Sciatica Blues

[carlosz]

Dear Sirs or Madam,

I live in very rural Ecuador, hours away from decent health attention, and
have been affected for the last 6 weeks with what appears to be a sciaticcondition (I have researched your archives, and confirmed it)..   I tried asking on your web page, but could not do it (always referred me to the payment page, and I don't own a credit card).

SYMPTOMS include pain from buttock to lower leg (back of leg),  sometimes bad, sometimes not that noticeable; but always there.  I get relief on sitting.  Hurts to stand in one place.  Ok with walking, but bothersome.
  I have constant numbness along most of the leg, but spececially lower buttock and upper thigh (some tingling sensation, feels like leg has been
anestheziced).  Sometimes tingling extends to foot.
       No swelling of the leg
pain is not extreme, and NEVER in the lower back.

The injury might have happened on lifting some heavy weights, but it did  not bother me for at least 10 days.  In any case, the injury was not traumatic.

There has definiitely been improvement the last 2 weeks, but the numbness still there and sometimes it hurts.

???Could you please advise what I should be doing (besides light excercise (yoga) as recommended), AND HOW LONG THE CONDITION MIGHT LAST.
                      THANK YOU.
Carlos Zorrilla
Intag, Ecuador

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

Your symptoms could possibly represent a problem with the sciatic nerve, or it could be a problem higher up in your lower back like a bad disc that's pushing on a nerve.  As you do not readily have health care available nearby and are now experiencing some improvement on your own, continue conservative therapy for the next 2-4 weeks. This means no heavy lifting (nothing more than a gallon of milk), stay away from weight lifting, light exercise only, and light duty at work. Use common sense in all of your activities and just take it easy when you can. Also, try medications like aspirin, tylenol, or ibuprofen for pain relief. CHeap, effective, and should be available in your country.  Sometimes, this can help resolve the problem in a 6-8week period. (please keep in mind that nothing in medicine or life for that matter is 100%) However, if at any time the symptoms become worse or do not improve within about 6-8 weeks after conservative therapy, you will need to seek medical attention. Good luck.

[puppyboy]

Just thought I'd offer some advice while you await a response from the CCF doctor.  If you have access to any type of anti-inflammatory medication either by prescription or over the counter perhaps some Ibuprofen like Advil this may help ease your discomfort as well as Tylenol extra strength for any serious discomfort.  No heavy lifting is recommended & light stretching exercises is a good start (yoga is great but not the intense yoga).  If your symptoms is indeed from a "pinched nerve" or sciatica and the discomfort has eased off over the past couple of weeks you're moving in the right direction with what you're doing conservatively.  To continue on with your progress you will have to be careful when lifting using proper techniques of always bending your knees etc.. to keep your back healthy.  Also, keep your mid section fit which will also reduce added stress on your back as well as good posture.  Hopefully your problem continues on to get better on its own for without actual hospital access to x-rays and/or scans it might be hard to actually see what's happening.  I don't know if you have access to any chiropractic doctors where you are but they too can help you with your type of symptoms safely.  Keep getting better and good luck.

[Kwoo]

This sounds like the exact thing I've been dealing with for almost 4 weeks.Mine started around 5 weeks ago after some stupid lifting. When it first hit me , it was just lower back pain and some hip pain but No leg pain. Then after a week my back pain went away and my hip and leg pain was killer. Its better than it was, for a while I could bareley walk.I still have to sit down alot. I went to a chiropractor who did a XRay and said that my last disk was deteriating. I went to therapy for 2 weeks with no results.Also have been taking Flexerall, (relaxor), Naproxin( anti flamatory) tylenol, which none seemed to help much.I went to my Dr. and she got me on some kind of steroids, dose pack,viox(anti flamatory)and a pain killer Darvocet. I think the steroids helped but they have now worn off and I'm told that too many steroids arent good so I probably want get anymore. I did an MRI which says I have a Herniated disk or disks I guess. The L5 S1 disks, Also large right paracentral, I guess thats the location,not sure.I now awaiting to see a Neuro Surgeon for the next step, which may be another week and a half.Hope I can get in sooner. I need RELIEF!!Just taking the pain killer and Viox now. Helps some I think. I have a Tinge unit too that helps. I'm in least pain when I lay or sit. Our conditions sound just alike. Terrable aching hip pain, calf and foot pain. Tingling and slight numbness in spots. I've done ice and heat but it hasnt done much to help. Good luck, I know what you are going through.

[dizz]

Sounds like a herniated disc to me, possibly the L4/L6?  This would cause your "constant" sciatic leg pain, one way to temporarily relieve the pain (if herniated disc) is lay flat on your back with your legs bent at the knee resting on a couch or low table. Lay there for a good 10-minutes. You should feel immediate relief if its a herniated disc. An Advil and exercise to the lower back will help control the pain.  A Select Comfort air bed keeps my back pain under control. Boy there sure are a lot of us falling apart :)

[cjung12]

Try not to have surgery if you can.  Most doctors will tell you that surgery will work 1/3 getting better, 1/3 getting worst, and 1/3 the same.

[KIMBO21]

hi sciatica blues,
   get to the neurosurgoen as soon as you can, i have been seeing doctors since the beginning of aug.it started with an mri, and the i had to travel 2 hours to a neurologist,he sent me to get steriod injections, that didn't work so they sent me to a neurosurgeon, who had me get a mylogram, then wanted another test called an e.m.g and now i am waiting on him.i now have to take perisets to get through my day because the pain is so bad.i have 2 herinated discs at l5, s1 and 2 pinched nerves. i don't know what they are going to do yet, but keep at your dr.to get you answers and to get you better.

[usedtobecatchy]

Twenty years ago I bent over from the waist while vacuuming and lifted the bedpost to vacuum under it :-) Spent the next hour flat on the floor trying to find the courage to move to the bed. Flat with pillow under knees was best. Avoid arching your back. It slowly improved. Two weeks later while standing at the computer leaning over with poor posture to type something it happened again. It slowly improved. Hasn't happened since, but the memory of it makes you more cautious with heavy lifting. Xrays were normal. My understanding of an emergency back problem is one where you have what they call a neurological deficit-leg(s) give out, or foot drop, or loss of control of bowels, numbness and swelling. Most surgeons will offer steroid injections, and/or surgery. If your studies are normal, then exercises for your back are usually suggested. If you do resume weightlifting, I hope you are using one of those lumbar support belts.