Help !!! Pressure on sciatic nerve from bone spur

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ann6221

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I would like some advice on my condition .I have pain in my hip and down my leg .This started about 3 months ago .It's not as bad as at the first but still painful .I had a MRI and this is all that is wrong with my back .The Dr suggested an epidural for the pain .He also wanted me to walk a lot and see if that would help .I haven't decided about the epidral --would like to here from someone that has tried it for this pain and the lasting effects .I'm taking ultram and Tylenol for the pain .After sitting for a while I have problems walking on my left side .
Look forward to getting some helpful information
Ann
 
Hi Ann!
Welcome to the boarRAB! I am sure you will find lots of support and answers. We are very careful about giving advice-we aren't doctors and can't tell you what to do. That said:

I have to wonder what kind of doctor you are seeing? You should seek out more than one opinion. We are all pretty adament about FELLOWSHIP trained Orthopedic or Neuro SPINE SPECIALISTS. So much has changed in treatment of back problems that you need the most up to date information.

I had to have a double fusion. I had so many bone spurs they ground them up to mix with the artificial bone material they used! A bone spur is a growth-it won't go away. I can't imagine walking more-wouldn't that irritate it even more?

Let us know more info if you can! We are so glad you are here! No question is stupid or lame because 50 people are probably "lurking" reading and want the same answer!

Blessings,
Momz :angel:
 
Hi Momz
I'm seeing an orthopedic Dr .He's very good .I have tried to walk but it hurts too bad .I have an appointment to go back on Friday .
thanks
Ann
 
Some people react very well to Epidural Steroid Injections and get long lasting relief - for others it does not seem to help. I've had ESI for my neck and the first time I did a series of 3 injections - 2 weeks apart the relief lasted for 6 months so it was well worth it.
 
I've had quite a few ESI's and thankfully for me, they do help quite a bit to relieve my pain. However, it only lasts about 2 to 3 weeks, then I get pain & other symptoms back again. For others it might last a long time, though it does not help at all for some people. There's no way to know ahead of time if it will help or not. If you get one, make sure they used guided fluoroscopy (which is a real time x-ray) to do the injection. That way they can see exactly where the needle is going.
 
Probably your nerve root is inflamed from either bumping against the bone spur or from competing for space with the bone spur.

The ESI will not do anything to the bone spur. Only surgery can remove or redue the size of the bone spur, but the steroid will hopefully cause the inflammation of the nerve to reduce or go away.

Since there is no way to predict whether the injection will help the patient, or not, you may just have to go ahead with it and see what happens. Some doctors cannot move further along in treatment unless and until the patient has gone the ESI route first. :(
 
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