Sciatic nerve - mega pain

[BDF]

I don't mean to be an ass, but surely medical advice is best sought from medical professional practitioners? I had inflammation of my esophagus two weeks ago, and after googling the symptoms I was told by every single search result that I have cancer in my esophagus, which is untreatable. I very nearly did not go see a doctor because of that.

 

I went after all, and was given some meds to take. My issue was sorted within two days.

 

The point of my yarn is that we can so easily get carried away by what other people experienced, not taking into consideration that their situation was mostly different to our own.

 

Advice is always welcome, but I would go with the trusted medical route for an informed diagnosis and treatment plan.

 

my 2c worth anyway

With you on that - hence seeing my GP later today. However, I like to get a broader perspective on things. Kind of like the way they mow a putting green - from all angles...

[RaceFan]

It obviously depends on the cause of the sciatica, and the area that was treated, but I would be very careful with needles in the bottock to relief sciatica. I would not advise it for Pirifirmis at all, as it sits too close to the nerve, and there is too many individual variations in their relative positioning

I hear you. I'd be looking for professional advice personally.

[KarlvN]

With you on that - hence seeing my GP later today. However, I like to get a broader perspective on things. Kind of like the way they mow a putting green - from all angles...

 

Nice analogy the putting green. Good luck with the GP, and I sincerely wish you all the best and hope that it is merely something minor. In any event, heal up soon.

[BDF]

OK. Doc says it's definitely Sciatica, likely caused by a Partial Prolapse of the L5-S1 disk. (hope I got the medical jargon right)

 

No stretching, no cycling for the next 2 weeks.

 

Voltaren and some other concoction injected into butt, plus oral anti-inflammatory and some stuff that deals with inflammation of the nerve topped off with pain killers.

 

If after 2 weeks there is no improvement, X-Rays and MRI, but hopefully we wont go there!

[Escapee..]

OK. Doc says it's definitely Sciatica, likely caused by a Partial Prolapse of the L5-S1 disk. (hope I got the medical jargon right)

 

No stretching, no cycling for the next 2 weeks.

 

Voltaren and some other concoction injected into butt, plus oral anti-inflammatory and some stuff that deals with inflammation of the nerve topped off with pain killers.

 

If after 2 weeks there is no improvement, X-Rays and MRI, but hopefully we wont go there!

 

 

Good Luck Dude

[TheKaiser]

Good luck! Keep an eye on it.... If it doesn't get better I suggest you get it checked out starting with an X-ray. That's how my debacle started.... and ended with complications (spinal fusion). Just don't keep banging away at it with physio etc, sometimes they can do more harm than good.

[Andrek]

Also had similar symptoms and still often do although not as bad as 6 years ago. Turned out I have a herniated disc in lower back and orthopedic surgeon wanted to operate.

 

I was not ready and after a lot of research and seeking a second opinion from neuro surgeon Dr Frank Snijkers (now retired I believe) told me that spinal fusion is the only solution. But he also told me he doesn't just operate and prescribed long term treatment on Celebrex for inflammation,etc and suggested I see biokineticist.

 

I still cycle and sometimes my back kills me after 4 to 5 hours on the mtb but I am still going strong without an operation.

 

He predicted I may have to undergo this operation eventually but I am glad I followed his advise.

 

Pity I don't follow the routine exercises that helped me to stay pain free for several months! [emoji16]

[T-man]

Go see Richard Sutton.....

[Swift01]

OK. Doc says it's definitely Sciatica, likely caused by a Partial Prolapse of the L5-S1 disk. (hope I got the medical jargon right)

 

No stretching, no cycling for the next 2 weeks.

 

Voltaren and some other concoction injected into butt, plus oral anti-inflammatory and some stuff that deals with inflammation of the nerve topped off with pain killers.

 

If after 2 weeks there is no improvement, X-Rays and MRI, but hopefully we wont go there!

I was just about to say it could a disk., I had a similar problem only my disk was getting squashed on the one side. Turned out to be a muscle in my back pulling it down. Took 3 months at the Pysio (it actually started getting better the moment my physio went on leave for a week and I had to use another one). First thing she did was get my legs to the same length. I was able to ride the indoor trainer during the 3 months. I found the anti inflammatory masked the problem at first, so hurt it again because I didn't have any pain and thought hiking would be fine. Big mistake, came back worse so got x rays which showed us where the problem was. So yes do nothing for the first 2 weeks.

[BDF]

Thanks for the input in this topic.

 

Here is my update:

MRI revealed that the disk between L4 & L5 vertebrae was squashed and the hole through which the nerves/spine go has closed up too much. Further, the disk between L5 & S1 was ruptured and bits of it had separated. The disk was almost completely cutting off the nerve. This is the one causing my leg pain.

 

Neurosurgeon is Dr Zwonnikoff. A great guy. He operated on Thursday last week. Made the space bigger for the nerve at L4/L5 and removed the disk at L5/S1 because it was so stuffed. No fusions or any hardware put in. Was walking the next day and discharged on Sunday morning. Recovering at home for next 2 weeks. Unfortunately, no cycling for next couple of months. Have got a bunch of exercised to do to speed up nerve "awakening" and regain mobility. Physio keeps reminding me that I am not training for a race, just working on recovery... I seem to have a tendency to overdo things a bit!

 

Well, that's about it!

[Imploder]

Was the rupture caused by general wear and tear? I'm assuming there was no trauma involved like a fall or injury prior to the pain.

[BDF]

Was the rupture caused by general wear and tear? I'm assuming there was no trauma involved like a fall or injury prior to the pain.

The damage to the vertebrae is an old injury but the recent disk stress could have been caused by something as simple as twisting or stretching. My GP says that it is quite likely that the chiropractor caused the rupture not realizing that the disk was already halfway messed up. So much as I support chiropractic, after this episode, I would not recommend it if you suspect disk bulge/prolapse at all.

[arendoog]

Thanks for the input in this topic.

 

Here is my update:

MRI revealed that the disk between L4 & L5 vertebrae was squashed and the hole through which the nerves/spine go has closed up too much. Further, the disk between L5 & S1 was ruptured and bits of it had separated. The disk was almost completely cutting off the nerve. This is the one causing my leg pain.

 

Neurosurgeon is Dr Zwonnikoff. A great guy. He operated on Thursday last week. Made the space bigger for the nerve at L4/L5 and removed the disk at L5/S1 because it was so stuffed. No fusions or any hardware put in. Was walking the next day and discharged on Sunday morning. Recovering at home for next 2 weeks. Unfortunately, no cycling for next couple of months. Have got a bunch of exercised to do to speed up nerve "awakening" and regain mobility. Physio keeps reminding me that I am not training for a race, just working on recovery... I seem to have a tendency to overdo things a bit!

 

Well, that's about it!

Mine cleared up with conservative treatment only .6 weeks until the pain was better and another 6 months until I could not feel anything anymore .Happy for you that the surgery did not involve a fusion yet  .Mine was caused by a 70km MTB race followed by a 20km jog and then carrying my 7 year old son 200m on my back during a Berg holiday .All in 48 hours .Cycling was the only position that was comfortable .As you bent forwards on the bike the vertebra facet's  opens at the back and relieved some pressure on the pinched nerve

[mtbsmurf]

I recently went through the same pain / trauma and series of consultations with doctors, physio, massage, chiro's.  The solution came after the second neurologist, orthopedic specialist and MRI - also L5 issue but I was very lucky. Some muscle relaxants and a dose of steroids and I seem to be sorted. Was muscle spasm in the glute and inflammation due to the irritation of the nerve at L5.

 

The healing was not immediate but getting better every day.  Swimming and keeping the cycling to an hour at a time for 2 months. The neurologist compared it to a torn hamstring and you need to allow it to heal.  Work was my problem.  Sitting at my desk for 8 hours at a time caused it.  Also thought it was piriformis but my doc said it was the latest 'in' diagnosis.  Also got told I had diabetes and that was causing nerve damage (not).  

[BDF]

Mine cleared up with conservative treatment only .6 weeks until the pain was better and another 6 months until I could not feel anything anymore .Happy for you that the surgery did not involve a fusion yet  .Mine was caused by a 70km MTB race followed by a 20km jog and then carrying my 7 year old son 200m on my back during a Berg holiday .All in 48 hours .Cycling was the only position that was comfortable .As you bent forwards on the bike the vertebra facet's  opens at the back and relieved some pressure on the pinched nerve

Flip, seems like you had a hectic weekend! My initial injury was probably due to a head on car accident I was involved in some 23 years ago. I have managed the back pain over the years with the help of said Chiropractor...

[BDF]

I recently went through the same pain / trauma and series of consultations with doctors, physio, massage, chiro's.  The solution came after the second neurologist, orthopedic specialist and MRI - also L5 issue but I was very lucky. Some muscle relaxants and a dose of steroids and I seem to be sorted. Was muscle spasm in the glute and inflammation due to the irritation of the nerve at L5.

 

The healing was not immediate but getting better every day.  Swimming and keeping the cycling to an hour at a time for 2 months. The neurologist compared it to a torn hamstring and you need to allow it to heal.  Work was my problem.  Sitting at my desk for 8 hours at a time caused it.  Also thought it was piriformis but my doc said it was the latest 'in' diagnosis.  Also got told I had diabetes and that was causing nerve damage (not).  

I would have had a more conservative treatment plan had the disk not ruptured and had bits coming off of it. Part of the problem though was the age of the injury. Over the years, the bone sort of tried to fix itself by making more bone and the hole where the L4/L5 space is for the nerve to go through grew smaller. That needed to be made bigger too. Just glad I'm on the road to recovery now!