90% of my pre-sciatica physical abilities. I lost a little weight and in 3 months I was back to 100%. The only thing I still deal with is the foot numbness which I'm told is permanent.
I believe almost everyone's sciatica is different. They have different root causes and thus need different treatments. I'm still super pissed at the physical therapist I was seeing because he should have known what to do but I think he just had a standard treatment for sciatica and had me do that instead of actually diagnose what was wrong. For that chiropractor to recognize the problem after one 30 minute exam still frustrates me. Dude made like $80 off of me and ended up fixing the issue.
I tried a boatload of things to fix it; PT, chiropractic, massage, stretches, acupuncture, etc. Spent thousands of dollars with little to no remedy. I was determined to fix the root cause and not just treat the pain (for which I had started taking Percocet). I was about 37 and still in moderately good shape, but had gained some weight.
I finally ended up getting the block injection to stop the pain, which was effective, but in a few months, it returned. Once again, I was getting desperate not to end up having to lie down all day long. It was then that I finally went to a different chiropractor and got the advice I had needed all along.....do squats.
Literally, all I ended up doing after months of pain and thousands of dollars was simple, basic, body weight squats. No gym, no special rotation balance move with rubber bands, no walking in a pool, no stretching a specific stretch every day....just stand up, squat down...do 50 consecutive every day until the hip is retrained how to properly function. Within a week I was seeing major improvement. Within 2 weeks I was fully functional. Within a month I was back to about 90% of my pre-sciatica physical abilities. I lost a little weight and in 3 months I was back to 100%. The only thing I still deal with is the foot numbness which I'm told is permanent.
I believe almost everyone's sciatica is different. They have different root causes and thus need different treatments. I'm still super pissed at the physical therapist I was seeing because he should have known what to do but I think he just had a standard treatment for sciatica and had me do that instead of actually diagnose what was wrong. For that chiropractor to recognize the problem after one 30 minute exam still frustrates me. Dude made like $80 off of me and ended up fixing the issue.
flapgreen
Footballguy
jvdesigns2002
Footballguy
Righetti
Footballguy
Righetti
Footballguy
I think there is a lot to this. I had it act up the other day right when we were running around like mad and I had to fly to Korea a week before Christmas. It acted up yesterday right before we had to run an audited inventory at work
Righetti
Footballguy
I may try thia
@OC Zedrecommended a few yoga moves that seemed to help a bit
that cobra thing went from killing me last night to feeling sort of good today.
Overall the pain is much better today, the only lingering thing is pain in my calf which feels like ilI severely pulled it or tore it. Not sure if it sciatica or if I aggravated it yesterday because I was walking around weirdly trying to deal with the pain
Righetti
Footballguy
Just an update
Have been having a ton of back pain since the summer have been through PT and a chiropractor but finally had them go to an MRI and went to a neurosurgeon today.
Seems I ruptured a disk in the L5-S1. It was slipping which caused the back pain but when it ruptured it pressed against the nerve root which is why I’m in a lot of pain.
Going to attack it with heavy inflammatory steroid
If that doesn’t work they do a epidural shot directly to the root (or disk not sure)
If that doesn’t work they talk micro surgery
Have been having a ton of back pain since the summer have been through PT and a chiropractor but finally had them go to an MRI and went to a neurosurgeon today.
Seems I ruptured a disk in the L5-S1. It was slipping which caused the back pain but when it ruptured it pressed against the nerve root which is why I’m in a lot of pain.
Going to attack it with heavy inflammatory steroid
If that doesn’t work they do a epidural shot directly to the root (or disk not sure)
If that doesn’t work they talk micro surgery
Hawks64
Footballguy
GL, same thing for me. Wound up with the surgery, and have had some success but really can't run anymore or play basketball.
Righetti
Footballguy
So 11 days into this, I have to say this is the worst pain I’ve ever had. Walking feels like a thousand knives stabbing me, sleeping is no existent and when I get close to falling asleep I get horrible cramps and going to work is awful
the good news is that the anti inflammatory drugs seem to be helping as the pain is less today than a week ago. I’m thinking to ask the doctor for a second round of it, since he said that was the normal course of action if you show some signs of improvement.
the good news is that the anti inflammatory drugs seem to be helping as the pain is less today than a week ago. I’m thinking to ask the doctor for a second round of it, since he said that was the normal course of action if you show some signs of improvement.
Righetti
Footballguy
belljr
Footballguy
STEADYMOBBIN 22
Footballguy
It always creeps back up on me during the winter because I stop working out and gain weight. The other factor is how much I'm behind the wheel.
A couple of things that help me (besides losing weight,) is sleeping on my wood floors, leaning my seat back while driving and using cruise control as much as possible.
Try all these.
A couple of things that help me (besides losing weight,) is sleeping on my wood floors, leaning my seat back while driving and using cruise control as much as possible.
Try all these.
Angry Beavers
Footballguy
Judge Smails
Footballguy
A ruptured disk may be a whole different animal. All I know is I was a mess. Worst pain ever. Couldn't walk a half a block. Finding a position to sit or sleep was brutal. On major pain meds. First epidural worked for exactly one day. 2nd one gave me relief. Inflammation starting going down and I was able to do more and more PT. I just had stenosis and likely a herniation, no rupture. Went to a surgeon at UCLA but they told me I wasn't a candidate. It started on Masters Sunday in April and I was back playing golf for the first time (after a few bad idea drug/beer induced tournament tries) October 1. No pain since. Sticking to PT and core exercises. Hang in there - the body has a remarkable ability to heal.
Hawks64
Footballguy
It's not fun but I'm not in pain like I was before, so I'm functional. Before surgery I didn't sleep very well, couldn't sit for more than a few minutes and driving was awful. Since surgery I no longer have those issues. I'd trade running and physical activity for not being in that kind of pain every time.
Righetti
Footballguy
Yeah, the pain is terrible although the last few days it’s been a bit better. I’m still walking like a 80 year old man completely hunches over and walking more than a city block is making me miserable
the worst pain is the middle of the night when my legs cramp Got some lidocaine which I’ll apply tonight to hopefully help me sleep through the night without cramping
I’m also going on a second round of prednisone since it did help. Still hoping to avoid any surgery but this is pretty rough
dickey moe
Fingerpicker
Getting old sucks.
grateful zed
Footballguy
kill yourself
honky kong
Footballguy
Had it a couple of years ago. Stretching the piriformis regularly did the trick.
https://www.spine-health.com/wellness/exercise/stretches-and-exercise-sciatic-pain-piriformis-syndrome
https://www.spine-health.com/wellness/exercise/stretches-and-exercise-sciatic-pain-piriformis-syndrome
flapgreen
Footballguy
flapgreen
Footballguy
Righetti
Footballguy
Just updated another sciatica thread thinking it was this one
I finally went to surgery also, felt immeditate relief which was nice surgery was Monday and today I felt as good as I have in months I’m actually afraid I pushed myself a bit too hard today Sore I my legs in sort of weird spots
anybody have a sense of when you feel totally normal again?
Hawks64
Footballguy
I walked every day for 6 mths in addition to all the PT. Made a huge difference, I think it was around 6-8mths for me to not worry about doing anything bad to my back.
