Is this sciatica? I'm in constant pain?!
Question: Is this sciatica.? I'm in constant pain.?
constant aching pain starting from buttocks down the left side of body,including arm, going all the way to the foot. .?as the result of a back injury in a swimming pool when I was about 13. The injury was never addressed at the time. Now I'm 31.
bad all the time, tho worse at night. Constantly wake during night and have difficulty getting to sleep.
Panadeine forte,aspirin and nurofen plus, valium help, tho I'm getting sick of taking meds. Dr has also prescribed amytriptilline (endep) with minimal effect.
I have a referral to an orthopaedic surgeon but it could take up to 18 months to even get an appointment. Shouldn't i be seeing a neurologist as well if it is nerve related.? I had a CT of the spine which was NAD.
I am going to start seeing a physio as none of the meds seem to be working. Is there much a physio can do for me.?
I live in Australia.
Health Question & Answer
bad all the time, tho worse at night. Constantly wake during night and have difficulty getting to sleep.
Panadeine forte,aspirin and nurofen plus, valium help, tho I'm getting sick of taking meds. Dr has also prescribed amytriptilline (endep) with minimal effect.
I have a referral to an orthopaedic surgeon but it could take up to 18 months to even get an appointment. Shouldn't i be seeing a neurologist as well if it is nerve related.? I had a CT of the spine which was NAD.
I am going to start seeing a physio as none of the meds seem to be working. Is there much a physio can do for me.?
I live in Australia.
Health Question & Answer
Answers:
definitely sounds like it to me- although the arm pain is a new one. I get it from my lumbar to my foot. It's so incredibly painful that I am unable to sit at all, and must eat standing up. But mine is sporadic, and will go away after three weeks or so. The only thing that helps me is lying on the floor with a frozen gel pack on my back. painkillers don't do much at all. The thing with sciatica is to keep moving, and when you feel better, do stretching and strengthening for your transverse abdominus (your core around your abdomen) This will help support your entire back and lower extremities. There is a great book called "Peak Performance Fitness', written by Jennifer Rhodes, that shows you how to gently and effectively work on this area. Don't be put off by the title- it sounds like a hardcore workout thing, but it's not- she addresses back issues very well. I have had a much better back since using her program. Surgery is a LAST resort.
http://www.amazon.com/Peak-Performance-F...
Avoid sitting on couches or other soft surfaces, and sleep on a firm mattress, on your side, with a pillow between your knees. Get some gentle massage, or learn to do self-release for the muscles that are involved- they get caught in a feedback loop of tension. Heat feels good, and can loosen things up, but cold is actually better because it brings down inflammation. How are your feet.? Do you over-pronate or have flat arches.? I have both, and I found that getting a pair of Superfeet insoles (about $35.00) really helped my back also. They are the best non-prescription orthotic insoles available.
Good luck!
edit- There's another thing you can try; find a set of Miracle Balls. (yeah, I know...;^) they really help- I gave one to a guy I know who had sciatica ...He said he's fine now. And I never got it back
.?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223628746&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Ball-Metho...Health Question & Answer
http://www.amazon.com/Peak-Performance-F...
Avoid sitting on couches or other soft surfaces, and sleep on a firm mattress, on your side, with a pillow between your knees. Get some gentle massage, or learn to do self-release for the muscles that are involved- they get caught in a feedback loop of tension. Heat feels good, and can loosen things up, but cold is actually better because it brings down inflammation. How are your feet.? Do you over-pronate or have flat arches.? I have both, and I found that getting a pair of Superfeet insoles (about $35.00) really helped my back also. They are the best non-prescription orthotic insoles available.
Good luck!
edit- There's another thing you can try; find a set of Miracle Balls. (yeah, I know...;^) they really help- I gave one to a guy I know who had sciatica ...He said he's fine now. And I never got it back
.?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223628746&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Ball-Metho...Health Question & Answer
Hi,
Not a PhD doctor or anything, so trying to help by sharing info. My neighbor who's here now has sciatica and said to pass along this link for help, as she's been checking out sciatica posts here for her own help:
http://www.sciaticatreatment.org
...looks like the site is right on target, has plenty of targeted helpful answers; no junk, no hype, no blatant ads all over and pop ups in your face, etc.
So good luck and hope your get plenty of helpful replies!
Health Question & Answer
Not a PhD doctor or anything, so trying to help by sharing info. My neighbor who's here now has sciatica and said to pass along this link for help, as she's been checking out sciatica posts here for her own help:
http://www.sciaticatreatment.org
...looks like the site is right on target, has plenty of targeted helpful answers; no junk, no hype, no blatant ads all over and pop ups in your face, etc.
So good luck and hope your get plenty of helpful replies!
Health Question & Answer
Ah, sound like it is possibly sciatica.? It could heal by itself, might take a few days to up to and possibly beyond a year....you might need stronger meds...if they are not working, let a doctor know...you might be better off to visit a pain clinic. good luckHealth Question & Answer
You need to see a Chiropractor! Bring him any and all of your x-rays so he can see what he's dealing with. Your pain does not sound like it is being caused by the sciatic nerve, also known as a "SI Joint". That pain would be below your hip in your butt, but would not have anything to do with your arm. You might have arthritis from the injury and now that your getting older the arthritis is setting in. My husband and I both have SI Joint problems and see a Chiropractor for it which helps a great deal, but the pain will never go away or be cured. There is nothing anyone can do for your SI Joint, including surgery because it cannot be fixed. Health Question & Answer