Any help for the siatica pain at all?
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hello, I have suffered with sciatica pain in the past. Nothing like what I'm suffering with now. I'm 60 years old & have a huge bulging disc. Female. My sciatica is killing me from my left hip & buttock down my leg into my calf. My calf hurts so bad & the tight crushing pain feels like it's sucking the life out of me. I cry every single day the pain is so debilitating. No pain pills heat or cold will lesson the pain. It's been 5 months now & the pain is not letting up at all. I had a spinal block 1 week ago that worked for 1 day but that was it. My Surgeon is doing nothing to help me so I'm looking for another Surgeon that might can see me sooner than another 6 to 8 weeks. Not having much luck. I'm in a wheel chair the pain is so bad. I cannot press my foot to the floor in the slightest or the pain is so bad I just can't take it. I sleep in a fetal position but when I wake the pain is unbelievable. I bought a jacuzzi tub thinking that may help. It relaxes me but does nothing to help the pain in my hip buttock & calf. Any suggestions at all? Please I'm very depressed as this is too much for me to bare. No one understands what I'm going through as I've had 10 operations four on my spine. 3 neck fusions & one operation to relocate a nerve in my spine that didn't work. I'm told I need caged & fused & I'm scared to death that won't work either. I'm desperate for any help please. Tink
0 likes, 3 replies
CHICO_MARX doreen27808
Posted
I've been down the Sciatica Highway to Hell many, many, many times...
Sciatica
I just don't live with it. I go from chiropractor to neurosurgeon who does the MRI (or better, a CT/Myelogram with contrast). He will usually try some PT or pain shots but it always comes back to something in my spine crushing a nerve. In such a case, the simplest same-day fix is a decompressive laminectomy. Worked great for me twice. But I've also had two fusions including an Extreme Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (LLIF or XLIF). Here, they go in from your side, drill out the disk and insert a device that expands like a car jack. Once set to the desired spacing, they back fill it with a small bone graft from your hip and close. Ready?????
Complete, immediate and total pain relief...one night in the hospital...no rehab...no brace. This is a miracle op...truly. The rails, screws and spacers of the standard TLIF from the back means 10 days in the hospital, 4 months of rehab and six months in a brace with full healing taking about a year. I'm having a double XLIF (T12-L1 and L1-L2) from the side with the supporting rails implanted from the back on January 22nd. This is a "hybrid" of the two techniques. One week in the hospital and one week at home. Then zero brace and zero rehab.
Search YouTube for "Globus LLIF Technique" for a cute animation and then "Globus ELSA" to see how the device is tailored to your anatomy. All of my spinal issues (plus a metal hip and metal knee) come from playing hockey for 45 years. Sooner or later, you pay the price. But you don't have to live with the pain. All my ops have been 100% successful when you get the right surgeon who uses these great techniques. Look into it.
Here's my current LLIF right above the TLIF rails...
By February, there's be two more of these above it and some extra supporting rails over the thoracic/lumbar transition at T12/L1. Amazing technology...and it will get me to an even 5 pounds of metal inside of me. I'm the TSA's worst nightmare at the airport!!!!! Good luck.
mimm14 doreen27808
Posted
Hi
I feel your situation is so like mine,
I have had various spinal surgery for stenosis, but I developed sciatica a couple of years ago omg the pain is hell..
I have had a spinal block it worked for a day, I'm on pain relief, the only thing that did ease the pain was prednisolone steroid tablets, I was able to sleep and move a bit better but u can't get them all the time, right now I'm waiting for a epidural I've been waiting 21 weeks and still not heard I keep fining them up,
I have no life, I can't move through the pain, can't sleep, use a wheelchair as I can't put my right leg down, my muscles are all tight from chest down, I struggle to breath some days as the muscles are tight, but no one understands in the medical world its wait ur on a list, it is unbearable I am a shadow of my self, so I know exactly wat your saying, unless I can win some money and pay to go private I have no choice but to wait... I've read your reply chico and all I can say is your very lucky to have come across very good doctors I'm pretty sure it's not in the UK... If it is it must be private
Hope you get help soon doreen I send u my best wishes and k ow that your not alone there are others in this horrible mess xx maria
lynne1808 doreen27808
Posted
Hi, That is awful, I really thought I had it bad but you must be in unbelievable pain,It is disgusting
that the NHS in this day and age, cannot do anything for people with back problems. They have so much money for research, it makes you wonder why no one has found a solution yet to more of the world problems.
I have just spoken to my doctor and we are both going to ask for a second opinion. So I am hoping for some kind of resolution, eventually.!
I sincerely hope you get some kind of help very soon, I don't know how I would cope if mine where that bad, if I could be as brave as you are being. I really hope and pray for you to get some kind of help very soon. Please know there are people out here praying for you too!If you need to talk I will try and help as much as possible.
Take care and good luck
lynn