Alternative therapy to sciatica

I have been suffering from moderate to now severe sciatica from a significant disk herniation for the last 6 months. My tolerance for standing has been limited to just minutes, but more recently so has sitting and walking been more limited. I have the numbness, “pins and needles,” muscle spasms, the sharp and dull muscle pain, shooting pain, stabbing pain and “growing” type pain depending on location and activity. I have been through twelve weeks of physical therapy, and while that did help to improve some function in the beginning, my pain has only been increasing. I have tried NSAIDs, oral steroids, nerve pain medications, pain medications, muscle relaxers, nerve blocks, heat therapy and message therapy all with no relief of pain. My surgeon has decided that I need to have surgery because all other conventional means are not working, and I am willing to do anything at this point for even just a little relief. However, I do not receive extended sick time from my job until November and I can not afford the time off without pay. Although, at this point I am at my whits end. I have absolutely no quality of life and I have become depressed and irritable. I can’t walk, sit, stand or lie down without extreme pain and discomfort and nothing relieves it. I have researched this issue until I am blue in the face, and I have found no new information. I was looking into acupuncture, but for what is available in my area is kind of pricey. I saw a chiropractor 9 years ago for my neck for severe whiplash and he did wonders (I believe this is where this disk herniation came from – no doctor took my back pain seriously until it was in my foot because I am so young). However, because of my current pain, I am weary to any force/manual manipulation. I am open and appreciative to any suggestion to alternative therapies, vitamins, routines or exercises to help see me through until something can be done. Thank you.

[ggreg]

I have a friend who had sciatica, and he tried yoga exercises, and after a few months, the pain went away.  He got him a book on yoga.  So, maybe you could go to the library and find one with yoga exercises that has pictures in it, and I suppose it might help.

For me, I find relief from my back pain by laying on the floor with my legs in a chair, I scoot up so my thighs are perpendicular to the ground, and let my arms fall out to the side.  This takes all the pressure off the back.

I personally think you should go ahead and get the surgery.  If the pain keeps up, you might miss work anyhow, and then where would you be.  Maybe the recovery time won't be very long.  If your credit is good, maybe you could get a small loan to cover your expenses while you are out of work.

You said you've tried all the pain medicine and nothing works.  I take Lyrica for the low back part of my injury, and it numbs it.  It's hard to work while taking the drug, tho, because it goofs up your coordination.  My initial dose was 75mg at bedtime, and I woke up for the first time in years with no low back pain.  I understand that cortisone shots in the spine sometimes helps, or maybe it's nerve block, I'm not sure, in case you haven't tried that yet, either.

[librolady]

I know some have found acupuncture helpful, but I did not receive any benefits.
Sending you healthy wishes!

[Fluffysmom]

I had a neurosurgeon perform and epidural that gave me significan relief from my sciatica for several weeks.  If you haven't tried that, it might give you some relief until you are ready to try surgery.  It could even buy you time until November.

I wish you the best

[Mom2Cori]

I have two herniated disks in my lower back as a result of my military training. Since April 2007, I've had pain in my hip which shoots inwards, as well as pain which radiates downwards from time to time. I believe I have sciatica. When I'm on my feet for a while, my right leg hurts and bending my leg at the hip is impossible due to the pain. I've seen an orthopedist for what I thought was problems with my hip, and after multiple scans and tests, the doctor accused me of drug-seeking behavior because he could not find anything wrong with my hip. Once I have health insurance again, I'm going to see a chiropractor and see what I can do to fix my problem.