I've had that kind of pain for 26 years -- so yes, I know exactly how you feel. Mine is BECAUSE of surgery ~ so I would advise against surgery. Your best bet is physical therapy if it indeed is sciatica. And it sure sounds like it. Ask your doc for a referral to physical therapy.

Also., do NOT USE HEAT. Heat draw blood to the heated area and causes more swelling and inflammation. That sciatic nerve is already swollen & inflamed and it doesn't need any more. ICE reduces the swelling & inflammation plus it reduces pain. My Neurosurgeon taught me this -- so I'm not just talking out of my hat. LOL He said to use ice for 20 minutes every 2 hours -- and keep doing it until the pain has subsided. If it's a chronic condition, you may have to do this daily like I do. (groan) You also might want to ask your doc for something for pain if the over the counter stuff doesn't work.

God bless and best of luck!!! Hugs, Lee

thank you so much for your response. Exactly what causes the leg to get so sore. I turn over in the bed at nights and it hurts so bad. I go back to the neurosurgeoon on May 9th - do you think he would refer me to physical therapy or pain management or should I ask my medical doctor? This surgeon is very blunt and seems like surgery is the only answer.

HI SoHurt

1. surgery is certainly not called for in this case - and yes - of course the surgeon will recommend surgery - that si what he likes to do.

2. If your pain goes away with an anacin - you certainly do not have much by way of sciatica - and you are good for many many years before any sort of surgery should even be considered.

3. here are some ideas to help you -

a. Sleep on a memory foam topper. I use a 6 inch topper it helps. Sleep on your back with the rubberish pillow under your knees to take all stress off of the lower back. Sleep with a feather pillow under your head and shoulders - to reduce cervical spine stresses too. If you sleep on your side sleep with the rubber pillow between your knees to reduce stress on the lower back. Never sleep on your stomach According to the chiropractic association that is a no no.

b. You can ice the lower back 2 or 3 times a day 15 minutes on and 2 hours off. Should help reduce the pain.

c. You should try to get a shot of cortisone in the butt to help reduce the inflammation, This is true for most lumbar problems and maybe for some of the upper spine locations too. Limit cortisone injections to 4x per year. This sort of a shot is called a depot shot.

d. Epidural injections of cortisone are also helpful but much more complicated. Not indicated for your situation yet.

e. definitely get some sort of meds for pain for when it gets really bad like right now for me . You get them from you family doctor. Use them only when conventional meds like advil or aleve do not help you.


f. Getting up and walking around definitely will reduce the pain levels, but the first 10 to 20 steps could be a little more painful than some other times.

g. Use a cane to help you walk. It will increase your range, and help prevent falls. A fall now will make matter much worse. You can get a script form your doctor for the cane so that it will be paid for by your insurance. This is not currently called for for your situation. However - get one and use it when you need the little extra help - do not over use it.

h. Make sure to check all meds with your pharmacist to make sure you are safe. And check using a complete list of all meds and over the counter items when you check.

i. Sitting in a soft chair can feel good for a while but will put a lot of stress on the lower back. A desk chair, with a right angle between the back and the bottom is preferable.

j Automobile travel is very bad for sciatica. It will definitely irritate your condition. If you must travel, stop the car and get out and walk for at least 15 minutes after every hour of travel in the car. That will help.

k. Stretches the following stretches will help you a lot-
a. lower back
b. IT Band
c. Piraforma
d. Iliopsoas
If you ever want your back /spine problem to improve you need to do stretches.

Hope these help a little.
Big Hugs, Raoul

The leg gets so sore because the sciatic nerve runs from the back, goes into the hip, and runs all the way down the leg into the foot. So that's why the leg is sore.

Ask your medical doctor to refer you to physical therapy. The surgeon will only want to do surgery ~ tell him NO. Surgery is NOT the only answer!!! Tell him you want to take a more conservative route. You have that right. Don't let him intimidate you.

In bed, make sure you have pillows between your knees when sleeping on your side. if you sleep on your back, make sure you have pillows under your knees. These two ways help keep pressure off the spine and keep it in alignment. Best of luck, and keep us posted on your progress. God bless!! Hugs, Lee

Just curious.... did you say the pain runs down the side of your legs? Have they checked for bursitis or IT band problems? I get bursitis and when it's in full swing, just touch the side of my leg and I will jump a mile.

It sounds like an inflammitory condition if aspirin helps at all. MRI's probably won't show anything. As was mentioned, sciatica usually begins going down your behind.

Good luck.

Hey

I have the exact same symptoms and like you I need to take a percocet to get out of bed. From my experience surgery is only temporary and for me it is actually the cause of my problem now. Physio really helps, try tractions or TENS/ICF.

Because sleeping makes my pain worse too I started sleepin upright in a chair. This is the chair that I use right now and it helps me get some sleep and mitigates the pain.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00155780

Hope I helped :)

"in the end, the most important thing to accept is that no matter how alone you feel, how painful it may be, with the help of those around you, you'll get through this too. "
- J.D.

Ak -

Please reconsider that chair - it is not helping the sciatica - it is making it worse.

Try getting a memory foam topper - preferably about 6 inches thick. And try my other recommendations - they will take a week or two to kick in, but they will make you better . The chair will make you worse.

hugs, Raoul

That's the same pain I have. Getting out of bed is horrible. Standing just to make coffee is agony. Standing in front of the mirror to blow dry my hair was a nightmare. Just wanted to curl up in the bathroom sink and wait for my hair to dry.

But after time had passed I felt my back relax. There was still pain but not that stabbing hot pain.

See a Physical Therapist. They know what kind of exercises to prescribe and tell you how to do them correctly so you can stretch the periformis muscle that are taking your back hostage.

I did my exercises this am and the pain is bearable. Leeall mentioned a pillow at night - great advice. Also the ice.

Will hold positive thoughts for you.