Well DANG !!

[Colonialgirl]

For the last 2 plus weeks, I've been suffering from a pinched sciatic nerve down the right leg. Chiropractic treatments help some and some borrowed pain meds help with the sleep at night; but It's NOT going away and I'm thinking that I'll need some more drastic "therapy"in the long run.
Xrays show no disc in the bottom vertebrae in the back and definitely indicate a pinched nerve so, I'm thinking a little surgical intervention and was wondering about the various tyoes ad the newer things like Laser spinal surgery.
Anybody with advice, experience, or operating room horror stories ??

 

[toysoldier]

We have a new spine surgeon in town who does a lot of "minimally invasive" surgery, especially for foraminal stenosis, which is what you may have. I asked him about the Laser Spine Institute that advertises heavily in nearby Wichita. He said they have 6 full-time lawyers working for them.

When the problem is not a bulging disc, but bone impinging on nerve, you can't fix it with a laser. Some of the minimally invasive procedures are same-day, or overnight stay.

 

[Bullseye57]

I suffer from occasional sciatic flare-ups. Like you I would experience near crippling pain, it felt as if I had a wallet stuffed inside my buttocks muscle. X-rays and MRIs revealed the onset of degenerative disc disease in my lower back, but no bulging or ruptured discs. One year the pain was so bad I dragged a leg around like Quasimodo when I walked, it lasted for several months. I tried everything short of surgery and nothing seemed to help, that was until a friend of mine lent me an inversion table. Once I used it, my back pain went away. It didn't take much, just about five minutes of resting at a moderate angle to allow the pressure and swelling in my lower spine to subside and permit the nerve to function normally again without being over-stimulated and agitated by inflammation. Now I have my own table, and when I feel a slight tinge in my back I just go out and lay on the table for a short while and relieve the pressure on my spine. Haven't had a flare-up for several years running now using this technique. It doesn't help everybody but it sure did me.

R,
Bullseye

 

[gramps]

I suffer from occasional sciatic flare-ups. Like you I would experience near crippling pain, it felt as if I had a wallet stuffed inside my buttocks muscle. X-rays and MRIs revealed the onset of degenerative disc disease in my lower back, but no bulging or ruptured discs. One year the pain was so bad I dragged a leg around like Quasimodo when I walked, it lasted for several months. I tried everything short of surgery and nothing seemed to help, that was until a friend of mine lent me an inversion table. Once I used it, my back pain went away. It didn't take much, just about five minutes of resting at a moderate angle to allow the pressure and swelling in my lower spine to subside and permit the nerve to function normally again without being over-stimulated and agitated by inflammation. Now I have my own table, and when I feel a slight tinge in my back I just go out and lay on the table for a short while and relieve the pressure on my spine. Haven't had a flare-up for several years running now using this technique. It doesn't help everybody but it sure did me.

R,
Bullseye

I second this. Also a "good" massage therapist can work on the piriformis muscle to reduce swelling which impinges the nerve. Good luck. I would try non-surgical routes first.
gramps

 

[ken s]

keep going to the chiropractor, I had this happen a couple of times. right leg all the way to the foot. bad pain.
it takes a while, but will go away. I bought a seat cushion for the car. every time I drove anywhere, even short drives, it hurt like heck. the cushion was $80 a
said it was for this problem. filled with gel. It really works. don't remember the site, but they're out there.

gook luck..Ken

 

[Fox Mike]

I too have suffered from a pinched sciatic nerve, as the result of a fall many years ago. I found chiropractic help was the answer for me. Most times my left leg is like it is 'asleep' from my hip to my knee. I have put off surgery after watching what my buddy went through and how, after all his trials and tribulations, he was not that much better after the surgery.

 

[FastEd]

There is a new procedure that may help if it applies to your problem.

The surgeon inserts a tiny balloon between the vertebrates and pumps it up just enough to relieve the pressure. Only a very small incision.

I have a disc that is out of place just enough to cause numbness in my left lower leg. But there is no other problem. If it does get any worse I will try the procedure.

 

[Viking Queen]

I have learned a lot over the last year of intensive chiropractic care. I have a similar issue in my neck. Dr. Gil uses a decompression table. It works like a computerized traction device. Over time it sort of "sucks" the bulging disc back into place like sucking the jelly filling back into a jelly donut. In addition, he does a lot of deep tissue and muscle massage and therapy. Has worked wonders for me. I would suggest finding a chiropractor who does decompression and deep tissue work. I am so very sorry you are going through this. You could move to Colorado and see Dr. Gil...he's magic!

Keep searching dear. There is help out there for you.

Cathy

P.M. Sent with added info which may help.

 

[Jim Puke]

I suffer with mild sciatica because of many years of doing my job. I have found several things that I can do at home really help with the symptoms. Not having an inversion table, I use dip rack to hang with my lower body off the floor...helps create distance between the vertebrae and I have found that stretching (examples of the stretching can be found online) probably does more to help with symptoms and prevent flareups, than anything.

Good luck with getting some relief.

 

[cadillo]

I have learned a lot over the last year of intensive chiropractic care. I have a similar issue in my neck. Dr. Gil uses a decompression table. It works like a computerized traction device. Over time it sort of "sucks" the bulging disc back into place like sucking the jelly filling back into a jelly donut. In addition, he does a lot of deep tissue and muscle massage and therapy. Has worked wonders for me. I would suggest finding a chiropractor who does decompression and deep tissue work. I am so very sorry you are going through this. You could move to Colorado and see Dr. Gil...he's magic!

Keep searching dear. There is help out there for you.

Cathy

P.M. Sent with added info which may help.

I too have had the decompression therapy. I think that it was twenty treatments over some six and a half weeks. The discs in my lower back are really thin, and the decompression pulled the fluid back to where it should have been.

For me, it was a lifesaver.

I may have to go through another round of treatment eventually, but it's been about two years, and I'm still a whole lot better than I was before.

 

[Colonialgirl]

I suffer with mild sciatica because of many years of doing my job. I have found several things that I can do at home really help with the symptoms. Not having an inversion table, I use dip rack to hang with my lower body off the floor...helps create distance between the vertebrae and I have found that stretching (examples of the stretching can be found online) probably does more to help with symptoms and prevent flareups, than anything.

Good luck with getting some relief.

Thanks Jim;

The "Dip Rack" reminded me of an experience I had here at home some 6 or 7 years ago. We ere moving something into the house through the front door ( we live in a permanently mounted Mfg home some 3 or 4 feet off the ground) We had a plank 12" wide running from the back of the truck up to the top of the steps, It was at night and the plank was a bit wet and my feet slipped off, one on either side of the plank; Something (don't recall what) caught me under both arm pits and it yanked my back STRAIGHT. BOY !!! did that ever feel GOOD !!
I'll have to see if I can "jury rig" something like your Dip Rack and give it a Whirl.

 

[toysoldier]

Something (don't recall what) caught me under both arm pits and it yanked my back STRAIGHT. BOY !!! did that ever feel GOOD !!
I'll have to see if I can "jury rig" something like your Dip Rack and give it a Whirl.

I worked with a D.O. anesthesiologist who would give O.R. staff "the drop". He would have the person cross their arms, then get them in a bear hug from behind and do a quick lift and drop, stopping with the person's feet off the floor. I did this on occasion for my coworkers, before my back got bad. It's not so much a decompression therapy as a quick realignment.