Had back surgery at L4/L5 for sciatica about 2.5 years ago after trying everything in the book to help me, discectomy and laminectomy. Hit by drunk...Took awhile but after a year I was back in the gym and living life again. Not pain free but good enough. Now injured my back at work and it’s starting again but this time at least get relief from laying down and feels more like muscle spasms may be the culprit. MRI shows a bulge again near same spot. Not sure I can deal with this emotionally again. It’s extremely taxing mentally and physically. Worst part is you look fine so people can’t register in there minds the pain you’re in. Workcomp doctors keep releasing me back to work with restrictions even though I’ve fallen to ground multiple times with extreme pain from spasms not understanding or caring that I can’t stand, walk, or sit without extreme pain. Don’t know what to do cuz I need to pay the bills. I won’t have surgery again without exhausting every possible option. I don’t know what to do now.
Extreme sciatica pain : Had back surgery at L4/L... - PMRGCAuk
Extreme sciatica pain
Hi Fulltilt
I’m so sorry to hear about your situation & the pain you are experiencing, on this site we all have Polymyalgia Rheumatica, Giant Cell Arteritis or both which is treated with Prednisolone & is a self limiting disease.
Perhaps Pain Concern on Health Unlocked might be somewhere you may find some more advice better suited to your situation, you’ll find them by searching in ‘My Communities’.
We do however have Members who have other pain issues & hopefully they will be along later with some ideas & in the meantime try reposting on ‘Pain Concern’
Wishing you all the very best 🍀
MrsN
Hi fulltilt, I had same surgery in 99. I was only ever told it would stop that episode of sciatica and I have sciatic pain pretty permenantly now from other bulging discs. There are a range of meds your doctor can try muscle relaxants and neuropathic drugs like diazepam, low dose amitryptiline or gabapentin. I take duloxetine for neuropathy. Some people have had good success using these with painkillers. The bulge may heal in 6 to 8 weeks (you don't say how long this has been going on). I presume you must have done rehab after surgery? You must stretch that sciatic nerve everyday using those exercises. If you didn't do rehab look online.
When you get stuck and your legs won't moved and the pain tries to floor you, try taking a small step backwards. This seems to confuse my body. It doesn't stop the pain but allows me to move.
You need to speak to gp. Most drs would also see surgery as a last resort. I think you may get more specific support in a pain forum. I hope it eases soon. Good luck.
Re injury happened May 9th. I’m stretching and working it and it doesn’t seem as bad as last time I went through this. I can walk and get a drink and brush my teeth now but after those few minutes I’m spent and need to lie down from pain. I’m expected to get up and drive to work when I can’t barely shower or dress myself. When I had the surgery there was never a minute of relief just pure hell no position would relive it. Death woulda been fine with me at that point to be honest.
Oh dear. I felt like that before surgery.
It's awful you have been injured again. On the plus side you are early into the process of the body dealing with the bulge. Just keep moving but gently. No Dr will do anything but pain relief until the body has chance to clear the gunk. I call everything the body dump on us as gunk. I will keep my fingers crossed that each week it gets easier. With fully herniated discs, and bulging discs we have to get used to living with a bit of pain. The problem is that when it gets to a certain level then we have to rely on meds or sheer bloody mindedness to go past the blips. 🌻
Yes well put and appreciated. Unless you’ve dealt with this on a personal level it can’t be understood. That alone is very frustrating.
Yes, I encountered sciatica in January, tried everything, never had such excruciating pain before. Unable to put right leg on ground, no sleep, no relief. Physio failed...........however I was then told to try acupuncture............so I did.
I looked up registered practioners and chose the nearest, called Sam.
Went in and came out with less pain........he also did 'cupping' of which I had never heard.
Nevertheless, I walked out with less pain. 2nd session Sam hit a spot and I nearly went through the roof. He then asked, did I suffer back pain. I had for years but as it was on and off and not too painful I just put up with it. Piriformis said Sam. Me, none the wiser.
However when I left that 2nd session I was in much less pain. 5 treatments down the line, sciatica gone, 90% pain free and now he won't see me until 11 days have passed. I am going today at 1.30pm -and although it is now 14 days since I saw him. I have just small aches and pains and that is mostly back pain.
Then I suddenly remembered that in 2016 PMRpro wrote an article 'Who is Eileen'
which also included 'PMR Add-Ons' the article is too big to reproduce here (I think the moderators would go spare).........so here is a link, which will be closed on 1st August:
pmr-gca-northeast.org.uk/gr...
then click on Newsletter dated Summer 2016 go to page 9 and read 'Who is Eileen'.
During the past 10 years, she has written many articles in the Newsletters and also co-wrote a book 'Living with PMR & GCA'. The first print run of 300 was quickly purchased the second print run of 500 went the same way. Members of the charity were issued with them in the information pack when they joined. Other bought them via the website.
I was grateful that she happened to be in the UK and listening to Radio Newcastle and heard that we were launching a DVD.............one telephone call to me and it paid off big time for people with PMR, GCA or both.
I make no apologies for the length and sincerely hope I have been able to help Fulltilt.
🤔🤔🤔
Treatment so far has been injections in my gluteus Toradol steroids and been given pill steroids muscle relaxers etc. Toradol seemed to give me relief the best so far. I’m also on a regimen of IBU 800 and skelaxion every 8 hours and I do seem to get relief but doesn’t allow me to be mobile like I need to be. Also did a regimen of pednisolone
I have sciatica off and on. I pant with the pain sometimes. I have found pain killers a waste of time. I have had acupuncture including cupping which did not work, a TENS machine gave a little short term relief, physio did help and doing complex stretching did too, although I am probably not fit enough to get full benefit.
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