Newly diagnosed sciatica ... what to expect ?

shykins

have to second the walking thing.... i find it very difficult walking outdoors for any length of time but i am reasonably ok on a treadmill (I assume cos it sort of pushes u along).

some days i can barely shuffle, other days i can do a gradient walk BUT i always go even if i am doing the bare minimum, in fact if i dont go i find i suffer more

x

tanith

pipkin71 wrote: »

That's interesting tanith.

I wouldn't be able to speed walk, I just about shuffle lol! I do have an air walker though and I wonder if a few minutes a day, then building up will increase core muscles?

I jarred my back on Saturday and have been feeling the tell-tale pinch of the sciatic nerve since yesterday. I'm keeping fingers crossed it doesn't develop into a sciatic episode and taking it easy right now, but the air walker is something to consider.

I really don't know why I put speed walking as any sort of walking is good, I guess I would like to think I speed walk but if I walk with my 6' daughter she has to slow down considerably for me to stay with her..:rotfl: I am pretty sure its helping my core muscles as I am doing it every day and also swimming twice a week... I feel much better and as I say my back and hip pain is reduced, I think the air-walker is a good idea give it a try but I think little and often would be good for you , some short stints 2 or 3 times a day...

Takana

So many people with back pain of some sort, I've felt so alone, so I'm glad I've found this thread.

My story, about 4 years ago I hurt my back in a previous job. I was working in the cold store (massive freezer) of a supermarket shifting heavy stock when I felt it go. But being so numb in there I couldn't feel how bad it was till I got home a little later. I couldn't move, I was in so much pain. The doctor put my on co-codemol and muscle relaxers and referred my to physio. I was told I had damaged the muscles in my lower back Apparently the back pain I had been suffering for many months before hand were 'warning signs' my back was gonna go. If only I knew.

My back eventually got better and I'm in another job now. But since oct/nov last year my back had started to play up again, littles aches at first then gradually got worse. Xmas was awful, I was glad to be off for a few days. I also thought I had sciatica as I would get sharp shooting pains in my hips/bum that would go down my leg. I get that most days, some worse then others, esp after a busy day at work. Then in late Jan my back went completely and I have been off ever since. Like others, I have been back and forth to the doctors getting sick certificates and a different type of pain killer everytime. Tramadol is by far the best pain killer to actually take the pain away, but as others have said it completely knocked me out. I missed feb totally, I was a zombie. They also gave me migrain like headaches, but it was better then the back pain. Now I'm living off nurofen plus which also makes me drowsey. Last week I was prescribed co-codemol again but its the opposite effect on me, I can't sleep! So back on the nurofen +.

I did go back to work for 3 days last week as my back had eased up a lot (from doing exercises the physio gave me) but now my upper back, shoulders and neck have gone really bad pain, seizing up and muscle spasams which hurt like hell. Plus headaches. It's all related to my back injury and can flare up at any time, usually when returning to work, so the doctor tells me. It will go 'eventually'.

I'm at a point where I can easily just sit down and cry cos I just want the pain to go away and feel well again. I'm scared to go back to work incase I make it worse again. I'm only 25, I shouldn't be like this I know I'm always going to have back problems. The physio has warmed me that if I don't strengthen up the core muscles (that I've damaged) that surround the spine, next time I relapse it will effect the spine and be more permanant. It was a wake up call, and I have been doing my exercises which is basically pilates. But I'm scared I'm always going to be in pain. My finace just thinks I should quit work and go on benefits, but then thats only because he hates me being off sick. When I went back to work last week I was told I was going to be given a disciplinary as my absense is so high. It's at minimum a verbal warning. But even today when I rang in, they were questioning my absense and told when I go back I will have a meeting. I'm scared I will be fired. They would blame it on my absence being so high so wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

Sorry for the long post and pouring my heart out, it's been a hard couple of months.

looby75

Takana wrote: »

When I went back to work last week I was told I was going to be given a disciplinary as my absense is so high. It's at minimum a verbal warning. But even today when I rang in, they were questioning my absense and told when I go back I will have a meeting. I'm scared I will be fired. They would blame it on my absence being so high so wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

Sorry for the long post and pouring my heart out, it's been a hard couple of months.

Oh you poor thing I can practically hear the stress in your post.

When you have been off work have you been signed off by your doc? Are you in a union? If so get on to your union rep and ask for their support. If you aren't in a union try and get an appointment at the CAB so you know where you stand legally, forewarned is forearmed. Good luck.

Poppy9

This week my back has suddenly got better but I've developed a dreadful pain in my big toe. It's so bad I can barely walk in shoes. How can such a little digit cause such a big problem

shykins

takana i know how u feel hun... u sound so stressed out not surprisingly

have u tried a TENS machine and/or acupuncture?? they are the only things that work for me... as i said before i keep moving no matter how it hurts, if i stop the spasms seem to get more frequent and more painful

if your work is sit down its hardly suprising that u cant work, thats why i had to give up cos i just could not sit at a desk any longer without being in agony

pipkin71

Poppy9 wrote: »

This week my back has suddenly got better but I've developed a dreadful pain in my big toe. It's so bad I can barely walk in shoes. How can such a little digit cause such a big problem

Poppy, I get the pain in my big toe - it's like someone is stabbing me with a red hot poker, and the pain can often be unbearable [although for me the new meds has reduced the pain I was in]. The consultant informed me it was due to the nerve damage from my spine - I believe it was at L4/5. The numbness I have on the outside of the foot near the little toe is to do with the damage at S1.

pipkin71

Takana wrote: »

Sorry for the long post and pouring my heart out, it's been a hard couple of months.

I'm not surprised Takana.

Back pain can be so debilitating. If the drugs you have been prescribed aren't working think about going back to the GP because the right medication can help you cope with the pain better - both mentally and physically.

Poppy9

pipkin71 wrote: »

Poppy, I get the pain in my big toe - it's like someone is stabbing me with a red hot poker, and the pain can often be unbearable [although for me the new meds has reduced the pain I was in]. The consultant informed me it was due to the nerve damage from my spine - I believe it was at L4/5. The numbness I have on the outside of the foot near the little toe is to do with the damage at S1.

OMG I hadn't connected the numbness I get on the outside of my foot! I thought it was just old age and me trying to be young again as it's only really noticeable when I am putting on shoes with a heel and my foot doesn't seem to bend and twist to get into the shoe. Mentioned to my physio and she didn't seem interested in my foot!

tenacioust123

Poppy9 wrote: »

OMG I hadn't connected the numbness I get on the outside of my foot! I thought it was just old age and me trying to be young again as it's only really noticeable when I am putting on shoes with a heel and my foot doesn't seem to bend and twist to get into the shoe. Mentioned to my physio and she didn't seem interested in my foot!

This diagram may be helpful, it shows which nerves effect which area.

http://www.sci-recovery.org/images/dermatomes.jpg