My worst days ever

[George2615]

My worst days started on Friday. Got severe sciatica in Rt. lower back to Rt.knee. 2 hours sleep Fri night, none Sat. night, none Sun. night, none last night.
Sunday night the pain as so bad that I checked into a local ER at 2AM. Went thru triage, then an x-ray, then sat in pain in waiting room till 6:30AM. Finally got up and asked how long the wait would be since I saw at least 15 other people that were there when I had arrived at 2. They wouldn't give me a definite answer. I estimate at least another 5-6 hours so I checked out and went back home. 9AM I went to local chiropractor who was able to get me in right away due to a cancellation. His treatment eased my pain enough to go home and get some sleep (about 3 hours) then got another 2 hours Monday night then pain returned. Called Chiropractor Tues. but couldn't get me in till Wed morning. So here I sit in pain till office opens at 9 for another treatment. All together only got about 7 hours sleep since I got up Fri. morning. Ibuprofen and Tylenol do not work and I have nothing stronger. I can't get anything done. It sucks to get old.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Sorry to hear of your pain!

I've found Aleve helps when others don't.

Also Chiropractor is better in most situations than other options I've found.

I'll be praying you get some relief, and sleep, I've not really had a good nights rest waking up feeling refreshed since 1995.

 

[George2615]

Thanks. I'll try some Aleve.

 

[Hay Dude]

Sorry to hear of your pain!

I've found Aleve helps when others don't.

Also Chiropractor is better in most situations than other options I've found.

I'll be praying you get some relief, and sleep, I've not really had a good nights rest waking up feeling refreshed since 1995.

Have you tried Magnesium L-Threonate? Take that with B-3 Niacinimide.
Works great as a sleep aid and good for your health

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I take some form of magnesium and also B3 ... My "problem" stems from being assaulted by three "youths" in an attempted robbery outside a truck stop, knocked me unconscious for a couple of seconds, rolled into a ditch and God got me on my feet, and I out ran them back to a small repair shop that had an axle out of an E350 van, I grabbed that and went out to bust some pumpkins! They chickened out and ran ... They were in custody when I got out of the hospital after a ambulance ride ... Dr's can't pinpoint wether is some kind of pinched or out of wack nerve in my head, but sleep Dr's say my brain tries 30+ times an hour to take the very first step in the wakeup process ... I also have sleep apnea which is being treated with a CPAP.

 

[RSKY]

Just don't overdo the Aleve. It can cause kidney damage. Naproxen Sodium is the generic name and I had to take a ton of that for shoulder and knee pain. Haven't taken any in years now after a couple surgeries.

RSKY

 

[ponytug]

Naproxen was originally developed and used for back pain.

@Shawn T. W. Sorry to hear this! Sometimes heat helps relieve the spasms and pain.

All the best, Peter

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I don't have any pain from my head injury, the OP definitely does!

I just don't get good restful sleep.

I rarely use the Aleve, but when the Ibuprofen doesn't cut it for a rare headache, mostly from sleeping on my stomach ...

 

[bigtiller]

I'm a big believer with Chiropractic adjustments.
I have been going to one every month for several years to keep my Orchialgia in check.

 

[George2615]

OP here, So I've added magnesium, potassium and aleve. Even went to local urgent care and got 1 week scripts for flexeril and some kid of steroid. They seemed to help but only for the first day. Have been to Chiropractor 3 times a week (M,W,F, then M,W this week) so far. Today (Fri) is my last appt. my insurance will cover. He has eased my pain but seems to only last for a few hours then pain comes back. Mainly in upper right thigh. At least I can get about a few hours sleep after treatments before the pain comes back. This past Tues. and Thurs were my best days. Very little pain those days so maybe treatments are working. Caught up on some sleep in my recliner. Went to bed at 8:30 Thurs. and pain woke me up at 11 so here I am scanning the interweb.

Getting behind on my honeydo list. Sitting in recliner seems to be the most comfortable position with the least amount of pain. Walking hurts, exercise hurts, laying on hard surface carpeted floor hurts. tried earing a back brace belt. Have tried sleeping on my front, back, left side, right side but only get a couple hours sleep before pain wakes me up.

Recently turned 73. I hope this isn't what I have to look forward to the rest of my life.

I received an email video ad for Sciatiease pills (Probably form all the searching I've done on relieving Sciatica pain) Has anyone tried them? If they work I'd buy them. They suggest buying a 3 month supply to start.

 

[fatjay]

Hope you get better. I found booze doesn't make the pain go away, but it makes you care less. Not that i'm recommending it. I've been there. Pain sucks.

 

[Yander]

New mattress and pillow time?

 

[Yander]

Don't use booze, it just gives you a whole new set of problems. Ask me how I know.

 

[lman]

What does your Primary Dr. say about all of this. I would think he would have referred you to a Back Dr. and of course Physical Therapy.
I've been there but my back usually comes around after a week or two.
I had one instance where one side of my back had severe pain for about a month and it just seemed to be stuck. I had to transport a prisoner to the jail and he tried to get away. He went down and I went on top of him. I thought I was going to have problems getting up but I immediately noticed that my pain was gone and I could straighten my back instead of leaning to one side.
I later saw that offender and told him how he had helped my back and he said he was glad he could help.

 

[ponytug]

@George2615 Sorry to hear about your pain. Pain can be so life altering. Can you/Have you tried putting your calves on a chair (perhaps with an extra pillow) or a bed just high enough to get your hips slightly off the ground, and just "hanging" there for a while. When mine is bad enough, I have slept like that. When my back gets bad, I feel as if it helps stretch things out in my spine and calm things down, but I have no idea if it works for anyone else. Once my back is skew-whiff, I have found that I really need to baby it for quite some time.

FWIW: Naproxen (Aleve) and flexeril were both developed for back pain (muscle spasm induced pain such as sciatica). Flexeril works great as a muscle relaxant for me, but I'm useless when I am on it. A friend lead the drive to get Naprosyn off of the prescription label and sold as an OTC drug. Her point to the company was how very safe and effective the drug was (and is).

Regarding the sciataease, I haven't tried it.

I hope that your pain resolves soon.

All the best, Peter

 

[George2615]

Thanks for the replies. I don't drink so that's out, Mattress and pillow are brand new (3 months ago), Called primary care but she doesn't have any openings. My next appt. is in Jan.

 

[dicktill]

It may be time to go to a "Pain Clinic", and not to get opioids. They can administer steroid shots into the spine; they do so under low-level X-ray so that the doctor can properly place the shot. They have worked well for both me and my wife, often L4/5 or L3/4 or SI joint. Good luck.

edit: The shots are called epidural.

 

[EarPlug]

Try this.

 

[JasperFrank]

This is why we keep all our nukes, Oxycodine, for just emergencies.

 

[oosik]

I fell and "damaged" my lower back this last Feb. My Laz-z-boy recliner became my best friend. Conditions are improving but it is a slow process. I'm now able to get around the house without a cane or rolling walker.

Trips outside are a true adventure. I always take a cane - just in case.