siatic nerve?

[Suz]

Good morning everyone!
So, I've had back pain before but this time it is quite different. It is in my right lower back and the pain goes clear down to my big toe!!! This is driving my crazy - I didn't sleep at all last night. I have an appt. with an orthopedic Dr. on Tues. My sister says that it sounds like a siatic nerve problem. Anyone else have this problem? If so, what did you do to relieve it???
Thanks! :\

[Diane]

My dad had a lot of siatic nerve problems... First they tried physical theropy... IF he had actually done them (stretching exercises at home)... it probably would have done a lot for him, but he didn't so... he ended up having two surgeries about two years apart. Just before he died it started acting up again but the doctor had already told him no more surgeries... so physical theropy would have been his only alternative.

I'm sure that in your case they'll probably try physical theropy first... that usually works or at least it will help to relieve a lot of the pain you're going through. Good luck... Let us know how your appointment goes. :)

Diane... :wave:

[AnnW]

I had sciatica once...OUCH!!! pain goes right down the back of your leg, right? The doc put me on a MedPac which is a graduated dose of steriods...it did the trick for me! Hope you get some relief.

Why are you having to wait so long to see the doctor?

[KarlaB]

Ouch!! :\ I had that happen to me when I was pregnant, but they thought mine was caused my the position ds was in and the pressure it was exerting. I went to the chiropractor, but that didn't really help me. I remember those shooting pains down my rear and it was horrible ~ hopefully you'll get some relief soon!!!

[Suz]

Yes, it does go right down my leg and thru my foot right to my big toe!
I don't know why I have to wait until Tues. to see the Dr. - I was actually glad that I didn't have to wait a month to see him.
I'm thinking that I may call today and tell them my situation has gotten worse and see if they can squeeze me in.
I had my daughter stand on my back and that felt good - don't know if it was good for it.

[kat]

I have a disc bulging and resting on the sciatic nerve. I'm in minor pain all the time. It does go from my hips down my right leg. Sometimes it feels like My hips, knees, and ankles will explode. I can no longer lie on my right side. Most of the time the pain runs down the back of my leg, like Ann said. It's a burning kind of feeling that I notice mostly behind the knee. I hope for you it's a temporary problem. I hope you can get some sleep too. My pain was so bad I had to take sleeping pills for a while, but have been off them for a month now and with the other meds I take I can now manage the pain and function again. Good luck to you.

[RCT]

I have been dealing with it off and on for years....the only thing that seems to keep it away for me is stretching....but to relive it while your going through it...Physical Therapy was it for me...good luck and I hope you can find some relife:p

[JAK]

My dh is dealing with this right now. (It's been nearly 3 months now) He's been to the Dr. 3 times and all they give him is drugs to manage the pain (which don't work) and he has a phycial therpy appt next week. These are military dr's we are dealing with, so it's not uncommon to get the drugs and have to wait so long to get into PT for an appt. For the past few weeks he's been going to a chiropractor (spending his own money out of pocket) and it's been helping some. Some days for him are good and others are really bad.

I hope that you get some relief soon!

[Suz]

Good morning!
Well, last night I finally got some sleep - :) and I woke up this morning without that burning pain going down my leg and into my foot. My lower back is still hurting but that other thing was for the birds!!
I did get my Dr. appt. moved up to Mon. morning so hopefully I can get some help with my recurring back problem. I could go for some physical therapy that included a massage :)
Thanks for all of your input!!!

[AnnW]

Hope it keeps getting better. Glad you got the appointment moved up.
Why not get an appointment for a massage for today or tomorrow?

[Diane]

Originally posted by Suz
Good morning!
Well, last night I finally got some sleep - :) and I woke up this morning without that burning pain going down my leg and into my foot. My lower back is still hurting but that other thing was for the birds!!
I did get my Dr. appt. moved up to Mon. morning so hopefully I can get some help with my recurring back problem. I could go for some physical therapy that included a massage :)
Thanks for all of your input!!!

I'm glad to hear that you got a better nights sleep last night... and that you're feeling better this morning. It's also good that you got your appointment moved up to Monday. Hopefully they'll be able to do something to help the pain... and hopefully the physical theropy (and massages) will help you. :)

Diane...

[littlesista06]

My fil had this problem last summer and he took 2 Cortizone shots and seems to be doing fine.
Hope you get some relief soon.

[darlene]

The physiotherapist gave me a booklet of stretching exercises to do when mine flares up....they seem to help. Last bad bout with it I went to the chiropractor and she snapped me around and did some massage therapy. I find it best to prop my leg up as high as I can when it really bothers me. Sleep with as many pillows under your leg as you can.

Hope you can get yours under control!

:)

[kat]

Try the pillows like darlene said. I sleep with three under my legs. When I move to my right side I put one pillow between my knees which helps some, but 30 minutes is the max for lying on my right side. I don't need any thing for lying on my left side.

[Kitten]

Does anyone know what a doctor will do for Sciatica? I dont know what caused it, but it hurts from my behind down to my ankle. At first it hurt in my very lower backside then it seemed to go away for a while, now its back. It hurts so bad i dont even want to move. Once i get moving its somewhat better, but that is short lived. Several things could have been the cause. On December 2, my husband and daughter took me out to dinner and when i was leaving, i slipped on ice and fell into the side of our car. I didnt feel any pain for a while so i am not sure it was caused from that. We also bought a new Leather sofa about the same time and the arms are very low. I am a tall woman and spend a lot of time sitting sidways, leaning on the arm of the sofa with my laptop. I have been putting pillows on the arm of the sofa to try to build it up more but they usually get matted down too. I do a lot of writing/typing so the position i sit in is always sideways on the sofa. All the other sofa's we had the arms were high. i dont know if this has anything to do with it or not. just wondering if anyone else may have some input. Thanks for reading my rambling. I think i need a nap. lol

[AnnW]

Initially, the doc will probably put you on a descending dose Medpac, which is a steriod.

[angie r]

I was going to say you should see a doc, but Ann beat me to it, lol! I hope you feel better.