Sciatica or L4-5/S1-2 disc problems?

[swatts831]

I am a 37 year old female and was dx'd with RA when I was about 24. I have had MRI's done in the past that found that nearly all the disc in my back are bulging (c1 - T2, L3-S2). Ever since September of this year I have been dealing with pain on and off. I noticed a few days ago that my left lymph node under my chin was very swollen to the point where I could feel it in my throat and it was uncomfortable to turn my head. Then I started with a severe flare up of RA and my back yesterday . It's so bad that I am completely bed bound. I can not sit up in the bed, I can't roll over, I can't stand or put ANY pressure on my right foot/leg without severe pain! It's so bad that I have to go into the shower with REALLY hot water to somewhat ease the pain long enough for me to use the bathroom b/c the pain is too bad to sit.The pain starts around L4 of my lower back and extends all the way to the 'coin slot' of my bottocks. The pain radiates to both sides of my pelvis in the back then pain shoots all the way down my right leg causing numbness into my right foot and toes and bottom of the foot. I could literally draw the line on my leg where the pain shoots down. I currently do not have health insurance and aren't getting much help getting insurance though healthcare.gov. Is there ANYTHING I can do to get some relief? I have done the ice, heat, hot showers.... VERY LITTLE to no relief :(  

[swatts831]

Thank you for your suggestions. I have already tried DMSO (My dad made me try it.), Doesn't work for the RA pain ( at least not for me). The only thing that it DID do was leave a nasty garlic-like taste in my mouth. I do actually meditate on a daily basis, but when you're in so much pain that you can't move, it's a bit hard. I don't take oral pain medications b/c they too, don't seem to work on me. They make me either nauseated or just a little loopy without helping with any of the pain at all; so what's the point in taking them :/ I am quite active too. I'm usually up around 5:30 - 6:00am and don't go to sleep till around 11 or 12 at night. I'm always either cooking, cleaning, going somewhere.... or cleaning lol. As far as the diet, I don't eat sweets (can't handle the sugar), I eat little carbs and LOTS of fish, and chicken! I try to mae sure that I at least have 3 out of 4 food groups represented at each meal :) There have been plenty of days where I hurt from a RA flare-up but I dont let it stop me. I usually can go about my day with no problem. But I would NEVER wish the pain I felt last week on ANYONE. I can handle a great deal of pain, like you, but I would gladly take Pleurisy, Pneumonia, RA, Child Birth, broken bones, surgery, etc. over sciatic pain....

[TheLightSeeker]

Hi swatts831.

Indeed it's a tough situation for you to be in and people who have not experienced pain and suffering like yours, have NO idea what it feels like!

I have been though two near fatal horrific accidents sustaining severe injuries including internal organ injuries and head injuries-you couldn't tell all this if you had met me today- and let me tell you : I know what pain is!

Let me forewarn  you that I'm extremely tough minded and also
very Spirit driven.
I managed to overcome all my physical challenges, basically on my own, without any medications, not even OTC pain-killers -but this is another story for another time!

So let me share some things that might help.
1. Meditation! Get some CDs if you don't know how to meditate or can't get in to it.
2. Dr. John Sarno, a Professor of Rehabilitative Medicine, is the discoverer of the Tension Myositis Syndrome and the author of many books on pain like:" Healing Back Pain", "The Mind Body Prescription-Healing The Body,Healing The Pain","The Divided Mind". There are some interesting YouTube video clips, if you want to check them out.
I personally think he's brilliant and his teachings helped me tremendously!

3. Look into DMSO for fast pain relief. Not FDA approved for human use,
has been used on farms, treating animals, mostly horses, with great success.
I use a solution of 30% with 70% distilled water on a very clean painful
area of the body.
Caution should be used when used on the neck and above because of the
amount of lipids in that area, so DMSO being a very strong driver AND solvent must be used in a 10% solution, in many thin applications.
It is a very powerful antioxidant, delivering fast relief  into the cells.
I buy mine from a friend who's a Veterinarian.

4. Staying active, without exerting yourself, and only within your own
threshold and tolerance to pain, will ensure that your circulation is not compromised because of inactivity.

5. An anti-arthritic diet, with emphasis on fresh  vegetables, salads,
healthy fats including omega- 3s, olive oil (fresh) and coconut oil (safe for cooking & with many medicinal properties), will give you added benefits.

6. If you do a search here under "IWILLDOTHIS" you will find a thread
at the Fibromyalgia Community, which I started a while back, with many suggestions to help with pain.

Please keep in touch here and let us know how things are going for you.

Best wishes!
Niko

[Beadyeye]

I am so sorry to hear what you are suffering. It makes my fibromyalgia and L4 symptoms seem like nothing. I hope that someone with more experience than I will post.
       The pain that you describe in your lower back sounds just like L4 pressure. There is also a condition which is called  piriformis syndrome.The piriformis muscle, located in the buttock region, spasms and causes buttock pain. The piriformis muscle can also irritate the nearby sciatic nerve and cause pain, numbness and tingling along the back of the leg and into the foot (similar to sciatic pain).The piriformis muscle starts at the lower spine and connects to the upper surface of each femur .It assists in rotating the hip and turning the leg and foot outward It runs diagonally, with the sciatic nerve running vertically directly beneath it (although in some people the nerve can run through the muscle).
         My L4 pain runs down the outside of my leg below my knee and I know exactly what you mean by drawing a line on it. My toes are always numb and sometimes my whole foot up to my ankle. Cortisone shots helped my Dr. and me locate exactly where it was but I don't use cortisone yet because it can weaken tendons. When it's really bad I lie flat on my back and some of the feeling comes back in my foot.
     I'm 71. I run a small farm and compensate for my back by strapping a back brace tightly around where I know the L4 is on the theory that I'm either  squeezing my nerve back where it belongs or squeezing my spine enough to push the protruding tissue back in a bit. Whatever, it works. I use an elastic back brace which is sold for laborers at Home Depot. I cut off the suspenders and use the belt. It's very strong and stretchy; I can tolerate it for about 4 hours. Maybe you could keep one by the bed and cinch it on before you get up.
       Keep a hiking stick by your bed. It's better for stabilizing your back than a short cane because you can hold on high up and use your arms to pull you up and stabilize you. You might also consider adult incontinence garments. I know how hard it is to move in the morning with my pain to get to the bathroom and I wear them in case I don't make it.
      I will be thinking of you and hoping you flare has already ended as I post this. - Beadyeye (I bead and sell jewelry)