Dealing with Sciatica pain

Hi gena I've had sciatica off,@on for years but I believe in chiropractors since early on ,he puts it in right away taking the bone of the nerve.My groin area pains and burns but Dr.good me it was from my back fracture but finally want I have done that helps me is stretching legs by lifting buttocks that helps also rub a pain cream on.

Had my 2nd spine injection last Tuesday. Did not hurt as badly after injection as first time. I don't think the pain relief is as great after this one, but hopefully will improve. I am definitely improved over before I had any injections.

I have chronic pain with siatica from lumbar section of back. Have been on therapy for six weeks and it has improved but not disappeared. See doctor next week. Has anyone had the operation that stretches the column away from the nerves ?

Hello @jo54. I combined your discussion with an existing discussion titled "Sciatica Pain." I did this for a few different reasons: one, so you could read through and meet the many members discussing sciatica pain, and two, so all the members already discussing sciatica pain would be alerted to your question.

While we wait for the members to chime in on your question about the stretching operation, would you mind sharing more about that particular treatment? Is it something that has been discussed with you as an option and what are your concerns?

@jo54 when My sciatica acts up with pain down leg I go see my chiropractor he stretches the leg ,used a Tens and ice I never heard of this ,is it an operation?

Laminectomy is the name of the operation. I will research it now I found the name. Is anyone familiar with it?

Laminectomy surgery involves removing the back portion of the vertebrae. The muscles are pushed aside but otherwise left intact. I don't think the surgery involves stretching the spinal column away from the nerves.

I have had 2 laminectomies. If anything, my back feels much tighter and more sore than before. It involves removing some of the vertibrate at the facet joints to create more room for a surgeon work, in my case both a microdiscectomy and an implanted spinal cord stimulator. In some cases it also frees entrapped pinched nerve roots due to osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease. Carefully consider pros and cons of the surgery and ask many many questions before hand. I was not well informed before my surgery about all the things that could go wrong and did. Better to be safe than sorry.

I have also had a laminectomy on my L5-S1 nearly two years ago. It was very successful and relieved all the pain on the left side of my buttocks, hip, leg and foot. I use Active Release Technique through my chiropractor to relieve my L4 herniated disk pain on my right side. Both things have worked for me. I agree with @ursweetpam about knowing the possible side effects and researching everything, including and especially your surgeon. I think the most important thing is your surgeon's experience and reputation for doing successful back surgeries. I'm not a medical professional so I'm sharing my own personal experience here.

My surgeon is very conservative in his treatment and was recommended to me by several people, 2 of whom were nurses who work with him in the OR. I was lucky to have these recommendations prior to my laminectomy. I am now pretty much pain free from the herniated disks, except for osteoarthritis that kicks up at times. The surgeon advised me, after the laminectomy to find alternative relief for the pain from my L4 as surgery will involve rods and pins. I tried massage, accupuncture, 2 rounds of physical therapy and nothing helped. I decided to try Active Release Technique (ART) because I could no longer walk up stairs or for any distance at all. I was in extreme pain even with Tramadol 50 mg, Baclofen, and Gabapentin. I figured I had nothing to lose. I read about ART on the Mayo Connect site and it apparently worked for some people. ART has worked for me and so far removed the need for surgery. Thanks to the great recommendation of my surgeon, and my own research about ART practitioners near me, I have a second wind for freedom from pain. I still have arthritis pain, but that is something I can deal with by using acetaminophen and CBD tincture as needed. I no longer take the other pain drugs I was on before. Best of luck in your search for the best ways to relieve your pain.

Gail
Volunteer Mentor

Thank you for your input. It’s a difficult decision when you are hurting. I finished therapy but still doing exercises. Unfortunately a chiropractor cannot help me. Have already had same problem in cervical area due to tightening of vertibrae on nerves and bone spurs. I am used to pain as it’s ever present. Have scoliosis and extreme stenosis. I am researching as I really would prefer no surgery. I lost the use of my hands prior to cervical. I don’t want to lose the use of my legs. Thanks to all for sharing. Jo