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Sciatica

Posted by liz223 @liz223, Mar 26, 2019

I'm still fighting Sciatica. I had my last spinal injection 3/11. This one did not work well as the two before did. I developed a steroid headache and my blood pressure went dangerously high. I spent two different nights in the ER. I still have the pain as well as weakness in my leg. I have fallen a number of times and now using a walker. I plan to call for an appointment with a neurosurgeon this morning. I'm hoping there is an answer other than surgery because I am 87 years old and do not want to face surgery. A physical therapist is coming to my home today and I am looking forward to whatever he has to suggest. I can find no medication to stop this pain. Any suggestions?

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maryflorida | @maryflorida | Dec 13, 2020
In reply to @lioness "@amomynous I do stretching of the key leg straight up pulling back towards chest P.T. said..." + (show)
@lioness

@amomynous I do stretching of the key leg straight up pulling back towards chest P.T. said to do 3sessions of 10 increase it if you can before exercise use heat on sciatica first and ice after about 10 minutes then on floor knees towards chest roll side to side same routine Dr told me .

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Thank you, Lioness!

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lioness | @lioness | Apr 11, 2021

Are you suffering from sciatica pain its awful . What can you do about it to get relief I like to here your story and suggestions you have Anyone have this or had this problem ?

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mar2a | @mar2a | Apr 13, 2021

What worked for me and a few other friends who had it is physical therapy. In the meantime, I used a heating pad or ice on my lower back. That stopped the pain in my legs temporarily.

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patricianolson | @patricianolson | Apr 22 7:04am

I recently had surgery for sciatica. Pain diminished for a few weeks but is back. I need a walker to walk. A recent MRI shows more issues in lower back. Not sure I want steroid injections or more surgery. I’m on pain meds. Not sure what to do next.

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1 reply
bunnybear | @bunnybear | Apr 23 9:24am

First let me warn….this does not help everyone as comments on this blog will show. But my spinal cord stimulator does reduce my pain by about a third. On some settings it takes away my sciatica completely. But I have so much low back pain when I reduce one area then another area is difficult. What works best for me pain wise is to combine 3 tools and each takes away about 1/3 of my pain: the spinal cord stimulator, Cymbalta and Lyrica. Unfortunately, Lyrica does make me gain excess weight so I am struggling to find a substitute for that. But everyone is different so you may not experience the weight gain. Hope you find a solution!

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26sabrina | @26sabrina | Apr 23 10:40am
In reply to @patricianolson "I recently had surgery for sciatica. Pain diminished for a few weeks but is back. I..." + (show)
@patricianolson

I recently had surgery for sciatica. Pain diminished for a few weeks but is back. I need a walker to walk. A recent MRI shows more issues in lower back. Not sure I want steroid injections or more surgery. I’m on pain meds. Not sure what to do next.

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Ask for a second opinion from a surgeon who specializes in back issues and a third opinion from an orthopedist that also specializes in the back. That's what I did and I did have back surgery and now I have no sciatica or back pain.
Good luck.

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1 reply
patricianolson | @patricianolson | Apr 23 11:49am
In reply to @26sabrina "Ask for a second opinion from a surgeon who specializes in back issues and a third..." + (show)
@26sabrina

Ask for a second opinion from a surgeon who specializes in back issues and a third opinion from an orthopedist that also specializes in the back. That's what I did and I did have back surgery and now I have no sciatica or back pain.
Good luck.

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Thank you!

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lizziel1 | @lizziel1 | Apr 24 12:23pm

I had sever sciatica about a decade ago. It went in for 2 years. I went to numerous doctors, even the Cleveland Clinic. Well out of desperation I tried an acupuncturist. She examined me and found that my hip joint was partially out of the socket! She gently pushed it back in, and the pain vanished! You would think one of the many doctors I saw would have figured this out.
I wanted to hug her! ❤️😊

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