Oh boy do I know what you mean! I've had this for 24 year, so I can relate. I'm also on Lyrica, plus Topamax, but I just started the Lyrica last week, so we'll see. Somehow I doubt that it's gonna help but i can dream. LOL. It is very uncomfortable, but I'd rather have the pain relieved. that's the worst part of sciatica as far as I'm concerned. But I do agree that especially in the winter, that coldness is really awful. Let's hope that the Lyrica works. Best of luck. hugs, Lee

Its 4 weeks today since I hurt my back and got sciatica. The Lyrica and physio seem to be working pretty good as I have very little pain now. Mind you I'm not doing much and spend most of my day in the recliner or bed. My foot is still numb though. Today my son took me out to the store... the first spot didn't have what I was looking for so we ended up going to 3 different places. It was short visit at each store but I walked in, looked around and walked back out without much pain. Then we went to McDonald's to eat and I sat while we ate with no problem. The biggest problem I'm having, which isn't really much of an issue, is I can't walk properly... its not so much a limp as an awkward gait and there's nothing I can do it about. My right leg just doesn't work properly and I'm really slow (but it rarely hurts). Does anyone know if this normally gets better? Or am I destined to a life with a limp and a numb foot?

Hi ~ I'm sorry I didn't get back to you. I've been in bed alot. I don't recall if you said what caused your sciatica? What is the reason for it, cause it's not always caused by a herniated disc.

Have you had a recent MRI? What did it say? I'm curious what the wording is.

Anyway, like I said before, I've had this for 24 years, so mine IS permanent. If yours is left to go on too long, yours too could become permanent. Sometimes, exercises/PT cause help sciatica. Have you been to PT? If not, your doc certainly should sent you to PT and/or pain management. But first you need a recent MRI and at LEAST an opinion from a neurosurgeon, even if surgery isn't in the offing. A baseline exam should be done in case somewhere down the line it becomes necessary.

Please get back to me about the MRI. I'm REALLY interested. Best of luck, and hopefully I'll talk to you soon. Hugs, Lee

I just saw my family doctor today. She is certain the cause is disc related as I have had a bad lower back for years and this started with (and still involves) severe lower back pain followed a few days later by the leg pain. I have not had an MRI but just today got a requisition for a CT scan. Xray results from last winter had terms like osteo-arthritis and stenosis and referred to L5-S1. Today she also prescribed Voltaren to go along with the Lyrica I'm currently taking as it is not doing the trick. I tried going to the office but barely lasted an hour (the last 1/2 hr was pure torture). I still have the numbness in my foot and down the back of my leg though my leg isn't as numb as it was. But now I feel pain down the leg all the time even with the Lyrica.

I have been going to physio for about 3-4 weeks now, 2-3 times per week. I'm not sure if its helping but I'll keep going since my medical plan at work will cover it. My Dr. also insisted I take some more time off work. She wrote me off till end of August. The problem is medical services in my province suck!... it will take at least 6 weeks to get in for the CT scan. She is also putting in a referral to a specialist but admitted it could take a year unless something significant shows up in the CT scan, then she can call and say its urgent which might get me in within 2 months. I'm hoping/praying that it cools off and gets better before having to wait that long to see someone. It's been just about 6 weeks now since this all started.