I have a on and off issues with Sciatica, Does anyone know of any good home treatments other than ice, heating pad and Motrin to help me with this very extremely painful situation? Much appreciated!!
I’ve had sciatica since August of ’06. The doctor did an MRI and found I have a herniated disc in my lumbar spine with stenosis. The pain wakes me up at night and is horrendous in the mornings. It hurts all the way from my back to my foot (on the left side). The neurosurgeon recommended surgery, but I am scared-plus I have other health issues. My husband also has disc problems and recently had his 1st nerve block. It helped at first but now it seems to have worn off. I’m sick of living on painkillers and constant pain.
I am 22 (23 in 1 month), 5’0 tall, and 25 weeks along (6mo, 1wk). I have horrible back pain, even when walking short distances. I am constantly out of breath. Before I got pregnant, I was 160 pounds. I was not fat cause most of that weight is in my hips & thighs. When I sit down, there seems to be no comfortable way to sit. Even laying on my side is uncomfortable. The pillows are not helping either. Also, does anyone recommend the Pregnancy Comfort Back Support and that little wedge thingy? Are there any other affordable remedies that you can recommend that does not involve taking medicine? I don’t know how much of this i can take.
Does anyone have any good suggestions for helping with the pain of sciatica – solutions available in the UK?
I’m a 16 year old female. I was born with spina bifida occulta. I had a tethered cord release surgery when I was 8. I’ve gone years without seeing side effects of my condition save for some numbness in my left foot and left hand. Occasionally when I do some exercises (especially abdominal) I feel pain in my lower back. I was just wondering if this was normal or if I should refrain from those activities. All input is appreciated! Thank you!
Having back pain is extremely common. But faced with this pain, how to react?
Wait or make an appointment with your physiotherapist or osteopath? Some run from one specialist to another, without finding lasting relief. Who do I contact? Many specialists are interested in our vertebrae problems (if requested) from back pain caused by modern life?
Eight out of ten people have suffered, are suffering or will suffer from back pain. These back pain, often persistent and recurrent, are a major cause of absenteeism and disability, and the first cause of consultation in pain centers. How to deal with them? The “recipes” are numerous in this area and is a great temptation to follow the word of mouth: “In some movements, it took away my pain ….” Yet caution should be exercised as some manipulations can be dangerous and medical advice is sometimes necessary.
Pay attention when severe pain occurs suddenly. The likely cause:
A slight displacement;
A hernia of an intervertebral disc;
A tendon injury or paraspinal muscles (small tear, elongation or simple muscle spasm).
If the pain is severe or persists more than a few days, a medical consultation is required. The same is true if the suffering in addition spinal pain in the buttock, thigh, or, especially, below the knee, tingling sensations or weakness in the leg. These are signs indeed suspected nerve compression (sciatica).
The doctor will conduct a physical examination to search for the nerve damage and prescribe appropriate medicines for pain (anti-inflammatories, analgesics, muscle relaxants).
In relieving pain, this treatment will remove muscle spasm that accompanies it well enough and often cure the episode a few days. But back pain has a tendency to become chronic, the more easily it is often related to poor posture. Where to move in this case?
In case of severe pain, it is best to consult a rheumatologist. This specialist can make an accurate diagnosis, order tests (MRI scan) to reveal the disc or bone lesions. It will eventually reveal a rheumatic disease responsible for back pain (ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis) or rarer causes of pain, such as a tumor or an infection. The rheumatologist will finally inject corticosteroids to relieve pain.
Having back pain is extremely common. But faced with this pain, how to react? Wait or make an appointment with his physiotherapist or osteopath? Some run from one specialist to another, without finding lasting relief. Who do I contact one of the many specialists who are interested in our vertebrae if requested by modern life?
Eight out of ten people have suffered, are suffering or will suffer from back pain. This back pain, often persistent and recurrent, is a major cause of absenteeism and disability, and the first cause of consultation in pain centers. How to deal with them? The “recipes” are numerous in this area and is a great temptation to follow the word of mouth: “In some movements, it took away my pain ….” Yet caution should be exercised as some manipulations can be dangerous and medical advice is sometimes necessary.
If the pain is in the leg:
Seek attention when severe pain occurs suddenly. The likely cause:
A slight displacement;
A hernia of an intervertebral disc;
A tendon injury or paraspinal muscles (small tear, elongation or simple muscle spasm).
If the pain is severe or persists more than a few days, a medical consultation is required. The same is true if the suffering in addition spinal pain in the buttock, thigh, or, especially, below the knee, tingling sensations or weakness in the leg. These are signs indeed suspected nerve compression (sciatica).
The doctor will conduct a physical examination to search for the nerve damage and prescribe appropriate medicines for pain (anti-inflammatories, analgesics, muscle relaxants).
In relieving pain, this treatment should remove the muscle spasm that accompanies it well enough and often cures the episode after a few days. But back pain has a tendency to become chronic, the more easily it is often related to poor posture. Where to escalate the treatment in this case?
In case of severe pain, it is best to consult a rheumatologist. This specialist can make an accurate diagnosis, order tests (MRI scan) to reveal the disc or bone lesions. It will eventually reveal a rheumatic disease responsible for back pain (ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis) or rarer causes of pain, such as a tumor or an infection. The rheumatologist will finally achieve infiltration of corticosteroids to relieve back pain.
Often, no significant anomalies are found and back pain seems to be due to bad postures. The doctor can then prescribe physical therapy.
The visit to the physiotherapist can be very useful in more ways than one:
For massages, relaxing certainly, but whose effectiveness has never been evaluated;
For exercises to beef up the para-vertebral muscles, but also of the abdomen or thighs to avoid moving the spine in each movement.
These exercises are useful only in highly motivated people who will be able to achieve and do them daily.
The physiotherapist will also explain to adopt the right attitudes and postures to avoid.
Sitting on a low chair increases by 400% the pressure forces on the intervertebral discs and wearing a shoulder bag can result in very significant tensions on the spine. It is easy to see in these conditions, the repetition of certain actions can eventually cause pain. So simple advice can be essential.
However, it should be noted that no studies demonstrate the effectiveness of physiotherapy methods (infrared, shortwave, ionopheres) sometimes proposed in physiotherapy practices. As for the laser, a test has been carried out and has not shown convincing results. Finally, transcutaneous electrical stimulation appears to relieve pain, but has only shown immediate effect and not persistent effect.
Often attributed to handling a dramatic effect, sometimes leading to a power given to chiropractors almost miraculous. In fact, studies show that such manipulations have a real effect on pain, but very limited in time. So can we use, but only for temporary relief and knowing that it is a medical procedure that must be performed by a physician after a review, not an osteopath or a non chiropacteur doctor. Indeed, there are some cons-indications to manipulation (osteoarthritis, inflammatory disease, bone lesions …). Although rare, sometimes very serious complications have been described.
Acupuncture is often proposed in the treatment of pain. This technique involves no risk. However, few studies have shown conflicting results, sometimes emphasizing one analgesic sometimes no effect.
Back pain can be very disabling to the point of invading everyday life. Is sometimes the case after trauma. There are centers that are offered rehabilitation programs in the effort, combining a pain treatment, exercises, education sessions and counseling and psychological care.
These programs are designed for people suffering from disabling chronic pain. Their aim is a social and professional reintegration and are probably the best treatment for refractory pain.
It may be advisable, finally, to monitor behavioral therapies, not to eliminate pain but to decrease it and learn how to manage it.
Finally, we must not forget that the best treatment of back pain is probably the preventive treatment, and that it must start early and avoid wearing heavy loads (bags, etc.), maintaining physical fitness and adopting good posture.
Dr Chantal Guéniot
Me and my hubby wake up with back pain every day. Our bed is normal not lumpy and bumpy, we are fine once we get up.. Why is this?
Has anyone suffered from Sciatica and how long did it last?
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