sciatica on left side (arg)

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I did a weird nerve thing over a month ago. It took a few days before I figured out what it was. I was in so much annoying pain that I searched what it could be and I know for sure it's sciatica. I've never heard of it before until it had happened to me.

Anyhoo, I'm wondering if there is anyone else out there that has had sciatica???? I've been in pain for almost a month now! I can tell each day that it gets a tiny itty bit better but, it's just getting so frustrating for me. (especially because I'm so energetic and it's very hard for me to have to move so slowly and walk like a very old lady that neeRAB a cane)

If anyone reading this has had this happen to them before- what side did it happen to you on? How long did your pain last? What stretches/exercises did you do?

I've found and am doing some exercises for it and I can tell that it's getting better but, it's just taking too long!
 
I have had sciatica on my right side after a total hip replacement. This is rather common. Besides the regular exercises, they told me to lie on the floor with my legs up and over the seat of the couch or a chair. Just lie there for 15 mins. 3 times a day and it helps to relieve the nerve problem. I'm living proof that at least it worked for me! It sure won't hurt to try. Good luck to you!!
Soibhan
 
Thank you all so much for your responses. I'd love to hear more if there is anyone else too! I stay away from drugs/medicines as much as possible (I will barely take something for a headache) but, I finally broke down and got some "BACKAID". Has anyone tried that? I tried looking for a muscle relaxant. These pills are scary because almost all the warnings say, "MAY CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE!" to such and such. Aye! it's scary.

So anyway, now I'm on something for the first time and I was going to do my gentle stretches again. ho-hum


thanks ya'll
 
Oh my gosh Lynne!
I so feel for you! I know how intense that pain is. Sometimes it's literally shocking. Although I have all the symptoms you have I don't think mine is as bad as yours. It is intense pain though. What torture! Nothing works for it either. I do gentle stretches that ease the pain a little and I do those but, pain medicine, patches, cremes, massages, nothing works. I am really hoping it eventually goes away (which it's supposed to).
You've had 3 flare-ups? I'm so sorry to hear that. I hate to think that there are lots of people out there going through this pain. It's something awful. Then to get it 3 times. Please share anything more that you'd like. Is there surgery that you can get?
 
Hannah, at today's visit to the chiropractor, he finally suggested that he refer me to a neurosurgeon. I have an appt. Friday to see an orthopedic doctor I saw last summer, to see if he can send me for epidural injections while I'm waiting for an appt. to see a neurosurgeon. It will probably take about 2 months to get in to see the neurosurgeon. I understand that there is a surgery called microdiscectomy that trims away the part of the herniated disc that is pressing on the nerve. Surgery is my last resort, but it might come to that. It's so very frustrating... I hope your sciatica doesn't get worse! I've read about people whose sciatic nerve pain is so bad that they cannot stand or sit for more than 5 minutes! My dental hygienist told me about Zostrix cream that helped her sciatica, but it didn't help mine. I wish you the best!
 
Hi there sciatica sufferers,

Oh my, this is the WORST pain ever! I herniated my L5/S1 on 12/21/07, and just finished my 3rd major flare up. I've had a spinal block, major meRAB (NorCo mainly), and am a real believer in spinal decompression (where, usually a chiropractor, uses a mechanical traction machine to lengthen and stretch the spine to decompress the disc, allowing more room to move away from nerve). If you haven't tried that, I highly recommend it! But as for me, I am/was very active in cycling, spinning, pilates and just cannot take the pain. I consulted with a very good surgeon and am set for a microdiscectomy on 2/20/08. My chiropractor has been trying to talk me out of it, but the disc in question is also desiccated (absolutely has not moisture content), and hence a good candidate for the procedure. All the research I've read really indicates a wonderful result, especially with my case factors (only pain down my L. leg, no actual back pain, not overweight, active, etc.). For those of you who may have received this procedure, how did you do?
 
One of your vertabrae is pressing on the sciatic nerve, causing the pain. A few chiropractic adjustments will realign your spine and can bring total relief. I've benefited from it several times and highly recommend it.
 
Hannah

Sciatica pain is very painful. I had it several years ago on my left side. I suffered with it for a week. Aspirin helped the pain. I went to the ER because I was afraid I had a blood clot in my leg. The doc ordered several xrays and then diagnosed the pain as sciatica. She gave me a presciption for an anti inflammatory drug and within a few days the pain was gone completely.

I hope you'll see your doctor and find out for sure what is causing the pain.

Sincerely
Nadine:)
 
If you check out the Back board, you will find many postings about sciatic pain. The sciatic nerves branch out from the spinal canal in the lower lurabar area. Sciatic pain is the main reason for pain in the lower back, hips, lower legs and feet. There are many different ways to treat it.
 
Hi Lynne
I am sorry you are suffering so much from Sciatica pain. I hope the cortisone injections relieve your pain. My prayers are with you Lynne:angel: Keep us updated.

Sincerely Nadine:)
 
A good anti inflammetory will help with sciatica. That and gentle stretches. It takes time to recover and heal and it is very painful. Mine acts up primarily on my right side, especially after my surgery.

If you ****** the web for sciatica you'll find some exercises that can help you ease the pain. You can't rush the healing as it will only re-injure it and you'll be back at square one. It take time and patience. Heat may help ... and a glass of wine!
 
Hi...I am a dancer and still am taking class at 62...jazz primarily....along with a hip resurface to my right hip i had
sciatic pain and still have in on and off. Now before i ever
had problems with my hip, as long as i can remeraber i have
had bouts with bugger of a nerve! There is not just one cause
for this miserable experience....some people have herniated
discs and problems with spine and lower lurabar vertrae and
this presses or causes friction with the nerve and that triggers
it. Other causes are due to tightening of the pirmiformis muscle that the sciatic nerve runs through....when the muscle tightens around it and squeezes it, it gets irritated and then
you have a cycle of contraction and irritation. what works
is rest, ice, heat, anti inflammatories, acupuncture, stress
reduction, chiro, and relaxing the lower back on a slant
board or like the poster that said put your feet up on a
chair and lay on the floor ...that releases the psoas muscle
and stops the pain...sciatica usually runs its course and
stress from pain and emotions and life style plays a part
also...i have had bouts for 2 weeks 6 months and up to a
year.....but you know what it will go and it is not cancer!
Karen
 
I am in the same predicament as you! However, I've gone through the series of 3 shots, with very little improvement. I'm off to see the surgeon next Friday! I'm ready to get this over with - it's been going on for 8 months now and I have two small children. GOOD LUCK!
 
The pain is so all-consuming. It's so traumatic to get better gradually, and then have one little movement trigger that nerve to shutter us back to knobs on 10 pain. You MAY want to ask your chiropractor about decompression treatments--it really did help my pain. I told myself, though, if there was another flare-up, surgery would be the resolve for me. There are very good outcomes with microdiscectomies and, in most cases, it helps the pain tremendously! I hope it gets better for you!
 
Thanks legally and midwest

The drugs I tried just made me feel funky which is what I was expecting them to do anyway. Didn't even touch the pain just made my muscles feel somewhat nurab.

I'm just going to try to take it easy, take care of myself, not do anything too strenuous (which is hard considering the work I do!), and continue doing my stretches which do help relieve the pain.

I'd love to hear any stories ya'll have who have had sciatica. I feel for all the people out there who have to go through pain and agony each day. It's miserable!
 
I can certainly relate to all of this. Ihad surgery 18 months ago to fix my L4-L5 disc. It was not successful. As a result, I have nearly constant chronic nerve pain shooting down to my calf. It is most painful in the left buttock. I take Ultram and skelaxin. Lyrica and Celebrex did nothing. Ibuprofen sometimes helps. Ice is my friend. I used to be SOOO active and this is really depressing. I try to wlak , but the pain is too much. All i can do is swim in the summer.
 
Hello Hannah,
I have had sciatica for 20 years, ever since when I was 20 I fell at work and got a herniated disc. I also have a stenosis(narrowing) at the same place as the herniation. 20 years ago they gave me the choice of surgery, They told me that because of the stenosis they could do the surgery, it would take me about a year to make a full recovery and about 2 years after that I would be back to where I was because of scar tissue build up and would be back in for surgery about every 5 years! I said absolutely not!!!! I live with the pain every day, some days are not that bad, but then some days are excrutiating. I also now have epilepsy, arthritis and fibromyalgia to add to this. I take prescriptions for my epilepsy, for allergies and fibromyalgia but am so sensitive to meRAB that I have to be careful what else I take. When my pain gets REALLY bad I take advil liquigels and they take the edge off. I also see a chiropractor who helps to keep things in line as much as possible. Using a hot tub seems to help also. Good luck!
Kathy
 
Gosh Kathy, sorry to hear about that.
20 yrs??? I can't imagine 2 months. It does get tiring having the constant pain. Hmmmm.....a hot tub. That sounRAB so nice! Especially with the cold weather.
 
Hannah, I've had about 3 sciatica flare-ups in the past year. My sciatica is on the left side and is due to a herniated L5-S1 disc. The most recent flare-up has been the worst, as it has been going on for 3 months now. I do pretty well until around 3:30 in the afternoon, when it gets so bad that it hurts to sit, stand, and walk. I can barely walk out to my car after work because of the intense pain on the outside of my calf, left buttock, and low back. Sometimes my lower left leg gets cold. I have to lay down as soon as I get home from work and stay there until the next morning.

I started going to a chiropractor 3 weeks ago, but no improvement. I've tried Ibuprofin, heat, cold packs, and inversion table, but no improvement. My next step is epidural cortisone injections. If that doesn't work, I'm going to try accupuncture. As a last resort, I might see if I'm a candidate for a microdiscectomy. I just know I can't continue to live like this. I wish there was a magic cure!
 
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