azucena
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Sciatica
Jul 23, 2016 18:45:21 GMT -5
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Post by azucena on Jul 23, 2016 18:45:21 GMT -5
Tweaked my back picking up 26 lb 3 yo a few days ago. Dr said it's sciatica. I can't feel my calves or feet. It's awful. Anyone gone thru this? I'm on steroids, icing it, and doing my exercises. Any other tips?
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Pants
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Jul 23, 2016 19:09:52 GMT -5
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Post by Pants on Jul 23, 2016 19:09:52 GMT -5
I think swamp did, but I'm on my phone and can't tag.
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Pants
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Post by Pants on Jul 23, 2016 19:10:26 GMT -5
Also that 3yo weighs leS than my 1yo.
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Lizard Queen
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Post by Lizard Queen on Jul 23, 2016 19:14:30 GMT -5
My 3 yo weighs about 40 lbs. Sorry I don't have any advice on the sciatica. I think my brother has it, and the injections help him a lot?
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toomuchreality
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Post by toomuchreality on Jul 23, 2016 21:48:05 GMT -5
I was told I had it once. It was awful. Seemed like it lasted forever. Feels like it comes back once in awhile, but nowhere near as bad. But it's really just my lower back going out. -Chiropractor? -Try alternating heat and ice. -Sleep on a firm surface, on your back. -Don't pick up monster child any more. Heh. That's all I got. Sorry. You're already doing everything I know. I don't know if they work, or how well they work, but Rite Aid(?) sells an OTC medication, by Magnilife called Sciatica Relief. I've never tried it. My dad had some. That's why I know about it. I think he paid around $20 for a bottle with 125 pills (a few yrs ago). Hope you start feeling better soon!
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irishpad
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Post by irishpad on Jul 23, 2016 22:56:18 GMT -5
I'm so sorry you are experiencing this. It is a very frustrating pain that can affect all your movement and all the hours of the day/night.
I experienced it three summers in a row. Finally figured out that is was a result of playing tennis more regularly than I have previously. The twisting motion from swinging the racket was causing a pinch point in my lower back. No pain at all in the back, but shooting pain down my entire right leg. Also caused great stiffness / immobility of that leg at various times during the day. Could be walking fine for part of the day, other parts of the day I would could only get up any stairs by either crawling or painfully taking one step at a time.
Tried icing / heat and physical therapy. Neither of those resolved it, but both of those have helped prevent it returning.
The resolution for me was a chiropractor. I realize the resolution will be different for different people.
No regular tennis this summer. And no sciatica
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suesinfl
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Post by suesinfl on Jul 24, 2016 2:58:38 GMT -5
I was told I had it once. It was awful. Seemed like it lasted forever. Feels like it comes back once in awhile, but nowhere near as bad. But it's really just my lower back going out. -Chiropractor? -Try alternating heat and ice. -Sleep on a firm surface, on your back. -Don't pick up monster child any more. Heh. That's all I got. Sorry. You're already doing everything I know. I don't know if they work, or how well they work, but Rite Aid(?) sells an OTC medication, by Magnilife called Sciatica Relief. I've never tried it. My dad had some. That's why I know about it. I think he paid around $20 for a bottle with 125 pills (a few yrs ago). Hope you start feeling better soon! solve Chiropractor all the way. Regular doctors will just prescribe meds that won't solve the problem, just the pain. A good Physical Therapist will help for stretching exercises and someone who specializes in deep tissue massage. BTDT and am still going through it, I wish you the best. Take care of yourself.
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lund
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Post by lund on Jul 24, 2016 6:00:27 GMT -5
Meds tend to help with primary and secondary pain. (Secondary pain is because with pain we often move differently to minimize the primary pain, causing pain in different places due to faulty or excessive use of those muscles.) I was told that it is important to move around, though with care.
PT often has been good; strengthening the muscles that prevent it happening. Also avoiding overweight (due to having more weight putting strain on the back).
Some are helped by chiro.
I have not experienced sciatica being double-sided.
The doctor also said that in case of loss of sensation in the anal region, it was to call in at once, since then there was a risk that there was a small benign tumor pressing on the nerves in the back.
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MJ2.0
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Post by MJ2.0 on Jul 24, 2016 6:45:58 GMT -5
I have "almost sciatica" - basically I have issues around the sciatic nerve on my left side. In 2009 I decided to start getting in better shape, but my core wasn't strong enough to keep good form in doing certain workouts. Instead of modifying, I kept going and the result was a feeling like my calf to my foot fell asleep whenever I was sitting for too long. And pins and needles in my left foot. A good PT will help you do the right stretches and a great PT will also teach you exercises to strengthen your core and pelvic floor muscles.
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MJ2.0
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Post by MJ2.0 on Jul 24, 2016 6:47:54 GMT -5
I stopped PT once I got pregnant and never went back. I'm still active but I do much more yoga now. I also take frequent breaks to get up at work and I do lots of hamstring and lower back stretches throughout the day.
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buystoys
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Post by buystoys on Jul 24, 2016 7:35:59 GMT -5
When sleeping, put a pillow under your knees if you sleep on your back or between your legs if you sleep on your side. Try not to sleep on your stomach.
Limit the amount of time you sit. Get a cheap kitchen timer and get up for at least five minutes every 30 minutes of sitting. I used to just walk around my chair at my desk if I was on a call or walk to someone's office/desk to ask them questions rather than calling them.
Agree with the others who recommended chiropractic care. It doesn't work for everyone, but lots of people do find pain relief with treatment.
Feel better soon!
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Artemis Windsong
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Post by Artemis Windsong on Jul 24, 2016 12:28:34 GMT -5
At the point of pain in your hip, sit on a hard surface with a tennis ball on that spot.
With that much numbness, more could be going on. Get a back x-ray.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2016 14:47:46 GMT -5
I had sciatica in my left leg that became continually worse over a 5 yr. period. I ended up having laminectomy surgery after a nerve conduction test and an MRI showed a lower lumbar disc impeding into my spinal column. I have irrating yet tolerable permanent nerve damage within my left leg that flares every now and then depending on my activity level. I kept telling my pcp Dr. (at the time; fired her after surgery) it was getting worse, she didn't run any tests until I pretty much lost it in her office one day (5 yrs. later) and kinda yelled at her. By that time I swear I could barely walk. Pain that initially began affecting my left buttock and a little bit below gradually but steadily grew to intense, searing pain all the way down into my left heel/foot. That was 11 yrs. ago and since the surgery it's been fine, until about a year ago. It started bothering me again, but no where near prior levels...so far I rest, and ice it weekly and I'm managing..
Try the suggestions posters here have given and watch how it goes. If the pain continues to "spread" ie; get worse, get appropriate testing done.
Best of Luck..
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Jul 24, 2016 14:54:12 GMT -5
I did. It was a herniated disc. Cortisone shots in my back, heat, Chiro, PT, and then exercise once I got the nerve impingement under control. Exercise was Pilates, piyo, and booty barre.
Surgery was next if the cortisone didn't work.
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azucena
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Post by azucena on Jul 25, 2016 7:45:02 GMT -5
Yes, I realize the irony of a 25 lb 3 yo. She will actually be 4 in just a couple of weeks. She's my petite mini-me. My DD1 was 25 lbs shortly after turning one.
I've been doing the exercises and they seem to help loosen things up for a bit. That and ice offer the only relief. I'm learning that I don't do well with chronic pain - I feel like I'm going insane. Walking with numbness and pain is torture. With kids ages 3 and 7, there is always something to be done around the house. The not knowing how long recovery will take is making me nuts.
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Jul 25, 2016 8:01:28 GMT -5
I had what I thought was sciatica. Finally hauled off to doctor. Turns out it was piriformis Syndrome. Not real common and doc said he saw it maybe four times a year. Gave me anti inflammatory meds. I will admit that I only took about half of a days dosage each day since I am paranoid about meds but symptoms went away.
Had never heard of piriformis muscle so did a lot of online searching. Just a thought since it is common that only sciatic nerve is blamed for symptoms. And it can "irritate" the sciatica nerve in the process.
But I hope you get relief soon since either way it is very painful. Mine lasted for about two weeks and that is what sent me to the doc - I kept hoping it would "work itself out"
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azucena
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Post by azucena on Jul 25, 2016 9:34:38 GMT -5
NoNamePerson - how did they diagnose you? Dr wanted to hold off on MRI to see if steroids did the trick.
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Jul 25, 2016 10:46:32 GMT -5
If you are on pinterest there are a lot of yoga poses/stretches that help with sciatica. I can keep mine in check with stretching/yoga. But if it gets too far out of wack, I go to the chiro.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Jul 25, 2016 10:55:56 GMT -5
My dad got it after he was rear ended in a car accident. He went the cortisone route, which was a series of 3 shots in his back. He immediately felt relief after the first, and by the third it was gone.
This happened about 4 years before he died, and I don't think he ever had issues its his back again after the cortisone.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Jul 25, 2016 12:26:32 GMT -5
Chiro, massage, exercise.
Sorry, sciatica is the worst!!!
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Jul 25, 2016 14:32:28 GMT -5
NoNamePerson - how did they diagnose you? Dr wanted to hold off on MRI to see if steroids did the trick. First thing ortho doc did was xray hip - just to rule out "old age" hip problems. Then he asked me a lot of questions like is it from hip/buttocks area, down to knee, down calf etc., hurts when sitting, etc.
Then he told me he was going to "poke" an area and when he did - well, I have a potty mouth and told him he hit the friggin spot!! That was basically it. I took the meds and went back in three weeks and was not longer in pain but I was still hobbling a bit. (should say that I waited a while before I even went to doc so I was over compensating other side with the walking and things got out of whack to say the least).
Went to PT and literally could not lift leg off the table but no pain. PT doc explained other muscles to me and by 5th visit (and I will admit that the first two visits I'm thinking this is a crock) but wow I could lift leg up and practically danced down the hall of PT office.
Oh, and piriformis syndrome is sometimes called "wallet and/or billfold syndrome" due to men usually have problem from sitting on their wallets in back pockets.
That was 3 yrs ago and I haven't had any problems since Google piriformis muscle and you will see it is a tiny little muscle to cause so much pain.
I'm sure you have done plenty of research. I had never even heard of a piriformis muscle but was familiar with sciatic nerve. MRI and such wasn't even suggested in my case. Guess I got lucky or had a good doc
ETA: I didn't do anything like you picking up kiddo so don't know what caused my problem other than that little bugger just got inflamed for some reason.
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Artemis Windsong
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Post by Artemis Windsong on Jul 28, 2016 13:44:20 GMT -5
In yoga today, we sat on a yoga block with legs easily crossed or bottom of feet together and knees out. It relieves stress on the lower back region.
The next pose we did was laying on our back, do a bridge and put the block under your lower back. (If that causes pain, stop and remove block). With one leg we did bicycle motion then the other. This works deep into the hip.
On back, pull knees in to chest then gently roll your bent legs to one side. Back remains on the mat. Arms out to a T and look at the hand opposite where your legs are. Hold for a few breaths. Roll onto back and do the same to the opposite side.
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tloonya
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Post by tloonya on Jul 28, 2016 17:38:35 GMT -5
Tweaked my back picking up 26 lb 3 yo a few days ago. Dr said it's sciatica. I can't feel my calves or feet. It's awful. Anyone gone thru this? I'm on steroids, icing it, and doing my exercises. Any other tips? My husband got on SSDisability due to this. Doctors recommend to do nothing until it is so bad that you agree to surgery. Sorry you had got it happened. I had heard good massages helps sometimes. I mean someone who knows what they are doing. There are many who are just charging money. Ask around. Good luck.
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GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
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Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on Jul 28, 2016 17:55:59 GMT -5
My foremost advice is to channel your inner self-advocate. If treatment isn't giving you relief, fight for different treatment. There appears to be a void in medical care for lower back issues. There is a tendency to keep doing what isn't working -- perhaps to give the treatment as much as time as possible to work. But, sciatic pain sufferers need to demand additional/different treatment if relief isn't prompt because the pain is so incapacitating.
DH ruptured his L5 disk 6 years ago with a chunk lodging in his sciatic nerve and again 3 years ago. Surgery gave him almost instant relief from the pain the first time. The second time, it took several weeks for his sciatic nerve to recover. This time, the 3rd in 6 years, there is no chunk to remove, just a lot of swelling and a bulge into the nerve.
So, today, DH had a cortisone shot in 3 places around his L4 and L5 disks. The goal is to buy him some time until an inevitable spinal fusion (which will likely become a pattern for the rest of his life because of the stress a fusion puts on the spine).
DH felt FABULOUS afterward the injection.
Then the lidocaine in the shot wore off and he is in more pain than before the shot. Just picked up some hydro codone for him. They want him to give it a few days to work but I'm not sure how he will know if he is on painkillers. He's also on a muscle relaxant and gabapentin. I'm beginning to think I should just drop him off at the ER at the hospital where he has had his previous surgeries and force their hand.
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