permanent sciatica?

I came across something today and I wondered if any RA's here would be willing to tell me the honest to goodness truth about this.

Almost 4 yrs ago AH had his back to go out, worst time ever... had him flat on his back for 2 wks. Bulging disc that once it went down left problems with left leg and foot and big toe. Dr says sciatica. AH is always talking about how this pain is something he will live with forever... oh his poor toe hurts.... says the only time he gets any relief from the pins & needles effect is when he puts hard pressure in the arch of his foot. Since realizing he is abusing hydro's I always thought that he was exaggerating the severity of his pain, my opinion of whether he knew it or really thought it hurt that bad changed daily. I rationalized that a person who works as hard as he does (physical labor) and as many hours / days could not be hurting as bad as he says... they just wouldnt be able to do the job. Very rarely did I think could he possibly be totally faking it... deciding at worst he was making the pain sound worse than what it was. Today I came across something that mentioned sciatica was rarely permanent... I did some googling and that seems to be the opinion on the medical sites I checked.

So, is there anyone with experience with sciatica that thinks that AH could still be getting the full blown foot pain of sciatica almost 4 yrs after? Once site said as sciatica 'healed' the pain seemed to retreat back up the leg so if his foot still has pain shouldnt he still be getting the same pain in  his buttock and down his leg? He has said that his back is fine now... all that hurts is his foot and toe.

[febninthgirl]

Dose he have mri on his back. Sometimes what happens is there is nerve damage. I do know however from personal and medical stand points that pain pills will cause you to think there is more pain then there really is. Not saying he is not in pain just me I know what that pain is. If your doc is not doing anything but pills out keep going to till u find a doc that will really do something.

[avisg]

I have had sciatica it has not been permanent for me. I have had three bouts in 11 years most lasted about a month at a time. There was the discomfort and the last two times. I did use it as an excuse for pain meds but honestly I did not need them. It was just a good excuse too.It is nerve pain there are a few drugs out now for nerve pain all of which are non narcotic. I would have him look into something like lyrica or nerontion.

[NorcoQueenoftheUniverse]

That's a tough question because everyone is different..

I have had 2 back surgeries on both sides of L5  for herniated disc..(plus spinal stenosis, DDD and fibro) .and I still suffer from sciatic pain at times... most recently on the left side...it becomes worse at night if I try to sleep on my left side... but... I found that my pain was WORSE when I was using pain pills...so, I have found that Glucosomine, stretching, walking, and drinking alot of water helps to relieve the pain when it flares up.. hope this helps...

[notgoingdown]

Thanks for all the info guys. Not sure how I feel now but probably wont change much since he wont consider he might have a problem with the pills.

[Charetti]

I have sciatica right now and the only relief I have is from ibuprofen and not the oxys.  I remember getting a flu shot last year and it really hurt, thats when I knew my body was experiencing pain differently and worse.

I had the back surgery and some nerve damage. It feels like the side of my leg is tingly when I stand for a while.  I only have to sit or crouch for a min to make it go away. However, the tingling is not painful, just annoying.