Sciatica treatment

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USINSPAIN
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Sciatica treatment

Postby USINSPAIN » Sun Sep 06, 2015 6:39 am

Hurt my back a few months ago now,I have had bad backs before but treated them with rest and exercise to recovery. This time it went into sciatica around June did everything it says to do exercise rest slowly improved but in the last 5to6 weeks no change pain and ache nerve pain still a little in my leg. I feel I need to try and see a good physiotherapist around the Benalmadena area any one here know of one I can contact.been to an Ostiopath but they only massaged not told me what the injury is.

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costakid
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Re: Sciatica treatment

Postby costakid » Sun Sep 06, 2015 9:21 am

I have had Sciatica for 30 years on and off. Advised after 25 years by an expert in the UK to do lots of stretches and strengthen core stomach muscles. Not to much of anything like driving, standing, lying down but a little of anything is not a problem. IE do not get in your car and drive to Madrid without getting out and having a stretch after an hour or so.
Since my last specialist i have been 90% better after suffering for years. I can go 3 or 4 years then pick something up wrongly and I’m back to square one

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Re: Sciatica treatment

Postby Mowser » Sun Sep 06, 2015 12:31 pm

Accupuncture.
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Re: Sciatica treatment

Postby Devils Advocate » Sun Sep 06, 2015 12:38 pm

Believe me, only a scan can point out what treatment is needed.
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Re: Sciatica treatment

Postby Mowser » Sun Sep 06, 2015 12:40 pm

Dad had sciatica. Nothing at all helped until accupuncture. Now pain-free.
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Re: Sciatica treatment

Postby Devils Advocate » Sun Sep 06, 2015 1:27 pm

I had a Karting incident a while back, came home and Mrs was shocked at the state of my back. Black blue and about 4 vertebrae cut and grazed, I thought nothing of it to be fair.

Anyhow long story short, pain in right leg developed, from top of thigh down to behind knee, again I thought nothing of it and pushed on thinking it would go.

Carried on as normal and pain became normal too, 5 years down the line it started to become worse and I told OH. She was bemused I'd not mentioned it ever in the intervening years.
Being scared of doctors I opted for a chiropractor who was recommended. He said it was indeed sciatica and said that his treatment coupled with Mckenzie exercises and others would cure it........no chance.
I tried Bowen therapies,accupunture and a host of other treatments spending a fortune over the next 3 years, pain still there but worse............and now pins and needles in foot.

I gave in and went to doctor. He said sciatica too but only an MRI would prove exactly what it was, and that the exercises I'd been doing could even hamper and not help depending on injury.

I paid for a scan booked for the following week.

Hmmm, scan showed a disc had popped out of lower back, but before it could pop back in the gap had closed and disc was trapped. It had then bulged and had compressed sciatic nerve to half its diameter.

Incurable without an op........jeez I was panic stricken.
Mrs. played a blinder and spoke with several consultants she knew from work, a specific neurosurgeon was mentioned who I went to see. Unlike the NHS op I was offered to remove the disc with intrusive surgery he said he was going to do keyhole surgery and trim not remove disc.

I booked myself in and that was that, 24 hours after the op. completely pain free and have been since, incredible job with no scar visible.

I was daft leaving it to long as the disc could have "welded" itself to nerve making the procedure more complicated.

I was daft leaving it so long hoping for a miracle cure that simply couldn't happen.
A scan showed exactly what was possible and what was not.
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costakid
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Re: Sciatica treatment

Postby costakid » Sun Sep 06, 2015 2:58 pm

I had an MRI which revealed a pro lapsed disc. If i lift some heavy without bending correctly the disc swells and touches the nerve. Doc would not advise op as he said every op carries a risk and I am ok most of the time if i look after myself.

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Re: Sciatica treatment

Postby katy » Sun Sep 06, 2015 8:05 pm

You did the right thing DA. Acapuncture is mumbo jumbo. Money making, if you tell them it isn't working they tell you to have more sessions :twisted: the ones that got better would have anyway.
Last edited by katy on Sun Sep 06, 2015 8:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Sciatica treatment

Postby gina59 » Sun Sep 06, 2015 8:27 pm

I had sciatica for two years. Tried massage, physio, and loads of different pain killers to no avail. In the end I managed to get a mri scan which showed a hernia of the disc. The hospital gave me two epidurals over a period of 3 months, after the first epidural it was 90% better, and after the second it had gone altogether. Never been so happy, and touch wood never had a problem since.
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Re: Sciatica treatment

Postby Wicksey » Mon Sep 07, 2015 10:23 am

I think that all these answers show that there are different cures for different people. I have had back problems all my life and now have spondylosis in my lower back and degeneration of the discs in the upper but this was only discovered after I'd had two MRIs last year.

I think the OP should find out what is causing the sciatica as this usually is a trapped nerve of some type and then have appropriate treatment. I have had everything over the years from osteopathy, injections, acupuncture, loads of physio and traction, but it was always on the advice of the doctor (my UK GP also was an acupuncturist which is why I tried that too .... it worked like magic but the effects were short-lived). I have found more recent sessions of physio and exercises to build up my core muscles have helped on this occasion.

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Re: Sciatica treatment

Postby MartinEB » Tue Aug 16, 2016 6:59 am

Just thought I would resurrect this thread from September last year.

What is sciatica pain?
Anything that puts pressure on or irritates this nerve can cause pain that shoots down the back of one buttock or thigh. The sensation of pain can vary widely. Sciatica may feel like a mild ache; a sharp, burning sensation; or extreme discomfort. Sciatica can also cause feelings of numbness, weakness, and tingling.

I have had sciatica on and off since 1998, I remember the day well, I was doing sit-ups and felt "something go" - have not been right since, but ver the years have learnt to manage the pain and discomfort.

About ten months ago I had what I thought was simply another bout of sciatica, but it was excruciating and I could not walk or stand for more than 2 minutes and was worse than anything I had had before. I was forced to see my GP in the village and she got the wheels in motion and to cut a long story short after x-rays, MRI and more x-rays, seems I have three herniated discs and spondylolisthesis in the L5/S1 vertebrae. I am on the surgery waiting list at Granada hospital for a fusion of the L5/S1 and a laminectomy.

To say I am apprehensive is an understatement, so I would be interested to hear of anyone else's experiences of these procedures?

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Re: Sciatica treatment

Postby costakid » Tue Aug 16, 2016 9:40 am

A friends father has had a major back op 12 months ago where they go in from the front and fix a multi way universal joint thing into the spine. Its made from titanium. Massive amount of drugs in the beginning for the pain which sent him a bit crazy but now he is a new man. Also like to mention he is 75 years old.

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Re: Sciatica treatment

Postby gerryh » Tue Aug 16, 2016 4:40 pm

MRI scans show I have problems of disc degeneration L3-L4 and L4-L5 causing trapped nerves and recent test for nerve damage has confirmed that I have nerve problems. Had leg pains in both legs for the last 2 years or so.
When the doctor saw the test results of the nerve damage his immediate response was "operation".
I am going in next Monday for a few days to, hopefully, have the problem sorted out.
Cheers
Gerry
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Re: Sciatica treatment

Postby MartinEB » Wed Aug 17, 2016 6:42 am

gerryh wrote:I am going in next Monday for a few days to, hopefully, have the problem sorted out.
Cheers
Gerry
When you say "have the problem sorted out" presumably you mean have an operation?

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Re: Sciatica treatment

Postby gerryh » Wed Aug 17, 2016 7:38 am

Yes I will be having an operation.
The doctor is going to remove some of the bone so that the nerves have a larger hole to pass through and won't get trapped.
Cheers
Gerry
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jamesbowker
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Re: Sciatica treatment

Postby jamesbowker » Fri Aug 19, 2016 6:11 pm

I can only support DA's comments, although I will post an update after my operation in 3 weeks.

I have spondylolisthesis L5 S1 causing pain in my back, right hand side, due to nerve compression. I have had to give up, hopefully temporarily, one of my passions - running, due to the resulting pain. Sometimes I cannot walk more than 200 metres without the pain kicking in, fortunately the local is not far away :lolno: :lolno:
After waiting nearly a year for an NHS operation for a fusion which would have required a few days in hospital and months for a full recovery I was referred to a Neuro Surgeon who is going to undertake a procedure described by DA. Keyhole surgery and "shaving" off a small part of bone causing the compression. Far less invasive, painful and hopefully a full and quick recovery. I wasn't aware that this was an option at the outset which is frustrating to say the least so it is definitely worthwhile doing your homework before undertaking any procedure. I'll update to advise the outcome.

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Re: Sciatica treatment

Postby MartinEB » Sat Aug 20, 2016 7:26 am

gerryh wrote:Yes I will be having an operation.
The doctor is going to remove some of the bone so that the nerves have a larger hole to pass through and won't get trapped.
Cheers
Gerry
Sounds like a laminectomy? Hope it goes well for you Gerry, would be interesting to hear how it all goes?

How long were you on a waiting list, which hospital?
jamesbowker wrote:I'll update to advise the outcome.
I'd be really interested to hear how you get on James. I have the same, spondylolisthesis L5 S1 and a herniation L1-L2 which the consultants says requires a laminectomy and fusion. I have further x rays on 4 Oct (he wants 4 more) and then get placed on the Granada hospital waiting list? I too had a passion for running, which I have been unable to do for a while now. Walk 200m and get excruciating pain in my left thigh, calf and buttock, sitting down almost immediately stops the pain. The only real exercise I can get now is on my bike (set up on a turbo trainer indoors) and hour a day on that keeps me sane!

Good luck with it all, hope it goes well for you :thumbup:

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Re: Sciatica treatment

Postby gerryh » Sat Aug 20, 2016 7:40 am

MartinEB wrote:
gerryh wrote:Yes I will be having an operation.
The doctor is going to remove some of the bone so that the nerves have a larger hole to pass through and won't get trapped.
Cheers
Gerry
Sounds like a laminectomy? Hope it goes well for you Gerry, would be interesting to hear how it all goes?

How long were you on a waiting list, which hospital?
No waiting list, being done privately, via Provision Medica, at Hospital Dr. Galvez in Malaga.
Cheers
Gerry
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Re: Sciatica treatment

Postby jamesbowker » Tue Sep 20, 2016 1:40 pm

An update from my post on 19/8/2016. Underwent a Microdisectomy to resolve pain caused by spondylolisthesis and a compressed nerve at L5 S1. Surgery took place on 9th Sept and I was home the following day. Yesterday I had the staple stitches removed. It's early days but so far, so good. I am not on any pain meidcation and I can walk up to around a mile already without discomfort. There is still some pain and soreness, some of this naturally enough stems from the 1 inch incission on my lower back, and some is where the pain used to be - butt mainly. Already it feels better than before the surgery and I'm hopeful that improvements will continue so I can undertake my walks around the Sierra de Loja that I've missed so much. I feel fortunate as originally I was looking at a full back fusion with metal rods. It's only because the waiting list was so long that I was referred, at NHS expense, to a private hospital where I had the good fortune to meet with a Neurosurgeon who suggested I could obtain as good a result, if not better, through a Microdisectomy - far less invasive, less painful, less time in hospital and quicker healing time. As previous Posters have commented everyone is different and this route may not always be suitable. There is also some uncertainty about the long terms prognosis for this Surgery, ie a full fusion may yet be required in the future. But I guess very little in life is certain and I have no regrets about undergoing this procedure.

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Re: Sciatica treatment

Postby costakid » Tue Sep 20, 2016 4:06 pm

Well done and good luck.


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