Sciatica Support Group

HI Annnn,
I have suffered with sciatica pretty much all my life. I am now 53. I had been getting cortisone shots (sometimes as many as 6 or more at one time) every 3 to 6 months. Then last november I had a procedure called "radio frequency ablation"...this is where they go into your spine with very fine needles, hook them up to electrodes that actually deaden the nerves. At first I didnt think that it really helped, because I would still have pain in my hips..but not hurt so much in my back. NOW...all the pain is back..and worse than ever!! ..as the nerves heal themselves in about 4 to 6 months.
This past Monday ..I now have a TENS unit...Not sure what to think of it yet...other than I know it has not helped at all....actually I am worse!!...but I am hoping that i haven't had it long enough to do any good. I have the option of buying or renting the TENS, as they are about $800 ,,but they are letting me try it for a week to see first. I live in Illinois...and my insurance will help cover the cost...but if it isnt going to do any good.. I AM TAKING IT BACK!! My next option is surgery...which is really my last resort.
Sorry to have rambled on forever...but I literally FEEL YOUR PAIN!!!..
Let me know how you are feeling ..and what has helped you.
{{hugs}}
Lori

Hi llk, A lot of things you have said in your post sounds familiar to me. I get a lot of pain in my hips too so have tried not sitting for too long at a time, and also doing hip stretches. (the kind where you kneel on one knee and move forward) I have also tried the tens unit, I bought mine online for about $40. I didn't see any improvement while or after I wore it. You also need to be sure to not wear them too long. The hardest thing for me to do is walk slowly or any kind of walking that requires a fair amount of coordination. Stretching helps with that but only for about 10 minutes so I have tried to learn how to do stretches for my back, hips and legs without having to lay down. Good luck with your sciatica. It does help to share stories. ~ Annnn

Whoa! That's a very expensive TENS unit! To think they generally don't work although mine, a Proactive brand which I bought for roughly $120 CAD, provides me a little bit of relief since I, aside from neck and upper/mid back pains, I also experience pains in my lower back, abdomen, hips, left buttock, upper front legs and knees and heels. It's the experience and the sensation Proactive TENS provides me that distract me from the pains. After using the unit, the severe pains are still there. Some chronic pain sufferers use their TENS several times a day.

Together with other pain clinic patients, I do exercise in the pool twice a week with the supervision of our local pain clinic's physiotherapist. I usually feel so much better (about 30%) after pool therapy. The severity of my low back pain, hip pain and sciatca comes back after I've been sitting down for several minutes. I do stretches for my legs using an antiburst Zenzu ball. I also ask my partner to pull my legs and step on my back before going to bed. I know they (leg pulling and back stepping) are BAD but oh well...

I am now wearing a pedometer and making sure I walk at least 10,000 steps per day. This keeps me from sitting too much witch is very detrimental to sciatica. Anyone tried this?

i have the same thing
but im getting better after a year or so
dont sit on hard surfaces
lift heavy things
keep out of the cold
control mental stress
do leg exercises for the back

Hi:

I am rubbing down at night with some kind of cream that has a vanishing scent and I just purchased an exercise DVD that came with a stretch exercise band. It's for the lower body and after one session (partially) I feel better---there is certainly less pain. However, the weather is not as cold which also affects my level of pain so it difficult to tell for sure if it is the exercises or the weather. Sorry ... I am sure you are back to square one with this response. Take care ... S&B