Anyone Here Suffer From Inflammation?

[AVR1962]

My sciatic nerve is subsiding, for now, but my back is really giving me trouble. Doc is doing a complete work-up on my back next visit, checking for infection, etc. I have been given a prescript pain killer which I have not tried. I don't want to kill the pain solely, I am trying to alievate the inflammation, my back and neck are stiff. I have had massages, husband has worked on back, daughter has walked on it, it will not budge.

I have been taking an herbal anti-inflammatory suggested by a homeopathic doc and I think that is what finally got my sciatic nerve to give me less trouble. The rest of my pain starts at mid back and goes up to the base of my skull. I stretch and I twist, take hot baths and nothing.

If any of you have dealt with this with any success please let me know what worked for you. Thanks!

[CR5442]

Do you know what is in the herbal remedy you were given? I find Milk Thistle very good for inflammation. It helps the liver process toxins etc. that if left in the system causes inflammation. Milk thistle helps neutralise and convert the toxins in to a form the liver can excrete in bile. Good to hear that your remedy works though.

[+jasonparker]

Inflammation is now my biggest issue after being gluten-free fir 3 years. Even my messentry was inflamed! When I was put on a course of steroids my life change for the better 100 fold! But ad soon as the course finished after 3 months, it was back to normal. I would love to find a long term solution.

[Duhlina]

My sciatic nerve is subsiding, for now, but my back is really giving me trouble.

The last time I had trouble with mine was several years ago (knock on wood) and it was so bad that all I could do was literally lay on the couch. If/when I tried to get up, I fell down (seriously). I ended up going for acupuncture and it's the only thing that worked!

Flexeril also helped if you want to go the medication route, but acupuncture solved it.

[pricklypear1971]

I lucked into an excellent massage therapist. She was experiences in sports massage and also a doula...the lady knew the body. She worked me over - used acupressure and pulled and poked and beat me up. I slept for two days and felt like I had been in a wreck. But it worked.

I vote for the acupuncture, or Rolfing, or a good massage therapist.

My mom also has lower back problems and she does stretching and strengthening exercises daily (for years). Works for her. My back started hurting a few weeks ago and I noticed exercise helps mine too.

[SoyBoy]

Ice on the lower back helped with the pain for me (sciatica and general mid / lower back pain).

Once I was able to, I started to slowly ramp up an excercise / stretching program.

In January, I will be 2 years back-pain free.

Good luck.

[BabsV]

I developed sciatica during pregnancy and have had it flare up off and on ever since my daughter was born 10+ years ago.

One thing that I try to do every day that seems to help (and this will sound crazy, I didn't believe the doctor who recommended it to me when he first told me to do it!) is roll up a bath towel and then lay down, usually in bed, with the rolled towel under my lower back, right about at my waist. The towel roll should not be so big that it is uncomfortable or putting you in an awkward position. I do it usually at night for about 15 minutes before I go to sleep. If I skip it for several days I can definitely feel the difference...more twinges, pain and also leg weakness on one side. It doesn't seem to really help if I'm having a particularly bad episode but it seems to help keep me from having bad episodes.

[Reba32]

the only thing that works for me is daily ibuprofen.

[beebs]

I was hoping beyond hope that my arthritis/Inflammation problems were all gluten related, now I have been gluten free for a year in a few weeks and I have come to terms with the fact that it is not so. In fact it is all getting worse. I think I have to accept that it is connective tissue disease. I wonder if there is a chance you have another autoimmune disease as well? As you know its very common.

[AVR1962]

Do you know what is in the herbal remedy you were given? I find Milk Thistle very good for inflammation. It helps the liver process toxins etc. that if left in the system causes inflammation. Milk thistle helps neutralise and convert the toxins in to a form the liver can excrete in bile. Good to hear that your remedy works though.

The herbal supplement I am taking is called Age-Less and says it supports healthy inflammatory responses. It contains holy basil, ginger, boswellin, baikai skullcap, reservatrol, berberine. Thanks for the suggestion on the milk thistle, I have some, will try it.

[AVR1962]

I was hoping beyond hope that my arthritis/Inflammation problems were all gluten related, now I have been gluten free for a year in a few weeks and I have come to terms with the fact that it is not so. In fact it is all getting worse. I think I have to accept that it is connective tissue disease. I wonder if there is a chance you have another autoimmune disease as well? As you know its very common.

This has me curious now. Let me ask you.....I also I am having a pain in my left foot. When my sciatic was flared I thought it was the sciatic nerve that was causing my pain in the foot but I have received a deegree of relief on the nerve but the pain in the foot is still there so I am now wondering if they are not connected? The foot feel like the toes are trying to disconnect from the ball of the foot, like there is too much pressure on the joints in that area. When I apply heat it does help. Resting does not seem to make a difference, infact it is worse in the morning when I first put my weight on that foot. I have thought about trying something for joint health to see that that make a difference with the foot.

[AVR1962]

Just wanted to thank evryone for the replies. I did get a private message concerning a book. I WILL PASS THAT BOOK NAME ON INCASE SOMEONE ELSE COULD BENEFIT FROM READING IT AS WELL. (sorry for the caps- computer)

"Healing Back Pain the MInd Body Connection" Dr. John Sarno

[CR5442]

This has me curious now. Let me ask you.....I also I am having a pain in my left foot. When my sciatic was flared I thought it was the sciatic nerve that was causing my pain in the foot but I have received a deegree of relief on the nerve but the pain in the foot is still there so I am now wondering if they are not connected? The foot feel like the toes are trying to disconnect from the ball of the foot, like there is too much pressure on the joints in that area. When I apply heat it does help. Resting does not seem to make a difference, infact it is worse in the morning when I first put my weight on that foot. I have thought about trying something for joint health to see that that make a difference with the foot.

Yes, the foot can be related. I had sciatica caused by an injury to my ankle. Can you specify exactly where the pain runs? Mine was all the way down the posterior exterior part of the leg, around the outside of the knee and down in to the outside of the foot, right to the middle toes.

[beebs]

This has me curious now. Let me ask you.....I also I am having a pain in my left foot. When my sciatic was flared I thought it was the sciatic nerve that was causing my pain in the foot but I have received a deegree of relief on the nerve but the pain in the foot is still there so I am now wondering if they are not connected? The foot feel like the toes are trying to disconnect from the ball of the foot, like there is too much pressure on the joints in that area. When I apply heat it does help. Resting does not seem to make a difference, infact it is worse in the morning when I first put my weight on that foot. I have thought about trying something for joint health to see that that make a difference with the foot.

Hmm- I'd ask for a referral to a rheumatologist if I were you, celiac disease goes hand in hand with the connective tissue autoimmune family, Lupus, Sjogren's etc etc. Not saying that is what it is -it sounds like your joints are affected, so not just like you have pulled something iywkim!

[mushroom]

I was hoping beyond hope that my arthritis/Inflammation problems were all gluten related, now I have been gluten free for a year in a few weeks and I have come to terms with the fact that it is not so. In fact it is all getting worse. I think I have to accept that it is connective tissue disease. I wonder if there is a chance you have another autoimmune disease as well? As you know its very common.

I used to hope the same thing , beebs, and in the meantime took every DMARD that came my way, hoping one day the gluten free diet woud kick im and knock this stuff on its a$$, Well, it actuallly, finally, took Humira to knock my CRP and SED rate bak to where they belonged. It was really hard to tell where all that dramatic inflammation was coming from, but in the end it turned out not to be the gut, but the joints, As soon as the joints calmed down, so did the inflammation, so I guess I had takencare of the gut already. Not to say that when I am off Humira (have to go off it to fight infections) my inflammatory flares of psoriasis and arthritis have not been so bad (touching wood while she says this )

[beebs]

I used to hope the same thing , beebs, and in the meantime took every DMARD that came my way, hoping one day the gluten free diet woud kick im and knock this stuff on its a$$, Well, it actuallly, finally, took Humira to knock my CRP and SED rate bak to where they belonged. It was really hard to tell where all that dramatic inflammation was coming from, but in the end it turned out not to be the gut, but the joints, As soon as the joints calmed down, so did the inflammation, so I guess I had takencare of the gut already. Not to say that when I am off Humira (have to go off it to fight infections) my inflammatory flares of psoriasis and arthritis have not been so bad (touching wood while she says this )

When I was preg every single symptom went away - I felt for awhile, like it may have been all in my head. But not so, as soon as the baby came out it all came back with a vengance, I guess that is why I don't blame absolutely everything on gluten - for people like us it could really be anything Stupid autoimmune diseases! I have just been told that I could possibly have psoriatic arthritis, at first it might have been sjogren's, then lupus and now psoriatic - ho hum. Its like a really long and boring guessing game! haha!

[sandsurfgirl]

Just wanted to thank evryone for the replies. I did get a private message concerning a book. I WILL PASS THAT BOOK NAME ON INCASE SOMEONE ELSE COULD BENEFIT FROM READING IT AS WELL. (sorry for the caps- computer)

"Healing Back Pain the MInd Body Connection" Dr. John Sarno

It was me that sent that. I had neck pain for years and nothing worked to make it go away. I read his book and did the things he said to do. The neck pain went away and never returned.

I was having pain in my chest muscles the past week or so. I reread parts of the book and did what he said and the pain is gone.

[GottaSki]

Never had an abnormal test for inflammation...yet I have lost three pant sizes with only 8-10 pounds of weight loss since starting elimination diet three months ago. I have shrunk everywhere...it is now completely obvious to all that I had inflammation in every part of my body.

[SoyBoy]

Never had an abnormal test for inflammation...yet I have lost three pant sizes with only 8-10 pounds of weight loss since starting elimination diet three months ago. I have shrunk everywhere...it is now completely obvious to all that I had inflammation in every part of my body.

Interesting. I had a similar experience. I had multiple signs (visible to my doctor) of inflammation, yet my numbers were "the best #s I have ever seen" according to my Dr. She was perplexed, but did not investigate further.

[elfie]

Sandsurfgirl, thanks so much for the mention of the name of that book so that it got out here for us to see. Most of my peripheral neuropathy has gone away for the most part just from going gluten-free. I still have weather and stress related flareups, but not so much anymore.

I do have either an old back injury or a bone spur that sometimes knocks me out of commission. The doctor told me it was diaphragm muscle, but previous chiropractic xray showed the bone spur. Improper lifting is what sets it off most of the time---sometimes either forget or don't have option.

I'm not in any financial position to go through another round of doctor testing that always comes back inconclusive or within normal range. Not in any position to buy the book either. You don't happen to know if it's one that libraries might have? It's doubtful my local library would have it (small town) but maybe city libraries? Yes, I could let my fingers do the walking, and I will if there's a possibility, but the libraries I'd be checking are out of my phone area.

Thanks for any information you can give, even if it's that you don't know.

[AVR1962]

Hmm- I'd ask for a referral to a rheumatologist if I were you, celiac disease goes hand in hand with the connective tissue autoimmune family, Lupus, Sjogren's etc etc. Not saying that is what it is -it sounds like your joints are affected, so not just like you have pulled something iywkim!

Thanks Beebs, ugh I sometimes wonder if all of this stuff is ever going to calm down!

[AVR1962]

Yes, the foot can be related. I had sciatica caused by an injury to my ankle. Can you specify exactly where the pain runs? Mine was all the way down the posterior exterior part of the leg, around the outside of the knee and down in to the outside of the foot, right to the middle toes.

Caroline, I have been dealing with sciatic nerve issues for awhile I havae had it make my feet fall asleep but this is the first with the type of pain I am having in the left foot. While, at first I thought it was relate, I am not so sure anymore. The sciatic, for me, does no even appear to me as anything until it hits me at the back of the knee. Then it either wraps or radites around the knee area making my knee achy and feels like my circulation is cut off. Then I will have waves of pain down the back of claf and cool feelings on the left side of calf.

Since I can actually sit without feeling the nerve now but foot is no better I have a feeling something else is giing my foot issues. It actually feels like the toes are coming coming apart from the ball of the foot. It feesl like there is swelling on the bottom of my foot at the point where the foot hinges to the toes but there is not. It's almost like there is too much weight on the foot, yet I am not an ove weight person. Resting it makes no difference, heat is the only thing that seems to improve the situation.

[mushroom]

Since I can actually sit without feeling the nerve now but foot is no better I have a feeling something else is giing my foot issues. It actually feels like the toes are coming coming apart from the ball of the foot. It feesl like there is swelling on the bottom of my foot at the point where the foot hinges to the toes but there is not. It's almost like there is too much weight on the foot, yet I am not an ove weight person. Resting it makes no difference, heat is the only thing that seems to improve the situation.

I really hate to say this, but it sounds like the way my foot feels when my arhtiritis flares.

[CR5442]

Caroline, I have been dealing with sciatic nerve issues for awhile I havae had it make my feet fall asleep but this is the first with the type of pain I am having in the left foot. While, at first I thought it was relate, I am not so sure anymore. The sciatic, for me, does no even appear to me as anything until it hits me at the back of the knee. Then it either wraps or radites around the knee area making my knee achy and feels like my circulation is cut off. Then I will have waves of pain down the back of claf and cool feelings on the left side of calf.

Since I can actually sit without feeling the nerve now but foot is no better I have a feeling something else is giing my foot issues. It actually feels like the toes are coming coming apart from the ball of the foot. It feesl like there is swelling on the bottom of my foot at the point where the foot hinges to the toes but there is not. It's almost like there is too much weight on the foot, yet I am not an ove weight person. Resting it makes no difference, heat is the only thing that seems to improve the situation.

Hi AVR1962, my goodness you could be describing the pain I had almost to the letter. I was struggling to remember the exact path of it but the knee wrapping and the feeling like your toes were going to fall off (I was skiing with the worst of it and honestly I thought I have severe frost bite!), the ball of the foot felt like it was protruding out in to the bottom of my boot. There are a number of exercises I was given to stretch the nerve out. The most useful of which was to put a phone directory (here they used to be thick!) on the floor and put your toes (in shoes) on the side of the directory and then relax your heels back to the ground. That should help stretch out the bottom half of your leg.

Then the other one, for the ankle, toe bit I can't describe really without actually doing it! It involved sitting with your bad leg up on a sofa stretched out, other leg on the floor. point your toes as far as you can on stretched out leg and then inwards (pigeon toed we call it), lean forward until you are as far forward as possible without causing pain and then bring your head to your chest. if you are doing it properly you should feel your whole sciatic nerve from your back to your ankle/toes. If it hurts too much then sit up a bit straighter and try nodding again! Do this very slowly! It took a while for this to work for me, a few months but eventually the pain went away when doing things like running. However as I haven't been skiing I can't tell if it has been a complete success.

[AVR1962]

I really hate to say this, but it sounds like the way my foot feels when my arhtiritis flares.

Really? Oh man! Arthritis runs in the family too. Guess I will have to address with doc. Thanks for the reply.