Anyone have sciatica?

I think I have it, but I'm still waiting to go for a CT scan and MRI (darn insurance authorizations). It started as severe lower back pain. The pain travels into my rear and back of my thighs. Two weeks later, the pain is mainly in my rear. It's hurts to sit for too long, especially when I have to get up from sitting. I can't bend. Laying down is the only form of relief. The doc has me on a steroid for inflammation and a muscle relaxer. I had a spinal fusion 7 years ago (rods put in my back to correct scoliosis) but the doc says everything looks fine on that front. Over the course of the last 2 weeks, I have needed help walking, getting up, etc. I still can't put my own socks on.

Anyone ever experience anything like this? Any suggestions on what I can do. It's been over 2 weeks and I'm going out of my mind.

Re: Anyone have sciatica?

There is a history of this in my family ... my grandfather, my aunt, my uncle & my dad.

My dad was laid out for 6 months, he found relief from going to the chiropractor and was also prescribed a TENS unit to use at home.

I occasionally have pains that resemble sciatica but haven't been diagnosed with it yet ... right now just working on the herniated & bulging discs in my cervical spine

Re: Anyone have sciatica?

I have it, it is exactly how you describe it. I have it from a herniated disk in my L5-S1.

Try going to physical therapy, that helped me greatly, I am now able to walk for more than 2 minutes straight.

I suffered with it for a couple of months-I thought I would never get better. I was on pain meds for a week-bc I don't like medication-but the physical therapy is what really helped me get some back muscle strength back.

If you have any questions, feel free to FM me.

Re: Anyone have sciatica?

I get it and am feeling it right now as a matter of fact. Going to the Chiropractor helps a lot.

Re: Anyone have sciatica?

I had it and did traction therapy at my chiropractor. It worked wonders, especially when I got it again while I was PG and would not do the meds. I also had a medical masseuse do some deep tissue therapy as well.

Re: Anyone have sciatica?

Yes!

Chiropractic and accupuncture have helped me

There were times when the only thing that helped was a drug called Neurontin, but I had to stop it because of side effects. But the neurontin literally knocks out the nerve pain.

Do you feel better with the muscle relaxer? Maybe hot baths ot soothe the muscle? though for me, ice usually works better sometimes to lower inflammation.

Re: Anyone have sciatica?

Yep I had really bad sciatica before my spinal fusion. Now it only rears its ugly head sometimes. All the above mentioned things from the other posters helped.

Re: Anyone have sciatica?

Thanks for all the input gang. I started having DH help me with stretches. I don't think I can see a chiropractor because of the rods in my back. It just stinks so bad because I can only sit up for so long before I need to lay down and relax the muscles. Luckily my company has been very understanding and lets me go home when I can't sit any longer and allows me to work from home when I'm worried about driving, etc. I just don't know how much longer they'll be so understanding.

The muscle relaxers aren't doing a darn thing for me. Today was the last oral steroid pill so once they wear off, I hope the pain doesn't come back as bad as it was.