Posted on 04/04/2009 4:59:24 AM PDT by MetsJetsandNets
I'm in the midst of my first bout with sciatica and would enjoy hearing from any Freepers that have been through it and have some home remedy tips.
A bit of background...I've suffered broken bones, had plates and screws and even a bone graft, but the pain from the sciatica matches any of that. It travels across my right buttock, down my thigh, encircles my knees and deadens my leg from the knee down. I can't lie on my back, sitting is difficult. Lying on my left side provides the best relief.
The doctor prescribed prednisone for inflammation, tiazidine as a muscle relaxant and hydrocodone and neurontin for pain. I've completed a one-week cycle of prednisone and, after three days off, am about to begin a second cycle.
I would appreciate any suggestions for home remedies or tips that may help speed recovery. Thank you in advance since I can only spend a few minutes sitting at the computer and may not be able to respond to each suggestion individually.
I agree with you re: chiropractors. And definitely agree about the underlying cause. I got an MRI, saw the broken disc pieces, and skipped the cortisone shots (waste of time) and went for the surgery. Problem solved. Depends what the cause is, but for me, anything other than surgery was a waste of time. MRI=knowledge=power.
Anti-inflammatories may help
Try to avoid surgery if you can
Consider a WII with the optional exercise board. There are lots of program exercises including Yoga.
I tried the yoga as a lark but found it really really made a difference in my well being.
My wife had back problems and visited a chiropractor and th WII regular use made a very big difference. She is not painless, but there is a major difference
Last May I had a Spinal Cord Stimulator implanted in my back to control pain from degenerative disc disease in the lumbar back. It is like having a TENS unit only it is inside you. The technology is from Boston Scientific.
See it at:
http://www.controlyourpain.com/index.cfm?langid=1
“Back” in 1977 I was in excruciating pain from a herniated disc. I guess that was sciatica. Finally my orthopedic surgeon in Rome ran out of other options and performed a laminectomy. That was 6/6/77 and I have never had one twinge of pain since.
Stretching helps a little but I've had to have steroid injections. After 2 years, I'm finally getting off the pain meds....mostly. But I don't have constant, nagging pain anymore AND I can feel my foot again!
Good luck and I sincerely hope you find some combination to relieve your discomfort and numbness.
GET THIS DONE NOW, damage to those nerve areas can lead to dead nerves in the butt, groin, leg and elsewhere
sage advice.
Definately!
An alignment will help. But also ask the chiropractic if a moderate swimming regimen (hydrotherapy) might help.
RATS! I had a bet with hubby over this. He kept telling me to do crunches and I kept saying, "that doesn't make sense, it'll kill my back!"
I lost......again.
Amazing how many different options there are.
Those exercises help. Also - find a stool (I use a piano stool) the height is important. Lie on your back with your bottom up close to the stool - place the calves of your legs flat on the stool/chair. The object is to rest your weight on your legs and very slightly elevate your lower back. I did this for 20 minutes several times a day. I think it works like a form of traction - takes the pressure off of the nerve and allows swelling or whatever to subside. Hope you find some relief soon!!!!
My Mother used to sleep with a board under her top mattress - seemd to work for her!
Mel
Exactly!!
Pills and back quacks give temporary relief, that is for sure, but it is like putting a bandaid over a cancer. It just covers it up. Until the problem is surgically addressed, you still have a cancer covered up by a bandaid.
Getting your back cracked is like getting a massage, it relaxes you somewhat but you just need 12 more treatments before we begin to cure your problem. There is a place for relaxing and feeling good, but it doesnt fix the bone chips or bone spurs off the lower vertebra that are irritating the Sciatic nerve. If you have insurance, go to an Orthopedic surgeon and get the problem fixed once and for all.
My son in law just had his fixed, it was a one inch incision with three or four stitches, and he was back to work in two weeks. He was at home for about three or four days, letting the incision heal, then he began to get out and get some exercise, having more relief each day. He works oil field, and had plenty of leave time so it all worked out fine.
Every case is different-especially with backs. I was left with a couple herniated discs after a woman talking on her cell rear-ended my car while I was stopped at a red light—talk about pain—I was traveling a lot for work at the time, and so I saw different people in differnt cities over the next few years.I found chiropractors and an osteopath were far better for me than a couple of the wanker MDs I went to.
My big break was something I found myself online—spinal decompression-I used Vax-D http://www.vax-d.com/. Some chiropractors and regular doctors use it—it got me on the road to recovery—I’m pretty much 100% OK now. Thank God.
Don’t know if it will help you—but worth asking about.
Also, it may sound odd, but something called the “Bowen Technique” (Google it-) may help. Good luck.
Yeah, lots of people have.
Very experienced.
#1 Ask your personal physician for a referal to the best Neurosurgeon/Orthopedic surgeon in the area. I wouldn’t trust my spinal cord to anything less. They will send you for an MRI and tell you how to fix it.
Sleep on your side in a fetal position. It takes the strain off the back. If you cant fall asleep that way pin a tennis ball to the back of your night wear. This will help you sleep on your side. Ice in the effected will help reduce any swelling.
Been on Oxycontin for 6 years for surgery to remove tumors from my feet, they damaged the nerves in both feet when they took the fascia out of both feet. Have had L4-L5 and L5-S1 disks repaired and no more sciatica
Find yourself a good chiropractor. The nerves start at the spine. A chiropractic adjustment will release the sciatic nerve from its misplacement. Pills will only give relief from the pain rather than fixing the cause.
There is also an exercise you can do that will help until you can get a treatment, but I highly recommend taking the chiropractic route. It certainly works for me and has alleviated other nerve pain conditions in addition to the sciatica.
In addition to Yoga stretching and chiropractors, I have found relief with moist heat treatment. I have not had the type of sciatica you described for several years, but hot baths seemed to relieve the pain and allow me to stretch. It was then a matter of time before the nerve became non-inflammatory. I never found much relief with NSAIDS.
I still occasionally get an inflamed nerve in my neck. The best solution is to sleep with a towel wrapped around your neck. It retains body heat and moisture - the key is to combine heat with moisture. Then, do some gentle Yoga stretches (buy a book or take almost any public exercise class - they start you with gentle Yoga stretches).
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