Urgent!

[confusedks]

Omg! I don't know what is going on but I think I'm having sciatica and I am at school in the nurses office and had to be wheeled in here becuse I couldn't walk. I have finals starting tomorrow and I don't know what I'm going to do! This pain is unlike any other. I don't even know if ice posted this in the right place. I have vicodin at home for pain but it makes me sleep for HOURS! Does anyone have any suggestions? Fast would be great! Thank you.

[gfgypsyqueen]

I would see about gettign to a chiropractor today. Soemtimes they can really help with the pain.

Good luck on finals.

[tarnalberry]

a chiropractor may be useful even for short term pain relief for sciatica. no guarantee, but there may be something they can do to help with spine alignment temporarily (if you don't want to commit to the time for full corrections if they're needed - that takes months).

[confusedks]

a chiropractor may be useful even for short term pain relief for sciatica. no guarantee, but there may be something they can do to help with spine alignment temporarily (if you don't want to commit to the time for full corrections if they're needed - that takes months).

Does anybody know of anything other than a chiropractor because I never have good luck with them.

[ravenwoodglass]

Does anybody know of anything other than a chiropractor because I never have good luck with them.

You can also call you doctor and get a referral to a PT. You need a script to see one, at least in my state. I had pinched a nerve or disk which caused sciatic pain and the PT was very helpful.

[aikiducky]

Where in the world are you? If you could PM me with your whereabouts I might know somebody, depending on where you are.

Pauliina

[Ridgewalker]

I have had severe problems with bulged and ruptured disks in my back over the past seven years, pinching the sciatic nerve. I know how excruciating the pain can be. I'm not a Dr, only a fellow sufferer, but here are my thoughts...

It's too bad that Vicodin makes you sleep, but there are other options. Ultram is a strong, VERY effective analgesic. It is NOT a narcotic, so it shouldn't make you sleepy or spacey or anything. You can take this with a daytime muscle relaxer like Skelaxin, and it'll work better. The combo of Ultram and Skelaxin works ALMOST as well as Vicodin for me. Both of these meds are by prescription only.

My doc will also prescribe Prednisone, which is a steroid, to help reduce the inflammation that causes the pinched nerve. She usually presribes a 5-day round of the Prednisone, but has done a 10-day round a couple times.

I suggest talking to your doc about these 3 meds as an alternative when Vicodin is impractical.

Most important of ALL-- Any spare moments you have that the pain is bearable, you need to WALK, as much as you can bear. That (and the Prednisone) are the things that help end the flare-up.

I hope some of this helps.

-Sarah

[Mtndog]

Oh gosh- I feel your pain (literally) as I had it when I was in grad school. Horrible pain. If you are in the middle of finals and can't get to a doctor, the best thing to do is not sit, stand, or lie down too often. Change positions as much as you can. Alternate heat and ice (this is what they told me to do).

Put a pillow behind your back when you have to sit.

If you can, get to a doctor quick. Another option, obviously, is the ER. I had a lidocaine injection and it helped. Numbed the pain for quite awhile.

Viocodin makes me sleepy too but Percoset doesn't.

The Ultram/skelaxin combo sounds good too. I don't have any experience with Ultram but I take Skelaxin. It works well.

Hang in there, B

[confusedks]

Oh gosh- I feel your pain (literally) as I had it when I was in grad school. Horrible pain. If you are in the middle of finals and can't get to a doctor, the best thing to do is not sit, stand, or lie down too often. Change positions as much as you can. Alternate heat and ice (this is what they told me to do).

Put a pillow behind your back when you have to sit.

If you can, get to a doctor quick. Another option, obviously, is the ER. I had a lidocaine injection and it helped. Numbed the pain for quite awhile.

Viocodin makes me sleepy too but Percoset doesn't.

The Ultram/skelaxin combo sounds good too. I don't have any experience with Ultram but I take Skelaxin. It works well.

Hang in there, B

Thank you all for your help. I went to my back doctor and I failed the nerve tests. My right leg is screwed. He admitted me to the hospital because it is extremely urgent. I'm going to have an IV started soon and they are talking about which medicine to give me. Then I'm going to go for an MRI and the disc bulge specialist surgeon is going to look over my results. Ill keep you posted. Thanks again for the replies.

Kassandra

[aikiducky]

Wow, good that you did see the doctor. I hope you recover soon!

Pauliina

[confusedks]

Wow, good that you did see the doctor. I hope you recover soon!

Pauliina

I got MRI results back. I have a 7mm disc bulge at L5S1. I was given a pain patch but also vicodin and neither did anything so they're waiting to find out if I need surgery before they give me anything else. The weird thing is I had an MRI in November and this same bulge was only 3 mm. What's going on? Everybody pray for me bcuz I have a meeting with the surgeon. I'm in la by the way.

Kassandra

[Glutenfreefamily]

I got MRI results back. I have a 7mm disc bulge at L5S1. I was given a pain patch but also vicodin and neither did anything so they're waiting to find out if I need surgery before they give me anything else. The weird thing is I had an MRI in November and this same bulge was only 3 mm. What's going on? Everybody pray for me bcuz I have a meeting with the surgeon. I'm in la by the way.

Kassandra

Im so sorry, Your in my thoughts and prayers.

[mommida]

You're in my thoughts and prayers.

Hang in there Kassandra!

((HUG))

Laura