Has anybody found that this painful condition gets better with time? If so, how long? Feel as though im trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea at the moment.
The spine surgeon that I saw said in the majority sciatica lasts 6-8 weeks. If you still have it at 12 weeks then your in the minority but you should be able to see improvement even though it's slow. He said if you get to twelve weeks the pain issues can last 4-5 months and any numbness or loss of feeling can last at least 12 months. He also said an MRI doesn't always show where the nerve interference is.
Treating the patient rather than the X-ray is what they normally do. So finding pain relief that works is the first step so you can try and return to some normal existence.
I feel after 15 weeks I'm finally starting to feel like I'm recovering. I had an MRI at 12 weeks that proved what he said the problem was and I'm now on pain relief that probably works at about 75% but realise I've gotta keep my chin up and see this out.
Thanks for taking the time to leave a detailed,informed reply,i appreciate it. Feel frustrated because ive had only slight improvement in last couple of weeks,im able now to (painfully) walk down the stairs rather than shuffle down on my backside.
How are u doing Camilla? I find as soon as I wake up I'm in agony. Can i ask what helps u? What is pain like?
Hello Bev, I find its particularly painful in the night, i end up writhing in agony when my left hip and calf cramp up,the morning is tough,i really have to force myselp to get through the pain barrier. Been to the Doctor a few times and have been prescribed codeine phosphate and gabapentine,the latter works for nerve pain but i wouldnt want to go out after taking it,it can make you feel quite spaced out. I find a bag of frozen peas on my hip gives temporary relief,have got an Xray booked in a couple of weeks. To be honest nothing seems to give me complete relief. Horrendous isnt it? Dont normally do forums,but felt driven to whinge to somebody other than my husband. How are you coping?
First, is it really sciatica? If yes, I'm a big believer in finding the true cause of the problem and fixing it. There can be lots of causes. Here's been my experience...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/sciatic-nerve-pain-from-the-perspective-of-many-decades-629096
Can there be other causes? Probably. Can you try other modalities like acupuncture, PT, etc? Sure. But the key is finding out the actual cause of the pain. For me, chiropractic fixes me up pretty well. However, one time the problem had a spinal bone spur cause and that needed a neurosurgeon to fix. Then again, your hips and spine may just be out of alignment and a chiro can fix you up quick. Just don't know.
Everyone is different and needs to walk their own path to find the root cause of the problem and then commit to getting it fixed. I am not a believer in throwing drugs at the problem...just masks the symptoms and cures nothing. Some people take the slow, cautious approach, others go directly to a neurosurgeon for an MRI or, if inconclusive, a CT/Myelogram with contrast (the "gold standard" spine test) to find or rule out a spinal cause. Pick your path...walk it. Just find the cause and fix it.
According to three different GPs its acute sciatica with underlying periformis syndrome. Had niggles for a while and then one day a straw broke the camels back,so to speak and have been off work since in considerable pain. Ive been told that i have spondylitis in spine due to osteoarthritis,wonder if this is the cause,have got an Xray in a couple of weeks and have had a (painful) physio session so far. Im suddenly reduced to using a walking stick when i go out and feel old before my time. Does this really go away in four weeks?
I probably encountered periformis when the sciatic pain ran through my glutes. What is the recommended course of action for the sciatica, periformis and spondylitis? Could the spinal problem be causing all of this? Sounds like you need a good neurosurgeon and a CT/Myelogram with contrast to really nail this down. You may get away with intense physical therapy for the spine which may help a lot but the last alternative is surgery. Don't be too quick to jump for that. See what non-invasive modalities can do for you...maybe acupuncture...
I think because i have only recently developed these debilitating symptons the Drs are seeing how i respond to physio,then an xray which im not convinced will show much as its nerve pain. I seem to be improving at a snails pace,hardly at all in other words.
I've been struggling with this for several months and now I'm waiting for an MRI scan later this month. The pain is excruciating! I'm exhausted but I can't sleep properly, I can't stand too long and then when I sit that gets uncomfortable too.
I really don't know how long it lasts but I can totally relate to the pain you're in.
Are you able to work while suffering this pain,Ive had to phone in sick again this week,third week running because i cant function properly with this pain. Have you had an Xray? Did you have to push to get an MRI scan, sorry too many questions but at the moment this feels quite grim as it obviously does for you.
No I'm off work at the moment and have been for 3 weeks. I had an X-ray last December and only after a visit to the hospital has an MRI been organised, i don't think I'll be returning to work anytime soon....
I m hoping that it will go away as suddenly as it came on though i cant see it somehow. I thought sciatica was a little niggle in the back that old people got not a disabling condition.
I've a doctor so appointment later today so I'll see what suggestions she can offer in the meantime until I have my scan. I've been been pescribed various painkillers with little or no effect so I'm curious to know what's next
Hope you get medication that gives you some respite because im finding that being at home all day,most of the time in pain, can wear a little thin after a while.
Naproxen has been added to the current Tramadol pescription...
plus a note for another fortnight which ties in with my scan...
totally agree ! Being stuck indoors is wearing very thin indeed
I have had pain since last September, with little relief. I have tried paracetamol, codeine, pregabelin, Gabapentin (which made me feel spaced out and ready to fall asleep all the time). I am weaning myself off Gabapentin as I think it is not giving me any relief, I go bed in pain and wake up in pain. I have pain in the hip back, of the thigh down the calf and into my foot. The MRI showed only age related change. I am waiting for a pain clinic appointment, which is my last hope. I have decided to get on with life as I cannot sit around and doing nothing but be miserable.
I cannot believe that in this day and age there is nothing that can be done to relieve the pain or even CURE it.
I feel sorry for you but also admire your guts. Ive just started the whole horrible proccess,unremitting agony which isnt much relieved by various medication ive been prescribed,some of which ive stopped taking,the side effects outweigh the benefits. I had to push to get an Xray appointment, so ive probably got no hope asking for an MRI scan. Ive a physio appointment this evening, cant afford anymore physio because im not working at the moment because of this pain. Youre dead right,surely in this day and age there'd be an answer to this.
Hi camilla, I've been suffering with sciatica for 7 years on and off. More recently I've started having Physiotherapy, I'm hoping that all the exercise will help. I take amitripyline once a day to take the edge off and co-codamol at night to help me sleep. If your looking for something else i can recommend a tens machine. I use mine in the evening when sitting down. Mine is the size of an iPod & comes with 4 pads! Bought it on Amazon 2 months ago. It's made by kinetic. Best of luck hope you get some relief soon. :-)
Some thoughts...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/other-pain-after-a-tkr-641040
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/nerve-pain-gabapentin-warning-648196
Glad you're stopping the Gabapentin...