Sciatic nerve pain

[hoosierdoc]

Good luck!!! Once they open ya up its an automatic 20ish % disability.

I'm curious what you mean here. Disability by whose standards? My crossfit coach had lumbar fusion and disc removal and he's doing great. a PA I work with had back surgery and is incredibly active and works hard.

 

[hoosierdoc]

Last week the Dr released me from light duty since I was going on vacation. She ordered X-rays which I had done today. I received an email copy of the images and the results. But its about as clear as muddy water. Awesome too my Dr doesn't have any appointments available for 2 weeks.

It said I have a gentle Thoracolumbar Levocurvature with an apex at L2-L3; alignment in the sagittal plane is anatomic. Vertebral body heightsare well maintained, no fractures or dislocations, no focal lytic or blastic processes evident. Chronic degenerative endplate changes accompanies mild/moderate disc height loss at L3-L4 through L5-S1. Intervertabral disc spaces otherwise well maintained. No other significant endplate degeneration. Bilateral facet degeneration at L3-L4, L4-L5, L5-S1. Visualized sacrum, ilac intact and hip portions visualized anatomically positioned.
Conclusion Thoracolumbar levocurvature and associated degenerative changes greatest at L3-L4 through L5-S1.

Whatever all that means, I guess I will find out in two weeks.

Paging Hoosierdoc... Paging Hoosierdoc... Hoosierdoc to the white courtesy phone...

sorry... i read that as you have some scoliosis you probably didn't know you had. Doesn't anyone stare at you while you're naked bending over??? The rest of the stuff seems pretty typical. Endplate is the edge of your vertibrae. Height means no compression fracture, no blastic or lytic lesions no bone cancer/mets. disc height loss usually due to them drying out as you age. not much you can do there unless all height is gone and causing pain, then you can get a fusion or artifical disc put in there. Ugh. Bilateral facet degeneration is fairly typical, may cause some aching pain with over exertion i guess.

Did they comment on your penis at all? Usually it's prominent on those particular views

Seriously though... doesn't sound too bad. Certainly no herniated discs or nerves being impinged centrally. probably compression of a nerve more peripherally like through a muscle or something. Piriformis syndrome?

 

[boosteds13cc]

I'm curious what you mean here. Disability by whose standards? My crossfit coach had lumbar fusion and disc removal and he's doing great. a PA I work with had back surgery and is incredibly active and works hard.

Had my surgery due to a work injury. My surgeon said minimum percentage of disability is 20%

As for restrictions that all differs per person. I lifted more than i would at my job and yet still during my FCE I am at a 28% disability. Which being 32 years old and cant claim disability because im to young. Life currently is difficult when trying to look for any employment since my employer says "theres no positions available for me" so after ny release from work comp i am not unemployed.

 

[thunderchicken]

sorry... i read that as you have some scoliosis you probably didn't know you had. Doesn't anyone stare at you while you're naked bending over??? The rest of the stuff seems pretty typical. Endplate is the edge of your vertibrae. Height means no compression fracture, no blastic or lytic lesions no bone cancer/mets. disc height loss usually due to them drying out as you age. not much you can do there unless all height is gone and causing pain, then you can get a fusion or artifical disc put in there. Ugh. Bilateral facet degeneration is fairly typical, may cause some aching pain with over exertion i guess.

Did they comment on your penis at all? Usually it's prominent on those particular views

Seriously though... doesn't sound too bad. Certainly no herniated discs or nerves being impinged centrally. probably compression of a nerve more peripherally like through a muscle or something. Piriformis syndrome?

Yeah that's what the Dr I have been seeing pretty much said. Nothing major just recommended weight loss (been working on that for several years on/off) and she recommended physical therapy. Never mentioned Piriformis Syndrome though. In the last week I have been having terrible pain in my right butt cheek and in my right hip. Worst when I lay on my right side or sit on a toilet.
Went back to the clinic on Tuesday and saw a different Dr who is sending me to a Neurologist and put me back on Prednisone and gave me a shot of some sort.
All I know is the last few days it hurts to sit, stand, walk, lay down. I have to constantly change positions trying to find comfort.
My googlefu has lead me to speculate you maybe right on the Piriformis Syndrome.
Will an MRI show where the nerve is being aggrevated?

 

[boosteds13cc]

Yeah that's what the Dr I have been seeing pretty much said. Nothing major just recommended weight loss (been working on that for several years on/off) and she recommended physical therapy. Never mentioned Piriformis Syndrome though. In the last week I have been having terrible pain in my right butt cheek and in my right hip. Worst when I lay on my right side or sit on a toilet.
Went back to the clinic on Tuesday and saw a different Dr who is sending me to a Neurologist and put me back on Prednisone and gave me a shot of some sort.
All I know is the last few days it hurts to sit, stand, walk, lay down. I have to constantly change positions trying to find comfort.
My googlefu has lead me to speculate you maybe right on the Piriformis Syndrome.
Will an MRI show where the nerve is being aggrevated?

I honestly cant say if it wil I'll show up. Most likely id say no. The neurologist will be able to answer. Hope ypu get relief soon. No one should be in pain or uncomfortable to something that can be treated. It is 2019 now so...just sucks that drs dont want to prescribe meds because of this opioid bs going on.

 

[thunderchicken]

Well I finally had an MRI done on Friday. Received a call today from my Dr's office and told me that it indicates I have a bulged disc at L3-L4 and a bulged disc at L4-L5 with likely nerve root impingement on the right side. And was re-advised they will be referring me to a specialist and expect a call tomorrow. But also scheduled me a for a follow up visit for Tuesday. In the last 8 or 9 weeks I have had two rounds of being on Prednisone, and had some relief (still had some pain). However, since being off all but Aleve I am definitely feeling the pain while doing most of my normal job duties. From what I read online, there are a few potential options to try saving surgery as a last resort.
When I go back on Tuesday, I may request being put back on light duty while we figure out how to proceed. Aside from the pain, I am concerned with further injuring myself by trying to do too much lifting & carrying tires/batteries etc.
At this point I'm just tired of hurting all the time

 

[SnoopLoggyDog]

There is good news. I tore my L3 disk in 1989. Steroids, back brace and exercises helped me get back to work. A few years later, I started having intense sciatic pain. Had arthroscopic back surgery to repair it. Twenty-Five years since the surgery, still no pain or sciatic issues. Have to imagine that in the last twenty-five years, medical technology has greatly advanced, to be even more effective at correcting bulged/herniated disks.

 

[boosteds13cc]

They will try and do an epidural, fasette joint injections, maybe some pt, in pt they will try a spinal traction machine which pulls on your spine and can potentially suck the disc back into where it belongs.

Do research. I wish there were more options for me. I can say one year after surgery (the recent one) 3 years after the first one. I wish there was more options in indiana. Maybe it was different for me due to it being workmans comp.

 

[thunderchicken]

They will try and do an epidural, fasette joint injections, maybe some pt, in pt they will try a spinal traction machine which pulls on your spine and can potentially suck the disc back into where it belongs.

Do research. I wish there were more options for me. I can say one year after surgery (the recent one) 3 years after the first one. I wish there was more options in indiana. Maybe it was different for me due to it being workmans comp.

That sucks sorry to hear you have had pain for so long. I may...probably injured mine at work but honestly just didn't want to deal with workers comp or to be directed to see doctors paid for by the city.

 

[thunderchicken]

They will try and do an epidural, fasette joint injections, maybe some pt, in pt they will try a spinal traction machine which pulls on your spine and can potentially suck the disc back into where it belongs.

Do research. I wish there were more options for me. I can say one year after surgery (the recent one) 3 years after the first one. I wish there was more options in indiana. Maybe it was different for me due to it being workmans comp.

I'd try just about any of the options you listed to get relief. I'm also doing as much as I can with diet and light exercise to lose some pounds as I know that will also help

 

[1911ly]

They will try and do an epidural, fasette joint injections, maybe some pt, in pt they will try a spinal traction machine which pulls on your spine and can potentially suck the disc back into where it belongs.

Do research. I wish there were more options for me. I can say one year after surgery (the recent one) 3 years after the first one. I wish there was more options in indiana. Maybe it was different for me due to it being workmans comp.

I get those every 3 months along with nerve root block and RF ablations every 6 months. I can't do anything without "feeling it" when I do much of anything. My cardiac issues prevent me from having back surgery locally. I have been told I will have to be awake for the procedure. Not thrilling to say the least. Back issues run in my family.

I ignored and worked threw a lot of pain in my younger years. When I couldn't handle it I took over the counter Advil and Tylenol off and on. I took enough Tylenol for so long I damaged my kidneys.

My back would go out once every few years, then 6 months, then a few months until I could hardly walk. FYI to you younger guys. Back pain is your back saying it has had enough. The list of crap wrong with my back is long. Don't just say I can work threw this! Others here with back issue will know what I am talking about and what I am going threw.

TC I will pray you get some relief, and for the guys with similar issues, a prayer for you too.

 

[thunderchicken]

I get those every 3 months along with nerve root block and RF ablations every 6 months. I can't do anything without "feeling it" when I do much of anything. My cardiac issues prevent me from having back surgery locally. I have been told I will have to be awake for the procedure. Not thrilling to say the least. Back issues run in my family.

I ignored and worked threw a lot of pain in my younger years. When I couldn't handle it I took over the counter Advil and Tylenol off and on. I took enough Tylenol for so long I damaged my kidneys.

My back would go out once every few years, then 6 months, then a few months until I could hardly walk. FYI to you younger guys. Back pain is your back saying it has had enough. The list of crap wrong with my back is long. Don't just say I can work threw this! Others here with back issue will know what I am talking about and what I am going threw.

TC I will pray you get some relief, and for the guys with similar issues, a prayer for you too.

Thank you

And yeah, I'm learning the hard way not to just suck it up and push through the pain.

 

[Jt22453]

Good luck to you. I have my own issues with my back and I believe if I lost some weight much of my problem would be solved. I have scoliosis and can’t lay flat on my back without pain among other issues. I hope you get your back figured out or least some relief because it is the worst. I know people who are in a lot worse shape than I am. I am thankful my back problems are not chronic yet and only have to deal with it sporadically.

 

[boosteds13cc]

That sucks sorry to hear you have had pain for so long. I may...probably injured mine at work but honestly just didn't want to deal with workers comp or to be directed to see doctors paid for by the city.

I am still having problems with pain. If this is how it feels after having a disc fused i totally recommend going a different route. Been since dec of 2015 since my initial injury. Crazy how in 2019 there is NOT a better way to relieve pain and/or chronic pain. Hope you get this figured out. No one wants or should have to suffer.

 

[boosteds13cc]

I get those every 3 months along with nerve root block and RF ablations every 6 months. I can't do anything without "feeling it" when I do much of anything. My cardiac issues prevent me from having back surgery locally. I have been told I will have to be awake for the procedure. Not thrilling to say the least. Back issues run in my family.

I ignored and worked threw a lot of pain in my younger years. When I couldn't handle it I took over the counter Advil and Tylenol off and on. I took enough Tylenol for so long I damaged my kidneys.

My back would go out once every few years, then 6 months, then a few months until I could hardly walk. FYI to you younger guys. Back pain is your back saying it has had enough. The list of crap wrong with my back is long. Don't just say I can work threw this! Others here with back issue will know what I am talking about and what I am going threw.

TC I will pray you get some relief, and for the guys with similar issues, a prayer for you too.

Sorry to hear that. I also "feel it" kinda like i was before surgery which is weird to say, like it feels (to me) that ny back needs to pop or crack and theres pressure built up. Not to mention sleeping. I have a hard time keeping still. Seems like everytime I try and get comfortable I must roll over. My girlfriend says it sounds like im running a marathon in my sleep, and feeling that in the morning sucks. I dont have sciatic pain and dont have to use a cane or walker (although i think about a cane) im 32. Worked hard as hell to 'prove i can do the job or task and get it done' now being told it is what it is and i cant complete anything without being in pain (picking up dog poop or doing dishes) so im nervous about a job since my pervious employer got rid of me as soon as i got released from work comp.

 

[Fullmag]

Been thinking about maybe, maybe not and dealing with pain from back then reading some this I’m going to follow through. Go back to Dr about reoccurring back pain associated with pain in left knee, upper calf area. So I call doc and their closed due to cold. Just the way it is.

 

[Clay]

A few years ago had a similar issue except my pain went all the way to my big toe. I still have loss of feeling in that toe to this day. My chiropractor got me out of it, but it took time, and stretching exercises that I still try to do to this day.

 

[El Conquistador]

I get those every 3 months along with nerve root block and RF ablations every 6 months. I can't do anything without "feeling it" when I do much of anything. My cardiac issues prevent me from having back surgery locally. I have been told I will have to be awake for the procedure. Not thrilling to say the least. Back issues run in my family.

I ignored and worked threw a lot of pain in my younger years. When I couldn't handle it I took over the counter Advil and Tylenol off and on. I took enough Tylenol for so long I damaged my kidneys.

My back would go out once every few years, then 6 months, then a few months until I could hardly walk. FYI to you younger guys. Back pain is your back saying it has had enough. The list of crap wrong with my back is long. Don't just say I can work threw this! Others here with back issue will know what I am talking about and what I am going threw.

TC I will pray you get some relief, and for the guys with similar issues, a prayer for you too.

After 4 back surgeries and numerous other procedures I am having a RF ablation tomorrow. I hope this helps at least for a while.
TC. I hope it all works out for you.

 

[thunderchicken]

After 4 back surgeries and numerous other procedures I am having a RF ablation tomorrow. I hope this helps at least for a while.
TC. I hope it all works out for you.

Good luck and hope it all works out for you as well.

 

[1911ly]

After 4 back surgeries and numerous other procedures I am having a RF ablation tomorrow. I hope this helps at least for a while.
TC. I hope it all works out for you.

I got almost a year out of the first one. About 6 months with the second. I imagine I will have another one in the next month or so. It really sucked for 3-4 days after the procedure. But some of the relief was immediate. It was worth having done. I'll pray your procedure helps immensely!