Hi Lisa ~ i'd ask my doc to refer me to a pain management doc. it's just too painful to try to exist on tylenol 3. that's insane. you need to be on something much stronger than that. also, when is the last time you had an mri? do you know what is causing the sciatica?

i've had sciatica for 24 YEARS and believe me, i'm so sick of it i could die. my doc is working hard right now to get the pain under control. i haven't been with this doc very long, so we're trying different things.

one thing i can tell you that does help with the burning type pain is topamax. it takes the burning, tingling away completely. if it would take away the actual pain, it would be great. lol. you might ask your doc about getting on that.

i wish you the best of luck and hope your doc will refer you out. God bless. hugs, Lee

My Mom and sister had bad sciatica/low back pain issues. The scientific literature describes that inflammation around nerve roots and other areas in the spine is common in sciatica patients, and that if the inflammation resolves, so does the pain. I made a simple device that my Mom used for 2 hrs per day for a few months. That got her off prescription pain meds and allowed her to avoid fusion surgery. This positions the body to create gentle traction through the lower back and allows venous plexus to drain. This provides an environment that can facilitate natural healing of the inflammed tissues. My sister keeps her pain under control with daily use. This is not commercially available. I have made 6 of these, but they are all out with friends/family who have back pain or sciatica. I would be happy to provide details about the device if you know someone who is handy.

Well yesterday I spent 8 hrs in the emergency department - 6 of those waiting, sitting in a wheelchair which was absolute torture. The finally put me in a room where I could lie down which was a tremendous relief but still in excruciating pain. Luckily I had a great young lady doctor who was the first to actually diagnose and confirm that what I'm going through is classic sciatica. She was apalled that my family doctor won't prescribe narcotic pain relievers. I think I will do as you suggested Leeall and ask for a referall because she obviously isn't going to help me at all.

Anyway the emergency dr. gave me 2 percocet tablets and a shot of toradol and we waited 20 minutes - no effect at all. Then she gave me a shot of dilaudid and another 20 minute wait. I tried to get up on my feet after that but the pain was still too much. Another shot of dilaudid and after about 15 minutes I was able to stand. Being so drugged I was almost too dizzy to walk but I managed with my mothers shoulder for support. There was still a bit of pain but so minor compared to what it was that I was thrilled. Dr. gave me a prescription for percocet and I got to go home. Wow, did I sleep well last night lol

So I've got 30 percocet to get me through for a while and hopefully this episode will be over. My right foot and half way up my leg is still completely numb so I'm not walking real well but there's little pain. Is it normal for the numbness to last like this? Maybe I'll get used to it but it is very strange to walk and not feel my foot, and its my right so I'm thinking driving won't be a good idea.

Oh and the Dr. also confirmed that the osteoarthritis I have (L5/S1) is what would be causing the sciatica and it will likely be a lifelong thing since arthritis doesn't just go away. I had Xrays last year but have never had an MRI. Oh and she warned me about any numbness on the inner thighs or between the legs, she seemed really concerned and kept asking to make sure all the pain and numbness was in the back and outer sides. She just said if it moves to the inner areas its a 'surgical emergency' and get into emergency immediately. Nothing like having something else to worry about. Oh well, I'll not dwell on it and just deal with what I've got now. I'm glad I found this group cause so many people just don't get how painful it really is.(even my dr.)

I can sympathize with your worries about work. I've lost my share of days because of pain, either fibro or sciatica. The most recent one was yesterday. Even though I have a doctor's note, I'm still nervous about going back tomorrow because I keep waiting for the day when they don't want to deal with my health issues and drama and just get rid of me. Since I live alone and have no family or friends to lean on, that's a HUUUUUGE issue to me. And my job is retail...I'm on my feet for 8 hours or more a day on top of walking around, bending and lifting. Thankfully the note puts me on light duty!

Hope you feel better. I've been doing the laptop on the tummy for a couple days now. Just hurts too much to be in a sitting position!

Hi, I too understand your pain.
If you read my thread "6 weeks of sheer hell" will give you an indication of where I'm at.
I'm now at 8weeks and like you, have a job which requires sitting in an office 8hrs a day.
I'm in constant pain and was on 15mg ms contin CR but with that not working, my Dr today increased it to 30mg, so I'm hopeful i'll see some relief.
My sciatic pain is exactly same as yours, and like you, am scared of losing my job.
I sincerely sympathize with u as I'm sure the others do.
Sciatica is a debilitating crippling experience and I wish you well in your
Endeavours for a speedy recovery.
I should also mention, the ms contin don't work on their own. I top up with 15mg codeine "panadeine extra" (2tabs) every 4hrs. Still no pain relief.
I too haven't spent much time at work and have been working via laptop from my bed.
Kylz

I am at the end of week three of this pain. Have seen 3 different doctors and get different opinion every time. Unfortunatley my family doctor is an hour away(and refuseds to prescribe narcotic painkillers for any reason) and I can't drive right now so I'm seeing whoever is on-call at a clinic or hospital. My last visit was wednesday morning to the hospital. I ran out of percocet. The doc I saw thought it was time to get off the narcotics but at least he had other options. I am now taking Lyrica which is supposed to help the nerve pain but he did say it could take a few days to kick in. Today is day 3; I'm still in pain but mostly my back not my leg, it is just numb now which is a welcome relief. I still can't sit so can't go back to the office or drive. I am taking simple ibuprofen with the lyrica but have nothing else to kill the pain. Yesterday was bad, I felt so alone and isolated. If I could just get to the point where I could walk one block I'd be feeling better about this. Being stuck in my little apartment is driving me crazy and I know by now no one wants to here any more of my whining and complaining about the pain I'm in. I just moved to this city a month go so don't have friend here either so there's no one to drop in and say hi or anything. I really hope today is the day this Lyrica kicks in. Has anyone else taken it? Did it work for you?

I have tried the drugs and pt, but nothing has really helped. But the other day, I found a site that shows exercises for low back pain and sciatica. I have been doing the beginning exercises for about a week now, and have found that my sciatic pain is easing a bit. After over 12 years of this HELL, wow, any relief is good. The site is orthoingo.aaos.org. Hope this may help some of you fellow sufferers. Hugs and prayers go out to all of you.