The electonic stimulation works great, but only for 20 hours max
Right calf is cramping on occasion, spike of pain is down from the hip joint to the foot, right foot is asleep for the last week
Pain has been immense for 5 to 6 weeks now
work related
Ho did you/do you make it shut off without becoming Rush Limbaugh? Tonight I am taking 2 pain killers, it hurts like you cannot imagine
Taking oxycodone nightly, tonight, twice within 3 hours
I was almost suicidal after a year of this pain. I tried everything, but I limped into the hospital for surgery and walked out 24 hours later, a new man.
Recovery was less than two weeks. 12 years later, I 60 years old, can lift 300 pounds, walk 10 miles, and work 20 hours a day.
Surgery is the only answer. Get it and get over it.
I suffered three years before I discovered the solution: get up and use those muscles.
Of course it's going to hurt like hell. But it's worse laying still.
Race, are you in the DC area? My doctor works miracles -- Dr. Thomas Schuler. Cannot recommend him highly enough.
Consider yourself lucky that you have anything to take.
The last few MONTHS of my Moms pregnancy, carrying me ... I was against her sciatic nerve. Talk about being a pain in the arse from the start ... LOL ... but TRUE!
She was NOT allowed to take anything.
BTW, I hope you feel better!!
I feel your pain and I will pray that you get relief.
I also have L5 (about 30 years now ... started when I was a kid). I started with physical therapy 5 years ago, and then we had to move ... way 'cross country. My PT's arranged for me to buy this device before we moved ... I can't remember what it's called ... label wore off a few years ago ... it's like a midievil torture device (just kidding ... sort of).
I lie down, strap it on around my upper legs and upper rib cage. There's a hand pump, and I pump it as much as I can.
It stretches me. It takes the pressure off the nerves and makes it possible to walk and sit pain free again. I only use it 3-4 times a year now ... used to be 3-4 times per day when I first started.
I also liked the STIM until I got this thing ... the best thing is I can use it a home whenever I want, and it's suitcase size, so I can take it travelling.
I think it's about $900 retail, but insurance paid over 90% (usually I have a 20% copay, but they covered more for this thing ... it has saved them a ton of money).
It's the most amazing device ... I even got about 1/2" taller (when I was using it 3-4 times per day).
Seven years ago, I ruptured two disks, L3-4 (minor) and L4-5 (major). That's what happens when you're built like a football linebacker and run consistently 6 miles daily on concrete. (Dumb as a linebacker too....)
I was miserable for 4 months, then it settled down for a month, then it came back with a vengeance. At that point I finally saw a neurologist, who ran an MRI and recommended me to a great neurosurgeon out here in the CA Bay Area.
I had discectomy and laminectomy, and after a month's recovery, was doing great. At first I was worried that it didn't fix the problem, as it took a while for swelling to stop impinging on the spinal nerves, but a six-day pack of steroids fixed that. Now I am almost good as new - I just need to make sure I don't lift heavy weights.
Good luck and avoid shamans like chiropractors. Incorrect, uneducated care of the back can lead to permanent nerve damage. Go to the pros, get proper diagnosis using real tools like MRIs, and let a neurologist - and not an orthopedist - handle the job. Orthopedists know about bones, and while they're important, they pale in comparison to the delicate touch needed around the spinal nerves.
They're hard to find (for me anyway) but ask around and avoid the "I'll need to see you three times a week for three month" types. A good chiro won't try and guess how much you'll need until you've had a couple of treatments.
Who will find a good one? I've found the best ones through local runner's clubs and, don't laugh, dance companies (ballet dancers can screw up their bodies pretty good). Avoid the ones that have big yellow page ads and TV commercials.
Best of luck with it, I know how bad it can hurt.
My chiropractor son-in-law finally convinced me I needed surgery. I figured if a chiropractor is telling me I need surgery he must be on to something.
The ortho surgeon said he would be glad to fix my back AFTER he replaced my left hip,which was eroded due to my gait trying to compensate for my back problems.
To make a long story short,I had the hip replaced and eight months later had L3,L4 and L5 cleaned out removed ,replaced with titanium spacers and morphogenic surgical protein and VOILA!...over thirty years of agony gone!
I was incredibly stupid and in denial when I turned surgery down thirty years ago....GET THE SURGERY!!
Excercise, the only way to make it go away. You need to strenghten your lower back. Try a stair master.
If it so bad you can barely walk try cycling.
I had two bad episodes this year, so bad I had to stay at home for days. I could not sit in a chair. Very hard to find a comfortable position. Make sure you have an ergonomic chair.
also, don't know how you did it, but obviously lifting things the wrong way will cause the problem.
I pinched my nerve lifting heavy objects with my back, not my knees. I even are agravated it opening a stiff window.
I was in pure agony for a week, took tons of nuprin which abrely helped, hot pads helped a little. I had annoying uncomfortable numbness from my ass down my leg for weeks.
It went away all by it self after excercising a bit more.
I go through bad sciatic fits...real bad. I use acupuncture from one of the best in the state..a Chinese M.D. who also was a heart doctor as well. Reflexology and a deep tissue massage therapist.
The combonation decreased my pain by 70%.
Welcome to the chronic pain club....(sheepish sarcasm)
I use Oxy and maximum doses of Ibuprofen. It will get to your stomach eventually, but it helps and works better.
There is nothing you can do about the breakthrough pain spikes. Nothing helps with that except higher and higher doses of Oxy which will cause you huge problems when you try to reduce the dose. It is best not to go there if you can help it...Drug dependency initiates quickly....within weeks and it can turn into addiction.
Ask for OxyContin if the pain is around the clock. I will give you about ten hours or so. But you still need the ibuprofen. The Oxy will make it work better. I take four to five 200MG at a time, every 4 hours.
Good luck to you.
Find a pain management clinic with a good rep--this will be hard to do, you'll have to talk to a lot of docs and nurses and any connections you might have. I know of some people who have had good results with a series of epidurals for other neck/spine/back pain. Ask about it. Muscle relaxers are not as addictive as the narcs--ask about them, too. Take a close look at any clinics with a lot of foreign-sounding names and accents.
Try yoga.