I have been regaling (boring) you all with my losing battle with sciatica. I guess it's been about a month now. My GP has prescribed various drugs, but to my dismay he has not referred me to someone who could perhaps get to the bottom of this. Pain meds help for for a while, but I'm down to my last two and I'm sure they won't give me any more. I guess doctors don't understand the concept of 24-hour pain. I would be very happy to undergo surgery at this point. I literally cannot walk around the block. I've been taking drives in the car just to get out and about. I hardly think about my COPD now. It's either behaving itself really well or in the presence of much stronger pain it fades into the background. My partner has all but washed her hands of me. She becomes very angry when I talk about my pain, but it's hard to think of anything else. That's why this forum is so helpful. Everybody understands what it's like trying to fake it through life just so you don't make others uncomfortable. She derides me just for belonging to this group. I have to keep a lot of things secret from her.
No improvement: I have been regaling... - Lung Conditions C...
No improvement
Your relationship doesn't sound too supportive! Sorry..I have been in some "not good for me"' relationships also! Anyway..back to your pain! Ask your Doctor for A TENS UNIT. Insurance usually pays for them! You place electrode patches on your pain site..then hook the wires up to a small device that hooks on your belt. It has 1 to 10 where you put the number to how you feel, like my Mom turned it to 6 where my nephew turned it to 9. It helps! JANET127
Hi, JANET127 and thanks for the replay. I have heard of these TENS units before. That would be wonderful if they could help. I went to bed a few hours ago but I'm up again in worse pain than before. I'm sitting on a frozen block of ice, trying to wait a while before I take another pain pill. They do help, but only last for a short while. I only have two left, and then I'm on my own. You know that in the U.S. they don't like to prescribe pain meds even when you are in extreme pain. The ice packs help a little, too. Relentless pain can begin to wear you out. At least I did not have to deal with my partner today. I told her I needed to be alone. I'm tired of forcing smiles for her. I hope you are doing well.
Sorry to know your partner isn't being supportive, it's something else for you to deal with. It's one thing for her to not understand your situation, but why deride you for belonging to this group? It can make no difference to her. When I joined this group it felt weird because I don't do social media but it's been the best thing because of the support and friendship, and the advice and information.
I'm really sorry to know you're still in so much pain. Can you seek advice from another doctor, or go back to your doctor for advice? If you can't get more medication maybe you can get advice for alternative help, like the TENS unit that Janet mentioned. Your doctor should be able to recommend something and not just leave you in pain.
I suffer from sciatica and slight muscle damage and my doctor's did not refer me either as they is nothing that can be done to solve the problems. All you can do is control the pain and have physo on it. That's it.
Hi challny, sorry to hear you are still in so much pain. Unfortunately by using the ice packs you may be making the problem worse, I understand they may numb the pain but they are also tightening the muscles, when in fact you need to relax and stretch them. As mentioned before I would suggest a hot bath soak, then perform a child or pidgeon pose exercise and stay in that position for as long as possible (30 mins) then get someone to massage your lower back and piriformis muscle. The purpose of this exercise is 1, hot bath relaxes and softens muscle, child or piece in pose opens up/stretches muscle (which may be pinching) on your nerve, and again lower back massage may help loosen trapped nerve. Hope you feel better soon. X. Ps I am a professional massage therapist.
Dear challny the thing you need most at the moment is the kindness and support of your partner. Pain erodes everything. I’ve seen Pete cry because of his back pain as it’s so relentless.
Doctors can help and you need to be referred to a specialist. The TENS machine is like Petes stimulator but on the outside of the back instead of inside.
We’re off to Southampton hospital today to see if they can help Pete anymore as he’s still in pain.
I’m glad you’re a member of this group and wish you better days ahead. Xxxx
Hi challny, I’m so sorry that you are in such a terrible place all round. As far as toxic and unsupportive relationships are concerned there are several of us on here who found that by getting rid of that destructive aspect of our lives we benefitted beyond words.
I am really surprised that being in the US you have not been referred for investigations on your spine and hip to find out if a problem there is causing the severe pain. A herniated disc or something like that? I am presuming that you have ins to pay for this.
I’m afraid that however worn out we feel it is usually up to us to fight our corner and be vociferous in sourcing the right treatment.
I suggest that you go back to your doctor or find another one and absolutely insist that this is investigated further by the experts who know about it. Thinking about you.
Have you thought of going to a chiropractor or osteopath, they might be able to help xx
I have thought about that Carnival567 I'm still surprised that my GP merely gave me some pain pills and sent me on my way, knowing that would provide only temporary relief. And it did. It did. But I ran out of pills last night, so I'm going to be in a world of hurt today. I would even gladly have surgery if that would help. I have Medicare insurance, so cost shouldn't be an issue.
Challny, do you have such a thing as painkillers in a gel form in the US, Ibuprufen or similar? You rub them in topically. During my flare-ups it gives better pain relief than meds albeit quite short lived but long enough to get some sleep or walk around a bit or just to enjoy a bit of respite from the wretched pain.
Oh dear challny I’m so so sorry for you, others may find it difficult to understand just how much pain you’re actually in but I’m sure that when you love someone you have a great deal of compassion for them and try to help them in any way you can . I think it was a good idea to have a day alone ☹️ as it seems you’re partner may be making you upset and feel alone with this pain you poor thing ! I definitely agree on the hot bath and maybe a heat patch on the effected area. Please go back to your dr tell them you need the pain meds as they help the pain unless he can offer something else to you , I can’t see why they don’t give you something that helped you it’s really not fare, as my mum always said remember they are just another person getting up and going to work to earn their keep and they’re not going to go home thinking or worrying about you and how your getting on stick up for yourself. This was my mums words for ever Not mine I can’t always stick up for myself with drs so I take my hubby he can !! But unfortunately it sounds like your all alone in this . Please please go back to your dr and ask for help . You will always have the support of this lovely group of people who have always been here for me too . It’s true that when your in so much pain it’s sll you think about and I think you’ve suffered enough. I will keep you in my prayers 🙏🙏 and please keep posting here , I hope to hear better news from you as I really hope your dr helps you Take care 🌹🌹🌹
Hello, Shazrab and thank you for your kind words. I just looked over your posts and I see that you too are suffering. Yet my suffering has nothing to do with COPD, even though I have that disease. This all stems from my sciatica. Hopefully, we will both see improvements together. Wouldn't that be lovely?
I am new here, been sitting in the background. I just had to reply to challny. I take Boswellia, one capsule in morning and one at night, helps so much with any pain, including sciatica. I am 83, emphysema and stroke.
Hi challny what a difference! I remember your post re the amount of walking and exercise you used to do!
Yes I agree re the tens machine and warm packs to the area, worth a try to get you mobile and gently exercising again?
Pleased to hear your copd is controlled now.
It's strange, Kristicats ... I don't know if my COPD is "well controlled" now, as you say, or if its deleterious effects are simply minimized in the face of an even more ravenous demon. Know what I mean? I guess I should be thankful that I have only one problem to deal with at a time. I just got off the phone with my GP's office and they say they are going to set me up with an orthopedic doctor. Maybe we are getting somewhere. I don't want to be the first person to ever die from sciatica (I'm joking)
Just a note! Medicare pays for TENS UNITS! JANET127
JANET127 ... REally? That's interesting. I was just at Walgreen's and I didn't see any on the shelf, although I didn't ask.
RedSox just a few minutes ago a pharmacy tech spoke highly of his chiro. I may look into that. The pain meds worked well, but they don't get to the root of the problem, and they won't give you many because of the opioid epidemic. All I know is that I need relief, and I need it now. This has been going on for a month. Take care.
I really feel for you what a nightmare. I’ve always found heat is better than cold I regularly use a hot water bottle, but not too hot! There are other pain killers that don’t contain opioids I was lucky I saw a fantastic rheumatologist, it was a bit of a cocktail but worked really really well.
I hope you get it all sorted I do sympathise
J
Oh I am so sorry to hear this. My husband has lots of issues but it’s the constant pain that brings him down so please don’t apologies we are here to listen. Tens machine is a good call I have also gotten some relief from acupuncture and reflexology.
As some others have already said, I would seek help from a Physiotherapist or a Chiropractor, I had very good help from a Chiropractor when I had spinal issues in my neck, also worked with Physiotherapists for years and know they were of help to many patients. They would often recomend the TENs machines, but liked to have seen an Xray and treated the patient first, so they knew exactly what they were dealing with. Did you every have an Xray, to show exactly where the disc problem was, leading to the sciatica? Wish you the best
My osteopath recommended 20 minutes cold followed by 20 minutes heat on my sore back at one point. The cold relieves the pain, the heat relaxes the muscles to stop them pulling so much. All the best.
An osteopath, physio or chiropractor would also give you stretching exercises to do to help treat the issue.
Low or deficient vitamin D and iron bloods might need checking as both can be causes or part causes of sciatica. Magnesium is very helpful in reducing sciatica pain.
If you soak up the sunshine on a warm sunny day and your pains are less you might find there is a connection to low or deficient vitamin D.
Just love the feel of the sun on my back.
Molly To The Vets...
First doctors visit of the year and not good news!
