Hi, I'm an artist, BFA in arts 1992, I was an extremely active stay at home dad. My son is in college now and over the past few years, my lower back pain got worse with sciatica in both hips, butt,thighs, legs,calves, feet...worse in right side...I'm always looking for answers in my ongoing battle against back pain and sciatica.
I do lower back pain yoga stretching in the mornings, I'm on Gabapentin also. I have had cortisone shots, spinal cord stimulator...don't work for me
I'm interested in all the info my fellow pain sufferers have to offer, and any help I can give back🙂
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Dback
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Hi DBack, apart from sciatica, have you had any investigative scans to determine a root cause of your back pain? As far as the sciatica itself is concerned, if you have Bowen therapists in the US, it is worth giving that a go. I know two people whose sciatica resolved with such therapy. Many years ago and long before the arrival of Bowen I experienced a year-long bout of sciatica (caused by a slippage of my spine) so I know just how debilitating it can be. Another helpful tip I have found is to wear some sort of support (corset?) for a few days. Hope that helps.
Yes, thank you. I've had a recent MRI compared to one last year, my disc issue at l5,s1 has not gotten worse, had not heard of Bowen chiropractor, will investigate 🙂
See both an Alexander Teacher and McTimony chiropractor. The Alexander teacher will hopefully give you better insights in how to do your yoga exercises. The chiropractor may be able to help with back problems and give a second opinion to take back to the doctor.
You can only get answers by doing personal investigation. I would like to say more, but until you have been seen by a chiropractor anything said is guesswork that could be inaccurate.
I would suggest that, in my experience, an MRI will give you a better idea of what is going on particularly if it is a foraminal issue or spinal stenosis.
I would agree. An MRI would show what may be happening. MRI scans are expensive and are as a result rationed. To get an MRI scan you need to provide a good reason. The chiropractor should be able to give an opinion to take back to a doctor.
It is very easy to do exercises incorrectly. An Alexander teacher would bring more understanding as to what would be better ways of doing yoga exercises. This in the long run would lead to quality of life improvement.
An MRI scan does not show what muscles are doing when one is not lying down. An MRI scan could show nothing is wrong when lying down and yet when standing or sitting a muscle could be clamping or a nerve causing all sorts of runaway feedbacks.
Most nerve involvement has a bone rather than muscle involvement. If you have been in great pain for a lengthy period of time then you are justified in seeking a specialist referral
you say: "Most nerve involvement has a bone rather than muscle involvement". Muscle is what acts on the bone. Muscle can also cause pressure to applied to nerves.
My experience is that you need to persuade GPs to send you to a specialist. You also need to provide evidence as to what specialist to see. You get the wrong specialist you have to wait months before you see the right one. Chiropractors can be seen within a few days of contacting them.
Oops, it posted before I finished. I self referred myself to physical therapy (They have doctorates). I was told by P.T. they believe I have spinal stenosis. In hindsight it would probably have been a lot smarter to see my Internist first, but they were on vacation.
Should the Internist not order a MRI without good cause a local chiropractic office will I’ve inquired & charge around $450 for one. At the hospital here the price is well over $1000 probably $2000 now. I can aways request a second reading of the images if necessary. I could also go & get a Internist second opinion (if a satisfactory explanation is not provided) in hopes of receiving a MRI too.
In the mean time I am going for some Alexander Technique to help with keeping a neutral spine. So I am in agreement with earlier posts. The only thing I will add is have you maintained your height? If not that is worth exploring. Also if your weight needs any adjusting that may help you as well.
You mentioned you are doing lower back yoga. Based on some prior Alexander Technique I’ve learned most people carry stress in their neck/shoulder area. This alters their head’s alignment with their spine. Which in turn throws one’s posture out of alignment. Why not do some yoga for the neck/shoulder area to relax tension in that area. See if that helps you.
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