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I'm 16 and I have Sciatica

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ashley17290
ashley17290

Hello, my name is Ashley and I was recently diagnosed with Sciatica (last Friday morning around 3:30 a.m to be precise). I am in so much pain if I am being honest. It started a couple weeks back but then it was only lower back pain. Then this previous Thursday, the back of my thigh started experiencing a burning like sensation. It was intense. I went home and tried to sleep it off. But I woke up around 1 o' clock in the morning screaming due to the pain I was experiencing. The pain was shooting from the lower region of my back, down to my knee causing my knee to lock up, and then everything else past my knee was numb including my toes. I had to crawl to my parents room and have them take me to the emergency room. There I was diagnosed with Sciatica. I have trouble walking and sitting down. If I do either of those, I regret it instantly. I have been laying in bed, in too much pain to get up. I'm quite worried as to why I have this condition at such a young age? My adopted grandmother was diagnosed when she was 45 and from what I have read, this condition to be found in people under the age of 20 is abnormal. And my doctor has yet to give me an MRI. What should I do? And should I be worried?

1 like, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • CHICO_MARX
    CHICO_MARX ashley17290

    Posted

    I've had sciatica problems many times over the years.  If it's caused by something in the hips or lower back due to things like locked SI joints or spine alignment, it can be fixed by a chiropractor pretty easily.  When I had sciatica caused by trauma (falling on my hip), a quick "pretzel twist" by a chiro could fix that instantly.  Locked SIs would take a few weeks.

    One time, however, nothing I did could fix the problem.  After an inconclusive MRI, my neurosurgeon went in and found a bone spur "crushing" (his word) my sciatic nerve root at L4/L5.  A quick laminectomy with decompression and I was back to normal in a matter of days.

    So...  First, you need to find the root cause of your pain. The easiest way is an x-ray with a chiropractor. See if that therapy works.  A neurosurgeon is last resort.

  • Reddave8
    Reddave8 ashley17290

    Posted

    Hi Ashley,

    i am sorry to read that you are also suffering from sciatica, I know from experience and would not wish this pain on anyone! I have undergone decompression surgery to relieve the pain which at times is excruciating, it does work however my surgeon did tell me that it may only be a temporary fix and 4 years on its back. I have read Chico Marx comments about a Chiropractor being able to help and although I haven't tried this yet as I'm only on PIP benefit and not sure whether I can find the money to pay but if you're in a position to do so it can't hurt and as I'm sure you already know when desperate your willing to try anything! 

    Wishing you well with your search for pain relief

    regards Dave

    • mimm14
      mimm14 Reddave8

      Posted

      Hi dave

      I read I have stenosis , did this cause ur sciatica ? I have been in lots of pain with this for last 4, months ,can lay down sit ,stand also my left leg will l not stay straight ,waiting for mri ,I also have stenosis and thats why im asking ,

      Just want my life back ,cannot do anything ,I live in uk so through winter being ill u cant go anywhere ,but now the start of some brighter days not that we get many ,depress me as im stuck in ,in agony.feel like im the only one going through this and theres no help drs look at u daft give u pain relief which actually doesnt work.I come on here and read stories over and over just wish u was able to chat in a room.with people and support each other ,

      Any one else suffer like this ?

    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX mimm14

      Posted

      Sciatica and stenosis are completely different...I've had both.  While sciatica is usually down one leg and caused by hip alignment, locked SI joints or even something in your spine affecting the sciatic nerve root, stenosis is ALWAYS spine related.  It's the narrowing of the foraminal canals that the nerve roots pass through to exit the spinal column.  Compression of those nerves causes stenosis.  No pain shots, drugs, PT or chiropractic can fix this.  Only a neurosurgeon can help.

      Mine started last October as I was recovering from a knee replacement.  Stenosis is like having sciatica down BOTH legs at the same time.  MRI and then a CT/Myelogram with contrast (the gold standard test) confirmed it.  Doc gave me a choice of re-fusing me (already fused L3-S1) L2 to S1 (10-day stay and 6-month rehab)...or...inseting an expandable spacer in L2/L3.  This would mean a one-day hospital stay and ZERO rehab!!!  Yes, I'll have one of those.

      Go to YouTube and search for "Globus RISE-L" for an animation of how this is done.  Insertion, expansion, back-fill with a simple bone graft.  Just had the op 9 days ago...zero stenosis pain...although there is considerable nerve pain in your lower back and the front of your quads for 1-2 weeks while everything settles down.  Normal for the op.

      This is like pure gold to people suffering from stenosis.  Picture of the implant attached...

    • mimm14
      mimm14 CHICO_MARX

      Posted

      I have stenosis L4L5 ,

      But also suffering pain with sciatica ,waiting for mri ,to find out wat exact is going on ..

      Have tried all the stretches on youtube just leaves me with severe tight.muscles to the point I cant move.

      If it is the stenosis and not the sciatica I am going to show my surgeon ur image

      What were your symptoms,plz

      So glad you are recovering now.and will soon be able to get on with life ..

    • Reddave8
      Reddave8 mimm14

      Posted

      Hi mimm

      Unfortunately yes and I have undergone decompression surgery to resolve the problem. I was advised by my surgeon that it would not be a permanent answer as I would require a repeat procedure in approx 5 years. it's been 3.5  years since and sciatica is back with a vengeance. All I can say is you need to nag your doctor non stop as I know that is the only way forward unless you are able to pay for a private operation, I wasn't hence the long wait, I wish you every speed in your search for help.

      I am here if I can offer you any further support! 

    • mimm14
      mimm14 Reddave8

      Posted

      Hi thanks

      Like you I have to wait on nhs ,wish I did have the funds would pay for a scan like a shot ..

      Sorry to read its back again ..

      Omg I just want 1 night of sleep even if its just 2 straight full hours ,since end of nov ive not slept ,its just 20 minutes here and there end up every morning by 4 downstairs ,I cant lie down for long and cannot wat so ever lie on my right side or back only on my left side and have to shuffle of bed as all muscles get tight ,its a living nightmare ,been house bound since as cant go anywhere as in too much pain ..

      Trying to explain it to someone they dont get it ,family have offered to take me for days out but like I tried to.explain I would drive myself only I cant sit for too long as bum and back muscles go into spasms ..

      Do you take any medication that actually takes pain away? Im on gabapentin, diazepam, dyhydrocodiene ..but nothing works ..

    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX mimm14

      Posted

      Pain from lower back through hips, both glutes and down the back of both legs.  Then you walk bent over so you engage your quads full time, tiring them out.  So the end result is that your entire thigh, front and back, hurts.  The pain is an ache in your back and hips but shooting pain down the back of the legs and aching (from the muscle fatigue) in the front.

      Hours after surgery, it was all gone.  The use of the expandable spacer is pure genius and a fantastically simple fix to a huge problem in my life.

    • Reddave8
      Reddave8 mimm14

      Posted

      Hi mimm, 

      I have tried so many I've lost count and they all seem to make little or no difference, I was advised by my pain management pharmacist to take paracetamol 4x2 daily as this acts as a base level and in turn helps your other pain meds. I am currently taking prescribed Zomorph 80mg every 12 hours for over 3 years now still don't stop the pain as your body becomes used to the meds!

      Hoping you have more luck than me! 

      Dave

    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX Reddave8

      Posted

      I HATE MEDS!!!  It's so bad that even things like Percocet, Vicodin, Norco and Flexeril have no effect on me...except for the bad side effects.  I avoid them at all cost.  

      You have to find the root cause of the problem and get it fixed.  Everything else is just a waste of time, money and energy.  My daughter took Vicodin for two years for a broken back and her teeth started to rot.  So she got her back fixed (actually a shattered coccyx).  

      A medicated lifestyle is NOT sustainable.  Sooner or later, it will kill you!!!  Fix the damn problem and live pain free...med free... 

  • Guest
    Guest ashley17290

    Posted

    Hi Ashley. I also had sciatica at a young age, 19. I also was crawling, had horrible pain down my buttocks, leg, all the way to my toes.

    After 4 months of excruciating pain and begging like crazy for a MRI, I had one. Turns out I had a herniated disc. The disc was squeezing my sciatic nerve. It was HORRIFYING.

    You will recover, as I have!

  • harpoon
    harpoon ashley17290

    Posted

    I could not get an MRI until I had 8 weeks of "conventional" treatment. In that time specialists in their fields diagnosed me with Periformis, Sciatica, Sciatica with Stenosis and /or a torn Lambra (hip to leg socket). Physical therapy would be a good starting point.

        My sciatica has been going on 7 months now. It is getting better. 4 months ago i couldn't walk 20 paces without pain. Now I can walk pretty much the whole day with mild pain in my leg and hip.  

  • johnjo
    johnjo ashley17290

    Posted

    I also have sciatica have had it now for 8 years and won't shift I have been to the doctors and they only prescribed me with 500/30 and Ibrobrufen to take however none of this has work over a long term for me personally so I started to go see a private Osteopath clinic £40 per session and I was told my posture ect was well out and so had a few cracks done here and there but again the sciatica remains on top of all this I now have chronic back pains with a left arm pain shooting down to my hands and what actually go numb too the doctor again told me take Amitriptoline tablets they are good for all things like sciatica and severe chronic pains to do with nerves I have upto date been taking them but still I am in the very same situation pain and more pain I personally think gps don't have enough time with there patients now to diagnose them properly and people just get more I'll over time due to this issue but hopefully you get your problem sorted out soon enough.

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