Archive for the ‘sciatica relief’ Category
Does it defeat the purpose? I also have sciatica problems and my little monthly visitor.. it all kinda ganged up on me at once today. Im having a little pity party for myself today and stayed home from work. I am drinking a lot of water and am staying stationary because its painful to bend anything!
I dont need tips on sciatica, kidney stones or cramps- I just want to know if I should take motrin or not. Thanks 
yes you can, but you REALLY need somethng stronger. Tylenol and Ibuprofen will help, but the ER visit with a friend of mine last night said vicodin is in order…….the pain comes from two things, the muscles of the ureter squeezing the stone as the spasm and the actual stone scraping the ureter…….go to the doctor hun….this is a time for serious pain killers until it is passed and it could take a few days, better to go now then wait til an ambulance has to take you (yeah, that was yesterday too)
I have a herniated disc between my L5 and S1 vertebrae, and sciatica…my Dr. wants to give me a series of epidural injections for pain relief. Anyone know if this works, or have any experience with it?
I’m looking for alternatives to surgery…it looks like epidurals, or a lifetime supply of Lortabs…none of it is fun in my book…
I never had back pian, except for during "that time of the month", I’m not a small girl, I’m 5′11 and weigh almost 200 pounds, my BF and I went swimming, and decided it would be fun to do some cannonball dives into the pool…sounds fun right, The pool was only 5 feet deep, and I had a running start, jumped, and smacked my butt on the bottom of the pool hard!!!
I was in extreme pain at the time of impact, then it faded, but came back with a vengance the very next day…I went to urgent care, the did an x-ray, found nothing, and tried to tell me it was just a muscle spasm…the pain grew & continues to grow more severe on a daily basis, I kept going to Drs, the kept telling me there was nothing really wrong with me & sent to me tio physical therapy…that did not work…One day, at work, I nearly collapsed because the pain got so bad…I went to the ER, and they gave me a pelvic exam! (DUH). Nothing wrong there!!! It took a year for me to save up for an MRI, and voila! There it was!
I manage a women’s clothing store, and my work is very physically demanding, wich has only made the injury worse!!! I am in constant pain & I’m getting soooo sick of having to take pain meds, when half the time, they don’t help anyway….
i am a chiropractor and specialize in spine related injuries. the disc acts as both a cushion and a spacer between each vertebrae. if a disc is bulging, that bulge can put pressure on the nerves exiting between each vertebra which causes a "pinched nerve." also if the disc is wearing out (getting thinner) you lose the space between the vertebra, which leaves less room for those nerves to exit–and again can "pinch" a nerve. those nerves in your low back form the sciaitc nerve which runs all the way down your leg. if any are "pinched" they can cause severe pains from your low back to the foot.
as a chiropractor i see this type of scenario on a daily basis. for those who have degenerative disc disease, disc herniation, disc bulging, etc.–normal chiropractic care can usually help with those problems. but there are also many people out there that have had this problem for many years and can’t find relief with anything they try–including chiropractic.
but now there is a treatment that is perfect for your situation and the best part is: it’s non-surgical and non-invasive. if you haven’t heard of it yet there is a newer treatment out there called spinal decompression. this type of treatment focuses on disc injuries and the problems they cause. i use the DRX9000 spinal decompression system in my office and it works wonders for people with these types of injuries. the DRX9000 is fda approved and is the best decompression system available (there are cheap knock-offs that don’t give the same results).
my recommendation would be to research this treatment and then contact someone (usually a chiro) who uses it in their office. i would just google "DRX9000" to find info on it and doctors in your area who may have it. this treament is able to encourage the disc to go back to it’s normal orientation and also rebuild its height–which then takes the pressure off whatever nerve it is compressing. this problem is not going to go away by itself and PT is not going to help. something needs to be done to change the discs and the only thing that can actually do this effectively is spinal decompression. PT’s will argue on this but it’s obvious that it isn’t working for you. doing exercises or the mckenzie method won’t do you any good because they can’t change the disc.
this treatment is extremely effective for degenerative disc disease, disc bulging, herniation, etc. and also sciatica type of cases, especially if you haven’t had surgery yet. i’ve had many patients who were scheduled for surgery, tried this treatment as a last resort, and then ended up cancelling their surgery altogether after treatment was completed. it really does work and that’s what my recommendation would be for you. good luck and hopefully this gives insight to others experiencing similar problems–there is a solution!!!
I am 13 weeks pregnant and have TERRIBLE TERRIBLE sciatica. I do okay once I am up and moving (it just takes a while). But, when I am trying to sleep at night, it seems the only relief I get is when I am laying on my stomach. Is this unsafe? I do not have a "Big Belly" yet, but my stomach is starting to buldge. Any advice for sciatica relief is welcome. But my main question IS SLEEPING ON YOUR STOMACH SAFE DURING EARLY PREGNANCY?
I think it’s okay, but most doctors prefer that you sleep on your left side and sometimes on your back! You might want to contact your doctor and let him know what’s going on and maybe your doctor can give you the best advice for you and your baby! congratulations and good luck
Understanding sciatica
Low back pain and/or leg pain that usually travels down the large sciatic nerve, from the lower back down the back of each leg, is generally referred to as sciatica and is fairly common. This pain can be caused when a nerve root in the lower spine that helps form the sciatic nerve is pinched or irritated.
Sciatica is usually caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve from a herniated disc (also referred to as a ruptured disc, pinched nerve, slipped disk, etc.) in the lumbar spine. The problem is often diagnosed as a "radiculopathy", meaning that a disc has protruded from its normal position in the vertebral column and is putting pressure on the radicular nerve (nerve root) in the lower back, which forms part of the sciatic nerve.
Sciatica occurs most frequently in people between 30 and 50 years of age. Often a particular event or injury does not cause sciatica, but rather it may develop as a result of general wear and tear on the structures of the lower spine. The vast majority of people who experience sciatica get better with time (usually a few weeks or months) and find pain relief with non-surgical treatments.
Understanding sciatica pain
For some people, the pain from sciatica can be severe and debilitating. For others, the pain might be infrequent and irritating, but has the potential to get worse. Usually, sciatica only affects one side of the lower body, and the pain often radiates from the lower back all the way through the back of the thigh and down through the leg. Depending on where the sciatic nerve is affected, the pain may also radiate to the foot or toes.
Practical point:
Symptoms of sciatica pain can vary greatly but usually decreases after a few weeks or months with non-surgical treatment.One or more of the following sensations may occur as a result of sciatica:
Pain in the rear or leg that is worse when sitting
Burning or tingling down the leg
Weakness, numbness or difficulty moving the leg or foot
A constant pain on one side of the rear
A shooting pain that makes it difficult to stand up
Low back pain may be present along with the leg pain, but usually the low back pain is less severe than the leg pain
While sciatica can be very painful, it is rare that permanent nerve damage (tissue damage) will result. Most sciatica pain syndromes result from inflammation and will get better within two weeks to a few months. Also, because the spinal cord is not present in the lower (lumbar) spine, a herniated disc in this area of the anatomy does not present a danger of paralysis.
Symptoms that may constitute a medical emergency include progressive weakness in the leg or bladder/bowel incontinence. Patients with these symptoms may have cauda equina syndrome and should seek immediate medical attention. In general, patients with complicating factors should contact their doctor if sciatica occurs, including people who: have been diagnosed with cancer; take steroid medication; abuse drugs; have unexplained, significant weight low; or have HIV.
Any condition that causes irritation or impingement on the sciatic nerve can cause the pain associated with sciatica. The most common cause is a lumbar herniated disc. Other common causes of sciatica include lumbar spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, or isthmic spondylolisthesis.
Sciatica medical definition
To clarify medical terminology, the term sciatica (often misspelled as ciatica or siatica) is often used very broadly to describe any form of pain that radiates into the leg. However, this is not technically correct. True sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve is pinched or irritated and the pain along the sciatic nerve is caused by this nerve (radicular pain). When the pain is referred to the leg from a joint problem (called referred pain), using the term sciatica is not technically correct. This type of referred pain (e.g. from arthritis or other joint problems) is quite common.
Physical therapy and exercise
When the sciatica pain is at its worst, patients may need to rest for a day or two, but resting for longer periods of time is usually not advisable. In fact, inactivity will usually make the sciatic pain worse. This is because regular movement and exercise is necessary to nourish the various structures in the low back and encourage the strength needed to support the low back.
Many sciatica exercises focus on strengthening the abdominal and back muscles in order to give more support for the back. Stretching exercises for sciatica target muscles that cause pain when they are tight and inflexible. When patients engage in a regular program of gentle strengthening and stretching exercises, they can recover more quickly from a flare up of sciatica and can help to prevent future episodes of pain.
Low impact aerobic exercise, such as walking or swimming (or pool therapy) is also usually a component of recovery, as aerobic activity encourages the exchange of fluids and nutrients to help create a better healing environment. Aerobic conditioning also has the added benefit of releasing endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers, which is a natural way to alleviate sciatic pain.
There are a number of types of non-surgical spine care professionals who specialize in treating sciatica symptoms, including chiropractors, physiatrists (physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists), pain medicine specialists, and physical therapists, all of whom have specialized training to provide pain relief and to help prevent future recurrences of sciatica. It is always advisable to have a qualified medical professional oversee any sciatica treatments.
I know what a pinched nerve is (sciatica), and I kno wthat I get it in the same spot at least once a year. It usually goes away, on its own, over a period of time, but is there a faster method to this madness?
Yes, I "know" I spelled "kno" incorrectly. Sorry guys. Please help me with the task at hand!
Thanks for all the good advice! The best thing was walking around, even though I REALLY didn’t want to do it.
i have sciatica and the only way I can get some relieve when its acting out is to get off my feet and relax on my recliner with ice and heat therapy. First ice 30 minutes, heat 30 minutes etc. It helps a lot.
But when things get bad too often I know its time to get an appointment with my chiro / massage dude.
I’m assuming you already know for sure its sciatica because a doctor told you… if not have it check it out.
I am going to a pain managment clinic. They are going to burn the nerve to me some relief for a bit. Is there something I can do to help with this problem. Something like some kind of exercise or something?
Definitely, I suggest a licensed chiropractor and massage therapist combo (ask your regular dr. for a referral and some insurances plans will cover it).
Also, the hip rotators, gluteals and thigh mucles should be stretched on a daily basis, with breathing excercizes too. I don’t recommend holding yoga positions for so long if you think to try it get a video designed for sciatic pain.
Good luck,
Mariah
My husband knows that weight loss, stretching and seeing a chiropractor will help this condition, and I am trying to motivate him to do these things. However, most nights he is in much much pain that he can hardly stand it. He cant find a position that does not cause sharp pain in his thigh and hip. ANy ideas on temporary relief?
As a fellow lifelong sciatica sufferer, and a medical professional who works in pain management and sees a LOT of these cases, I’ll give you as much info as I can!
First of all, when it comes to immediate temporary relief of sciatica with something you might already have on hand, I highly recommend prescription strength Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) which would be 600 to 800mg (3 to 4 over the counter tablets) every four to six hours for acute pain, as well as either applying moist heat or ice. There is an ongoing debate in the medical world over which works better, and it seems to be very individual. Have him try ice first; if that doesn’t work, moist heat. Moist heat sources include specially designated "moist heat" microwave packs, a warm bath or shower, a warm washcloth, or hot water bottle. AVOID DRY HEAT, such as heating pads, regular microwave heat packs without "moist heat" designation, or most sticky heat patches (such as ThermaCare); moist heat will increase pain and inflammation.
Secondly, chiropractic works WONDERS for sciatica. This isn’t just my opinion, although I go every time I have an episode; spine centers at major medical institutions such as Johns Hopkins, Mount Sinai, Columbia Presbyterian, and more have chiropractors on staff for treating the pain of sciatica and other related conditions. Even one chiropractor session can relieve pain for up to several days on end, so I would see how soon you can get him in for his first appointment (most chiropractors will get him in ASAP if they know he’s in a lot of pain).
There are also specific at-home exercises that can help almost immediately; try to get him to start some of these on a regular basis, especially when in pain – he’ll probably see a reduction in pain instantly.
http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/48/176.cfm
http://www.wellsphere.com/back-neck-pain-article/the-two-best-stretches-for-sciatica-relief/427595
Topical treatments can be hit or miss, but it may be worth trying a few to see if something works. Capsaicin is actually used at many pain treatment centers (even though it’s available over the counter) for nerve pain; sometimes sciatica responds very well. It’s available by the brand name Capzasin HP in most major drugstores; just remember not to expose the area to heat of any kind (including showering or bathing) less than two hours before or 4-6 hours after using the cream, because it can sometimes cause uncomfortable tingling/burning at the site of application (it’s harmless, just uncomfortable).
Another outstanding product is Topricin anti-inflammatory pain relief cream – all natural, some people say it’s 100% effective, others say it didn’t work for them; I personally find it about 60-70% effective for my sciatica, enough to keep using it.
Peaceful Mountain makes a topical cream called "Sciatica Rescue" that also works well, but can be hard to find – some health food stores carry it.
I also highly recommend looking into prescription medication management as well. Gabapentin (Neurontin) and Pregabalin (Lyrica) are two of the only medications on the market that are formulated to treat nerve pain. These are often effective alone, or may need to be taken in addition to prescription anti-inflammatories (Celebrex, Diclofenac) or muscle relaxants (Flexeril), depending on the cause of the sciatica. I still take Lyrica for my sciatica, and when I’m on it have no episodes, but these have to be taken regularly and so aren’t meant for occasional pain; they take approximately 7-10 days to start working, and need to stay in your system to remain effective. His other option might be Tramadol, a non-narcotic opiate that’s actually more effective than some stronger narcotics like Darvocet. If all else fails, he may need to be prescribed something stronger like Vicodin or Percocet and/or muscle relaxants (if the underlying condition warrants it) even if just for sleep.
Long term, I would recommend seeing a chiropractor for maintenance as well as looking into physical therapy – physical therapists perform ultrasound and TENS which can be great pain relief methods too – in fact, my physical therapist got me a home TENS machine at one point (paid for by my insurance company) which was a godsend at times.
Lastly, if the sciatica has gone on longer than about 4-8 weeks, I highly suggest (if you haven’t done so already) a complete diagnostic workup to determine the cause of the sciatica. Diagnostics should include xrays and MRIs; sciatica is a pinched nerve that can occur all on its own (and resolve spontaneously within 4-8 weeks) due to something as simple as prolonged sitting, or can occur as part of an underlying disorder such as piriformis syndrome, spinal stenosis, sciatic nerve tumor or injury, etc. and it’s easier to treat the pain of sciatica when you know the underlying cause. Some doctors are also too quick to blame the patient being overweight; while obesity can exacerbate sciatica, that’s not always the main cause. If you decide to get more diagnostic work done, I would suggest specifically seeing a physiatrist (physical/spinal diagnostic specialist).
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sciatica/DS00516
Pray that God have mercy LOL I’m thinking that water exercises like in a pool taught by an instructor would both help your back,nerves, and arthritis AND help ease the pains of pregnancy. You could also get a fitball AKA a birthing ball and try some exercises on it. What you really need to do is look up prenatal exercising classes that involve using the ball not the crazy arobics kind and they will teach you exercises that can help ease those things and help you through pregnancy. Your OBGYN probably has a list for prenatal exercise classes or your local hospital or recreation center.
I have a chronic condition with my lower back. It is my sciatica nerve and it flares up about three times a year. I work at a desk all day and it is very painful. I cannot live on pain medication but wondered if someone out there has found a way to get relief.
Have you had an MRI done? You may need surgery since you are already with symptoms. Tha doctor may need to take out the disc protruding causing your sciatica.
The doctors won’t do an MRI because I am too early in my pregnancy. They are recommending physical therapy, but I can’t sit down – making it impossible to drive to physical therapy. The only time I get relief is when I am laying down. I NEED HELP!!! I am at risk of losing my job because I can’t work (preschool teacher)…I really need some help.
I feel for you. I had this BEFORE i even knew I was pregnant for the first time!!! I lived with it, but after I had my children (it never went away) I had to get massages and I saw a chiropractor. I was skeptical about this but it helped greatly!!! and ever since I haven’t had a bad episode ( 5 years). I was told it would go away after I had my baby, but it never did.
Lay with pillows under your knees on your back when you sleep. this is a great help. also try laying on your back and bringing one knee to your chest, or as far as it will go while keeping the other straight and off the floor a couple inches.. the do other side. This can shift the back and relieve the nerve .
