any suggestions for back problem, numbness and pain

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donna70

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Hi,
Wondering if anyone here has any more suggestions for me and my back. I started with pain in the very lower back around sacral area and nurabness in my right thigh. I have had sciatica off and on for years but this is different never had nurabness. Went to the dr who said no reason to do MRI yet, put me on prednisone taper, Ultram and skelaxin didn't take that one. She said that it will probably clear up in a week or two. So far the excruciating pain has stopped and I am still on 10 mg of pred, have RA so have lots of meRAB for that. The nurabness and regular pain continues and now getting random pains up my spine. Just wondering if anyone out there has had this and did something else. I was applying heat and elevating my thigh but I have to continue my regular day to day activities. The dr said my reflexes and nerves did not seem to be affected. Any help would be appreciated. thanks in advance,
Donna70
 
Hi Donna

Sorry to hear you are having a rough time.

Have you tried abit of pysiotherapy?
I had chronic sciatica and accupunture worked really well for me.

I think you need something more to happen as your pains are not 'normal'.

I hope you get some relief soon.:)
 
Hi Donna,

Sciatica is really a catch-all term that we all use to describe pain that runs down through the buttocks, down the back of the thigh and sometimes, into the foot. It is not really a medical term. What I think you are describing is some nerve compression (for whatever reason...maybe a disc herniation, or DDD, stenosis, spondylolisthesis, etc.) that is causing radiculapathy from your L4-5 or L5-S1 nerve root. Your doctor must feel there is some inflammation as she has prescribed a med that is an anti-inflammatoriy along with a pain medication and a muscle relaxer...sort of the catch-all response to a patient who complains of sciatic pain. :( In something like 80% of patients, this is enough to take care of the problem.)

However, in the rest of us, we have to move further along in diagnosis to learn the problem and find a treatment. For now, when you finish the medrol pack you might want to try an ibuprophen product like Advil around the clock for a nuraber of days...maximum dosage. Try icing your lower back...as you want to try to get the inflammation at the nerve root to go down. Also, if you can work it into your schedule, lie down for 10 minutes every hour you are on your feet to give your spine a chance to decompress (unload).

You want to try to avoid bending or twisting and exercise, in general for a little while. Again, I think you'll find ice, rather than heat to be more effective.

Hope this helps. Otherwise, ask for a MRI and/or try going to a different doctor.
 
Hi
Thanks for both of your responses. I am on Azulfidine for the RA and Dolobid so I am not supposed to take any more NSAIRAB than what I am on. I will try icing, I like heat for some reason and for my arthritis don't like to put cold stuff on but maybe that will work better than the heat. I am trying to give it more time, my dr will let me have an MRI if it doesn't get better, guess I am impatient. Thanks for the input, I really appreciate it.
Donna70
 
Hi Donna, have you researched piriformis issues? In my case, I had what started as sacral pain that referred down my leg, but sometimes up my back, and rarely nurabness in my thigh. Since my RA was affecting my lower spine, I was sure that was that. But I found out a painful 3 months later that my piriformis somehow had gotten injured (yoga) and became inflammed. This muscle spans the sciatic nerve. And it is sloooooooow to heal. That's why when you search engine it you'll see things like 'piriformis' syndrome' because it's kind of a hard recovery because you can't 'stay off of it'. I have had success with heat, Flector paRAB, and believe it or not the so called rocker shoes (and not cute ones). They don't feel better when they are on, but when I take them off I can tell big time. Anyway, I wasn't getting anywhere near the nurabness you describe, but I had some and it was the first symptom to go. Hope you feel better...
 
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