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Sciatica
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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Dear Fellow Sufferer. ... I don't believe anyone can understand the unrelenting pain
of sciatica unless they have been troubled by it The pain from the buttocks down
the leg is unforgiving. The electric shock that you feel in the heel of the foot when
you 'try' to stand is a 'gevalt'. That's a Yiddish word that describes it well. When
pain is really intolerable ... I put an 'oy' in front of it. Of course, ice pack when
sitting 'can' help and afterwards try a heating pad. Eventually, hopefully, the
pain will subside. Try to be patient with yourself. I pray your/my pain will
disappear one day. Till then, I'll keep saying ..."Oy gevalt". It's better than crying.
Good wishes to all in the Chronic Pain Sufferers Club.
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4 ReactionsTry looking up the Department of Defense pain scale. It's from 0 - 10, but it gives it in terms that any human can understand. I've always rated my pain as around a 3, but on this pain scale, I learned that it's actually a 7.5-8 most days, sometimes reaching 9.
I just had surgery a few weeks ago, so the pain level isn't near that most days anymore.
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1 Reaction@darn32859
something is compressing the sciatic nerve. You may need imaging to find what the trouble is.
It could be piriformis syndrome, where the muscle is pinching the nerve, then you could stretch the piriformis muscle. A lumbar MRI might reveal disc or ligament problems. You might call the doctor and ask for an MRI as the pain has become more intense.
I think a chiropractor would be helpful. They would have a good idea where the pain is coming from, and you usually don't have to wait for long to see them. I'd still want the MRI.
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3 ReactionsI have a heating pad in my car, at my kitchen table and when I eat. It’s either on my but or back. I only take 100 mg of neurontin and 100 mg of Celebrex every am. I stretch and keep going. I think the heat has helped me. You can also throw in a little covered soft ice packs to the back, but etc on and off for a few minutes. I have severe lumbar arthropathy, arthritis and some nerve compression. I also take magnesium, fish oils and osteo biflex. The heat has helped me the most.
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4 Reactions@darn32859 Are you having muscle cramps due to a magnesium deficiency? Cramps can also happen with dehydration I have heard. Have you discussed muscle cramps as a possibility? Sure, there can be other factors too, but I know muscle cramps are extremely painful and come on very suddenly as you described.
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1 ReactionInterested in additional sciatica stories
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1 ReactionHey everyone, I tried a blend of the following after 12 weeks of unbearable pain...
1/3 teaspoon of Lions Mane Mushroom Powder
1/2 teaspoon of Moringa Powder
Mixed them both into 8 ozs of warm to hot water, stirred to make sure fully mixed and drank first thing in the morning...pain was almost completely gone within 12 hours and have been doing this every morning thereafter. Have zero sciatic pain since drinking this mix. I was also diagnosed with Degenerative Dis Disease and have had zero issues moving forward. For what it's worth, I highly recommend this mix to anyone dealing with Sciatica.
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1 Reaction@chandlermortie, I would like to try this. Where do you get your Lions mane and moringa powder. I have sciatica that can be devastating if I don't keep up my exercise daily for my spinal stenosis. I was almost crippled by the pain before I started the exercise, I was getting ready for surgery but decided I would start the exercise and it sure did help, I did not want surgery so did something that I did not believe would help. Exercise, I did not believe it would work. IT did.