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Default Mar 11, 2018 at 06:42 AM
  #1
I have been dealing with sciatica for about 4 months now. This is my first post in this forum. I have spinal stenosis, DDD, and arthritis in my spine but the pain from that is in my legs, especially upper thighs. I am waiting for an epidural cortisone injection to work but it's almost 14 days so I'm wondering what I'm going to do if it doesn't work. I don't want surgery. In fact the doctor said I'm not a candidate for it.

At my age, ibuprofen and Tylenol are more problematic but I've been taking them every day for a couple of weeks now. The pain is especially bad when I sit. I can't live like this!! I see my PT tomorrow, and rheumatologist and pain doctor next week. I have never felt so helpless, hopeless, and in pain so much, ever in my life!
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Default Mar 11, 2018 at 01:21 PM
  #2
as you are learning, chronic pain can wear you down to a nub~!
one of the most important things, in my opinion, is to keep learning coping skills as you seek medical treatment. many medical options take time, and some don't work for some people at all! it's all hit and miss~ be grateful if you have a doc who even believes you are in pain.

have you tried chiropractic or acupuncture? sometimes they can really tip the balance. i hope you find something that works, and soon~! best wishes~

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Default Mar 11, 2018 at 01:35 PM
  #3
I won't go to chiropractors but will consider acupuncture if the shot and PT don't work. Thanks again, Gus.

One friend told me all I have to do is change my diet. I want to scream at her, and I do, when she tells me that!

Can giving up tomatoes and potatoes, and eating pineapple and salmon actually work? I find that difficult to believe!!
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Default Mar 14, 2018 at 11:57 PM
  #4
Quote:
Originally Posted by rainbow8 View Post
I have been dealing with sciatica for about 4 months now. This is my first post in this forum. I have spinal stenosis, DDD, and arthritis in my spine but the pain from that is in my legs, especially upper thighs. I am waiting for an epidural cortisone injection to work but it's almost 14 days so I'm wondering what I'm going to do if it doesn't work. I don't want surgery. In fact the doctor said I'm not a candidate for it.

At my age, ibuprofen and Tylenol are more problematic but I've been taking them every day for a couple of weeks now. The pain is especially bad when I sit. I can't live like this!! I see my PT tomorrow, and rheumatologist and pain doctor next week. I have never felt so helpless, hopeless, and in pain so much, ever in my life!
Try stretching the piriformis muscle. Goggle it and you can find lots of exercises to do that. It helped me a lot.

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Default Mar 17, 2018 at 09:37 PM
  #5
I'm in agreement with stretching and massage. Sciatica pain usually lands me right back onto my yoga mat in childs pose to begin. I've usually inflamed a disc to get that pain going. Had it the majority of my 3rd pregnancy and times after. Once my leg was unresponsive to the needle test with one of my neuro exams a few years ago. He prescribed prednisone.
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Default Mar 22, 2018 at 11:22 PM
  #6
Have stenosis and bulging disc in my neck pinching nerves and causing pain down my left arm. Had my second of two injections in my neck of cortisone for a nerve block. Pain free today
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Default Mar 28, 2018 at 03:15 AM
  #7
Hello and welcome. I hope you find help here. My experience was the result of a woman texting and then running into my car at 45 mph. I ended up with two disks ruptured which pushed on the sciatica mostly in my left leg. I had surgery to correct/remove the debris. Chronic pain is unlike anything i can describe. I had a pain score that averaged 8-9 out of 10 for more than a year. After surgery the pain relented to 4. That was a miricle in my view. I was seeing a pain specialist who did steroid blocks that didn’t seem to affect the remaining pain for much more than a few days which was basically the lidocaine wearing off from the procedure. He then mentioned a method where he could ablate distinct nerve paths. I agreed, it was a very uncomfortable process as he didn’t use lidocaine because he needed to isolate the nerve that was the problem. It took less than 10 min and I had immediate relief. That has held and improved for the last year. I am mostly painless now. It was worth the effort to solve. I hope you find a solution that is real and specific to you. Good luck.
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Default Mar 29, 2018 at 11:40 PM
  #8
I have DDD; it's very painful.
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Default Jul 18, 2018 at 01:45 PM
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I've got to ask, "What is DDD?" New one on me. I ruptured a disk in low back year's ago. Sciatica in my left leg almost crippled me. I was dragging that leg around for 6 mo. until I could not stand it. The neurosurgeon put me in the hospital on a Wednesday, operated on Thursday, and I walked out pain free on Friday morning. I stayed that way for several years then fell on my butt and ended up fused, 3 levels. OH,OH,OH, never mind Degenerative Disk Disease.

Yes I have this also.

Rainbow8 I guess the question is what is causing the sciatica? If it is just a disk impinging the nerve it should be an easy fix with the technology available today. If something more advanced is the cause I feel for ya. Nothing I know of can ease that kind of nerve pain. The only thing that ever helped me even a little bit was hanging by my knees and doing upside down crunches. Now I couldn't even do those if I had to. In other words inversion therapy I think they call it now. It reverses the pressure on the spine. Helps stretch things back out. One of those teeter totter devices. This getting old ain't for sissies I'll tell ya.
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Default Jul 18, 2018 at 02:13 PM
  #10
I have multiple problems with my spine including DDD, arthritis and cervical displacement. I was in pain for years then I had a spinal fusion and peace. Woke up from from the surgery free from nerve pain. No longer take any pain pills except occasionally Tylenol. I did everything, PT, chiropractors, ancupunture, massages, diet, multiple pain meds, injections, stretching nothing worked until surgery. First surgeon I saw wanted to do both neck and lower back fusion, second said I wasn't a candidate third one did something no other dr did, took an old fashioned X-ray from the side. I could see clearly how deformed my spine was and agreed to the spinal fusion he recommended. Had multiple injections in my neck and that helped. Was in nerve pain for years its horrible to live with, I was a real ***** to be around. Best of luck in finding what will help you.

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Default Jul 19, 2018 at 03:19 AM
  #11
I have various issues with my back including DDD arthritis and spondylitis and something else. It’s not all in the same place either so I get to choose which pain I deal with depending on my position and activity level. I also have fibromyalgia and other things so my life consists of trying to do enough chores in the house to keep it running while playing a game of “find the right position for today. “ It’s such a challenging game. But when I win, the pay off is worth it.
My house is in a mess most days. My life is a constant struggle. I am so tired of fighting. I am depressed. I am just fed up with this crazy life. Each day the sun comes up anyway. The universe doesn’t care that I need a break. I am sorry you are feeling so bad too.
I am skeptical about surgery (any orthopedic surgery) because I used to work in a hospital and the orthopedic surgery floor was the most difficult. (We didn’t have a burn unit.). I just don’t think I can do it. If the surgery works, then you can be pain free. But if it doesn’t, the pain can be worse than before. I don’t like the odds either. It’s just too risky for me. I am happy that it has worked well for some folks.
I don’t know what to advise you to do that might improve your life. I have heard a couple of things that work for others but I cannot attest to their effectiveness:
1) grounding. AKA earthing.
2) increase magnesium intake and bathe in epsom salt
3) CBD oil with THC and without
4) marijuana
5) kratom

Personally, I have not tried the CBD oil nor the marijuana at all because of the expense and the legal issues that might arise. The Kratom might work but my body rejected it 🤮and I had no benefit as a result. The magnesium was recommended for fibromyalgia and may not be appropriate for you but it only helped me a tiny bit. The grounding/earthing is something to try. I am not certain that it helps me or not. My therapist and my doctor both think it’s a good idea, whether it works or not, because they say it gets me outside and that’s beneficial to my overall well-being. So, I have nothing fabulous to offer.
There is a team of physical therapists on YouTube who post videos on various techniques to help. You can search for “physicaltherapyvideos” and this will bring you to their channel. They are from Wisconsin and Minnesota Bob and Brad are their names.
https://youtu.be/-yt4EsinRjc Here’s a link to one of their videos. I hope you’re able to find some relief.

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