Sciatic Nerve
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@mark said in Sciatic Nerve:
@Ivorythumper Thank you. Merry Christmas!
It's been a week now. Still in pain and unable to walk more than few steps without damn near collapsing from the pain.
However I think it's getting a little better. Last night was the first time since this started that I was able to sleep. A good 6 hours then I got up off the couch (only place where I could find comfort) and got into bed (Tempurpedic Memory Foam) around 6am and actually got 2.5 more hours of sleep.
So that is encouraging.
9 days until PT starts.
I am seriously considering an inversion table.
This one.
I don't know a good one from a bad one, but I have a friend that swears by inversion therapy for his back.
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"My pronouns are FA/FO." - Mik, 2024
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@Mik said in Sciatic Nerve:
It makes perfect sense.
When my cervical spine was acting up and causing pressure on my C8 nerve root, in addition to physical therapy, I was told to get into some cervical traction. Whole idea is to open up the intervertebral foramen (the hole that the nerve passes through) and take pressure off the nerve.
I can see how this idea would/could work on lumbar spine as well, but afaik, there's no real data to show that it works. At least not in a double-blind controlled study. I'd be happy to be educated otherwise, of course.
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"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08
The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.
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So will I -- as long as I can watch it from a luxe hotel with good air and mai tais and whatnot.
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Sorry the pain doesn't seem to be improving, Mark.
I f'd up a disc pretty bad about a year ago. I toggled between terrible pain down the right leg, to complete numbness.. (that got me scared enough to get seen) Chiro suspected L5/S1, but pushed me to get an MRI to confirm I wasn't dealing with broken disc fragments, or something else her treatments might make worse.
In any case, the imaging confirmed the diagnosis, and allowed her to treat and make home-traction exercise recommendations with a lot more confidence.
I'd ask the folks at the PT office if they think an MRI could help them dial in your treatment plan.
Good luck!
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I was experiencing severe muscle weakness and felt like I was just wasting away. I have stopped all meds now for over 36 hours.
Starting to gain a little strength but still weak.
As you know, Dr. prescribed Muscle relaxer cyclobenzaprine, anti-inflammatory Meloxicam, and he upped my Pravastatin dose from 40mg to 80mg. All at the same time. It did not go well. I sent doc a message through MyChart and told him about it and stated that I was ceasing all meds until my strength is restored. He agreed. Now I just have a higher level of pain but still making progress. Doing recommended stretching and other techniques, ice, heat, TENS, etc.
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@mark said in Sciatic Nerve:
I was experiencing severe muscle weakness and felt like I was just wasting away. I have stopped all meds now for over 36 hours.
Starting to gain a little strength but still weak.
As you know, Dr. prescribed Muscle relaxer cyclobenzaprine, anti-inflammatory Meloxicam, and he upped my Pravastatin dose from 40mg to 80mg. All at the same time. It did not go well. I sent doc a message through MyChart and told him about it and stated that I was ceasing all meds until my strength is restored. He agreed. Now I just have a higher level of pain but still making progress. Doing recommended stretching and other techniques, ice, heat, TENS, etc.
So glad you have a good relationship with your doc, Mark. That's really important and can make a real difference in your experience and outcome.
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@mark said in Sciatic Nerve:
The TENS device arrived today. After a consultation with Dr. George, I have the first effective pain relief since this hit me.
Can't thank you enough for the for letting me know about this device and for the instructions on its use.
It's not 100% but it is enough that I can actually walk from room to room without the walker.
I'm happy to here this. Best of the New Year to you, Mark.
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Went to see a new chiropractor yesterday. He was recommended by my sister. Very gentle, interesting techniques. He spent a full 30 minutes on my back. Actually provided some relief. Bought a back brace (Copper Fit) on his recommendation and it is a mixed bag of providing less pain but then it actually hurts more to wear it.
Going again at 2:00 today and then PT tomorrow. He told me to keep the PT as he likes to have many people on the "team" to figure it all out.
Actually wants to work with my physician and specialists. He says, if he cannot help, he will do nothing. I like the attitude. He read the results/impressions of my last set of xrays. He does a lot of sports injury work in the area and also works closely with the orthopedic surgeons in the area.
He says I should definitely be golfing thus year. This put an early end to my golf season in 2022. I was not happy.
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Sounds sensible.
I've used chiropractors over the years. The time to run is when they seem hesitant to listen to what your doc wants or they think they can cure anything.
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I continue to improve. Doing the recommended stretches and exercises, roughly every 2 hours. Then ice if needed.
I'm able to move my pelvis more side to side today than yesterday when I could barely move an inch. Also the arching stretch is more flexible today.
Feeling so much better but sound sleep still eludes me. Being comfortable in one position for very long is still not happening.
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Hugs to you @mark
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@Rainman said in Sciatic Nerve:
Way to go, Mark!
You'll get better because you WANT to get better, and you're doing everything you can to speed up the process. Good for you. Been there, still am. Keep at it!+1 to Rainman's encouragement. He said it better than I could.
