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Do yo have sciatica?-- ie- pain, paresthesia &/or weakness in any of the places the sciatic nerve goes (hip to toes)?....If not, then the bulging discs seen on MRI aren't part of the problem.
Pain in the back (presumably we're talking about your lower back) is not mediated by the sciatic nerve. Most back pain comes from arthritis in the spine, or more usually, from an imbalance in muscle tone of the psoas &/or paraspinous muscles comparing L to the R side.
Proper treatment consists of PT (exercise/massage) to loosen up the tight ones and tighten up the loose ones, to state it simplistically.
Intra-spinal injections of cortisone +/- lidocaine can help in the acute case of herniated disc, but has less effect after the fact.
No sciatic. That is what I thought and so did the doctor at first. I believe you think you know the problem and maybe you do, but I have to take the advise of my doctor. thanks for your help though.
My spine surgeon was the one who suggested acupuncture to me and I had about 5-6 treatments. They actually helped with the pain a little bit, but only for a day or two.
Honestly, the only thing that resolved my disc herniation and my pain from the associated nerve root compression was surgery. I wish I'd done it sooner. I opted for surgery after 8 months of doing PT, getting 2 Epidural Spinal injections, seeing a chiropractor and doing acupuncture for a couple of months in the hopes of avoiding surgery. I do think the PT helped enlighten me to the fact that I was weaker on my affected side than I realized and start me down the path of focusing more on strengthening my core (although I've always worked out and thought I was strong). I really think the PT and my history of exercising (which I continue to do) was a big factor in my recovery and positive outcome.
Thanks. As for being weaker on one side than the other I think that is one of my many problems. I have noticed I sit sideways leaning to the right more than the left and it is the right side that gives me the most discomfort. I have noticed even walking if I always put more weight on my left side I seem to hurt less. As for having surgery, I have a slight problem with that: first I have mixed feelings about surgery after age 80; I am the only driver in the house, so surgery and then PT would be a really hard tackle and I don't like to be dependent of my friends and family. When I had my knee done, 6 years ago. I was not the only driver and things went very well. I was glad I decided to have it done before instead of later. When my doctor said: the decision is yours but you will have to have it done sooner or later. I decided on sooner.
Thanks. As for being weaker on one side than the other I think that is one of my many problems. I have noticed I sit sideways leaning to the right more than the left and it is the right side that gives me the most discomfort. I have noticed even walking if I always put more weight on my left side I seem to hurt less. As for having surgery, I have a slight problem with that: first I have mixed feelings about surgery after age 80; I am the only driver in the house, so surgery and then PT would be a really hard tackle and I don't like to be dependent of my friends and family. When I had my knee done, 6 years ago. I was not the only driver and things went very well. I was glad I decided to have it done before instead of later. When my doctor said: the decision is yours but you will have to have it done sooner or later. I decided on sooner.
When my left side weakness was pointed out to me, I was very surprised, and a bit humbled, TBH. I've worked out 4-5 days for years, and I'm very lean and toned and I'm in my 40's. I thought I was stronger than I apparently was.
As far as any surgery, I'm certainly not suggesting you need that. It should only be considered when the indications are there. There have been some pretty good threads on this recently (and maybe you participated). Some really good posts by a user named townshend, who is a PA who has worked with spine surgeons before. I'll look for a link.
Last edited by Texas Ag 93; 08-26-2019 at 01:50 PM..
OK, I am going to keep this short and simple if I can. Lots of back issues, can hardly walk some days. About 3 years ago had X Rays: it showed mostly mild Arthritis. fast forward: really getting bad so had an MRI last week. Results showed same condition plus bulging disks and some nerve growing together. Shots have been suggested. I would have one and 2 weeks later another. Have any of you had experience with the shots? someone has suggested I see a Chiopractor (spelling) but I am thinking I should try the shots first.
I have used chiropractors since '85 and swear by them. Even DW's neurosurgeon encourages the use of chiropractors.
OK, I am going to keep this short and simple if I can. Lots of back issues, can hardly walk some days. About 3 years ago had X Rays: it showed mostly mild Arthritis. fast forward: really getting bad so had an MRI last week. Results showed same condition plus bulging disks and some nerve growing together. Shots have been suggested. I would have one and 2 weeks later another. Have any of you had experience with the shots? someone has suggested I see a Chiopractor (spelling) but I am thinking I should try the shots first.
Yes, nmnita, I have had them, and each time they lasted a couple of years. I never required a series of 2 or 3, just one. I’m having another in September. I am talking about an epidural, which is done by a radiologist who looks at a screen and targets the shot to the offending nerve. I would not bother with the chiropractor.
I have seemingly the same malady as you do. Arthritis in the spine, and a few bulging disks that are pinching a nerve. My pain is not in my spine, but halfway between my spine and hip.
The procedure is done with local numbing and is fairly painless. It takes about 15-20 minutes. You can’t drive yourself home. My results were immediate relief.
My husband just had the steroid injections into his neck vertebrae. He's not here so I'm doing this from memory.
He rolled an ATV which caused OA to his neck, which was also pinching the nerves. Very painful and restrictive, worsening over the 4 years since his accident.
They did an MRI, and also used xray (?) during the procedure to guide the needle from the side of his neck.
Within a week he was feeling 70% (or more) better. He is back to lifting weights and such.
Hope you can get the same results or better.
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I just know it takes an hour of prep before the shot and I have to have 2 of them two weeks apart.
No cortisone shot I've ever had has taken an hour of prep before the shot. Its usually about a quick as a flu shot or any other vaccine. Even my RFA didn't take very long. Now I'm curious as to what type of shot you're getting.
OK, I am going to keep this short and simple if I can. Lots of back issues, can hardly walk some days. About 3 years ago had X Rays: it showed mostly mild Arthritis. fast forward: really getting bad so had an MRI last week. Results showed same condition plus bulging disks and some nerve growing together. Shots have been suggested. I would have one and 2 weeks later another. Have any of you had experience with the shots? someone has suggested I see a Chiopractor (spelling) but I am thinking I should try the shots first.
Sounds like what i've got,MRI and CT scans sugest misaligned discs and arthritus of the spine,walking has become a real challenge and i now own a walker, i've had chronic lower back pain which cortesone shots prove inefective,my physio has given me some exercises to do but also ineffective,am now trying a portable tens device https://www.google.ca/search?source=...31.Sx3kgVdAkbw which gives some minor relief but its not a cure all. Also the doctor prescribed some Oxycodone for pain relief which i use on dialysis days as sitting in a chair for 4 hours plays h ell on ones back .this getting old really sucks
No cortisone shot I've ever had has taken an hour of prep before the shot. Its usually about a quick as a flu shot or any other vaccine. Even my RFA didn't take very long. Now I'm curious as to what type of shot you're getting.
I think she’s having an epidural, which is not like a cortisone shot in a joint, which takes seconds. It’s an X-ray guided injection, so they can get it in the exact right place.
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