[ECHOES]

Can a neurologist help with sciatica that just will not go away?

[(JD)]

I've never found a neuro that cared about it, even had one tell me it was no big deal, he had it himself and worked.

I suggest a physiatrist, or a neuro that deals with pain management only?

Do you know what is causing yours, exactly? At least that way you can learn how to prevent it from occurring as much.

[ECHOES]

Thanks JD.

I have a lumbar disc herniation. Sitting all day at work is an issue. Not being a healthy weight is another.

I am now at the point where I don't have a normal gait. I limp constantly and every step is painful. Back and leg, down to the toes, hurt all the time. Pain wakes me up.

I know I need to move, so I joined an inexpensive gym. Which I haven't gone to yet because I had to have emergency eye surgery the next day. I should get the okay to be 'as you were' next Friday.

What I would like is pain relief now and some guidance on how to not cause myself more issues when I start exercising. I tried these but didn't see any difference: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/309286-treatment

If I take too many NSAIDs, then I have stomach issue to deal with.

So I thought I might get straight answers and help from a neuorologist, but I don't want to waste money if it won't help. I have an appointment but I'm having 2nd thoughts.

JD, is there anything you take for pain that helps?

[mj778]

Originally Posted by ECHOES

Can a neurologist help with sciatica that just will not go away?

Hey Echoes,
I'm not sure about sciatica, but my Dr wants me to see a neurologist for my fibro since it is a nerve thing. Hope it helps you. At this point, I don't think it would hurt .

best,
mj

[shezbut]

Originally Posted by ECHOES

I have a lumbar disc herniation. Sitting all day at work is an issue. Not being a healthy weight is another.

I am now at the point where I don't have a normal gait. I limp constantly and every step is painful. Back and leg, down to the toes, hurt all the time. Pain wakes me up.

((Echoes))

I have been there honey Sooo painful! Mine were lumbar discs 4 and 5 (or 5 and 6) and simply everything was incredibly painful. I did take off work for several months and went into physical therapy. There is a doctor who saw me before the physical therapy began, halfway through, and at the end. I can't recall his title. But it wasn't a neurologist. A long-arse title though!

I seriously recommend talking with your regular doc about this kind of doctor, because they have extensive experience in these types of injuries. Personally, I was very against recommended surgery to hopefully alleviate the pain endured. Surgery seriously limits future abilities ~ never allowed to lift 20 pounds again, and it doesn't always work to control the intense pain! I had injections, which didn't seem to make a difference. I temporarily used pain medications, but I have a high pain threshold, there isn't much that can control my intense pain (other than knock me out).

There are lower back supports (to use in car seats, desk chairs, etc) which are incredibly helpful to relieve the stress. Making the surrounding muscles stronger, with the help of a physical therapist was most helpful for me. The physical therapist watched as I did specific exercises ~ and noticed my back tweaked to the side (I didn't even notice that), and told me to take a break from leaning over. That's just one example. Had I been at the Y, I wouldn't have noticed and could have seriously damaged the area!

Things to think about....very best wishes to you!!

[(JD)]

aw ((((ECHOES))) you're having more than your share lately!

I do take a narcotic ongoing for the whole body/day to day pain. When one (or both of) the ilia effect the sciatic nerve, it's as much the swelling from that occurring as it is the bones being out of place that presses on the sciatic nerve. (My sacrum is always "out.") I take toradol for that swelling, and often have some relief within 20 minutes. It has allowed me to sleep when I otherwise wouldn't have due to the pain of the pressure. Did I say that right? I'm having a tough few days finding the right words (or worse, thinking I've said something profound only to find I've offended! )

I never had any success with neurologists. A physiatrist is master at the body and movement and muscles and nerves. (That sounds like a sound...)

I have a full page of typed up treatments I use for my various pains. For the sciatica, I first heat my body up to let my muscles relax and quit pulling at all the bones. That heat tends to be more residual than the cooling which is the next part. I then ice up the low back to where it's solidly numb. I find the cold helps the nerve pain immensely. I've even done ice massages (frozen water in a paper cup) to pin point the ilia. (You know, the ilia? Those two dimples in the small of your back? That's where they live, little horizontal bones that don't respond to inversion tables or stretching the spine. )
The therapeutic ultrasound at the PTs is a must if I can't get out of the pain. I rarely have a flare longer than 4 days...though this last one was over 2 weeks.

Yeah, limping or walking awkwardly because of the pain will put the rest of your back out of place. I find I have to take TINY steps so I can do so evenly and smoothly. I can't always.

Watch what you eat. Go to the arthritis website and see the foods that cause inflammation and stay away from them!

[madisgram]

Originally Posted by ECHOES

I have a lumbar disc herniation. Sitting all day at work is an issue. try walking around periodically so you're not in the same position all day. Not being a healthy weight is another.

I am now at the point where I don't have a normal gait. I limp constantly this is adding more irritation tho i know u can't help it. and every step is painful. Back and leg, down to the toes, hurt all the time. Pain wakes me up.

I know I need to move, so I joined an inexpensive gym. my general understanding of the sciatic nerve is once it's in an uproar exercise irritates the nerve rather than helping. Which I haven't gone to yet because I had to have emergency eye surgery the next day. I should get the okay to be 'as you were' next Friday.

What I would like is pain relief now and some guidance on how to not cause myself more issues when I start exercising. I tried these but didn't see any difference: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/309286-treatment

If I take too many NSAIDs, then I have stomach issue to deal with.

So I thought I might get straight answers and help from a neuorologist, but I don't want to waste money if it won't help. I have an appointment but I'm having 2nd thoughts.

is there anything you take for pain that helps?

neurontin (originally designed to help control epilepsy) is often prescribed for pain management rather than a narcotic. safe and i've had very good success.
i'd check out the neurologist. this has to do with a nerve and that is his specialty.
hope u get some relief.

[bebop]

Echoes my primary just referred me today to neuro for that. seems my pain is a pinched nerve in my spine! waaaa so I am to go talk to this surgeon.

[ECHOES]

((((( Thank you ))))) one and all !! You are the best

I have been thinking about this a lot. So little time to get done as much as possible before a new huge deductible kicks in the first of the year.

I cancelled the neurologist and made an appointment with an orthopaedic doc. I think I need to begin by getting my injured knee fixed. I believe that is affecting my hip and both are affecting my gait, posture, and activity level... which then affects the sciatica.

Wish me luck. I see the ortho doc on the 30th

[Perna]

Good luck, sounds like a fun "project". My father had bad chronic sciatica when he was older; he'd driven between Washington, D.C. and Rhode Island every weekend (to and from) for a summer back in the early 1950's, non-stop and that can do it too, sitting forever in one position constantly.

I've only really had it bad, once, when DH and I were driving to Florida and I was in excruciating pain, just sitting there, riding, and we had to stop about an hour early and it took forever getting to sleep that night, etc.

I'm trying to get more activity into my day, I sit here at the computer too much. I get aches and pains in the night and I'm convinced it's partly because I don't get enough activity during the day.

[shezbut]

I hope that the Orthopedic doc is the one with the answers to help you through this pain. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you! He/she ought to be the one with lots of treatment ideas for you. Best wishes!