ADVICE NEEDED! Anybody suffer from sciatica?

[gritsar]

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I am scared to death to go to a chiropractor. The last time I went and had my neck adjusted, it set off rapid fire migraines. Eventually without any more adjustments the migraines stopped. The other day I got out of bed and felt and heard my neck pop. Instant, intense migraine. First one I'd had in more than 16 years. Lasted three days. Doc said next time I have one, if I have one, I should take a valium that he prescribed specifically for those times and get my butt to the ER asap. There I'll be given the old standby - a shot of demerol and phenergan.

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

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That is SO funny! Mine always is excruciating when I sneeze! It's like some important muscle either tenses or relaxes, causing horrible pain after a sneeze!

 

[FarmerJamie]

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That's really too bad - the insurance I had at the time covered 10 accupucture and 10 chiro visits per person per year. They have "improved' our coverage this year and lost both. I was 100% skeptical of the Oriental treatment, but I'm now a believer - the pin "earrings" I got in my ear that stayed in for a few days were certainly conversation starters at the very least.

I would enter the Dr's office hunched over like a little old man and after a 20 minute session could actually stand upright and feel a little like normal again.

 

[Royd]

I never had it diagnosed as such, and I have no idea what caused it, but it lasted about 6 months or more. It was in my left glut and leg. I had to start sitting on a pillow, at the computer, and mostly, keep pressure off the left cheek. It was painful.

Then, it just disappeared, like it came.

 

[verthandi]

Things that have helped my sciatic. Heat works better for me than cold, when I have one of the cramps that make me yell in pain. A rice sock is my best friend. A nurse suggested I increase my magnesium and calcium intake. Magnesium helped with the cramping but made my stomach ache...it you try it check with your doctor and increase it slowly. My PT suggested I try Doan's Pills and I laughed...I don't know if anyone remembers the ads for them and the claim that they cured back pain)for the good one days). There seems to be some wisdom to the claim, as it is aspirin that is made with magnesium. I also use a yogi/ exercise ball at my computer desk and it takes some of the pressure off my leg.

 

[HyLinda]

After going to the Dr, Physical Therapy & Chiropractor for over a year, I finally went to a dr who ordered an MRI. He said my disk had ruptured a year ago and again more recently. He surgically repaired the disc, cleaned the fragments out of the sciatic nerve channel, widened the channel because the nerve was thicker due to scarring from the fragments. That's why the PT and Chiro didn't work. That was over 12 years ago and I can do anything I want without pain. The sciatica pain was horrific - it hurt so bad I couldn't scream or cry when it went off like a cattle prod. Hope you find the right solution for your problem. Chronic pain is so depressing.

 

[littlefarm_bighappy]

Oh hun, I hear ya.
I lost almost 3 years of my life to a ruptured disc with nerve inpingement.

I am currently 31 weeks pregnant. My family is used to me taking a step or rolling over and then screaming out loud.

What hepled me- tremendously- is the drug called Gabapentin (Neurontin) I am on it thought pregnant- honestly, I have a high pre-eclampsia/HELLP risk with other issues so the medication is the least of our worries right now.

I'm on a dose that would kill a horse, but it controls the pain and helps with depression/anxiety as well.

 

[exoticduckluvr]

wow Neurontin made me want to kill when I got mad. Really scared me and I got off it immediately. Had Allergic reaction to Lyrica after a month. Neither helped my pain anyway

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

Got mine after I broke my tailbone years ago. Flared up when I got preggers too.

Acupuncture and stretching like was described here the putting out your foot and turning thing, did the trick. Whenever it flares I go back to the acupuncturist. One or two treatments and I am good for five to six years. I know I know I did not believe it either, was so desperate I was willing to try anything. The relief was fast and total.

 

[EweSheep]

Does it cost alot to have an accupuncturist? I would hate to go thru all that blood work, xrays, etc. again.