Sciatica Support Group

My problem started with a very bad case of the flu which caused extreme coughing for over a month. The coughing started a pain in my groin in my left leg. It got worse until I couldn't walk without a walker. Since I had had a hip replacement on the right leg in 2001 with no problems I decided to go back to the surgeon for an X-ray on both hips. Sure enough, I needed a hip replacement on the left leg. The inner part of the bone had crumbled from all the coughing.

I got the hip replacement in September and I seemed to be healing normally. I didn't do near as much physical therapy as I had done with the other hip.

During all this time my son moved in with me to help. About 6 months after the surgery it started! Pain in my lower back on the side of the new hip replacement just above the hip. It was in my bum and went across the hip area that was replaced. Nothing running down my leg.

I went back to the surgeon thinking I had done something to the prosthesis. Nothing was wrong with that at all. I was told I probably had sciatic nerve pain. I was offered a shot in my back. Scared of a shot I refused. I was told I could come back anytime for the shot. Ortho surgeons really don't handle sciatic nerve problems long term.

I refused thinking it would go away. It did but came back with a vengeance in the hip area but not the lower back area and in the bum. It is now just in the hip area and I can't put much weight on it.

I guess I'll go back for the shot because my son is moving across the country the middle of August and I have no one to help me. I can't even go to the grocery store. I have to be able to care for myself.

Does the shot hurt??? Will it help? What is in the shot? Should I go to a neurologist for long term care? I need to do something before the middle of August when my son leaves and I need him to take me to the doctors.

Please HELP!

Has anyone heard of Authrotec?

Thanks
Posted on 07/04/08, 09:07 am