Sciatic Nerve Pain Is Killing Me

Updated on October 17, 2011
C.C. asks from Conroe, TX
17 answers

Has anyone ever had sciatic nerve pain from pinched nerves? I helped someone lift a real heavy tv...one of the old kind...and my MRI says I have 3 buldging discs and 2 pinched nerves. I have tried all the remedies...I won't take anymore narcotics...this is the fourth month of pain..it is crippling at times...it has reduced me to walking around like a stiff.

What can I do next?

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M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

yes.

i went to a chiropractor for about a year. they did electro massage on my back and it worked wonders. the pain did come back after a year, but then they discovered that I had chipped one of my discs.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.R.

answers from Kansas City on

Suffered for three years after pregnancy. Regularly saw a chiropractor but it didn't help. Was pregnant a second time and it really flared up. Found a new chiropractor who specializes in Webster technique. Once I had my 9 lb baby she adjusted me at 6 weeks and said my pelvis was completely out of whack. I didn't have Sciatic.pain for the first time in over three years. Stretches also help. I'm sorry, its no fun being in pain.

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B.M.

answers from Dallas on

Have you had any steroid injections in your back? Any physical therapy? I had the same thing happen a couple months ago.....so I can totally sympathize. I was in bed for 4 days straight a few weeks back because the pain got so intense.

My doctor has done 2 epidural steroid injections in my back and I started physical therapy this week. I feel SO MUCH better!! I haven't needed any pain medicine all week.

I would definitely talk to your doctor and discuss all your options. Hopefully you can find something to give you some relief!!

3 moms found this helpful
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E.M.

answers from Austin on

I have had horrible sciatic/back pain. Mine started when my daughter was young. Going to the chiropractor was the thing that made an enormous difference for me. I had also tried acupunture and massage therapy (and had been to spinal doctor as well).
I also think yoga has helped a lot. (Though if you have back issues, going to the right yoga class is important. You don't want a flow class, you want something slow and methodical like Iyengar yoga.)
Now, I do yoga every week and go to the chiropractor about once a month or more if I need it.
Like others have said, I'm so sorry you're going through this! Back pain is horrible!

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T.J.

answers from Seattle on

chiropractic...regularly and for a while! I've been there and it's the best for helping both of these problems. At its absolute worst when I couldn't move I did lidocain injections (NOT cortisone). Ice nightly and after the chiropractor, and massage therapy.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.T.

answers from Victoria on

hubbs hurt his back really bad when he was 16 and again when he was mid thirties. he went to a cryopractor and it helps. he goes about four times a year or less. i hated criopractors (i have no idea how to spell) but went to one when i could not turn my neck. they mostly worked with muscles. hope you find a good one near you.

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K.F.

answers from New York on

Have you tried acupuncture, chiropractor, and/or inversion table?

I hear each of these has different benefits. My husband takes Alieve for his sciatic nerve pain. It helps tremendously and longer than most pain meds.

1 mom found this helpful

C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

Yes, I have this same problem off and on - I hate to tell you this but it usually is reoccurring your whole life. I try to stay fit and do back/core exercises regularly and it really helps from having it happen very often. I have exercises the PT gave me (simple core exercises for strengthening your back). Any time this happens I make a chiropractor appt right away. It helps with the pain SO much - I highly recommend it. Every chiropractor is a bit different so make sure to find one you like. You have to be so so careful from now on to always pick up things the right way, don't twist, and don't overdo it. The Dr says it is the most common type of back injury.

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J.F.

answers from Bloomington on

I AM SO SORRY YOU ARE GOING THROUGH THIS! It is one of the worst pains I have ever had!

I've noticed that once you slip and it pinches, it comes back easily if you move in the wrong way. Ugh.

I've dealt with it 4 different times. I've gone to the chiropractor each time. The last time was when my second baby was born and I must have moved in my hospital bed the wrong way trying to not hurt myself because of my c-section. Had terrible pain for 6 weeks from that on top of c-section, on top of a newborn I was breastfeeding.

Sit in hard chairs that have good support. When I sat in chairs that gave way in the back, I about died!

You probably won't be able to move things like you used to. REMEMBER that the next time someone asks for help!

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A.B.

answers from Naples on

You may already know this, but NEVER sit with your legs crossed. Try to keep perfect posture all the time, whether you're sitting or standing. Good luck, I know sciatica is excruciating. :(

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R.L.

answers from Houston on

up I've had sciatica for years. I had a back injury several years ago but mine was all muscle so I was able to get better with physical therapy. Since yours is muscuskeletal physical therapy may not help but you should ask your doctor about it. Also you may need surgery to fix it. I would suggest that you get a second opinion and research all your options, there is no reason you should be in pain for 4 months and no one has a solution for you!

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A.E.

answers from Waco on

Massage therapy and stretching worked wonders for me. Hope you get some relief soon.

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B.G.

answers from Houston on

I have had issues with sciatic nerve and other pinched disks in my back which causes major spasms, lots of pain. I see a chiropractor and have had a major relieve. i also have had lower back pains and hip pains and she was able to help me with those as well. Overall i have been seeing this chiropractor for about 12 years on and off when i have issues. She is wonderful. I used to go to the dr is i had pain now i just go straight to her. I dont like taking medication and she helps fix the problem. I would highly recommend getting an opinion from a chiropractor. Just a note, doctors dont like chiropractors... I have always been given negative feedback from the dr's but always have had positive results from the chiro. Good Luck!!

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K.P.

answers from Houston on

I am right there with ya!! I am in physical therapy and going to a chiropractor. My whole back was knotted up from guarding the sciatic pain. I am sorry to hear you are hurting so much. I would be very careful with chiropractor since you have the bulging discs. Traction would be great for that but PT can help you with it. I got an inversion table which did the trick the first time I hurt my back. I don't have bulging discs though. My aunt used some kind of tonic with hers and it relieved her pain. She does have bulging discs. Let me know and I can find out what that is if you want me to. Anyways, you are not alone and everyone has given you the only remedies I know of to help. I use ice to help relieve pain but again, I don't know if this is safe with the disc issue.
I wish you health and am praying for you!!
KP

G.T.

answers from Redding on

My hand is raised.
I had 3 bulging disks last year, couldnt even get out of bed for 3 weeks, it was horrible.
I finally got an epidural and it worked like magic. I've been pain free for a year now.

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J.T.

answers from College Station on

Have your ortho refer you to a physical therapist. They can to a lot to help you relieve the pain. Traction, exercises daily and some biomechanics.

I have a herniated disk and some major hip problems so I live in pain, but 2 months with the PT has made a major difference. Also, a round of steroid shots (they come in a series of 3 and work slowly over time- they reduce inflammation and let your body heal slowly) might help.

Good Luck- this IS treatable. Dr. wanted me to have microsurgery, but I have managed to avoid it- can't take the 6-8 downtime!!!

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A.S.

answers from Houston on

You might try Omega-3 fish oil capsules. Be sure they have both EPA and DHA. Start with 2.4 gms./day for 2 weeks. Then try backing off to 1.2 gms/day. If it comes back when you decrease the dosage, just go back up to 2.4. Has helped me enormously. As I decided when I tried this -- it can only cost me a few bucks and if it doesn't work, what am I out?

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