Anyone have experience with sciatica?

[Sonya]

I think that is what I am going through. I have an appointment with a chiropracter today. Will I get relief soon?

 

[bananiem]

OK, my story is one in a million but I have to say it. PLEASE make sure he takes x-rays first. I had what I thought was sciatic pain because my sister had it and described what I was feeling. So I went to a chiropractor who's sons' I'd been friends with in high school. He did something to my hip and it was SO PAINFUL, then it went away. Two days later I pivoted on my foot and broke the neck of my femur. Turned out I had a bone cyst and what was left of the bone had a hairline fracture in it. If he'd taken x-rays I don't think he would've touched me. It was SO obvious on the x-ray even I could see it and I was a clueless 21 year old!
Like I said, I'm sure yours is NOT like my story, but I feel better if people get x-rays just in case.

 

[Sonya]

Thanks, he did take one a few weeks ago.

 

[bananiem]

Good, I feel better. Hope you do soon!

 

[nu cruzer]

I've had 2 bouts of sciatica. Both times I had shooting pain down my leg and my hamstring was so tight, it would become difficult to walk or stand for very long. The first time, I started with conservative treatments including physical therapy sessions, which would help for a few days then gradually start getting worse again. 2 days before my last scheduled pt session, while doing a leg lunge, something popped back into place in my back and I was as good as new. About 1 year later, the sciatica pain started again. This time, along with the pt exercises I had learned the year before I was going to the Dr. for manipulation (probably the same type a chiropractor would do). This would help for a few days then gradully worsen. A week in WDW aggravated the condition and I went from intermittent pain to non-stop pain. A MRI showed I had a herniated disc. I ended up at an orthopaedic surgeon and his recommendation, because I had already tried all the more conservative methods, was surgery. After talking it over with my dh, who kindly reminded that I had been in constant pain for almost 1 month straight, I bite the bullet and agreed to the surgery. Within 4 hours of surgery, I was up on my feet and walking without pain (smiley face here, if I knew how to insert one).

Sorry to bore you with details, hopefully the chiropractic sessions will work for you. See if you can get some exercises to do as well. You can look online or get a book from the library with exercises for your back.

Good luck!

 

[I Love Tigger]

I've been suffering with this for a few months now, saw my GP and was given amitriptyline, as she said it was good for nerve pain, it made me feel so drowsy, but didn't help with the pain. (I'm gradually coming off it after falling down stairs a few weeks ago, but still got the pain!)

My DH suggested I see a chiropracter, so will be interested to hear if it helps at all.

 

[Christine]

My GP diagnosed me with sciatica. I ended up going to a chiropractor. After describing my symptoms, he did not believe that I had classic sciatica but that I had SI joint stiffness with facet joint inflammation. He did various things to work on me, and I did get relief but not cure. Often with this SI inflammation and facet joint inflammation, it is VERY difficult to get it under control. But the chiropractor told me that he has very good luck with people with TRUE sciatica. They usually feel better in a few visits. I know that my friend has sciatica. She used to go to an osteopath for adjustment and she would feel better after the first adjustment and perfect after the 3rd.

The key is to make sure that you truly have sciatica. Also, sciatica is often caused by a bulging disc (not always) so it is kind of important to figure this out.

 

[SamRoc]

I had sciatica pain about 6 years ago. I went to have an xray, and I did have a herniated disc, but also went to an orthopedic surgeon and a chiropractor. Decided on the chiropractor for treatment and went 5 days a week initially,( it does sound like alot but it really helped) Did all kinds of stretching machines in the chiropractors office and he did adjustments too. It wasnt a quick fix, took about 2 months before I was feeling really good, and then we actually drove to Florida as I was feeling so good. Didnt want to have surgery, so chiropractic really worked well for me for sciatica. Good luck.

 

[goofy4tink]

My dd, now 29, had severe sciatica about 6 yrs. ago. Turns out she had a ruptured disc, or two!!! Had surgery and if fine today. I have had only one bout of it and that was when I was pregnant with my now 32 y/o ds. He was a big baby, weighed in at 10 1/2 lbs, and when he turned over in late pregnancy, he turned right onto those nerves. Unfortunatly, I was walking down a flight of stairs...lost all feeling in both legs and down I went!!! But, the action of falling moved him again, and it went away!!!
My chiro has told me that she has had very good luck treating it though. Thanks heavens I haven't needed it for that yet!!!

 

[Rella Bella]

I've had a few bouts and have used chiropatric to get well everytime. I got some relief immediately... so hopefully you will too. In every case by day 3 I was atleast up & around. Hope you feel better soon... there's nothing worse than that kind of pain!!!

I do want to mention however that I've had no problem now for several years. I read a book... (I saw this YEARS ago on the Rosie O'Donnell Show) about how a lot of our back pain in emotionally based. So now when I feel a twinge I follow the book's advice and tell myself "I can handle the stress... I don't need this pain help to slow me down". So far it's worked -- go figure -- maybe I've just been lucky. I have also learned to pay attention to body mechanics, and do I yoga regularly to stretch and strengthen my back muscles. I know any of this would be down the road for you but I SOOO remember thinking I would do anything to avoid ever having that pain again. So for whatever its worth...

Here's the link to the book on Amazon if your curious:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/04...3?v=glance&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance

 

[Simba's Mom]

I think that is what I am going through. I have an appointment with a chiropracter today. Will I get relief soon?

This is what I've got. A few weeks ago, I had my first big flare-up. VERY painful! I improved once I read on the internet what to do. That was so funny in itself-the process of looking it up on the internet. I couldn't sit for more than about 3 minutes (in a nice comfy office chair-couldn't understand why). So the process of looking it up took me aobout a week. Don't sit on soft chairs or sofas! So I spent the next 2 weeks on the floor or walking (walking is good for it). Hmmmm-lots of walking, hard seats (like plastic benches), see, you need a trip to Disney! Fortunately, it's only "simmering" now, so I'm much better. But I've got 2 weeks of walking-it's bound to improve.