Sciatica advancing to both sides - I am considering surgery

Please ask your Physio if you would benefit from using use 2lb weights on hip L & R, On ankles and for each wrist. For pain I use CBD balm... it comes in different strength. It's a life saver. IT gets me through the day. Very seldom do I need. second application. CBD balm does not going into hour blood stream. Good Luck.

@tess307: I can’t give you advice regarding spine surgery, not knowing your exact diagnosis. I had fairly serious Sciatica about 9 or 10 years ago, left side, that got progressively worse to the point where I had guided injections to relieve the pain. The shots worked for a while, but after the 2nd one I got physical therapy, and I’m happy to say that the daily (really, daily!!) exercise set has kept pain away for good, with few exceptions.
I knew from an MRI taken in my mid 40’s that I had atrophied discs in my lower lumbar area, one set of vertebrae was already bone-on-bone at that point. Main problem at that time was persistent, severe, back pain.
Sciatica started in earnest in my early 60’s.
Not sure if any of this helps, but if you haven’t given exercises and therapeutic massages a try, it’s worth a shot.
Afterthought: I also tried chiropractic, no help, and yoga, also not much.

I have severe spinal stenosis at L4-5 and had serious sciatica pain. I was considering surgery, but heard about the Gokhale Primal Posture approach which a Mayo neurologist with MD and PhD called the greatest contribution ever made to non surgical back pain treatment. I did a Gokhale training and have been following that approach. No surgery and no sciatica pain for going on three years now.

I’ll check that out. I have lower lumbar DDD and found that exercise and stretching are also essential in reducing leg pain/tension and various sciatica’s. One tool I use are a variety of foam rollers including the curved Rollga soft, and the OPTP brand soft and extra soft rollers on my legs all over every day as part of my exercises. These rollers relieve a lot of tension and sciatica pain for me. All are available on Amazon.

I also Have some degenerative disc in my lumbar area, severe pain and tenderness on my right outer side your groin very sensitive for me to touch Mainly since my hip surgery where I had a total right hip replacement just 2 1/2 years ago. I have had steroid injections in my back and my hip. I have had the radio frequency ablation. Sometimes you get relief. Sometimes you don’t being a retired nurse due to this situation I am just very discouraged for the time I’ve wasted waiting just to see the pain clinic again to see if there’s anything they can do give me a release. I also am unable to stand up straight. Not sure if it’s from the hip surgery but I didn’t have this leaning forward before my hip surgery. I had tried PT before and it didn’t help maybe because I didn’t stick with it or I didn’t have the right physical therapist. Each day it’s becoming difficult just to get to the daily chores that one has to do. It’s exhausting and a lot of strain on my lower back and hips not being able to stand up straight. any advice or help information on what exercises I might try would be greatly appreciated.

Hi mom2five. I have a couple of torn tendons in my l rotator cuff. I've had so so pts before but right now my pt is terrific. I've been doing pt for 6 months in hopes of not having to do the cuff surgery. My shoulder is greatly improved but my new MRI just came back and it's actually gotten worse so surgery here I come then 6 more months of pt and hopefully no pain. I believe in the 80-20 rule whereby the large % of practitioners are only mediocre and a smaller % are very good. Keep searching for the 20% pt person or doctor and follow instructions religiously including several days a week at home and a gym and maybe you you will improve. Also, eat an extremely well balanced diet, get 8-9 hours of sleep including couple of mini naps to rest your body and mind and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate all day long . Sip filtered water all day. Spend an hour or so first thing daily on the floor ( on a yoga mat preferably) and get pt advice on how to set your body then stretch your body and only then do your other excercising that a good pt will give you illustrations of what to do and how to do it. Keep trying new pt persons till you get one that works for you and your situation. Be patient and intentionally make this a new part of your life. Johnmacc

Thank you for your thoughts and advice. My MRI shows definite spinal stenosis at L4,5,S1. I’ve done some physio initially and do a few exercises at home but am not improving. I’d like to hear from people who have had spinal surgery and the results(good or bad).
Thanks

I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis (severe L4/L5) and was experiencing significant shooting sciatica pain. I had read about the Esther Gokhale’s Primal Posture method and did a one day training with her. Short story, I avoided surgery and can’t remember a sciatica pain in more than two years. Everyone needs to make their own informed decision, but I highly recommend looking into it before jumping into surgery.

I agree and would look into one on one physical therapy from someone with a doctorate. I had 30epidurals after a failed 345 fusion I still have pain. Now I am doing physical therapy. I wish I'd done before surgery. It helps me feel good enough to walk and stay active.