Who's had to deal with a pinched sciatic nerve?

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  • Toecutter

    Marksman
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    Jan 9, 2020
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    Greenwood
    Who's had to deal with a pinched sciatic nerve? Last Saturday I was experiencing lower back pain and I really just tried to ignore it, hoping it would get better. Well I went to bed Saturday and my right leg was killin me. I tried laying every which way you can and nothing worked. I got absolutely zero sleep. I get up Sunday morning and could barely straighten up and walk and was in excruciating pain. I dealt with the pain as best I could. Luckily I was able to get a doctor's appointment yesterday, Monday. I had to have my wife drive me because my right leg seemed to be weak and my foot felt kinda numb. So I get to the doctor's office and slowly limp my way in with the help of my wife. The doc comes in and said he saw me limp my way in. He asked me what was going on and I tell him and he says he thinks I have a pinched sciatic nerve, the worst he has seen in a long while. The pain runs from my lower back, down my right rear buttocks, and down the back of my leg to my foot. I was hoping he would give me a shot to help speed up the pain relief, but he put me on a round of steroids and a muscle relaxer. He said I should start to feel better within a couple days, and he said I could go back to work on Wednesday. I just can't imagine
    being able to go back to work on Wednesday with the pain I am currently experiencing and I absolutely hate taking any time off. I have only taken 2 rounds of meds so far but unfortunately feel no relief at all. I have had pretty bad pain before and can usually handle it pretty well but this has put me on the floor a few times. I have never had anything like this before and don't wish it on anyone. I just hope the meds start kicking in soon.

    Sorry for the lengthy post. I guess I kinda ramble on at times.
     

    Mr Evilwrench

    Quantum Mechanic
    Emeritus
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    0   0   0
    Aug 18, 2011
    11,560
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    Carmel
    I wound up with spinal surgery. If it gets bad enough, and depending on your age, you may well get to enjoy this. My muscles are still weak, but finally getting better.

    I had all kinds of special effects, like I would wake up screaming because it felt like my leg was being chainsawed off, or someone had soaked my foot in gasoline and lit it on fire. Hydrocodone for 5 months until I could get in the operating room was the only thing that kept me operating. I have a very stout cane that I still carry around with me.
     

    printcraft

    INGO Clown
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    16   0   0
    Feb 14, 2008
    38,987
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    Uranus
    Yes and it ****ing sucks. My foot is still numb from damage. Disc pushed out and pinched.
    I got up out of bed one day and collapsed, I couldn’t walk.
    No sleep for what seemed like weeks. Couldn’t sit in a chair to work had to stand as long as I could or kneel.
    Sleeping when I could was on my stomach, supported by pillows with one leg cocked up.
    Did it mention it ****ing sucks?
    There is another thread in the break room about it.
     

    Hookeye

    Grandmaster
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    4   0   0
    Dec 19, 2011
    15,039
    77
    armpit of the midwest
    3 yrs now.
    Comes n goes w leg tingle/pain.
    But always some discomfort.
    And weakness. It's just gone.

    Stand for a while, sit for a while, lay down for a while............and no matter what activity, always that pressure/discomfort.
    Moved today and felt nerve roll, about puked.

    Also have some pudednal nerve stuff going on.
    Lightning strikes where you really don't want em LOL.

    Have not had injections.
    Tried anti inflams, allergic.

    Stretching and just saying Ef it.......do what I have to do.

    I did, for unknown reason, got 3 days of no pain/discomfort.........and then it was right back to what it was.
    But yeah, at least 3 yrs now.

    Sucks.
     

    Alpo

    Grandmaster
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    2   0   0
    Sep 23, 2014
    13,877
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    Indy Metro Area
    I've had long term back problems that I won't enumerate here, but here are a few things I've learned:

    It isn't gonna get better in a day or two. It might take a week. It might take a month.
    If you have a recliner lounge, try to sleep in it. You may get more relief than a mattress. I've slept in my recliner for 3 years now.
    Don't stand flat-footed when you do stand. Put the weight on one foot and then the other.
    You don't say how old you are, but if you're over 40, you may have stenosis in your pelvic nerve canals. Until the tissue shrinks down the pain/numbness will remain.
    Don't push it. Overdoing it will reset you to a more painful level and the healing process will likely be extended.
    Don't lift a damn thing. Nothing.
    The electric stimulators you can buy at a drugstore or on line do help.
     

    Hookeye

    Grandmaster
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    4   0   0
    Dec 19, 2011
    15,039
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    armpit of the midwest
    Ozzfest 2004 I got sunburned bad.
    Feet peeled, thought that why legs tingled.
    About a week later, went to get up from a nights sleep, and couldn't
    Crawl to door and pull myself up screaming......took forever to get to my Jeep.
    Went to chiro.
    He said I was way out and popped me.....I yelled....it was like a bomb went off.
    But...........I could walk back to my car without looking like Tim Conway on the Carol Burnett show.
    Babied it a few months, couple more visits.........was gone.

    Well, kinda. Never 100%...........maybe 90%.

    Functional but never perfect.
    Always had middle back and neck issues, but this the first so low.

    Had it again a couple yrs later, couple visits, back to same

    Repeat.

    Last visit said that its not chiro any more.
    Surgery time, go see specialist.

    Xrays say arthritis, next is MRI.
     

    Hookeye

    Grandmaster
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    4   0   0
    Dec 19, 2011
    15,039
    77
    armpit of the midwest
    My job has me standing on concrete lifting things 8 hrs a day. Turning and twisting too.
    Age 55.
    Doc said take 2 alleve when I get up.
    Makes for odd burning sensation in face bones so I quit.
     

    KokomoDave

    Enigma Suspect
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    75   0   0
    Oct 20, 2008
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    Kokomo
    I've had 18 lower back procedures. 2 neck surgeries. 3 shoulder operations. DON'T go to the VA. 'nuff said there.
     

    Rookie

    Grandmaster
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    14   0   0
    Sep 22, 2008
    18,155
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    Kokomo
    I did until surgery made life easier. Try sleeping on your stomach with your pillow under your chest and stomach. It helped at times. Sometimes it didn't...
     

    CindyE

    Master
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    7   0   0
    Jul 19, 2011
    3,006
    83
    north/central IN
    I have something similar, but it's in my neck, so the pain shoots down my arm. Started in the left arm, but recently had it in the right. When I first had it in my left arm, it was horribly painful. Sometimes my hand was numb. Often felt like someone was stabbing me in the arm. I've been told I have a high pain tolerance, and this was awful. I couldn't sleep. I rolled around on the floor and cried. Pain meds only made me sick. A round of oral steroids and physical therapy finally helped. I see a chiropractor regularly, and take anti-inflammatory supplements. I actually know someone who is having surgery today for the same type of neck issue. I'm trying to avoid that. I've been lucky that it's been pretty manageable so far, after that one time.
    Good luck.
     

    churchmouse

    I still care....Really
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    187   0   0
    Dec 7, 2011
    191,809
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    Speedway area
    My back/neck are junk from the trades and life choices. Pain is a constant but bearable most days. 800 Ibu is a sleeping pill for me. When it wears off in six hours or so I get up. My Chiro has kept me moving since my mid 30's. Fast approaching 70 and he and his staff are a monthly visit for me. Actually today is that visit.

    Like many posting in here I have had to crawl out of bed, dress on the floor, crawl to he truck and require assistance to get in his office.
    He has literally saved me from myself.
     

    bigretic

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    Jan 14, 2011
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    NWI
    took 2-3 months to go away for me. take it easy is an understatment. also there were stretches that defineately helped. like knees to chest i think.
     

    maxwelhse

    Grandmaster
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    0   0   0
    Aug 21, 2018
    5,415
    149
    Michiana
    I'll be another vote for the chiro... Had sciatic and disc problems for about 15 years now and I finally went to one this summer when it happened again and it made all the difference. I didn't got to the "bone cracking" kind though. I went to the "stimulation" kind. I'd recommend you try either.

    Also, ice therapy really helps me. 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off, for a couple of hours, with one of these:

    https://www.amazon.com/Extra-Large-Cold-Flexible-Therapy/dp/B01N4IRZPU

    I also recently got one of these for my chair... Seems to be helping:

    https://www.amazon.com/Tcare-Multifunctional-Portable-Inflatable-Orthopedic/dp/B0759B2NPP
     

    maxwelhse

    Grandmaster
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    0   0   0
    Aug 21, 2018
    5,415
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    Michiana
    I have realized that every injury you have in this life that sets you down for a few days or more will haunt you for your eternity.

    Yep... I ended up with deep tissue thrombosis (not in my veins, in my lymph nodes) in combination with all of this in my left leg, so my lefty is permanently 15% or more swollen, depending on the day. I can gain or lose about 10lbs depending on activity just in water in my leg. What really blows is that's my clutch leg AND the bum nerve leg.

    The good news is that once you get yourself a little figured out, it's manageable to a point. But my days of long road trips and walking around car shows for 12 hours are long behind me. I really have to watch myself out in the shop too. My spirit says "go go go", then the next day my body can't tie my shoes...

    Anyhow... Get checked out OP. Waiting isn't going to make it any better. I'd suggest a chiro before drugs and PT. That didn't do me any good and cost a couple of kilobucks for not much of any result.
     

    churchmouse

    I still care....Really
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    187   0   0
    Dec 7, 2011
    191,809
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    Speedway area
    Yep... I ended up with deep tissue thrombosis (not in my veins, in my lymph nodes) in combination with all of this in my left leg, so my lefty is permanently 15% or more swollen, depending on the day. I can gain or lose about 10lbs depending on activity just in water in my leg. What really blows is that's my clutch leg AND the bum nerve leg.

    The good news is that once you get yourself a little figured out, it's manageable to a point. But my days of long road trips and walking around car shows for 12 hours are long behind me. I really have to watch myself out in the shop too. My spirit says "go go go", then the next day my body can't tie my shoes...

    Anyhow... Get checked out OP. Waiting isn't going to make it any better. I'd suggest a chiro before drugs and PT. That didn't do me any good and cost a couple of kilobucks for not much of any result.

    The trades, dirt bike racing (long before the modern lite weight offerings these kids fly today) some full contact fighting and more than a few street fights/bar altercations. Always pushing my body. Well, as we learn with time our bodys are limited in the abuse we give them.

    OP, drugs will not solve this. Pain meds might ease you through but seek out a good bone specialist (Chiro) because this will not go away. It will haunt you.
    I hate pain meds.
     

    thunderchicken

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    5   0   0
    Feb 26, 2010
    6,435
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    Indianapolis
    Just over a year ago, I woke up with back pain and it radiated throught the buttovk and down the back of my right leg. I tried working through the pain but it only got worse as I do a lot of manual labor. I first saw the family Dr and went through a few rounds of steroid/anti inflammatory pills and it helped some..some. After an MRI, found a pinched nerve between L2-L3 while waiting to see the specialist I was put on 300mg of Gabapentin 3x/day and that made life much more bearable. With it and a little help from Aleve, I was finally able to sleep again. Saw the brain & spine Dr and allowed them to give me an injection between the vertebrate and within a week was back to work without pain. The whole process for me took about 3 months of being on light duty with lifting restrictions and taking meds. The brain & spine Dr said once you have it, it can flare up at any time. But I have been mostly sciatic pain free since last March.
    My dad has been fighting it for two years and refuses to fo the spinal injection but manages to get by with help again from Gabapentin.
    It sucks but unless you have an office job, you will likely need to go see thw Dr again and get put on lifting restrictions and light duty.
    Don't wait, don't try to tough it out
     

    gregkl

    Outlier
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    33   0   0
    Apr 8, 2012
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    I had a lateral femoral sub-cutaneous nerve impingement once. When I woke in the morning, it took me 3-4 minutes to get myself out of bed. I could barely get dressed. This lasted for a couple months with regular chiropractic sessions with the doc doing a lot of muscle work.

    The pain and lack of mobility didn't budge for about 2 weeks then ever so slowly got progressively better. Your injury, though different will most likely do the same. It will at some point start to get better.

    It was the most extended pain I have ever felt.

    My wife laughed.:)

    My type of injury was caused by repetitive motions over the course of a weekend and a day.
     

    CindyE

    Master
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    7   0   0
    Jul 19, 2011
    3,006
    83
    north/central IN
    I'll be another vote for the chiro... Had sciatic and disc problems for about 15 years now and I finally went to one this summer when it happened again and it made all the difference. I didn't got to the "bone cracking" kind though. I went to the "stimulation" kind. I'd recommend you try either.

    Also, ice therapy really helps me. 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off, for a couple of hours, with one of these:

    https://www.amazon.com/Extra-Large-Cold-Flexible-Therapy/dp/B01N4IRZPU

    I also recently got one of these for my chair... Seems to be helping:

    https://www.amazon.com/Tcare-Multifunctional-Portable-Inflatable-Orthopedic/dp/B0759B2NPP

    There are so many different chiropractic methods. I have gone to at least 5 over the years. One of them did accupressure. I swear it felt like she didn't do anything at all, when she said she was done, I thought, "what?!" But on the way home, I noticed my pain was much better. Current one is in his 70s, and I am so lucky that his office is just a few minutes away. It will be a sad day for me when he retires.
    On another note, our vet is also an animal chiropractor. We adopted a dog that I noticed walked funny, and I watched as she adjusted his spine. It was amazing, he immediately started walking better.
     

    66chevelle

    Sharpshooter
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    25   0   0
    Jun 16, 2008
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    greenfield
    I had issues 2 years ago. I woke up for work got ready and bent over to put my shoes on and fell to the floor. I couldn’t walk or move my legs without the worst pain I had ever felt (on aside note I almost cut my thumb off and it didn’t hurt this bad). I finally made it to be where I laid for 2 days before I would get to the Dr. My wife had to pull the vehicle right to the front door so I could make it. I borrowed my dada walker just to get to the vehicle. I ended up entering the hospital in a wheel chair. My Dr put me on a bunch of medicines that didn’t do anything. He spent 3 weeks trying things that didn’t help. He even put me in a $1,900 back brace that was worthless. After 3 weeks my wife was talking to her OBGYN and she told her to call Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine. She called them and made me a appointment. It just so happened that the Dr also had an office at IU where he had me get a MRI. The next day I went to Greenwood and get two cortisone shots. As he was injecting my back I could feel the pain and pressure leaving my back. It took me almost 3 weeks for the numbing to go away from my legs but my toes are still a little numb today. I tell everyone I know that has this issue to call Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine today and have them look at you.
     
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