Pain for 5.5 months but determined issue 5 weeks ago

I had 10 sessions of acupuncture, twice a week. I had 3 sessions of dry needling in a week and honestly, I don't think it helped and maybe made things worse. I used a hot tub both evening so after IMS and I know that helped. I wish I had a hot tub at home! Taking hot baths with Epsom salts isn't the same.

I'm taking 1500mg of gabapentin and I don't think it's doing anything but I'll keep on this dosage until I see the pain specialist.

Well finally got to see a specialist privately today. He looked at the MRI that I had done on the NHS. Now the NHS 'specialist ' said he didn't see anything major on my scan that would cause my sciatica. However the private neurosurgeon is of a different opinion. He showed me on the scan that I have a ligament that has thickened and become inflamed it is pressing directly onto my sciatic nerve. Hallelujah! He said if I was his wife or daughter his first cause would be a steroid injection to see if that reduced the inflammation enough the take the pressure off the nerve. If it doesn't he will operate to shave a little off the thickened ligament and that would definitely relieve the pain. No amount of exercises or gabapentin or acupuncture will actually fix this. He told me not to do anything that hurt. Money well spent. Sciatica is a symptom not an illness it itself, if you can't find the cause you can't find the cure. I'll keep you posted

Thanks for this update. It's positive to find a professional that can tell  what's going on to cause your pain.  Did you also have to pay for the MRI?  I only had a CT scan but they said the images are good enough to see. I'm waiting to hear back from the private clinic what they think based on the scan. I also have an appointment with the orthopaedic surgeon this month from the public system.  It will be interesting to compare what they both think. I have also been referred for steroid injections and will be meeting with the doctor next month for that. Please keep me updated and hope you will get relief soon. 

Have you had your first injection yet? I had my appointment with the orthopaedic surgeon and he recommended surgery even though I have not tried injections yet. I am due to see the specialist for that in a few weeks. The surgeon said not to have the injection if it is close to surgery date. I am now on 2700 mg gabapentin but I don't really find any relief from it.

I have my injection on 17/08/17. The neurosurgeon said if I was his wife or daughter he would recommend trying the injection to see if that takes the inflammation away enough to release the nerve before going for surgery. It sounds like your problem won't be cured with an injection alone and that that is just a pain management exercise. What was your diagnosis? By the way I'm in the process of weaning myself off the gabapentine they are horrible meds with nasty side effects if taken too long. I don't think they worked really just sent me to sleep x

I think we both had the same, bulging disc L5/S1 is that right? I  was told because they can see it on the CT scan without an MRI it's significant but I don't know the size.  I still have bad leg pain from my bum down my leg. I tried acupuncture again and cupping  just over a month ago but that made it worse for two weeks so I stopped. The surgeon said it because I have tried all different types of treatments it's now time for surgery. However I will still be waiting at least two months until surgery.

Yes I also have the bulging disc in the same place but neurosurgeon said that it isn't that that is causing the sciatica. It is the thickened ligament that has become inflamed. Even so the injection is my last attempt before surgery. By the way I would have to wait another three months on the NHS so I'm having the injection done at a private hospital. Kiss goodbye to another £1250 😡

Did the surgeon talk to you about any risk with the injection at all? I heard that it's low risk but  some may experience complications. I'm actually due for an injection the day after you have yours so I'll be curious to know how it goes for you. That's terrible that the public health care system there take so long. I'm sure you have spent so much money on treatments for your health. Here in Canada, it's been a 6 week wait for the injection appointment. The surgeon appointment typical wait is months  but I was lucky as I called to follow up and was able to get an appointment in a month.  I'm slowly reducing my gabapentin amount now. Trying amitripyline now. 

Yes the surgeon explained the injection risks but they are rare. The injection is being done under MRI conditions and the surgeon is very experienced so I'm hoping that all will be well. I have to travel to Italy on Monday because my sister in law has suffered a stroke, I'm dreading the flight. I'm back off to the doctors now to ask about a pain patch. A friend who is a nurse said I must request this to avoid taking anymore pain killers that are really upsetting my stomach and making me drowsy. The NHS here is in a terrible state and the care you get really does depend on where you live and how good your GP is 😔 I could've had all this treatment in Italy at less then half the cost but hindsight is a wonderful thing x

I think that's good your surgeon would be giving you the injection. The Pain Management doctor referred me for the injection by an anesthesiologist but my family doctor says it's better  to be done by a radiologist.  She also said don't have it done if it's within a month of surgery.

What is the pain patch and have you used it often in the past? I hope you get relief from it to help with your travels. Are you able to get the seat with the most room to be as comfortable as possible? Does anything help such as back support, seat cushion, or tennis ball? 

Hi, I didn't take the pain patch, my doctor explained it's basically morphine that drips into your system. As I've just weaned myself off that I'm not putting it back into my system. I've got an aisle seat with extra leg room so just have to grin and bear it. All I can say is the harder and higher the seat the better. So I'll sit on a couple of magazines with a little travel cushion at the base of my back. Not looking forward to the injection hope it's not painful 😔

Best of luck for your flight! Don't worry about the injection, I don't think it will be painful. 

How are you feeling after your injection? I am hopeful for mine tomorrow! 

Not much change yet. Hoping tomorrow will be better. I was told that it would take two or three days to take affect. Fingers crossed for tomorrow x

I had mine and right after I felt relief but now the pain is back but not all the same locations. I was told it could take up to a week to feel better. Fingers crossed we both find relief and soon 👍

Today I have more back ache then sciatic pain. Let's see what the week brings x

I'm lucky no back pain and a little less morning pain so that's positive. Wish it will help more so let's see! 

Yes less pain in the morning but sciatic pain returns when I sit down and driving is still agony. I would say about a 20% decrease. Going to look for a really hard matrice today. I might try sleeping on the floor see if it helps x

I think I am the same as you, about 20% less pain so I can sit a little better but I have to have my right leg stretched out and I lean to the left so I take up about 3 spaces.  Good luck with finding a mattress.  I think that will help.

The hospital phoned me yesterday (oh the joys of private fee paying) I said, same as you, still in pain. They said don't despair yet, the injection can take up to 10 days to take affect so we'll see. 

How have you been? I was better after the injection and now slight improvement but not much more. 

Pretty much the same as you. Slight improvement in the morning and in general through the day but sitting and driving is still the same. The neurosurgeon phoned again and said it can take up to three weeks but it was disappointing that I hadn't had a more marked improvement. He's telling me! 

Sitting is the worst! Even with the seat cushion, it's a pain. I used the heat pad and cold pack daily still. Did the surgeon say another injection and when? I see my pain doctor next week and I've reduced the gabapentin. 

Nobody has mentioned another injection. I was told that I had a 70% chance of the injection working and if not I would probably need an operation to shave the thickened ligament down. Doctor said give it a couple of weeks and see if the injection has made a better improvement. So we'll see. So yes I can get out of bed but sitting and driving is SO painful! One thing I do know I'm never taking gabapentine again, that stuff sent me crazy 

Did you try pregabalin? I'll be starting it soon.  If you get the operation, when did the surgeon say that will happen? I hope you are feeling better since your injection. I am still about the same but at least it's a little more comfortable sitting down. How was your flight that you took? That must have been so painful. 

Pain is quite a bit better in the mornings but still painful to sit and drive. I have to go back to Italy again on Monday so I won't be seeing the doctor again til I get back. What about you? Are you having a follow up appointment?

I hope your flight to/from Italy wasn't too painful and you could have a bit of relief from you injection. I feel the effects of the injection is wearing off. I was in a lot of pain today and not sure if it's related to the weather or not. I also felt drowsy hours after I woke up and know the medication will do that. Good news was the surgeon's office called me to move surgery to October but she I told her I had the injection, unfortunately I will have to wait 3 months. I was disappointed but knew that I wouldn't be able to have the surgery. At least I had a few weeks of some relief. 

Spirits are a bit low as my husband will be away for a week and I'll be alone. It's hard when others are leading their normal lives and I just wish I could leave the house. 

Hi, it took three weeks for the injection to take effect. I'm quite good in the morning getting out of bed but still painful to sit on certain chairs in a car and driving. Some days are better than others . The bottom line is I haven't had the relief that I needed so disappointed with the results. It was painful to sit on the plane and so I need to think about surgery. Sounds like we're still in the same boat. 😔

I feel your pain. I think my epidural has almost worn off and the Lyrica seemed to work but I had terrible side effect so I'll see if they want to try cymbalta or continue to increase amitriptyline but feel drowsy too. The meds either don't help or the side effects aren't fun. If you have surgery, how long would the wait be? 

Stop...rewind...  You do know that Cymbalta is an SNRI reserved for major depressive disorders...right?  Yes, it can help with pain but that is NOT its primary function.  In addition, getting off Cymbalta (duloxetine) is, to many people, hell on earth.  The withdrawal side effects are very difficult to handle for a lot of patients.  Cymbalta would not be in any of my choices for pain relief.

If the problem is nerve impingement due to a disc problem at L5/S1, then you have to see a neurosurgeon (not a neurologist).  The gold standard test for finding out if the problem is in your spine is a CT/Myelogram with contrast.  When I had a bone spur literally "crushing" (doc's term) my sciatic nerve root at L4/L5, a simple laminectomy fixed the problem.  Same day surgery, pain gone from the inflamed nerve in a week.  Simple fix.

If you need a FUSION of L5/S1 to fix the problem, make sure you see a doc who can perform an LLIF fusion rather than a traditional TLIF.  The former is done laterally from the side while the latter is performed posteriorly from the back.  The old TLIF uses rails and screws while the LLIF employs the insertion of an "expandable" spacer device.  It also has the benefit of a one night hospital stay plus no brace or rehab vs. the TLIF which has a multi-night stay plus a brace and lots of PT as its follow-up.

Don't know what you'll need to fix this but the finding of a bulging disc could lead you into the direction of some surgery to permanently fix the problem.  So...  Stay away from all the horrible meds, get a definitive diagnosis and then fix it once and for all.

PS: I've been through ALL of this.  Pix of my TLIF (L3-S1) and LLIF (L2/L3) are attached.

I have seen an Orthopaedic surgeon and have microdiscectomy surgery scheduled in 2 months. I'm in Canada so seeing any surgeon takes months to get an appointment and then waiting for surgery is more months. Until then my pain doc has prescribed meds. I had no effects from gabapentin but it didn't reduce pain but lyrica seems to give me relief but I have a side effect. 

Gabapentin is notorious for putting 20-pounds on people in a month; Lyrica not so much but there are side effects.  You might try some Voltaren Gel, second best topical anti-inflammatory on the planet (RX in the US).  Also, think of Celebrex for the pain instead of the nerve agents...might help.