Sciatica....help!!

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I've diagnosed myself with sciatica...a burning pain that extends from my buttock, down the side of my thigh, over the knee and down into the foot. In addition to the burning, 3 toes went "tingly" once.

I have made an appt w/ my ortho, but sadly cant get in to see the MD for a week! YIKES!!

Been taking ibuprofen 800mg :eek: and that just takes the edge off. :o

I can't get comfortable ~ need HELP!

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Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.

I sure feel for you. DH has suffered with this as long as I can remember... comes and goes, but nothing really "cures" it.

Chiropracter has helped, but again, only temporarily. His leg literally goes numb when walking on linoleum dept. store floors and I've seen him have to sit down right then and there... could not feel his leg. Very sad... hope you find out more options that we've been able to without going the "nerveblock" route.

Hate it for you... really do. :o

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I work neuro and have a herniated L5-S1 disk that gives me problems frequently. We prescribe Medrol Dose Pack followed by NSAIDs. Also two other good meds are Skelaxin during the day and Zanaflex for bedtime. If mine acts up this is what I take.

Once you get it under control then make sure you stay in shape that more helpful than people give credit.

Hope you get to feeling better. Believe me I know how you feel.

:kiss

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Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

Oh boy! I used to be bothered with that problem a LOT in my 30's, and I was in really good physical shape then. I thought I got it from a nurse who gave me a shot that didn't feel like it was given in the right place. I did see an ortho doc about it, received a cortisone shot or two, and that helped. But, I only feel twinges of it every now and then, and I'm 50 pounds heavier than I was when it bothered me in my 30's. :eek: Who really knows what causes sciatica. :o

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I have found relief from the last med I would expect. Excderine. I shattered my right in 8 places, and had horrible "shocky " nerve pain. The narcotics did not do a thing, but relief cane from the name brand excedrine. My doc said that the perfect mix of tylenol , asprin and caffeine helps as a neuro transmitter and cuts of the electrical pain. Feel well.

Barbara

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I got a good case of it near the end of my first semester in nursing school. Over that Christmas break, I came down with influenza, and wound up staying in bed most of that month. (ugh!)

At the end, the sciatica was gone.

Heating pad plus rest made all the difference. Now when it comes back (which is rare), I take a couple of hours, lie on the heating pad and it subsides.

It probably doesn't hurt that when I am wearing my "nursing shoes" I also have an arch support I got from Walmart (Dr. Scholl's--pretty cheap and works GREAT). Otherwise I wear earth-shoe type sandals.

I'd try almost anything before I escalated to surgery or heavy meds (including steroids).

Good luck!!!!

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