Sciatica pain

[WmFritz]

The one thing I've learned with PT is it has either helped me or hurt me. The pain has never stayed the same.

I needed an MRI recently.  It was too painful  to lay flat in the closed tube machine. I had to reschedule at a different hospital with the open machine.

I wish Pat a speedy recovery.

[Magicman]

She brought home a disk of her MRI.  She will go to the PT three times a week and see a Neurosurgeon who will "read" the MRI and see what is going on.

The feeling is gradually returning in her foot.

[Magicman]

Pat was in much pain today.  Her Neurosurgeon appointment is Wednesday.

[thecfarm]

I hope something can be done.I only had Sciata once. Just about would bring me to my kness. Only lasted a few hours. Probably happened more than 25 years ago and I still remember it.  :

[beenthere]

Sure sorry to hear that she has to wait some more. Makes for some real long days and nights for both of you.
Prayers for her successful op and quick recovery.

[WmFritz]

So sorry to hear of Pat's discomfort. The way I could get some relief, was to lay flat on my back with a rolled towel under my hips. Any little bit of lessening the pain is welcome.

Lynn, please tell Pat that we are all pulling for her.

[SPIKER]

I know it really can be a major pain.   Worst one for me left me almost a month without being able to walk.   Laid on my back on the floor with my legs on the couch (setting position flat on floor.) :-[   Weather has also really hit me hard in the past and has also just about every late fall transition to winter... :-\   I wish her well and hope everything can be fixed soon.   Took almost 45 days for me to get in to have mine somewhat fixed.

Mark

[drobertson]

MM, sorry to read about your wife's pain, give her our regards, and hoping she's back pain free soon,    david

[BradMarks]

Just read the entire post.  Sorry MM for your wife's pain and all other members also.  In a few weeks it will be three years since I had a microdisectomy of the L4 performed.  I am so glad I did, even though I'd say it's not always 100%, it's a thousand times better than it was.  I basically couldn't do a thing before surgery w/o experiencing shooting pain and numbness in my right leg down to the foot.  Everyone's pain threshhold is different, and as stated previously, there are no whimps on this issue. While I was considering surgery(talking to others who have had it) I was always asked "do you hurt enough to have it done". My answer was "I don't know", to which the reply was "you don't hurt enough". That day finally came and after a few months of total aggravation, I scheduled an MRI.  5 days later they had me in surgery. Follow up after surgery, and the surgeon said he had never seen a sciatic nerve flattened as much as mine. I made the mistake of too much activity too soon, and the pain and numbness started coming back, although I could "shake it out" at first. Finally went to a PT and got educated.  Stretching and core work. Actually felt it took about 1 1/2 years to be back(no pun)pretty close to normal.  Nowadays bending and staying down, i.e. pulling weeds, painting the bottom siding, that kinda stuff is the most difficult. Physical work does not seem to be an issue.  Bottom line: There are solutions, good ones.

[Magicman]

Pat and I met with the neurosurgeon today.  She has a ruptured disc which is pinching the sciatic nerve causing her back and leg pain as well as her foot numbness.  He told her that no time, medicine or PT could relieve the pressure and pain.

She is scheduled for Micro Endoscopic Discectomy Tuesday morning.  This procedure will remove the bulging part of the disc that will relieve the pressure on the nerve.  She will stay overnight Tuesday and should be able to come home Wednesday.

[thecfarm]

That sounds good. I know you are busy,but you better update us every so often. Kinda does not sound like something in 2 weeks she will be running up to Maine to give me a hug.  :(  Speaking of hugs,give her one from me and wish her luck from me too.

[Magicman]

Thank you my Friend.   

I will be sawing tomorrow, and hopefully we will get to go to the Cabin Friday and Saturday.  I have some firewood logs to get out before it starts raining.

[doctorb]

People recover from micro disc surgery quite quickly sometimes.  Her pain relief can be almost miraculous.  Sometimes, however, the nerve root that's been compressed gets  little angry at the removal of the disc material, and it can still bite back a bit.  Good luck to Pat.

[thecfarm]

doctorb should know. My wife had surgery on her heel. Achilles tendon. She felt better the next day!! She was in so much pain, but the operation took away the pain.

[Magicman]

She had a bad night last night and has been miserable today.  She is looking forward to Tuesday.

[SPIKER]

MM that is what I was wondering, hope they can get to her soon and fix the disk.   The docs at the VA that did mine did the full cut (teaching hospital) and removed pretty much the entire disks.   They cut, hacked, broke and snapped away the bones to make room for the nerves...   There are much better Laser Surgery disk fixes now with very small amounts of recovery or cuts to person...   
Stretching was one of the only things that gave me much relief.  Laying on my back pulled knees up to my chest and try to keep leg straight.   could not BEND while standing up as that puts more pain/disk damage.   also laying on back using abs to clench and release to build inner muscles same ones you use to stop peeing.   Clenching and releasing all those muscles helps to reinforce the spine...

Other items Naproxin (Alieve) taken 500 MG 2 times a day like clockwork takes days to build up to be the anti-inflammatory needs for some help..

Mark

[Magicman]

She is off of any meds that might cause blood thinning now.  "Tylenol" type only.

[BradMarks]

"Looking forward to Tuesday" is a great attitude.  The pain will be gone. There will be a significant amount of discomfort, can't be avoided with stretching the muscles to the side to be able to get at the disc through the vertebrae. Good luck to both of you, and I'm sure you'll be a good "nurse".

[Magicman]

Today is the day for Pat's surgery.     She had a miserable night last night.   :-\

[doctorb]

My best to her, MM.  Despite having surgery, some patients feel better right away, as the nerve compression is released.  I'll be wishing that for her.

[cheeves]

Had back trouble since '85 from lifting locust firewood! After two auto accidents ( not my fault, one a drunk driver) now missing l-4,l-5!
Best thing I've found for sciatica is a magnet belt! Own quite a few! You can get them even at Wal-Mart! If you wear it around the clock, even to bed, pain should be gone in three or four days!! Wear mine for my missing discs too!! Like the stiff ones!! THEY WORK!!!

[SPIKER]

MM Wish her and you Luck,   

After my surgery I was in the worst pain ever, was brought back to my room some 3 hrs after they said I would be back.   Out of recovery there was a BIG guy who picked me up and put me into the hospital bed...     The knockout drugs were wearing off and I was in pain agony to say the least. >:( :-[ :-\   The nurse hooked me up to the pain med IV and said the button will add more if I push it, felt like I was back in high school playing a good video game pushing that thing to no avail.    >:(   AHH she comes back & says it only puts out a little bit a few time an hour  :'(  SO the beeping of my button pushing must have irritated her lol...       Needless to say things didn't go well for next 3 weeks; infection, 0 feling in both legs, falling on the walker, slipping & kicking door jam, with 0 feeling other than that pain ya get when you REALLY did something bad (shock) that makes you all but pass out or barf  ...

Yea I sure moss those days (NOT) and even the daily pain I'm dealing w now is better than going back to the butchers that hacked me open.

Mark

[beenthere]

Maybe MM won't pass that story on to Pat.   
Hopefully she can relate a much more comfortable recovery from her surgery.
Sorry about yours.

[drobertson]

Just a few days, and all will be better, its rough no matter how good it went, serious stuff for anyone, with time,  all will be close to the same,  our thoughts and prayers are going out for you both,  david

[Magicman]

The surgery was successful and we are back at home.  The Dr. said that the disc had really beaten the sciatic nerve badly so he was not surprised that the numbness in her foot became pain after the surgery.  She had a very miserable night partly because the IV failed and the meds that were supposed to  be pumped into her was actually being soaked up by the bed.

She also had much trouble waking her "nurse" a few times, but I should be OK after the swelling goes down.   

She will be on restricted activity for the next 6 weeks; leg exercises and walking.  She is finally sleeping now and friends will bring supper tonight and tomorrow night.