Any of you suffer from sciatica?

[PinnedAndRecessed]

I haven't been diagnosed but the symptoms present like it (according to the interwebz). It really bothered me on Wednesday after driving 1 1/2 hour to my "hunting cabin" and riding a lawn mower for 2 hours and then the return trip home.

That's 3 hours in my 4x4 pickup and 2 hours on a riding mower. Worst case scenario. But it has been (for a couple, three weeks?) bothering me.

I've taken motrin and am more diligent about my core/stretching exercises, but I'm just curious what the Ruger braintrust does about it.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Many folks are misdiagnosed with sciatica. It could be many things with similar symptoms. I have major symptoms of sciatica, however it is due to a long ago lower back/sacrum injury. Over the years it has worsened to the point where the bolt of pain shoots down my leg and it buckles resulting in falls often. Turns out for me, it is my SI joint causing it. The body tries to repair itself from injuries. Over time injuries have caused stenosis of my spinal cord in various places. I've had my neck fused, decompression surgeries, and next month will be having my SI joint fused.

I plan on being cremated.....hopefully the price of titanium is sky high when I kick the bucket. Because between my neck, back, knees, and now sacrum there will a lot of titanium in that ash. Maybe the kids can split it 4 ways

 

[krw]

Surgery 19mo back. For Sciatica it workd. For 2 herniated discs, wish they would hav left them alone

 

[sceva]

Just got a cortisone shot for it a week ago; helped some but still there. Got a lumbar MRI yesterday; we'll see what the Doc says next week.

 

[MaxMan]

Just got a cortisone shot for it a week ago; helped some but still there. Got a lumbar MRI yesterday; we'll see what the Doc says next week.

They can't give cortisone too many times.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Just got a cortisone shot for it a week ago; helped some but still there. Got a lumbar MRI yesterday; we'll see what the Doc says next week.

Don't let them overlook the SI joint. Many miss it. A diagnostic injection in the joint can help diagnose.

 

[MaxMan]

Many folks are misdiagnosed with sciatica. It could be many things with similar symptoms. I have major symptoms of sciatica, however it is due to a long ago lower back/sacrum injury. Over the years it has worsened to the point where the bolt of pain shoots down my leg and it buckles resulting in falls often. Turns out for me, it is my SI joint causing it. The body tries to repair itself from injuries. Over time injuries have caused stenosis of my spinal cord in various places. I've had my neck fused, decompression surgeries, and next month will be having my SI joint fused.

I plan on being cremated.....hopefully the price of titanium is sky high when I kick the bucket. Because between my neck, back, knees, and now sacrum there will a lot of titanium in that ash. Maybe the kids can split it 4 ways

The funeral home will probably keep it if it is worth anything.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

The funeral home will probably keep it if it is worth anything.

Not if it is documented in my will what to do with it. I also have xrays of my titanium "parts". So it's basically inventoried.

 

[sceva]

Don't let them overlook the SI joint. Many miss it. A diagnostic injection in the joint can help diagnose.

My wife went thru that, Did the injection twice ( 2x is required by our insurance) then they "burnt" the nerve with radio waves. Helped one side but her other side still hurts.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

My wife went thru that, Dis the injection twice ( 2x is required by our insurance) then they "burnt" the nerve with radio waves. Helped one side but her other side still hurts.

Yep. Standard for two injections. If it gives relief when no other treatment did....bingo it is the SI joint.

I'm only having the left side done. My insurance only authorized the left side after reviewing imaging. My surgeon said the right side will need it eventually, but the left is a priority.

Mine is at the point it needs fusion with titanium plates. Four (04) to be exact. Years ago they rebuilt the sacrum with a huge cage and recovery was long. Today the titanium plates are the size of a band medium band aid, smaller incision and quicker recovery. The need for revision surgery is reduced as well.

 

[NC FNS]

I can drive a max of 4 hours lately due to leg discomfort, but haven’t had it diagnosed. My younger sister just got to the point where she needs a walker, she’s seeing the back surgeon next week. Sacroiliac or something where the nerve goes through is where the main problem is, I think.

 

[Jeepnik]

In the mid 90's I did a real number on my lower back. After months of meds, therapy, spinal injections and even acupuncture, surgery became the only option. It worked very well, although at first it looked like it wasn't going to take.

Today I'm sort of gimping around because I lifted something heavy at a bad angle yesterday. It will bother me for a couple of days then clear up. The bad thing is I know while I'm doing it I'm going to pay for it. Most of the time stop and rethink a better way. Yesterday I was in a hurry.

So my only advice is even after you seem to be healed up, slow down, pay attention and think about how you are going to lift, drag and wrestle with what ever object needs moving.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

There is a program called SIM (Safety In Motion). It's in use by large corporations, Professional and College athletics, and therapists. It makes a lot of sense and if followed greatly shrinks the window of opportunity for soft tissue type injuries from incorrect lifting, twisting, etc...

 

[Jeepnik]

There is a program called SIM (Safety In Motion). It's in use by large corporations, Professional and College athletics, and therapists. It makes a lot of sense and if followed greatly shrinks the window of opportunity for soft tissue type injuries from incorrect lifting, twisting, etc...

My problem isn't knowing how to properly lift and such. The problem is I know it's wrong and do it anyway. That's just plain hard headedness. No one to blame buy myself during these times.

 

[rugnelli]

I have learned to deal with it... somedays are better than others.

 

[s4s4u]

Is that synonymous with a sore back? If so, yea. All the time

A few weeks ago I put my back out just lifting my right cheek off the toilet seat to wipe my azzzzzz

One twist the wrong way and I can be bed ridden for a couple days.

 

[ArizonaTea123]

I'm going for cord blood stem cell injections next month. $15,000 out of pocket. I'm doing this as a last resort. I'm tired of invasive surgery and lengthy recovery times.
Medicare or insurance will never approve or pay for this as it actually "cures" issues. God forbid if an actual cure is found for anything nowadays. There's no future income from drugs, endless surgeries, endless treatments. Big pharma doesn't want to cure you. They want you as a customer for life. If you die while being treated no problem. There's a thousand more customers right behind you.

 

[ole442]

Oh yeah……sciatica that’s something else! After 26 years in the grocery business a
mainly produce and grocery, I worked another 10 years at various manufacturing plants I’ve always said back issues but it’s a normal kind and it goes away after a while. It flares up every so often but it does go away. Well, when my mother passed away, my wife and I decided to spearhead cleaning up her house to sell. She was probably a hoarder, but she was an organized hoarder and she didn’t keep junk/trash, but she had a lot of stuff packed away in various parts of her house. We moved that all out and finally got my siblings over and we were finishing up. We were carrying big stuff out and with one trip I got to the front door was halfway out the front door and I stopped and I said “wait a minute…… I have to sit down and I have to sit down now!!”. From that day forward, I’ve had sciatica and most the time it’s bearable, but sometimes it’ll almost buckle your legs out from underneath you. Anyway, in my opinion, sciatica is the worst back pain ever. But I’ve learned to live with it.

 

[GasGuzzler]

Shoes make a difference and so does the seat in your vehicle.

 

[Johnny-Baseball]

In 1972 in Thailand (USAF) I fell 15 feet out of a rotten tree while stringing data cable. The fall caused a double compound fracture of my wrist and gave me a forever-after sore back. Many years later I started feeling sharp pain in my hip. Neurosurgeon diagnosed that I had a perforated L5 and a cyst had grown into it, partially blocking my sciatic nerve.

The surgeon operated to repair the L5 (removing the cyst) and also "cleaned up" the adjacent disc materials. The surgeon warned, "You'll be back."

Two years later the sciatica pain flared up again. New neurosurgeon, in a 360-degree surgery, fused L3-L4-L5-S1, holding them together with a titanium brace and employing a cadaver bone graft to replace the disc materials. So my lower spine is now one, long stick.

I've had minimal pain ever since. But two things really help: Aleve (am and pm) blocks the pain, and continual exercises to strengthen the core muscles aid in preventing recurrence of pain.

Of course, trimming my own toenails and tying my shoelaces is very challenging. But it's better than the option.

 

[SWR]

A "Very Exceptional" Chiropractor helps keep mine away. Years ago I was basically disabled at times. All is for the most part normal now. Found "a real " chiro, not one of those street sign clowns. A sports injury specialist. Got me back in shape although it took a while. Now I just go for maintenance visits a couple times a year. My problem was the joint popping out of position. He was able to stabilize it after extended therapies

 

[Achigan]

I learned my leg and foot pain came from my l5-s1 joint. Spinal stenosis, and curvature along with compressed disc.
Normal sciatica presents as pain down the hamstring, mine was the outside of my calf and three outside toes tingling, then eventually going numb.
Spine/brsin doc said 70% chance I’ll need screws and rods back there eventually.
RICE helps some, but I’m dreading an upcoming flight.
Good luck with your issues.

 

[Track14]

I have had sciatic issues ever since 4 July 1967 when this piece of shrapnel entered my right hip and blew a hole about the size of s quartet through my right pelvis. The piece is still there snd it must be laying on a nerve bundle because it was to tricky to remove at the time since i had much worse vascular issues and bone snd tendon damage.
The only thing that gives me any relief is acupuncture from a real good acupuncturist, not all are equal.
Chinese Claymore mine fragments, like a big pineapple grenade surface but 16” in diameter and convex.

 

[ArizonaTea123]

The last time I had severe back pain I was bedridden for one week. Pain was constant never ending. I couldn't sleep. Tried to go to the toilet only 15 feet from my bed and I ended up pissing in the shower because I couldn't make it to the toilet.
I finally discovered Percocet. I would take Percocet at night so I could finally get some sleep.
Percocet would knock out the pain long enough for me to rest.
Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen did absolutely nothing for pain.
I had to use the "good stuff"
Unfortunately it is almost impossible to get Norco or Percocet nowadays. Doctors are afraid of an FDA audit if they prescribe too much.

 

[MaxMan]

Not if it is documented in my will what to do with it. I also have xrays of my titanium "parts". So it's basically inventoried.

This might shed some light
https://www.greystonealloys.com/met... Titanium Scrap&utm_content=CP Titanium Scrap

 

[neilin]

I haven't been diagnosed but the symptoms present like it (according to the interwebz). It really bothered me on Wednesday after driving 1 1/2 hour to my "hunting cabin" and riding a lawn mower for 2 hours and then the return trip home.

That's 3 hours in my 4x4 pickup and 2 hours on a riding mower. Worst case scenario. But it has been (for a couple, three weeks?) bothering me.

I've taken motrin and am more diligent about my core/stretching exercises, but I'm just curious what the Ruger braintrust does about it.

Aquatic Physical Therapy is the best treatment for back pain I have had. Ask your doctor about it. If you have a PA who doesn’t know about it, find a real doctor.

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

I haven't been diagnosed but the symptoms present like it (according to the interwebz). It really bothered me on Wednesday after driving 1 1/2 hour to my "hunting cabin" and riding a lawn mower for 2 hours and then the return trip home.

That's 3 hours in my 4x4 pickup and 2 hours on a riding mower. Worst case scenario. But it has been (for a couple, three weeks?) bothering me.

I've taken motrin and am more diligent about my core/stretching exercises, but I'm just curious what the Ruger braintrust does about it.

Not me, but a family member. First and foremost, do not get into the habit of taking Motrin (Ibuprofen) as consistent use can wreck your liver, stomach lining and a bunch of other problems. See a doctor to be sure that's what it is. If so, the doctor may be able to prescribe something like Meloxicam which would do a better job anyway. It may not be sciatica. Might be nerve compression or irritation. Best to find out.

 

[s4s4u]

Not me, but a family member. First and foremost, do not get into the habit of taking Motrin (Ibuprofen) as consistent use can wreck your liver, stomach lining and a bunch of other problems. See a doctor to be sure that's what it is. If so, the doctor may be able to prescribe something like Meloxicam which would do a better job anyway. It may not be sciatica. Might be nerve compression or irritation. Best to find out.

That is better?

Meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used for arthritis and pain, often causing common side effects like stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, heartburn, dizziness, and headache. Serious risks include stomach bleeding, ulcers, kidney issues, and increased heart attack or stroke risk. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience black stools, chest pain, or severe skin rashes

 

[WAYNO]

Interesting timing.
I spent most of last week in the hospital due to sciatica.
I have gotten past the awful nerve pain, but I still cannot lift my foot off the ground even just to step in a shoe.

I have endured back issues for decades, but this sciatica is a new experience, and it was awful.

The treatment was muscle relaxer, pain pills, Prednisone and Gabapentin, as well as immobilizing in bed.

Please Lord, don't let me ever experience this ever again, nor anybody else.

 

[Jeepnik]

Just my observation. I am a long term sufferer from intermittent back pain and sciatica. Initial injury was mid 90's that required surgery. I came out very well, but flair ups happen ( mostly due to my stupidity). Usually last two to three weeks.

The last one, got really stupid, lasted two months before I gave up and went to the doctors. They prescribed several things none of which provided more than minor short term relief.
On advice from my sister I tried a backswing table. They invert you and use your body to decompress the spine, stretch the muscles thus releasing and pressure on the nerves. It worked "for me". Doing it a few minutes a day has resulted in significant improvement.
Totally drug free. Even the high end tabes are all that expensive. Just make sure you follow the instructions when you start out.