Sciatica drives me crazy
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hello everyone!
I am new to this forum, but not to the sciatica ordeal.
I had my first bout of sciatica when I was 31 years old. It was a horrendous experience, when every time I moved my fingers I would feel a shooting pain in my butt and leg. I had to sleep on the wooden dining table extension. To get off the bed, I had to crawl out of the bed on my knees and my husband would pick me up from the floor and take me to the bathroom. I couldn't sit, couldn't sleep, couldn't walk. Couldn't function, period. The neurologist gave me Rx for Tylenol/Codeine (Tylenol 3) and a muscle relaxer. Don't remember how long it took for the pain to go away, but it did.
Fast forward. I am 71 years young now. Over the years, I had a few flare-ups. Fortunately, nothing to compare to the first one. I always kept my Tylenol 3 with me and, as soon as I felt that the another episode is coming on (for me it's ALWAYS nagging pain on the side of my leg, from hip to ankle), I'd take my magic pill, add muscle relaxer and in less than a week or so I would be up and running.
Ten years ago my husband and I moved from NYC to Kiev (Ukraine), my home town.
Our son still lives in the States. We visit US every year and my friend would get me fresh prescription for Tylenol 3.
About two weeks ago, on the plain from Spain, I felt, ever so familiar, nagging pain. When I reached for my pills, I realized that the last time I refilled prescription was 3(!)
years ago. Stupid me! Of course, as soon as I got home, I had full blown sciatica flare-up episode. Pain was horrendous. Walking was a torture. In the supermarket I had to hold on to shopping cart to be able to walk. Because I can't get prescription for codeine containing medication here, I started to look for OTC pain relievers and muscle relaxers. Fortunately for many-many people, the are lots of them here. Unfortunately for me, they all shoot my blood pressure through the roof. I started to use Traumeel C gel which helped tremendously. I can walk now. It's painful, but, at least, I don't have to hold on the walls or furniture while moving from room to room. Some days are better, some days are worse. But I feel, at least, about 70% better than I felt when it started two weeks ago.
I know that using gel alone, will take me loooong time to get rid of the pain. This is the reason I decided to join discussion on this forum. Maybe somebody, among the fellow sufferers, knows about pain relievers and/or muscle relaxers that don't raise blood pressure.
Sorry for the long post and thanks for listening.
Be well.
Adele
0 likes, 20 replies
rommon adele26642
Posted
I know your situation all too well, having a sciatica issue currently and I can hardly walk or lay down at all, usually Physical Therapy would work like magic but I can't do that as I'm healing from a colostomy reversal surgery.
It's been about 2 weeks now, started in my lower spine and is running down my whole thigh and leg, just absolutely shocking pain 😦
Good luck getting through your flare ups, does the T3 work during them to help? I was going to ask for perhaps Tramadol to help with the pain, it is just consuming my sanity.
adele26642 rommon
Posted
Thanks, rommon!
T3 always helped me with sciatica pain. Along with the muscle relaxer.
Percocet is also good.
Regards,
Adele
harpoon adele26642
Posted
Anything more than an aspirin for more than 2 weeks would tear up my stomach. Physical Therapy (not chiropractics) helped with the pain and movement. From crawling from the kitchen to the living room to now jogging short distances and 4 miles a day walking in Vegas. The pain is almost forgotten most days. The exercises I learned from PT are now a daily routine. Basically stretching.
adele26642
Posted
Hi, harpoon!
What was the reason for your sciatica? And how long did it take for you to be cured?
Adele
rhovin127 adele26642
Posted
It is a dreadful painful problem and I wake up each day just pain does not start over, but it does. Have tied nerve drugs; far too man bad side effects. At present am on Ibruprofen but have to be a bit careful I m Type 1 diabetic. Wish you luck
adele26642
Posted
Thanks, rhovin127!
I completely understand how you feel. It's like a roller coaster. One day almost no pain and the next day it's back. I have no problem sitting , bending, sleeping...
But standing and walking are so painful! It's much better than a week ago, though.
I just wish that this pain goes away!
Be well.
Adele
CHICO_MARX adele26642
Posted
The plane from Spain will always cause you pain.
Some of this may help...
Sciatica
Voltaren Gel (diclofenac) sometimes works for me. A cheap TENS unit can also help.
adele26642
Posted
Hi, CHICO_MARX!
Unfortunately, I can't use any medication that contains diclofenac. It raises my blood pressure.
Thanks for the suggestion, anyway.
Be well.
Adele
adele26642
Posted
I went to the neurologist yesterday. After performing many neurological tests, she told me that I have a sciatica. What a surprise! I told her that I can walk and stand (with pain) and I want to walk and stand (without pain). Sitting and laying down were not a problem during this particular flare-up episode.
Anyway, she prescribed Dexamethasone and vitamin B12 injections for 2 days, then Movalis and vitamin B12 injections for 3 days and muscle relaxer pills for 5-10 days.
Well, I had my first Dexamethasone & B12 shot yesterday. The only difference I saw today is that I could walk without pain right after waking up. But that's about it. Now I am still in little pain while walking and standing.
Maybe I am expecting too much after first injection?
Be well.
Adele
rommon adele26642
Posted
I am still in terrible pain, I've fortunately gotten pain meds up to this point but those are running out fast, not sure if my surgeon will prescribe more on my follow up but I'd so rather get the om to see a physical therapist. I am now sleeping in my recliner with orthopedic cushions because I cannot get out of bed 😦
It's really just concentrated on the right side of my knee, any wrong stretch or twist is just absolutely shocking pain, I cannot wait to be able to see a PT or Chiropractor for this!
When I find some sort of relief I will report back, hope you get better soon!
adele26642 rommon
Posted
Hi rommon,
So sorry for your pain.
So far, I had 2 injections of Dexalgin (Dexketoprofen), 3 injections of Movalis (Meloxicam) and 5 injections of Vitamin B12. A am also taking muscle relaxer pills for 4 days. And I can see big improvement (hop it will last ). I still have pain on and off (most of the time "off"). I still have 2 Movalis, 2 Vitamin B12 injections to go. Along with 6 days of muscle relaxer pills. After injections I will have to take Movalis pills for a couple of weeks. Will see if pain will go away completely.
Maybe you can talk to your doctor about similar treatment?
Get better soon.
Adele
rommon adele26642
Posted
I just picked up a prescription for Valium, took one and got into the shower as the nerve pain was starting to reach down to my feet, this is a sign my nerve is about at its end in terms of pain, but still absolutely shocking pain lifting my right leg into the shower.
Tried an RX Naproxen last night which gave me relief for about an hour, it seems only oxy or percocet helps with this insane acute pain, I'm also using I think its Afrin gel roller and covering my entire right side a few times a day. Kind of mixed results with that, if there is already pain it doesn't treat it, but if there is no pain it doesn't cause it, so I'm just putting it on regularly as I've heard it might help after a few days of use.
At this point I have decked out my recliner with pillows to fully support my legs, as I could feel my feet sort of dangling off the recliner had a pulling / straining effect on the muscles, so at this point I plan to just relax that right side as much as possible.
My surgeon is putting in a referral to a specialist as I literally can't hardly walk through my little townhouse without absolutely shocking pain, when I don't have the pain I do walk a bit outside to get some fresh air but it's just kind of getting worse no matter what I do at this point.
So percocet and rest for me until a specialist can figure out what is killing me 😕
I really appreciate the response, I follow up with my primary tomorrow, and I will see if anything you posted helps - I appreciate it!
CHICO_MARX rommon
Posted
You might ask the doc for Tramadol (Ultram). It is the mildest of the opioids and does not knock you down like Percocet (oxycodone) or Vicodin (hydrocodone). Then again, the drugs just mask the pain. Gotta find the root cause and fix it. Chiro has always worked for me except for that one time when I had a bone spur at L4. No one should live with sciatic pain. There's always a cause.
adele26642 CHICO_MARX
Posted
Thanks for the suggestion.
Fortunately, now I am not in constant pain. Just few flare-ups a day that last 5-10 minutes. Mostly, when I am standing. It's easier for me to walk now than to stand. And just to think that just a couple weeks ago I could hardly walk! I don't take any pain killers now. But who knows! It might change. So, I'll keep Tramadol in mind. Thanks.
Hope you feel better soon.
Adele
rommon CHICO_MARX
Posted
Hi Chico, thanks for the suggestion that was exactly my thoughts actually, unfortunately I am still under surgery restrictions so I cannot go see a chiropractor or PT quite yet so it's a matter of pain management right now.
Though I am supposed to get a referral to a sports med Dr / Specialist, but I'm not sure when, so this has been an especially cruel flare up 😕
rommon adele26642
Posted
That is great to hear Adele, I can't wait to just be healthy without pain meds, and go back to the gym for spine health upkeep!
adele26642 rommon
Posted
Thanks. I am not pain free yet, though.
Hope you will get better soon. Hope that my treatment, if your doctor finds it appropriate, will be help to you also.
Be well.
Adele
adele26642 rommon
Posted
Hi rommon,
I was wrong saying that I don't use any pain killers. Meloxicam , that I am taking in form of injection, is an analgesic, as well as anti-inflammatory drug.
Be well.
Adele
adele26642 rommon
Posted
Hi rommon,
Are you feeling any better? Did you get a referral to the sports med Dr?
I still have pain on and off. Some days are good and some days are bad. Walking is getting better, but standing still is killing me. As well as a prolonged sitting.
Today is exactly 4 weeks since this ordeal started and 1 week since I the treatment started. I still have 4 days of muscle relaxant, as well as 9 days of Mobic pills, to take. Keep my fingers crossed.
Hope you feel better very soon.
Adele
rommon adele26642
Posted
My appt is Monday with the specialist, but my doctor refilled my oxy to get me to that appt, and also prescribed Amiltriptimine for nerve pain and muscle spasms which does a good job knocking me out to sleep.
The pain baseline is seemingly at least not getting worse so long as I move slow and very carefully, but I unexpectedly just turned my back to look at someone on Thursday and it was a thunder clap of pain that lasted for hours.
Though the Dr did find the pain spot on my back right above my hip, I forgot what he said it was, but advised sciatic nerves runs in front of it so if it gets out of alignment it will cause that shocking pain.
Soo, same pain and still managing with pain meds, but hopefully will get on the right path Monday - Hope we both get better soon!
I will report back once I have some clear answers Monday, hope you have a good pain free weekend 😃