Update! So here is where I am at with pain

[takingmylifeback2014]

Ok ... Damn is all I have to say! Pain is so intense I can barely focus! Ok so went for MRI results L4 is bulged and L5 is herniated! Both are hitting the S1 sciatica nerve! My foot feels like is sleeping constantly intense sharp back and bad leg pains! Went to ER bc orthopedic wouldn't see me without an MRI. They put me on a nerve pill called gabapentin. Has it helped? I don't even know. Still have bad pain! Can't really drive my car it hurts so bad. Was referred to an neurosurgeon going this monday for an evaluation! Please pray for me! I'm so scared!
  
Ice, Motrin, and the floor flat on my back is how I've been living the last month!

Sorry I haven't posted! Can barely function!

[YesLife4Me]

Don't feel bad sweetie.  My anxiety was all over the place for a couple weeks.  One minute I was fine, the next I wanted to climb out of my own skin.  It is our minds rebalancing.   I lie on the floor when that happens.  Take deep breathes and focus on my zurroundings.  what does carpet feel lIke under my feet, how does air feel, what new things do I see in room I never noticed before.  This helps reground me to my surroundings.   A yoga tip.  :)

[YesLife4Me]

Oh boy do I feel your pain.  I have been doing thr see thing of laying on floor with my legs and feet on couch.  I also found that a rocker char works good too so that I am moving my legs some.  I put on my headphones while doing it.  At least it helps me.  If you have a heating pad, try alternating ice and heat.  A massager on my legs and feet gives me some relief too.  

[takingmylifeback2014]

Not to mention this pain has caused my anxiety to go through the damn roof! I hope that's normal! Just when I was starting to feel good bam! This happens! Sorry I'm on the pitty pot!

[takingmylifeback2014]

I was in a car accident and went to Chiro for 6 weeks then the pain got way worse. I'm not sure what exactly triggered it to get this bad. But it's not really tolerable! I have to lay flat on the floor with my legs up on the couch in order to get any relief! My foot is super tingly and burning! I will let you posted appointment is for Monday.

[motye51]

Was wondering where you've been!
OK....to be presented with pain while trying to "recover" I would think is a touchy subject.  I never did find that non-narcotic pain relievers did as well as narcotic, but that being said, you are doing other things to try and alleviate the pain which is good.  Did you pull it at work or strain it somehow or is this a pain you've been having always?  What about chiropractic adjustments?  To maybe unpinch the sciatic nerve?  
Positive thoughts, positive attitudes, don't let this get the better of you b/c you and I both know your stronger than this!  Hold on tight to that sobriety and fight to keep it!  Keep us posted on your appt on Friday....

[Jtb12]

My dr was very upfront with me. He told me that there was a very slim chance it would help pain but i would get the feeling back in me leg which it did the first time   I went to consult for the laser surgery and it was a 60% chance it would reduce my pain.  At this point 60% is worth trying   I obviously can't be any worse off

[meegWpaw]

ohhhh .... so sorry to hear you are in such pain!  but it's nice to see you around.  thinking of you and hoping you feel better soon!!!!  xo mp

[gnarly_1]

Hi I went threw the same thing with my back  for L4 L5 i went to surgery  it took away the shooting pain but made my back hurt worst my doctor insited I did something else to re ingered it  today they have a lot more options personally I would not recamend it try aim point shots in the spine first keep posting for support...........Gnarly

[Jtb12]

Hey there are these new injections they do now that just came out within the last year. I can't think of what they are called. I stopped asking my drs what they was doing to be a long time ago lol. But I get up to 6 injections in my back every 2 weeks.  They do help but they don't last long but the more you get them supposedly they work longer. It's worth asking about.  I agree with getting second third forth opinions.   Like I said my first surgery was L4/5 then second they went in redid all that and did 2 more disc.   I would exhaust all your options before you have surgery  but that's just my opinion since my experience was a disaster lol.  I will say the first surgery my left leg was numb I woke up in recovery and I had my feeling back. Second surgery it was my right left and it didnt work and still numb.  Thankfully it's not completely numb yet.  They also said core exercises help too. My friend had the epidural injections which they usually do a series of 3 and she hasn't had a problem since.  My Spine isn't shaped let most so I was getting all the cortisone and epidurals and wasn't even going in the right spot lol

[VICourageous]

Hi Girl. I am so sorry to hear this..I guess it has been the Year for some of us..I would follow what was said above about looking up those stretches..Yes those shots helped my Hubs back alot..They cost a bit, but they would be worth it in my opinion then going back on the pain meds right now. Just try to do what must be done to get this taken care of for good, so you do not have to keep living in pain or having to be very careful on what you do or lift.
I will be Praying for YOU!! lol
Keep taking some good natural powdered calcium too.
I swear that these Vit/Min that I get saved me from having a heart attack, besides my God.
Take care of YOU and let others help you out a bit..OK? lol

[clean_in_ks]

If you were told do only do ONE type of extension right now....listen and just "wait and see".  I absolutely HATE that expression, "wait and see"...but that's what is called for right now.  I couldn't have imagined doing any type of stretches or exericise when I was flat on by back in bed awaiting surgery.  There are bulging discs and then there are RUPTURED discs...even my back surgeon was amazed I'd been living with my discs the way they were for a year and a half.  You're blessed to have a quick appt and you'll get answers.....let us know...it's Wed....5 more days, babe!

[Amandag78]

Oh, sweet girl, i was wondering where you were. Im sorry, this is aweful. Please hang in there, i cant imagine your pain. Im thinking of you always and i hope you get better soom. I love you lots dear friend xoxo

[takingmylifeback2014]

Thanks everyone! I was told to only do back extensions as fat as stretches. I don't want to irritate the nerve anymore I am so confused! I guess the L5 is ruptured so I have no idea if it will heal in it's own of not. So I will get the opinion from the Neuro Monday and then I am going to an orthopedic to see what they think.

Has anyone had relief with the shots? If rather do that then surgery!! I am so upset and freaked out!

[jugglin]

Hey there sweetie!  I've missed you so very much.  I am SOOO sorry you are in so much pain. I've tried gabapentin for nerve damage and all it did was wipe me out.  Nothing else.  I pray it gives you some relief.  I pray SOMETHING gives you relief.  The TENS unit isn't a bad idea if you can get your hands on one. Have you ever tried acupuncture from a true Chinese acupuncturist (not a chiro office practicing US acupuncture)?  I am making an appt as I have some good friends who have used her with fabulous results.
I'm glad to hear you have an appt with the Neurosurgeon.  I know Monday seems far away, but you will get the news you need.
Have faith and stay strong.  Many prayer coming your way.
Love you girlie!
xoxoxo

[clean_in_ks]

So HAPPY to see you, girl..!!!  I've been wondering how you are doing~

It's great that you got the MRI done and even better than you have an appt with the Neurosurgeon as soon as MONDAY!!  You have quit seeing your chiro still (I hope) and are seeking new answers....that's all GOOD.

I had almost an identical issue but in L4/L5 and also in L5/S1.  I did finally have a long awaited back surgery.  You don't necessarily HAVE to have the surgery...and you can take your MRI to more than one surgeon if you want a second opinion.  

In the meanwhile...I KNOW you hurt and know exactly what you are going thru.  You may want to try the shots first....they have helped some people.
One gal I know only gets one every 8 mos or so and still gets by w/o surgery at this point.
Vicki's suggestion about watching some youtube videos is a GREAT one.
Just type "Sciatica pain or sciatica stretches" into your search engine and watch as many as you can. You'll get some REALLY good ideas and things you can do for now.  There are even special massage therapists that deal with sciatica pain and know trigger point massage.  Surf around and watch all you can....it will help you, I think.  I didn't know anything about them when I was bedridden for so long awaiting surgery.

I'm definitely praying for you girl.....please keep us up-to-date, ok?  

[Jtb12]

I was put on gapapentin too,  it made me so very tired all day long.  That is a type a med that you can't just stop taking FYI so becareful.  I switched to lyrica and I'm not having any success with it either.  I also had L4&5 disc problems. I did pt, I did cortisone injections, I did epidurals ect.  Then I had anterior posterial spinal fusion.  Ugh 3 surgeries later and I'm still a mess.  Biggest mistake I ever did was having surgery. Now if laser back surgery was a big thing like it is now I would of did that in a second which I plan on doing but I have to wait a year since my last surgery which was just a few months ago.  I was taken oxycodone 15mg 5 a day since 2012 until 14 days ago clean now.   Which I'm miserable due to the pain but I know it will get better.  Wish you the best of luck I know how miserable it is.  And I went to 8 surgeons before I had my first surgery just to make sure I needed it lol.

[lulu747]

Ack Honey.

That SU*CKS big time.  I totally get where you are at as I am living in unbearable pain right now.  I have tried Gabapentin and it never worked for me- I really hope you have better luck.  I guess there isn't anything that you can really do until you get that MRI.  I know how hard it is to live like this.  All I can do is try to distract myself and surround myself with people so I don't isolate.  I hope you have help at home?
Are you able to do any stretching at all?  My Mom has a similar issue to you (actually it's almost exact but she has osteoarthritis on top of it)  She wakes up crying every morning but does some gentle yoga stretches that I taught her (child's pose, threading the needle)  and takes naproxen.  When she is able to get out of bed she has this bar installed above a set of stairs and she hangs from it.  The gravity gives her some relief.  The doctor wants her to have surgery but as there isn't a very high success rate with it she's just dealing as best she can.
She says the stretching and hanging really helps.  She won't take any opiates after watching me go through what I went through- and opiates aren't very effective for that kind of pain.
You can't really take Toradol for many days at a time because it is too strong an NSAID and very hard on your system but it is AMAZING for that kind of pain.  If you could get an injection of it every so often when the pain is unbearable then maybe that would give you a little vacay from the pain.  You so need it.  And deserve it.
I wish I had more to offer you but I will pray and send you lots of love and support.  I really hope you find some relief and peace soon...
Lu

[vicki595]

I think this can be treated and it's worth a try!  First though, I believe in pain relief for acute situations so...think about that because this can really hurt.

Look into exercises. There are a million videos on You Tube that show how to get relief from Sciatica so check that out. Is there a chiropractor you can see? Have you tried a TENS unit?   Ice is good plus Motrin and then time....but don't suffer...