Back pain and sciatica

[Martha82]

Hi guys. I'm new here. I'm mother of two young children and am struggling greatly with general life due to back pain (for 5 years) and sciatica (for 5 weeks). Awaiting scan results and feel like I can't really do anything I used to and it's getting me down. Anyone got ideas of how to stay positive?

[KeepingFaith]

Welcome Martha! I'm so sorry to hear you are suffering with daily pain. And with children, it sure makes it tricky. I hope your scans bring you some answers so you may find relief. Have you tried searching Pinterest for sciatica stretches? Of course they only help if you can move enough to do them. Hopefully you can.

Know you're not alone & things can get better. Sometimes it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, I know this too. My son was only one when my back got so bad I could barely move any more. He doesn't know me as a mom who plays with him, other than from the couch. However, once all other routes had been tried and there was only 1 thing left, I finally opted for surgery. Meeting the surgeon, having 2 MRI's and a CT with numerous X-rays in under 2 years revealed numerous issues in my back. Surgery was really the only choice (other than continuing on massive pain meds, still barely living) left. Its been 5.5 weeks and I'm down to only 1 pain med and we are reducing it weekly!! I'm playing with my son. I'm able to sit on the floor and play cars, walk quickly playing guns, follow him upstairs and best of all is I can tuck both my kids in again!

It's so easy for us to focus on the negative, as we experience so vividly at all times. But, knowing there's hope and really believing you can overcome this and will get through whatever you encounter is key. We do everything we can with our kids in mind. We are moms, that's what we do. Look in their eyes and at their faces. They are the why & the how you will get through this. You are strong, don't forget that!

Best wishes to you and welcome!!

[Martha82 in reply to KeepingFaith]

Thanks for taking the time to write. It's heartening to hear of your success story!

[deejames]

Hi Martha. It's very hard with small children but do try to stay positive. The sciatica will pass if you can let the inflammation heal by being careful how you move and try try try not to pick up heavy things ( like children and baskets of washing). Have you got anti inflammator medication ?

Once the bout of sciatica passes then will be the time to investigate where the back pain is stemming from. It is so important that you consult an expert who will look at how you move, your posture, lifting tech ique etc. Sometimes helping back pain is just a question of strengthening core muscles and learning to move , sit, stand and sleep in the best manner to protect and strengthen your back. Pilates, Tai Chi and some yoga will help with all these things and it's worth putting in the effort if it can help your back for life.

So let this episode pass , as it will, and then work with your GP to work out a plan for your future back health.

Best of luck

Dee

[Martha82 in reply to deejames]

Thanks Dee. I'm taking amitriptyline at night for the nerve and zapain and naproxen during the day for the pain. I'm finding it hard to sleep solidly. Think it's been about 6 weeks since the severe pain started, and I'm really looking forward to the scan results. I'm finding it hard to know whether I should be resting or not. I try to carry on with all my normal activities, nothing major just short walks etc. And by the afternoon I'm in so much pain. I just really want to know something I can be doing to speed up my recovery - I hate being so helpless!

[Asholsapple]

I have crps in the back and most of my body, so the doc says. I feel severe pain in my back as well, I have did in my back, and bone spurs that started all of this. I used to be very active, now I can't even sit for more than 30 mins with severe pain, or stand for than 10 mins without feeling like my body is caving in on my middle section. I thought I was the only one that has felt this way being a mom. Let me know if you find out any solutions.

[Hidden]

Hi Martha. Have you ever tried reading the book "Treat Your Own Back" by physiotherapist Robin McKenzie? As an ex-nurse I found the simple exercises the only things that would help me get better. And fairly quickly. Of course, I don't know the ins and outs of your back problems. But, it's definitely worth a try. You don't say where the back pain is. However, if it's lower back pain, the exercises work a treat. Hope you recover soon. All the best.

[johnsmith]

See a chiropractor. They may be able to help reduce the pain due to pressure on nerves. Manual manipulation is not something the medical profession know much about.

The difficulty is that you may not have the financial resources to explore the posture root. Posture has a lot of bearing on pain in the back. Alexander Technique looks at posture and muscle control.

Are you getting enough sleep. Sleep has a bearing on fine muscle control and thus pain. Children have a habit of preventing grown ups from sleeping.

[Carriesue]

I am so surprised more people aren't trying chiropractor/massage therapy for back, neck, sciatica pain.

I know most doctors don't recognize chiropractors but there are some things only a chiropractor can help with.

Twenty years ago I suffered for years with my left hand being numb every morning. I worked at a keyboard in an office and thought I had carpal tunnel in my wrist. After awhile my whole left arm would ache.

I left my job and opened a daycare and things were a bit better but after a couple of years my shoulder, arm, ached!! I couldn't sleep. The docries tried everything!! Acupuncture, rehab, and eventually told me I just had to live with it. I was beside myself.

Finally out of sheer desperation I went to see a chiropractor a good friend recommended.

He took x-rays and showed me. Omg! No wonder I was in pain. I had been T-boned in a car accidentify years before and felt fine but had been a body builder and the muscle had held it in place. When I stopped working out my neck slipped out and was pinching a nerve.

My shoulder had dropped, my left arm had atrophied. One visit to this God send of a chiropractor and I walked oUT relatively painfree.

Make sure they take x-rays but if the doctors aren't helping at least think about a chiropractor.

It literally saved my life.