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Sciatica is kicking my...

Got a bad case of sciatica a week ago, very painful and hard to walk. I'm talking 8 out of 10 on the pain scale. Been to three doctors, got some meds and MRI pending on my lower back. I know I have some vertebra issues but something must have changed. I can get around better now but not well enough.

I'd have to sit at my reloading table to reload but won't be able to shoot standing for a while so that's off the table for now. I got lots of stuff to do in the yard and other chores inside as well but that's on hold. Grandkids are coming in 3 weeks don't think I'll be able to keep up with them.

Getting old ain't for sissys. My bad knee and shoulder also have issues but I don't have constant pain with them like my leg.

I was very active before the sciatica. Losing mobility really changes your lifestyle. Anyhoo just lamenting on my current state but I look forward to getting better.

Thanks for looking and take care.
 
I fought it for a while but had a recommendation to see
a D.O. and get manipulated. I swear I was a yoga expert
when she was done. It's been 8 years and not a hitch since.
I know your pain. there were times I'd dropped to the floor
if I turned wrong. A small script of Motrin 800's was all that
was need after getting home.
 
Got a bad case of sciatica a week ago, very painful and hard to walk. I'm talking 8 out of 10 on the pain scale. Been to three doctors, got some meds and MRI pending on my lower back. I know I have some vertebra issues but something must have changed. I can get around better now but not well enough.

I'd have to sit at my reloading table to reload but won't be able to shoot standing for a while so that's off the table for now. I got lots of stuff to do in the yard and other chores inside as well but that's on hold. Grandkids are coming in 3 weeks don't think I'll be able to keep up with them.

Getting old ain't for sissys. My bad knee and shoulder also have issues but I don't have constant pain with them like my leg.

I was very active before the sciatica. Losing mobility really changes your lifestyle. Anyhoo just lamenting on my current state but I look forward to getting better.

Thanks for looking and take care.
I'm with you. Had mine repaired a few years back. Try to avoid surgery. Epidural injections worked for a while for me. When appropriate, walking is good, no running, some stretches are good as well. To maximize the epidural, it needs to go in the exact spot. I was awake, and guided the MD where the spot was. Then you need to baby yourself for a couple of weeks to receive the maximum benefit. I had much better success with neurologists, and a neurosurgeon than orthopedists. My flare ups were sometimes linked with stress, but as it turned out, I had very little disc left between L5&S1.

See what your MRI shows when you get it.

Reach out by PM if you want to. I feel badly for you. Coming back from a flare up is tediously slow. Gotta get you back before the grandkids come.
Take care, Peter.
 
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Got a bad case of sciatica a week ago, very painful and hard to walk. I'm talking 8 out of 10 on the pain scale. Been to three doctors, got some meds and MRI pending on my lower back. I know I have some vertebra issues but something must have changed. I can get around better now but not well enough.

I'd have to sit at my reloading table to reload but won't be able to shoot standing for a while so that's off the table for now. I got lots of stuff to do in the yard and other chores inside as well but that's on hold. Grandkids are coming in 3 weeks don't think I'll be able to keep up with them.

Getting old ain't for sissys. My bad knee and shoulder also have issues but I don't have constant pain with them like my leg.

I was very active before the sciatica. Losing mobility really changes your lifestyle. Anyhoo just lamenting on my current state but I look forward to getting better.

Thanks for looking and take care.
You might look into getting an inversion table.
 
Mousegunner you aren't alone with this problem.
All I can say is get used to it, if you can. I have been living with this since 1988 and have had every treatment you can think of, from acupuncture to surgery.
I have a fusion from L3 down to tailbone, 8 surgeries, ten screws, 2 rods, and a support plate. NONE of it helps. Some days I'm lucky to be able to walk 85 feet down the driveway to get the newspaper without having to stop to let the shooting pain subside. So, believe me I know exactly what you are saying, and I feel your pain, literally.
If you can live with just the Motrin stay with it, getting old is definitely not for sissies. My back has caused both knees to wear out unevenly and my right hip and for now I'll live with it.
 
Greetings,
If you have something like a pull up bar, hang by your arms with your feet off the floor. It unweight's your spine and allows your spine to stretch. It help me with temporary relief before I had surgery.
Best of luck.
John
 
I've suffered for over 2 years with this. In Sept. 2020 I had a Laminectomy after an MRI showed Spinal Stenosis. Didn't help, the pain went from my right side to my left. Most of the time the pain was a 10. A month ago I had 2 nerve blocks L4 and L5. The pain went away but I can feel it slowly returning. I'm going thru PT now hoping that will help. I'm in FL. for the winter but if it returns when I get back to Ohio I will be looking for a Neurosurgeon.
 
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I had to have 2 epidurals to get the insurance to even consider surgery. I had no sucess with either. The local they used to stop pain so they could give me the epidural gave me some relief at least till the next morning. But Drols is right some get very good results from the epidural.
 
I've dealt with intense lower back pain for 34 years now, due to L4 and L5 disc degeneration. Now I have arthritis in my spine and have bad days. I've seen several specialists and most advised me not to have surgery for fear it would make it worse, especially the last 5 or so years when the arthritis has taken hold.

What helps me is a set exercises that a specialist gave me many years ago. You have to do them 4 to 5 times a week to be effective and keep the weight off your waist. It makes my condition tolerable with a back brace

I had an epidural in 2014 and it went sideways. The chemical they injected formed crystals in the muscle tissue, and I went through 3 months of incredible pain until the crystals dissolved. My case was very rare, and most are helped with the injection, but you can only have so many. It's a temporary solution to a permanent problem.

If I was considering surgery, I would only use a neuro-surgent. Best wishes.
 
I have had lots of back problems and at one point had sciatica so bad I went to the ER and they kept me in that hospital and the next for about a week, it was bad. I had to have surgery that go around as I was rapidly losing strength in my left leg and too long I might not have gotten it back, I was told that by two doctors.

I had surgery to remove the offending portions of L5-S1 and the sciatica felt better immediately I was walking 3 hours after the surgeon sutured me up. I shared my experience to show you that even if it gets more extreme than you can imagine many times there is a fix, so don't lose hope.
 
Been down this road as well, certainly not fun by any means of the imagination. Mine started with the sciatica nerve and would act up at times. Rest was a good therapy for it, but that's hard to do as everyone knows. Now I have the 3D (degenerative disk disease), arthritis from L5 up to S1, narrowing of the openings where the nerves go thru the spine, etc., Even had one disc to slip out of place slightly, as the spine doctor said there was evidence of that per the xrays and MRI.

I got to a chiropractor monthly, or more often if needed, and do some stretching exercises almost 7 days/week. Seldom do I miss a day as it only takes 5-10 minutes and I've not had a "episode" in almost 6 months. Now that mowing season is around the corner, I need to find those icepacks and put 'em back in the freezer.
 
I had it. I got a MRI. Paid for it myself. Inflammation. Ended up physical therapy and a shot. I walked and walked to build my core. It helped. Naproxen Sodium will reduce inflammation. The MRI will tell the neurologist what is going on. I know what you are going thru. Worst pain ever. Walk and walk if u can. Hope I heal.
 
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If the MRI doesn't show something that needs surgery find a good massage therapist. I had sciatica a couple times over the last few years. My gal took care of it both times. Been years now so I guess the lower disc in my back were not the problem. Had a muscle in my leg between the the hip and knee that kept sizing up to the point I would almost fall. Terrible pain. The doc couldn't find the source. My gal did. Three visits two weeks apart and I was good to go. I go to her once a month now. Been six months pain free. Knock on wood! :)
 
If the MRI doesn't show something that needs surgery find a good massage therapist. Three visits two weeks apart and I was good to go. I go to her once a month now. Been six months pain free. Knock on wood! :)
Have to agree 100% with Old Navy on this.

Just got over a round of sciatica that started in mid-December. MRI's show the usual array of age and wear related damage. The prescribed oral steroids didn't help. Prescribed muscle relaxers helped me to get some sleep, at least. A few rounds of acupuncture helped somewhat. Finally, found a great sports massage therapist in my area and bingo! - she really got me on the right track to healing and recovery.

The general consensus is that sciatica takes a good 6 to 8 weeks to resolve itself. Some people can't believe just how painful it can be. I'm a person who typically walks at least 5 miles per day - at the peak of my sciatica, I literally couldn't walk more than 100 ft without having to sit down to relieve the pain. A lot of swearing and teeth gritting - just ask my wife!

Hang in there, mousegunner, and heal up!

Mike
 

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