Sciatic nerve pinches hurt like hell – Update: It’s more than just a nerve

Pieter says:

So how are you doing now?

ken edwards says:

wow jake i am sorry to hear about all this! hope u get better.

Neil's World says:

Nasty neck II

Remind me not to move my left arm for a while. Every time I do I get a very sharp pain in the neck area and my initial reaction is to waggle my right foot uncontrollably.

Neil's World says:

Nasty neck II

Remind me not to move my left arm for a while. Every time I do I get a very sharp pain in the neck area and my initial reaction is to waggle my right foot uncontrollably.

Brian Lewis says:

I just got diagnosed with a sciatic nerve injury.
It’s hard to type standing up.
The mention of an MRI scares me to death. What are he implications of this condition?
Brian

susan says:

Hi, I have a pinched nerve also i went to the hospital twice with severe pain, they took x-rays and sent me home one hour later with pain pills. I didnt want to get addickted to them A friend told me about acupuncture(sorry for the spelling) It helps with the pain but my muscles in my legs and feet are swollen and ache still, but my back is find.

will adams says:

ok i have sciactica nerve damage started from my lower right back and down my hip into my thigh to my knee and then to my shin i have tried acupuncture didnt help pain meds didn’t help my pain is no longer in my back mainly my thigh the knee and shin hurt the worste can barely even walk anyone figures out a fix please let me know they say botox is the best way to go but im new to this and have no clue what that even does

Don says:

Love this blog!!!
It helps to hear I’m not the only tough person to be able to handle sciatic nerve pain.
I slept the wrong way one night and so the agony began next morning. Also have went out and gotten readjusted a few times since age 23. I am sportive and a hard worker in the gym and hockey, bowling, moving around, etc. and my mattress is over 5 years old to boot and I was too cheap to get a new one. Well, My left leg is hanging longer than the right leg when I’m postured or laying straight. Making the left leg straight with the other causes pinching. I find lifting my left leg higher and keeping it up while on my stomach at night is the only way to feel pinch free and to be able to get to my feet the nexy day!
Getting up the past few morning’s was brutal and I had to walk to the bathroom, then kitchen, then to stretch my legs, like a crab on the beach!
After stretching it’s been easier to get around but it’s only getting worse. I scheduled an urgent appt with Chiro. today.
I also noticed trying my own traction helps , hanging the lower body and relaxing the muscles while holding a pull up bar (downstairs) or going to our kitchen counters that have a corner and holding the two counter-tops while letting my lower part hang relaxed helps to loosen up big time. One other thing I noticd when i lean forward a little bit I can move my upper spine over something and lean my weight on the other side of the BOITTOM OF THE BACK.Wierd right , I doubt it’s a disc because when you can stopthepain by moving a certain way that can rule out disc problems can’t it? I HOPE One last fact I seem to “go out” on my left alot,. Does this mean I need to work my muscles for that area more? Sit ups are out of question right now , yikes!
Let me know anyone. Thanks.

September says:

Hi! I found this blog thru google and I just want to share my current experience with my sciatic nerve. I am a 40 yr old female, married, and have just recently retired from driving my 2004 Peterbilt with my husband. I drove for 11 years and this is what I get; a right leg sciatic that is not only painful but so damn annoying!! I am on one pain killer and two anti-inflammatory meds and I am hating it. I hate taking rx drugs, the side affects suck! And today I am so damn mad that this situation is not getting better, I can barely take a shower, barely get dressed much less barely walk! I have resorted to sleeping in my recliner every night with my right leg propped up with a pillow my husband gave to me for xmas. This problem has been going on for almost a year now. I just recently went to the doctor to get pain meds only because I just couldn’t take it anymore. My husband and I have literally gotten into fights about this whole situation. He tells me, “All you need to do is walk”! So what did I do? I walked around the house in a quick motion trying to prove to him that I cannot do it. So what did that accomplish? I proved to him that I CANNOT walk normal, and I strained it even more. I was just so ANGRY at him for not shutting up about it, nagging me about it and telling me that he has lived with it for 20 years himself. Well, when he gets it, it is for just a few days. Mine has been ongoing for almost a year. Every morning I struggle to move, I walk bent over like I have early osteoporosis (it’s spelled right, I looked it up) and I just turned 40! I was hired at a local business to do receptionist work and after the third day, I had to quit. I couldn’t take the pain anymore! Every night on the way home I was in tears because I could barely press the accelerator without a shot of pain going up the back of my right leg and back down to my ankle.
I have been going to a chiropractor that does not pop my back, she uses a technique called Reiki and it does work. I feel the pain is working it’s way out, especially yesterday it was getting better, but then this morning, I had it stronger than yesterday. You know what the worst part of it all is? I can barely do laundry, much less clean my house and vacuum. I am lucky to be able to take out the trash. Then I am pursuing an at home business and trying to keep a strong determination to do it, but then I get knocked down on days like today.
I have been praying to God everyday to help me get thru all of this. That there has to be a reason why I am dealing with this. I just wish I knew the answer! Sorry about this being so long, but I just had to vent a little. Can I ask all of you kind people out there a favor? Could you say a little prayer for me and ask God to please help me get thru this and to show me a lite at the end of the tunnel? That I will be free of this agonizing pain and I won’t lose everything due to not being able to hold a regular job and that my new business will flourish? I am so…..frustrated! I just want my life back! I feel like such a slave to the pain!
You know what the worst part is? The meds make me sleepy, bloated and constipated. Just couldn’t ask for more on top of what I am going thru as it is, but nope, it has to happen to me. I hate drugs!
Thanks all, and I will say a prayer for all of you suffering the same thing! Love ya’ll!

September says:

Hi Beth, I have to say that I sympathize with you about docs taking you for everything you have thru insurance due to a car accident. I highly suggest that you get an MRI done. Since my last blog, I had it done, am now on my second epidural steroid shot and my pain has subsided tremendously! I don’t see where b12 shots would work, maybe they know something I don’t or maybe your situation isn’t as bad as mine.
I don’t blame you for not believing docs either. But if your pain is not going away anytime soon, or you have to depend on pain meds everyday all the time to function, I recommend going to a doc that won’t take your money for nothing, ask around for recommendations, I did and I have no insurance and mine charges less that $100 bucks a visit, so that works out very well. Plus I worked out a payment plan for my MRI, which was $1,500. They would rather do that than fight you for anything at all. I wish you the best!

keith says:

I am 25 years and two months old also and I have had severe sciatic nerve too! I work out 6 days a week with heavy weights and I want to stop lifting but the pain is worse when I don’t lift. I have been taking 15-20 pain pills a day and they don’t even work anymore. I sleep in the fetal position for about 2 months but that no longer works. I usually drink enough beers to get through the night! Anyway, I have been to the doctor and to therapy but nothing works and I have insurance! I hope everyone feels better soon. Oh yea, I bought some sort of pain cream for my back and when I put it on I almost cried it burned so back. Stay away from those pain relief creams!

Droopy says:

So, I went for a walk, just a quick jaunt mind you, and I came home feeling like my leg had been thwacked with a samarai sword. I’ve been looking for information online, and it seems to be the consensus that the only thing to do is wait and be irratble. Why do hospitals sound like a complicated drug ring when a bunch of people gripe about them on the internet? I want the doctor to say, “Do this and it will feel better!” and I will say, “Golly, jee wiz, thanks! That insurance money was well spent!” We could even high five afterwards and my leg, knowing that the end of pain is near, will allow me to walk around without limping… Look, is there any stretchy yoga pose that I can do in the morning? or some vitamins that I could take? Maybe someone can come to my house and we can hug and cry about our lousy sciatic nerves?

Lynne says:

So glad I found this. I am apolgizing upfront for the length of this entry, but I have 23 years’ experience suffering sciatic nerve damage and 23 years’ experience trying to heal that damage.
The only entry that was new to me was the B12 one. I get B12 shots every two weeks and I have not noticed it helping my condition. I get the shots to replace the B12 in my system that one of the pills [that I must take for life] sucks out of my body and B12 gives you energy; otherwise I am completely exhausted and can’t even get out of bed.
I saw one entry that mentioned the word “Reiki”, which is a Japanese form of energy healing. It is an important entry as Reiki has made all the difference in my life and in four short months did more to heal my sciatic nerve damage than any drug or any other treatment I have received over the past almost-quarter century.
I have peripheral neuropathy, which is the end result of sciatic nerve damage, so reader beware!
Twenty-three years ago I lifted a heavy mixing bowl [60 lb] during an experiment at work. I shouldn’t have done it, but I was alone and I didn’t want the experiment to fail. Stupid me. I herniated two discs in my lower back, lost my job within the year as many people do who suffer work related injuries [company didn’t want to risk its Workers Compensation rates, which were already high].
Six years and several spontaneous herniations later, I pinched the sciatic nerve – simply from the stress in my life at that time [woke up in incredible pain] and it remained in spasm for 8 days. That is when peripheral neuropathy began, although no one knew what to call it.
In 1997 a friend’s father was told by his doctor he had this chronic pain condition and as my symtoms were exactly the same, I finally had a handle for my condition that I could tell my doctor about.
I used to wish my back would bleed so that people could see how much pain I was in, because with sciatic nerve pain you don’t get a lot of sympathy. So, I sympathize with the woman whose husband didn’t exhibit much sympathy. If you feel pins and needles along the sciatic canal or in your hands or feet you can bet that you are becoming one of the victims of peripheral neuropathy or PN, as we call it – those of us who are beleagured by this horrible condition.
Eventually my feet became numb and in a sense it was a relief as the pain was gone – except that I lost my balance and needed a cane to walk. My circulation was fine but I began to gain weight as many PN’ers do, partly because I opened my own consulting business and ran it from home so didn’t get the exercise I did when I was a corporate citizen. As well, periperal neuropathy can produce edema and my doctor told me I was probably carrying 10 to 15 lb of water in each leg. Yecch! Thus began a load of different medications to control the differents aspects of PN.
I think I have tried practically every drug available for people with sciatic nerve damage. In the end I was and am taking three different medications to control the chronic pain of PN, although my goal now that I am receiving Reiki treatments is to reduce or eliminate them.
In time the condition became so bad that I could no longer run my business; in fact, I could not even look after my home. I lived on savings, then cashed in my registered retirement savings. I’d had a wonderful housekeeper who became a friend and still is, but I couldn’t afford her or the luxury home I had leased. I went to live with kind friends, then my sister and finally found an inexpensive apartment as I needed to be alone with my pain.
That was two years ago and I have been on a government pension of sorts. I have developed a new business plan, a web-based business, which will require far fewer hours. As fate would have it, I herniated the same discs in June of this year that I herniated 23 years ago – ironically, almost to the day.
Rather than go to the excellent chiropractor who had me back to work quickly in 1983, I chose to go to a chiropractor I went to a few times before I stopped consulting. Since I’d moved, she was closer and I knew she used Reiki on her patients and I had found it a relaxing, pleasant experience in 2000.
Chiropractic is not an expensive treatment here in Canada [I am in Toronto]. My chiropractor charges Cdn$35 per visit [it is not supplemented by our Medicare program]. For two months I went to her three times a week. I couldn’t afford $105 a week, so I went back to Workers Comp and they reopened my file, paying her costs.
In Canada they have created a new policy for people whose original injury led to a different and more serious condition and I knew I fit that description exactly.
I am entitled to a one-time cash settlement [which is quite substantial] from Workers Comp, and wait hopefully for it. It will help me with my new web business and get me off the provincial government pension. I am sure if we have it in Canada, then it is probably in place in the US.
I now go twice a week.
I cannot say enough good things about Reiki. I am used to living with a great deal of pain and none of the medications I take combined, completely remove the pain. There hasn’t been a drug designed specifically for peripheral neuropathy, so we have to borrow meds meant for other conditions. The most effective one I found initially is Topamax, which is meant for epileptics. I was on 800 mg a day, which is 200 mg higher than recommended, but I needed that much to find any relief. Since I began Reiki I have been able to reduce it to 400 mg a day. I also needed another aid [depression is a common side effect for PN sufferers], so was prescribed 150 mg Effexor XR, an anti-depressant, again a very high dosage, but at that high dose, it becomes an analgesic effective for PN sufferers. Tylenol 3 no longer worked, so I was given a script for Endocet [Oxycodon in the US] at a strength of 5/325mg and I took 5 a day. I now take 2 or 3 – usually during the night when PN pain is greatest.
My colleagues south of the border can get a diurgesic [sp?] patch, which was designed for cancer patients who often suffer great pain, and which lasts 2 or 3 days. We cannot get it easily in Canada, but that would have been the next step for me.
Just think, I’ve been dealing with this pain for 23 years and it was all because of sciatic nerve damage.
I believe the last writer mentioned that his doctor told him to lose weight and the pain will go away. That doctor is a jerk. Lousy bedside manner and he is probably a skinny little turd. I had a doctor – a neurologist – tell me the same thing five or six years ago [that is who looks after PN patients]. I didn’t go back. Who needs that shit?
What I want to stress is that stretching is important. It is easy to get caught up on the web. It is fascinating and fun, but stretching is one of the easiest things to do and will spare you grief years down the road. Stand up, stretch like your trainer showed you at the gym or walk down the hall several times and ignore your co-workers’ wierd looks. It’s your back and your future.
I went to a gym that advertised itself as being fully qualified and it specialized in working with “big people”. The trainer there even called his business “Big Moves”. He partnered with an expensive shop that sold clothes for larger-sized women and when I was in business I used to buy my clothes there. I attended a special meeting and the owner had lost 150 lb simply through exercise. Her staff – all big women, had as well. I signed up for this very expensive series of gym classes and told my trainer about my sciatic nerve damage, and he seemed to listen. “Seemed” is the operative word here.
I really enjoyed going to the gym and as a consultant I could work my hours around the three visits a week to lose weight. As you can guess, eventually he got too enthusiastic and forgot about my nerve injury, pushing me to do things with my legs before my body was ready and I ended up with bursitus and more sciatic nerve problems. I couldn’t work for a while and I could see “law suit” in his eyes when I reminded him that I had told him of my sciatic nerve damage.
So you guys who are used to doing great things with your strong backs and your muscular bodies, get used to taking it easy until you are completely healed – or you never will be healed. It takes a long time to heal a “bad back”. You have it now and it is no sense denying or ignoring it. I did when I first hurt my back and I would give anything to have been sensible then and let my back fully heal.
In regards to Reiki, I have sensation back in my feet and my balance is far better than it has been since 1989. Reiki is a surprising treatment as it heals other things as well. I found that I am far more limber than I have been in years. I can easily touch my toes and in all my life I never could although I was an althlete and avid dancer throughout my younger years. The biggest surprise was that my eyesight improved. My optomestrist confirmed it [to her surprise] and my chiropractor told me there is a connection from the nerves in the lower back to the neck and the optic nerves. Strange but wonderful.
If you are interested in pursuing this drug free, non-invasive form of therapy, check the following web site: wiseworldseminars.com and look for an NSA Practioner in your area. It’s worth a try and it’s not expensive. The man who developed it is an American chiropractor, he is a trusted man who has found a better way to help the likes of us.
Lynne

Lynne says:

Margie’s comments on stretching & warm water exercises hit home. I went to a pool for people with spinal cord injuries – the warm water felt wonderful. Again tho’ minimal help. I would benefit more than I did 10 years ago as I’m more patient now.
I had traction therapy [twice] which helped for a while. Best thing for me has been reiki therapy which heals underlying problem. In ’06 I got good orthotics, wear only “sensible shoes” which is correcting my uneven gait.
I’ll try leaning back when I cough. I usually go into a prenatal position which often hurts my stomach.
I learned through a trainer that when a leg, buttock or thigh spasms, straighten leg and turn your heel forward of your toes as you stretch [toes toward body]. Do not attempt to curl your toes or you will only make things worse.
A pillow between your knees when you sleep on your side takes the strain off your lower back. Provides immediate relief. I also rest affected leg on a pillow when I sleep on my back. I used a ‘leg pillow’ for years after 1989 spasm which led to nerves dying in feet and hanss. They are thicker at one end than the other [available at Back Stores]. I slept with my legs over it when on my back & between my knees when on my side. I’ve graduated to pillow-between-knees as I unerstand my pain more now [& because I gave my leg pillow to a friend with herniated lower discs who moved away with the leg pillow!].
I have reduced the number of meds I take from 3 to 2 different types and am slowly reducing the strength of them.

Rosie says:

I am going through the same pains. I trust it will all just disappear. I will pray for all of you. Keep a positive mind and don’t let the pain overtake you. I have a 2 year old son and I need to maintain a positive attitude and not bombard myself with the pain FOR HIM. Especially when he wants to climb on my back and play “choo choo train”! GOD WILL HELP US ALL!!! TRUST IN HIM!

Angie says:

My sciatic nerver pain flairs up only at night – starts about 7pm. I take Ibuprofin before bed and sleep in the fetal position. I am stiff when first getting out of bed but it loosens up quickly. Although before going to bed the pain is so bad I am barely walking and my leg will give out in the pain. This goes on for 4-5 days and then will not occur again for 5-6 MONTHS!!! Why is this? Does anyone else have their sciatic this random?

Pete says:

Ihave been hanging from a chining bar, streching, and moist heat. Helps.

Judi says:

Hi..I just “found” these comments after desperately looking for help with my sciatica that has returned for the third time in 2 years. No one..including the “specialists” have been much help and during the past 6 months, I have been very depressed. Reading these experiences from all who have posted..as given me so much hope. I don’t want to be a drama queen here but tears are running down my face now..just knowing I am not alone. I want to look into the Reiki method as I just cannot continue taking the pain meds my Dr. has had me try. ( Darvocet and then Tramadol and neither worked.) The first bout that I had sent me to the Dr. in a borrowed wheelchair. Thats when I was diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis… a form of sciatica. I was given an epidural..it helped a little but not enough for me to get another one! The second “attack” lasted 3 months and thats when I was really depressed. Couldn’t even get out of the house as I couldn’t drive. Every day when I woke up..I kept thinking this “thing” was going to get better. Months later, it just left..as quickly as it arrived. Now..here I am again having another bout that started this week and the thoughts of putting up with this for another 3 months..or longer, is frightening. The one thing that I noticed is that no one mentioned pain in the groin area. I have the sciatica on my right side. my right buttuck, to my groin, down the leg to my calf but no further. I can get some relief by lying half way across my bed and stretching my lower back. I have a high bed so it takes the weight/pressure off of the lower back. I feel like I need to have my back STRETCHED to relieve the pain. ??When I am sleeping ( on my side) I sometimes wake up with the pain being the strongest in my groin..again, right side. I am very limited as to exercises because I have severe Osteoarthritis in both knees. Fortunately, I have a very understanding husband who always tries to help in any way. He sometimes has attacks of Gout so he can sympathize. I feel sorry for those of you who aren’t as fortunate. Our children are grown but..we have 3 “furry” children that rely on me and sometimes, I just can barely take care of them. Thanks to all of you for making my day with your suggestions as well as making me feel that I’m not alone. Judi

Judi says:

Hi Jenn,
I’m certainly no expert but it sounds to me like a pinched nerve. The fact that your pain went away fairly quick is good..and the leg falling asleep could be the nerve. It could also be a calcium deposit..pressing on a nerve. At one time..whenever I rested my arm on the back of the couch, it would get numb. I finally went to a neurologist and after some testing, his diagnosis was a calcium deposit on my neck that would press on the nerve when I raised my arm. It went away after taking muscle relaxers and that might be someting you would want to look into if it becomes worrisome to you. Good luck.

caroline says:

Hello to all my siatic pals, I am sorry and sadened to hear of your gref, I fell over in a hole and landed on concret on my right side. I polverised my siatic nerve, dislodged my thigh and damaged my pelvis and last but not least I damaged my ankle.I am 55 years old and bugger me it was some landing This happened october 206. After a few visits to the doctors and hospital I stayed in hospital for one week at one time I was so bad I was doped up with morphine and I could not walk without help, but alas I was sent home to recover it is now May 207 and as I type this to you my pals. I am having trouble sitting, but I will finish this letter. I have lost my job and I need help to shower dress etc, I am unable to bend or reach for anything I sometimes find myself crying in a corner or in bed like a little girl because of the pain, but every day I thank God I didnt break anything or sevier the nerve. I only polverised it and now I am on the mend slowly but surely, I refuse to let it get the better of me I am going to take plenty of meds and pray very hard for good health and my husband and I are off to New Zealand to visit our friends there, I already missed out once, not again, off I go so my pals please pray for me and think of me in good faith and I will take your thoughts to New Zealand with me and with that I know I will have a good holiday the first one in almost 16 years. Good health stay strong one and all God Bless You are in my heart love Caroline your siatic pal

Margie says:

Hello everyone,
Chronie, I am very sorry about your love one.
My last update was on February 6, 2007.
I had an MRI done on March 1, 2007 and got scheduled to have a shot to my spine on April 19, 2007.
The ending results were a combination of good and bad.
The good (no pain in my spine and no pain while sitting down).
The bad (my pain went from my right leg to my left leg) go figure.
I’m taking the prescription drug Tramadol, and it helps ease my pain.
I still do my stretch excercises in the morning before going to work, which also helps.
I will not be going for more shots at this time, they are very expensive.
My home and car need repair. Don’t know when they’ll get fixed.
I wish us all to be pain free. God bless us all and our families.

caroline says:

Hello all my siatic pals its caroline again well I went off on my trip across the seas to New Zealand with my so wonderful husband les, what a gem. I was treated very well by air flight staff and everyone invloed in my journey to and from Australia. I was in constant pain all the time but I wasn`t going to let this painful way of life stop me, so as I said in my last letter, nothing will stop me and I had a great time I saw a lot of New Zealand around the north side what a beautiful place, my friends were very kind,and my friend Jo Anne even had to dress me at times, and believe me at my age being embarrased was not an option. I had to except her help.After breakfast we went out. I even peeped into 2nd hand shops and found lots of squares of material about 20 in a bundle at 1 foot by one foot each piece for 50cents a bundle, now I have a new hobby yes you guessed it patchwork quilting I have enough to make four quilts and With the prices as they are here at $34 for a few little squares I gota be happy with that. What I am saying is I will not let this rotten pain and this kind of life as I know it now, still crying in corners like a little girl, having days in bed where I stay because of the pain that immobleises me weeping in pain day after day begging for an end to all this missery.I walk with a walking frame or a walking stick. I can not dress myself yet, when no one is home I shower but I drip dry and dress the best way I can, I still have sleepless nights and the next day the same on strong meds. Buuutttt alas I am making a life for myself sewing hand towels selling them at $4 and knitting mobile phone covers and sell them at $10 each so I am still in life and living the best way I know how and a few dollars in my pocket still on strong meds to function as a normal person I put my pain into gain but I WILL NOT GIVE IN OR GIVE UP I am sorry for my pals. Please dont be sad, take heart and give another day a chance I am going to the local hospital to visit some kids there and or old people this makes them feel better and this makes me want to wake for enother day so dont dispare siatic pals hold on to life no matter what some one is out there who needs that one smile you have in you go on do it smile go on go on see I new you can do it. Heres smiling at you kids. I am sending my prayers to you all and God Bless be strong your siatia pal carolinexx

Sydney says:

I thoroughly recommend you see an acupuncturist regarding your sciatica. I’m 35 and suffered with pain down my leg especially the calf and foot. Medication may help only temporarily, you need treatment! In my case the sciatica won’t go away but I can ‘keep a lid on it’ by having acupuncture and massage every 5-6 weeks. I’m Australia, treatment cost around $80US for 1-1.5 hours. Wish you and your fam all the best. Cheers.

Tae says:

Hello and Blessings to All,
I am 28 and newly diagnosed with a pinched sciatic nerve on my left side. The funny thing is most of my pain is in my left foot. I was doing laundry one day and instead of waiting on someone to help out I lifted the huge bags myself. Around the next day or so I noticed a soreness in my back and leg..what did I do? I kept it moving. The next day I noticed the soreness moved from slight to serious so I still kept it moving but in a relaxed sort of way. Needless to say, that Monday at work the pain became an issue and I was in bed directly after getting home from work. Around midnight my loving boyfriend rushed me to the hospital because the soreness violently graduated to pain. My entire leg felt dislocated from my body and I had to keep supressing the urge to vomit. We finally were seen and they took blood, poked around, and called it a pinched nerve and started asking me if I felt safe going home. (Smh) I was then given an IV, volume (which was great), and sent home with vicos, motrin, and flexerals and ordered on bedrest. Within days the pain was gone and I assumed I could return to work….my left foot was swollen so I assumed tennis shoes were my only option. DISASTER!!!! By noon that day I noticed my left foot was numb inside the shoe aside from these shooting feelings that seemed to be nerve related. It felt like my foot was stuck in the shoe. Needless to say, I get home and pry the shoe off my foot and it’s a catastrophe!!! Pain beyond pain…my foot felt like it had locked up and was one big ball. I could not wiggle my toes or even move my foot….and the pain felt like the tendons on the top of my foot were pulling inward, and the skin on the top of my foot was on fire. It’s been 3 weeks since “The Shoe” and I am going on Short term disability, online education, and just starting to wiggle my toes and walk with my trusty cane. I have seen a specialist and to be honest, he’s not much help. He was more concerned with why there was no pain in my back as to why my foot was incapacitated. He gave me some steroids and I can say that they did assist in taking the swelling out of my foot, but I still have muscle spasms in my toes, shooting pains in my foot, and weakness on the left side of my ankle/foot. Has anyone experienced this before? Is it something seperate from the pinched nerve?
I am really lost because although I do feel the nerve when I ride in low sitting cars, or lay in certain positions…it’s not really bothering me. But my foot is going crazy and I’m wondering is all the shooting pains, pulls, pinches, and pins and needles a sign of healing?
Also, if anyone knows…does being overweight increase the chances of future nerve problems? Will dropping the weight give one a better chance at being pinch free?
Any comments or feedback is definitely appreciated. I know everyone is experiencing their own levels of pain and side effects. I have read ever entry on this page and I feel so sorry for those that have suffered for so long. It’s only been a little under a month for me and already I am ready to jump on a table and let the cards fall where they may. I have never had injuries as a child, teen, or up until now. I don’t know HOW TO DEAL with pain…it’s impossible!! I think between praying, reading, and massaging…I have broken into tears over 30 times. It’s just not an easy thing to go from being on the go to being bed/house ridden and having to depend on family and friends for what you could usually do yourself. I miss driving, working, being on campus, walking through the mall, just living…what’s a life for if you can’t live it??
Sorry to end in such anger but that’s the stage I’m on at this point.
I wish everyone well and hope that we all can find some peace in this life. Prayers and Love 2 all.

Tae says:

Wow, talk about opening a can of worms!!
Well first thanks for responding to my rant Lynne. It’s always nice to know someone will take the time to listen or read about my problems.
I had an MRI and will be viewing them with my specialist on Thursday. I have insurance and a decent job so I feel blessed in that department. Other good news is that as of today I completed the steroids I was given by my specialist and with some serious prayer I am now experiencing more movement, balance, and less pain in my foot. I think I damaged the nerves in my foot myself by stuffing it in a tight tennis shoe while it was swollen. I am feeling all types of crawling, pinching, and burning in my foot now but it seems to have left the top of my foot and is mainly in the big toe.
I am feeling very positive now with my current condition. I feel like this is a warning of what could be my future if I don’t take better care of ME. I just feel sooo blessed that my condition seems to be getting better.
Well, I am going to elevate my foot and pray for full recovery. I do appreciate your feedback though and will be sure to ask my specialist about PN and it’s causes.
Thanks again and God Bless

Margie says:

Hello all, my last update was 05-05-07, my pain is in my lower spine and both my legs. I have to sit up very straight to eliviate some of the pain. Sitting down I am at a 1 or 2 pain level. Walking around is much of the same. It’s when I carry something heavy that my pain level shoots up, the back of my legs start to burn. It feels like a 7. I have a 7 month old granddaughter and I can’t carry her for very long while standing up. I’m greatful that I can hold her while sitting down. I only take my presciption Tramadol when I know I will have to do a lot of walking and not be able to sit down for a long time.
At work I am able to sit down when I feel the pain in my spine and legs. But working with preschool children is physically demanding. After work, I rush home and lay in bed for about 15 to 30 minutes, this seems to help. I still have to excersise my legs by stretching every morning. I can feel the difference in doing this because my spine is hurting as soon as I rise from bed, but after the stretching I feel relief. I’ve been through therapy twice, had an MRI done. Had a shot to my spine. I have insurance, but it is still very costly. My car gave out, so we had to get another vehicle and the payments are higher.
I will pray for you all. I wish us all to be pain free. God bless.

Anonymous says:

Caroline,
It was very sweet of you to respond to my letter. I too started to cry after reading yours. I pray that God hears all of our prayers. I went to Church today and I asked him to please heal me and others who are suffering from pain. As for my Granddaughter, she is adorable, and I am always praying for her well being and safety. Luckily for my husband and I, she ony lives about 4 blocks from us. She just turned 8 months on October 2nd. She is our only grandbaby so far. Caroline, I will pray for you and your little angel. May God grant you and your family much joy, health and happiness.
I wanted to ask any sciatic friends about accidental insurance policies. My condition was caused by me lifting very heavy boxes and carrying them down some flights of stairs. That happened on April 2, 2006. I was helping my daughter move out of her apartment. I would have to fill out an accident report, as would my doctor, to my Accident Insurance Company. I have until April 2008 to file a claim. Can anyone tell me if this is worth going through? Does anyone think that what I did about carrying the heavy boxes, be cosidered an injury? Please tell me what you think. Time is running out, and I still don’t know whether to claim or not. If I did, I would have to travel 50 miles, because that is where my Doctor is located. I would also have to pay a fee for the Doctor to fill out the claim. I almost fell on Friday(10-6-07), while locking the door to leave for the day. I took I backward step and twisted my foot, If I had’nt grabbed on to the door that has burglar bars, Iwould have fallen on my backside. MY foot was hurting and I was on my way to a meeting, which I could not get out of. I was praying all the way to the staff meeting. Once there I took my shoe off and started massaging my foot. God heard my prayers and I didn’t get a sprained foot.
I will pray for all of us my friends.
God bless you all. Let us all be pain free.

geoff says:

sorry to hear about everyones siatic problems.for 3 years i have been suffering with siatic pain i have had surgery two months ago for a bulging disc .surgeon says the siatic nerve was badly damaged still sufering severe pain
surgeon says i will be in this pain forever
the pain is in my left leg going to the tips
of my toes i also had knee surgery done a year ago got cartilage and cyst removed from my left knee and to round
everything of i had my gallbladder removed 7 months ago all this at 35 i have 3 small children and a loving wife
the pain just rules your life i spend my time screaming with pain tramadol morphine liryrica is what i take everyday
thats me finished moaning on
god and my wife help me through it all hope to read more about everybodys siatic problems god bless

Margie says:

Hello Caroline , and all my sciatc friends. Caroline, I’m happy to hear that your Dad is better. God bless you for your caring heart. I’ll pray that you do well with your job as a counsellor. Hugs to you and your family. Sometimes I feel like I’m going to beat this pinch nerve and other times I feel like it”s beating me. I have to keep telling myself that someday, I will be healed. I can’t give up hope. My husband became diaabled 11 years ago. He has post polio syndrome. He tries very hard to help me around the house. I know that he can’t stand on his feet for very long. He is my rock and my best friend. Our anniversary is coming up on November 16, 2007. We will be celebrating 28 years of marriage. We’ve had our ups and downs but thankfully our Love is strong. I work full time at a Pre school. The teacher that I work with is very understanding about my condition. She knows my limits and does’nt let me do any heavy lifting. Whenever I feel great pain later at night, or early in the morning, I try to recall what I did at work and try to avoid doing it again. The company that I work for moves it’s empolyees every year to diffrent locations. Teachers and teacher aids are switched as well. In August of 2008, I may be working at a different school and work with another teacher. If at anytime , I feel a great relief, I will share it with you all.
Geoff, If you are reading this entry, I want you to know that the prescription Tramadol works very well for me and personally, I only take it when I am in great pain. Lyrica on the other hand would make me very sleepy while driving and it would also make me very forgetful. It didn’t help with the pain either. I hope the meds works for you. Well, I will close for now. I hope I didn’t bore anyone. God bless and Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Margie says:

Hello all,
Caroline, welcome back. I’m happy to hear that your Dad is better and that you are home with your family. I wish you great success in working as a counselor. Your entries are wonderful, no wonder you are a counselor. God bless you and
your family.
I am always looking for advice on how to relieve my pinch nerve. If anyone of you have any suggestions, please post them. I have found out that by laying on my side when sleeping, I’m aggravating the nerve. So now I try to sleep on my stomach and keep one leg up , bringing my knee up parallel to my waist. When I get out of bed, I scoot over to the edge of the bed. Then I let my legs hang down, then using my hands and arms, I push myself up till I am at a sitting position. This technique works very well for me. I have also learned that I shouldn’t let my body get too cold. I had to use my heating pad this morning to relieve my pain. When in a seating position like now, I have to remember to sit straight, and now hunched over.
Geoff,
Please be careful when taking your meds. I was first put on Lyrica and it didn’t help me at all. What it did do for me was made me sleepy and very forgetful. I quit taking them. I was later put on Tramadol and this pain reliever helped very much. I only take it when I’m in bad shape or when I knpw I will do a lot of walking.
I thank God for a loving husband. He is very supportive. He became disabled due to post polio syndrome in 1995. You could say that we help each other as best we can.
I trully believe that one day, I will be healed. God has the power to do so and I have to keep praying for me and for all my sciatic friends. God bless us all, let us be pain free.

caroline says:

oooooooaaaaarrrrrrr!!!! P.S. Thank God I dont cook as bad as I spell when I am medicated We would all be dead Ha! Ha! ha! Kind regards Caroline xx

caroline says:

Hello Margie
Greetings to you darling I hope you are feeling better today my friend.I
hope and pray that your wonderful husband is feeling better I am sending you
both a warn fuzzy hug and a big sloppy kiss, Huuuuggggg Huuuuggggg. This
will make you smile Jesus LOVES YOU and so do I.Margie tonight when you go
to bed and you are just laying there thinking why all this is happening to
you. Stop for a moment and take a deep breath and some time and feel the
arms of God around you and feel the warmth of His Love, the touch of His
kindness, the whisper of His gentle voice speaking into your spirit. Now
wait in the silence of the night. and hear Him say.. I LOVE YOU MARGIE
I LOVE YOU MARGIE.and feel the soft heart beat of Your Father from
Heaven.in the mist of the night.Know you are not alone. Prayers being
answered with His LOVE and His great sacrifice to give you life and my
sister I now know a great and wonderful woman named Margie my friend,if we
did not have our suffering we never would have met.Are you smiling yet my
DARLING MARGIE PLEASE SMILE THATS THE WAY. I send ou one of my smiles so
you can always have one spare, put it in your pocket and when you are down
take it out and place it on and wa la you have a smile right there anytime
you ned it .
God Bless you both always my friend
Love from Carolinexxxxxxxxx—–

caroline says:

I have realised I did not write in DROOPY. Here is a special MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU DROOPY AND GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS Kind regards Carolinexxxx

Anonymous says:

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR

caroline says:

Margie My Love
I send you and your huaband a very special MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a special HHHHUUUUGGGGGGGGGGod Bless you both I would like for you both to come to Australia and visit my wonderful Husband and stay with us here in our humble home here in Canberra I would love to meet you I love you my very special friend MERRY CHRISTMAS LOVE FROM CAROLINE xxxxxxxx P.S. my prayers are with this messagexxxx

Margie says:

Hello all,
Caroline and Les,
Are you from Australia? I used to watch the Crocodile hunter. My husband and I felt very sadden about his death. My oldest daughter cried for days. We miss seeing him on television. God bless his wife Terri and family. They have so much energy. Is it because you live in Australia?
Everyone, we had a great Christmas with our families. I sure hope you all had the same. I took lots of pictures, I love taking pictures, we have tons of photo albums. Caroline and our sciatic friends, I want to know how everyone is. Give us tips on what you do to avoid pain. During the night I have to remember not to bounce on the bed to get comfortable. I try to shift slowly or else I’ll feel the tenderness in my spine. I usually slouch when sitting down, then I remember to sit up straight. I am on a Christmas break from work till the 2nd of January. So today, my husband and I were cleaning out a work shed that we have and I had to carry old printers and computer towers to our van for disposal. I prayed that I would not hurt myself. My husbands condition prevents him from carrying anything from place to place. I have to set limits on myself and try not to over do it. Tomorrow, we will tackle the shed again and dispose more junk. I wish everyone to have a very Happy and healthy New Year. God bless and let us all be pain free.

caroline says:

Good Morning scistic pals I hope you all had a Merry Christmas? I will tell you I did because I refuse to let this pain I am suffering get the best of me (my walking frame and walking stick got a real working over the Christmas break especialy with the dancing I did)I will not let this pain interfear with me to rob me of a happy day or bring me to the point where I become angury or misserable to my loved ones or even to myself for that matter I had lots to eat and lots of great prezzies I even got a little meeeerrrry yep I did mmmmeeeerrrryyy ho!ho!ho! I even left the beer and fruit cake that I made for Santa and the carrots for the raine deers on Christmas night so if that aint in the spirit of things I dont know what is I thank God I still have the little kid inside me and for that matter I always will. so come on pals join me in living the best way we can,with hope in our prayers, dreams in our sleep, and love in our hearts,and joy in our steps most of all lets be strong enough to take control of our pain and enjoy our life better than we ever thought was possiable.so stand up and be counted take charge of your day and get dressed and lets do some thing we could not do before and say no to crying and yes to LIVING for me my eyes have seen enough tears,and I am going to turn my pain into gain my tears into cheers and my strife into a life.I dont want to go it alone so join with me one step at a time and go go go sing a happy song or ring a person you have not spoken to in a while tell some one you love them,DONT GIVE UP I dont want to break down either so I have to live for the happiness that I can steal from each day as it comes my way. So I will hide it in my heart so nothing can rob me of it again because to rob me of my happiness is to rob my family of their joy. and that wont do so I will say to you today live a little just live.God Bless you all and HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR kind regards and love from Caroline xxx

caroline says:

Hey Mal
Welcome to sciatic Pals site.
Wooow have you had a time of it as well. All those years of suffering and for one so young, you are an insperation you have not given up, nor are you angry inside because of the pain you are a young man with much to teach others how to be strong and fight on.GOOD ON YOU MAL. I do send you kind regards and prayers and a BIIIIIIIGGG HUUUUUUUGGG today and let you know you are not alone, as to feel our own pain is to feel yours, because we are all living each day in such torment and suffering in some way with the pain and discomfort but the secreat is not to let this painful way of life get us down,or give up and to live life to its fullest and reap what we can from the pain free moments that come our way in the day and steal thoes times and turn them into the joy and happiness that comes from our strength within our very soul. I will also pray for you on my prayer list and ask God to help you as I ask Him to help us all each day in my prayer time as this is all I have left in life I can trust to guide and help me with the way where I need to go for help. As a man who has suffered so much pain in his short life I hope you will find some freedom in your body to be able to do more for yourself and do the fun things you want to I hope you find lots to do and have friends to go out withto enjoy and live life with them or your family . Mal do you have any family have you been able to keep your home? I do hope so is, it a big house or small where is it? do you have any children? I am married and I have two wonderful sons one is 30 and one is 24.I dont want to complain I feel that others are worse off than me.I am very blessed to have such a wonderful husband as he takes care of me since my accedent 15 months ago I am not able to do very much I could not walk or dress myself sit up or sit down or shower by myself I had to lay in bed all the time my story is on this page as I am Caroline. So I dont have much to complain about because I am getting better slowly one day at a time I am going to a Sports Therapist who does soft tissue massage therapy and I find this has helped me a lot and I am now able to move around a lot more than before.I have this treatment once a week at $70 an hour and my top specialist cost $180 an hour he wants to give me a quaterzone injection into my bone near my thigh and this should help me to be able to do more for myself I pray so. and the cost for this is between $500 $700 so I am praying this will help me have some freedom from pain and more movement in my body I leave it all up to God and the doctors. Well my new sciatic pal I am sending you the kindest regards and enother BIIIIGGGG HUUUUUUGGG all the best God Bless You and your family. HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR friendly regards Caroline from Australia xxx

John Hanger says:

The pain just started in my hip area and it hasn’t went farther, but it hurts super bad like it needs to we popped. Is it mabey a pinched nerve?

caroline says:

Good Morning Everyone
You are so right Lynne it is disheartening to see people suffer.and Mal to be angury is right also and I get angury too as I can not be a wife and mother as good as I want to be I can not do many things yet but I am so blessedeveryone is so understanding.It hurts to be suffering one self. I am still suffering with my sciatic nerve pain and will probberly do so for a long time to come.I have had enother set hack this week I fell and hurt myself again setting me back at least two months and boy do I feel it especialy at night and when I am trying to sleep.but as I said before I WILL NOT LET THIS HICUP IN MY LIFE AT THIS MOMENT SPOIL OR HOLD ME BACK from doing anything or going any where I want to do and I will not weaken my stengh and let it get the best of me if I do there no I just wont go there. so my PALS chin up do what we can when we can and LIVE the best we can as happy as we can be I will tell you all this I went to the hospital Sunday to visit my friend she is only 52 and she wont be comming home to her family or her grandson nor will she ever see her new grand child who is due with in a month or two because she has cancer again and weighs 45 kilos and she is 5ft 7ins tall and she still beliving that she will be healed and all will be well but that is not so for her, so lets all have the same faith and hope & hold together and pray for each other and be the best person we can be to our family friends and our selves PLEASE dont be angury or sad we cant change what has happened to us but we can change what we do from now on and how we relate and behave so take heart help me also and join together as pals and try to live happy as we can I feel what you feel but I wont give in and get mad I will get even I will live my LIFE as normal as I can we all have a life still and lets live it.God Bless you LYNNE,MAL,& JOHN HANGER

Lynne says:

I wrote a long email and the darned thing came back. I am copying it below as I think you may find some things in there which could be helpful. Mal, did you say your injury was the result of a work accident [business]. Do you have Workers Comp? I am still fighting mine after 19 years but I think this year I will get my pension and/or settlement. I’ve been on a government pension since 2003 and it is a pittance. But that isn’t why I am writing.
Carolyn, don’t sit there in pain. Create an ice pack of some kind and put it where it hurts. It will relieve the pain. Now, I’m going to copy the huge missive I wrote the other day.
Godbless you all during our new year.
Dear John,
It could be a pinched nerve. I had two pinched nerves in my neck at different times [both from stress at work]. The first time I was out of town visiting friends and had to lay on their living room floor for three days until I could move my head well enough to drive 125 miles to my chiropractor, who “popped” as you say, the pinched nerve in my neck. The next time I was at work and went directly to my chiropractor who fixed the pinched nerve immediately. I was sore for a couple of days but nothing like before he treated it or the first time I pinched it.
I have a chronic pinched nerve in my right hip. I generally have pains that go over my hip, into my butt, then down the outside of my leg to my knee, then down the outside of my calf and under my heel to my foot. I feel pain in different parts of the nerve at different times. I’ve had the pinched nerve since 1989 and it lead to peripheral neuropathy, which is a chronic pain condition.
I would advise you to lay on a carpet, so that both legs are elevated and on the couch or your bed, if you are taller than me [5’8″] the bed will work and there is more room for your calves and feet. The trick here is to remove all weight from your spine to allow the nerve to heal. You will be able to feel the relief when you have the right position. If you have an ice pack, frozen peas or anything like that, put it on the part of your hip that hurts. Lay there for 20 minutes with the cold pack. To get up, roll to one side [the side that doesn’t hurt] and keep yourself in the prenatal position to slowly get up. If you are alone you should make a hot pack [even a damp hand towel that you have heated with hot water, put in a plastic bag] and lay down in the same position and put the hot pack on your hip. Make sure you have a flat pillow or rolled up towel under your neck so that you don’t have any pressure on the nerves there. Lay there for another 20 minutes. You should feel some relief. If not, go with the ice pack again and leave it there a bit longer. Don’t leave the hot pack on your hip for too long as it will numb your hip and maybe take away some pain, but you might feel you can do more physically than you actually should. Treat yourself like a baby with the hot and cold packs and take Tylenol to help relieve the pain. The cold is the part that heals, but the heal is the part that relieves.
I remember the feeling of needing to have my hip popped and that is what my chiropractor would do when I went to see him. He also massaged the area in my hip and leg where the sciatic nerve is, which helped relieve the pain as well.
Good luck

caroline says:

Hello Everyone
Thank you all so very much for the wonderful advice you are giving Lynne I am so glad you said that about the ice pack as soon as I was able to move I thought and wondered it that is what I should do so I did it but I thought it mite be a silly idea it helped and it gave me something else to do and I also feel better about taking my meds and they help so very much Lynne you are an encouragement. I put a bi-carb soda pack on my hematonea every day for one hour .all I have to do is mix bi-carb together with water as a past and wrap it in a thin ar tail of an old shirt and tie it on or around the area where it is swollen for an hour and wa! la! That is the spot on my thigh when I fell on the concret I landed on my thigh and my bottom and damaged my pelvise and polverised my sciatic nerve and besides the meds this helps a bit and takes the swelling down the massarge doctor told me about it,.Margie it is great to hear from you again yes you are right darling prayers are what we have left to do for each other iI wish you well when you goback to work Margie,it is ao good to have you all to talk to each day I come on to see if there is enother friend on the site to prayer for and what prayers I have to say for my friends I have already. my friends I need you all in my life more than you will ever know as besides my beloved family I dont have anyone else so I have adopped you sciatic lovelys for my very own and thank you all for writing I feel this site is just for us there is a part of us all here, this site is where we share with one an other and pour our hearts out and we are free to do so when I read your letters it helps me not to cry every day all day as now my husband Les is back at work I am on my own so I will have an ice pack with me Lynne and prayers Margie and friendship from others and together we are a family as often as i can because the pain has no manners and lots of furery. I am going to my massage doctor on Tuesday night this always hurts first off but within a day or two it feels better and helps a lot this is the only thing that does help as well as the meds I still take morphine every day I dont know if I would even have any kind of life if it was not for the morphine.Thank God for it.I use the walking frame when I need it or walking stick but I keep myself busy enough to keep my mind busy from thinking of pain all day so my friends I bid you all a good day God Bless you all and your families love Caroline P>S> Where is Jeoff how are you Jeoff we have not forgotten you please writ to us and let as know how you are going bye now

caroline says:

Hi MAL YES YES YES YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE ANGURY and every right to be fed up and sad you have had enough and that is how you feel.I tottaly agree with you Mal as I also cant be or do things with my husband either (you know what I mean) I cant walk some times I cant sleep some times and all I can do is lay in my bed and scream in pain pain pain and sometims all on my own, and I mess the bed and cant move so I stay in it all day until my husband come home from work and cleans me up .and feeds me a feed and gives me a drink and more meds as what he had left on the dresser as I reached over to grab it I knocked it over on the floor and I lay there with nothing to eat or eat all day but thats alright to as to loose my double chin and a kilo or two means I get to be better looking I am 55 years young and far beyound shame now so its just enother day now . yes yes yes yes I am mad also very very mad angury as HELL you said dont forget the others who are still suffering we have not forgotten them as we are them also I WE are all hurting. I would like to get the doctor who said there is nothing we can do for you Caroline almost two years ago and sent me to suffer for the rest of my life, but I tricked the bloody lot of them I started to train in counselling and became a counsellor and I am training to be a N.L.P. Practitioner and I only did 3rd class at school as I am from the country where things were tough and an auphonage was the best and safest place to be as a child with my back ground.and I have tought myslef to sew hand towles and knit phonr caddies and some times I sell them and get a few quid for my trouble we are looking for treatment from every where and every one for a cure but nothing no not a thing that we can say I AM CURED NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING YET..and my husband has to get another job just to pay for everything Drs and meds etc. he gets up at 4.a.m. in the morning he goes to one job and comes home at 8.a.m. and showers and off to the other job by 8.30 to 9. a.m. and comes home at 6.30.p.m.PLEASE PLEASE MAL try not be so angury you still have your daughter with you to hug and hold and LOVE and mine is with Jesus.your wife she must be wonderful for her to love you and as you are still the man she married YES YOU ARE MAL only things are a little slower today than before (there is more than one way to skin a cat)Mal I feel like you do but I have to survive and cope with what I have I was thinking maybe you can start to train in something you are able and you like to do,or learn something new something differant. what ever you like to do any thing in sports or do a computer course and be a trainer of some kind of teaching others where the can come to your home and learn what you have to teach something even after school studies to teach kids that are a little slow at school in class you would be helping lots of people and making a differents to many and make some money.There must be something for you maths spelling english anything wont you try it makes me very sad for you as you are so much in pain I am trying to stop crying as I type this letter to you please dont be sad Mal I will worrie for you . Mal I have to take my meds now sitting here so long hurts like hell so I will be going to rest as I am not able to walk to far today so dont give up or give in. I send a Biiiggg Huuuuggg to you your little daughter and your wonderful wife God Bless you all love Caroline I am in so much pain I stayed to long on here Lynne I have my ice pack and Margie I have your prayers bye bye

caroline says:

Hello Mal
Nice to hear from you again I am glad you are here. Sorry you miss understand what I said I am not counselling you nor have I ever said LAY down and die because that is not who you are.I was just trying to give a pal a kind hand, and a kind word,or somethind to go on. let you know I was worried for you and my heart goes out to you and I know what you are suffering to a point.and just answering your letter as I read it.OOOO bugger me I bunged up I opened my mouth to change feet yaaakk please Mal read my last letter again and when you do you will find it is mostly about how I cope.what ever you do never except life as it is, to me Mal you are strong in many different way I think you are a soft and gentle man and I bet you are a big kid at heart and I like to talk to you also you are good value you sound hash at times but maybe that is good for you to servive you should hear me sometimes I sound like a fog horn. wooow So be gentle with me darling I mean well. God Bless bye foe now xx

mal says:

hey caroline I’ve been like this cause this is my character from young age and it just got worse as I got older as in more militant.”what to do what to do!
caroline it seem’d you was in your message but if you was’nt sorry but thats how it was put out never mind.
How was your day today caroline
mine not so good cause in morning had shower and a leak in my kitchen came out of know where so whent out come home having to rip the kitchen cealing down to get to the problem.
guess what my friend came to help but made things harder for me his name was pain hahaha……………………………..
pain wanted to realy make me notice that he was there the little devil doesn’t
want to be forgot’n wants to be around for ever ever & ever R Men hahaha…………….
the devil will always hang on r back,hips and legs hey caroline its a pain but we got to live with it as god has not found us a ever lasting pain relief.
just helps us bare with it so its apart of us for god ooops for good.

caroline says:

Hi Mal
what a bummer of a day you are having
yes my friend life is here to test us and put us is a place we dont always want to be in but we will make it through I pray we wil God Bless you and your family Mal. Hi Margie thank you my darling for being there for me I love you I have to go away for a little time and I will be back in a few days pray for me my friends I will see you all soon love Caroline

Margie says:

Hi Tom,
Welcome to this sight. I am going to try out this method of exercise. Hopefully others will try it out as well. I will use the back pain exercise. Wish me luck.
Take care everyone and God bless.

caroline says:

Hello Everyone
I hope you are all well and life is good to you and all your family
I am sending a BIG HUUUUGGGG to one and all I do hope every one is in good spirits and life is not to big a struggle. My father has had enother stroke he was in hospital for two and a half weeks he had the stroke while he was down visiting me to take care of me for a few days but we got him to the hospital on time thank God and now he is home in Sydney with hospital staff taking care of his every need as he does not want to be here in Canberra it is to cold for him.I ring him every day to make sure he is alright and if he does not answer the phone than I ring the police to go over to his house to check up on him and make sure alls well. I am still the same but I am starting to go to another doctor as well as the one I am with for physiotheropy on the Hematoma (that is a big hard lump that has formed because of the damage to the bones in the thigh it is the size of a cricket ball on my thigh from the fall I had one year and a seven months ago )and another doctor workes on my soft tissue around that part of the body. In the hope it will help me walk longer than ten minutes at a time, so heres hoping well God Bless you all bye for now Love Caroline xxx

caroline says:

Hello Margie
I am praying for you and your husband, for God to Bless you both, and may he keep you as well as he can for you both to stay well enough to have some kind of life for now and a long time to come. my love to you both. keep on holding onto the faith you have as there is not much else for us, but God is the answer to all our troubles and our pain in todays life. I can tell you this Margie without Him we are nothing and have nothing but we are alive with Him, we still have hope so together we are strong for one enother we are here to carry on in hope and faith so we try to be what we can be to stay in one peice mind body and soul,to make sure we dont fall down to emptyness.Hopefully we come to understand what is our strongest points to keep us free of sorrow and well enough to push forward in every day life with our pain at the back of us and not in the front of all our thoughts so we will and can be strong today and all the tomorrows yet to come. God Bless you always Margie and God Bless all our sciatic Pals Love Caroline. xxxxx

Anonymous says:

Hello Margie
Good to hear from you again,hopping to find you and your husband are both well and safe in Gods wonderful hands.we have been praying for your grandchild may God keep her safe and healthy.We are also praying for you and your husband for a full recovery.I am sending you a BBIIIIIGGGG HUUUUUGGGG GOD BLESS YOU BOTHXXXXX
I am not long home from my sciatic nerve specialist,who has been treating the right side of my body (the sciatic nerve and hemeatoma area), I have had the last of five guaterzone patch treatments and in around ten days things should start becoming less painful and be much better for me to live a somewhat normal life..As for now I am off to rest as I am tired and not able to walk any more so bye for now Sending my love to all God Bless Take care Margie hugs and kisses to you my friend xx

Michael says:

I thank my lucky stars I live in Australia when it comes to ones, health.Mind you the doctors dont always get it right.
Seven and half years ago I started to get a terrible pain in my lower back.Then my left leg went ,I could not walk on it had to drag it,went to doctors he passed me on to 2 different speclist.I had 2 MRI 1st one out of my own pocket $500.00 7years ago lot of money.Lots of doctors visits over the years Physio,acqupuncher and so onco st? plenty at least I was in a medical insurance fund this helped plus the govenment contribution.
2 and 6 months ago I was in Hawaii god my back finaly went I was inscreaming pain,to go to a us doctor was money scary.I had made friends with a local what he told me scared me if you had no money for medical treatment.
Well cut a long story short I flew home in agony,went straight into hospital they could not find anything just gave me strong pain killers for 24 hours,went back to my local clinic,the regular doctor was not there saw an older indian doctor who was semi retired,god bless him he sent me to see a vasscular surgeon,the head man no less of a big hospital in western Sydney.He knew i was sick and rushed me through the test,then told me I would not see christmas,he had 1 bed before christmas did I want it.Didnt have to think took my chances.
10 hours on the table brand new main archery from the heart to both legs.Its called an triple AAA.
It saved my life gave me back the joy of walking running,swimming at the age of 60.
Now why I thank god it happend in Australia.The whole operation plus hospital cost me nothing.My $100 a month and the Australian welfare covered the cost.I do just a regular job but our system allows us to help our selfs if we have that little extra money,if not the welfare will.
If Iwas not Insured I would have to have taken my chances by going public and would share a ward with plenty of others and not have any choice in what doctor I would have.O yea I had my own room like a motel little bath room and toilet.The nursing staff where the best I cant priase them enough,they came from all corners of the globe to live and learn they deserve every penny they are paid.
My feelings go towards though the people who suffer pain and can not get professinal help.

Caroline says:

Hello Margie God Bless you darling and may God keep you both safe and well for allways wwwooooowww are you both ever having a time of it this year so far but darling I am praying for you both and you are also on our prayer list at church.Darling I am so so sorry to hear of the bad news in your lives. My friend knowing you and believing in you margie you WILL find the strength to go on together, and you will always be there for each other, and hold true to your love and survive to the point where you will be a testimony not only to yourselves but to those who know you and to those who hear about you so you will touch the lives of so many people because of who you are and what you do in the hard times you are a powerful person because of the love and your grace within your very soul you have learnt to turn scars into stars and you are a Blessing To Les and me, Margie God Bless you both and have a Happy Easter and May every one HAVE A HAPPY EASTER.My friend you will both be O.K. sending many prayers and blessings Love from Caroline xxxx

Margie says:

Hello all,
Caroline, thank you very much for your thoughts and prayers. My husband is now sporting a cast on his foot. He will be taken to the doctor by our daughter next week. The doctor he is seeing is an hour away. I go back to work on the 25th of March. The doctor will open the cast to see if the swelling has gone down. I surely hope so. If his break does not shift, Larry will be avoiding surgery.
Our other daughter is coming for a visit during Easter weekend. She lives three hours away. If Larry is able to lower his foot down without any pain, than he is good to go on an outing this Saturday. We are all praying he will be able to go. He will be on his wheelchair of course. Well, God bless you all. Have a great Easter everyone.

Caroline says:

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL MY SCIATIC PALS GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND YOUR FAMILY.LOVE AND KIND REGARDS CAROLINEXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Anonymous says:

guys, I have a quetion. My friends daughter was doing some pranayam and has thereby hurt her left temple nerves, as the doctors now say. Does any one of you know some one else whom also happend so? It might be helpful for the girl to know what to do and whom to consult in this regard. Thanks in advance for your time and efforts…
best, rp

Caroline says:

Hello Margie nice to hear from you again I have been praying for you and Larry I thank God for what He does in our lives. I have some good news and bad news I am going much better I can walk on my own I can do almost anything I want to I can not go out to work at this point in time the bad news is that some of the meds I was taking has dried my mouth out so much that in my sleep my toung has stuck to my gums and pulled them away from my teeth and rotted unerneath my crowns at the back I didnot even know that this could even happen let alone that it had happen to me. well I will say this I so happy I am able to walk on my own I still take my pain killers buy not as much … Dear nameless one Margie is right I wish you and your friends daughter all the very best and God Bless you Kind regards Caroline My Margie Hugs and Kisses God Bless You and your family love Caroline xxxxooooxoxoxoxoxoxoo

Margie says:

Hi everyone,
Well, Larry’s foot cast is off. Thank God. He still has to take it easy for a while. He still has another appointment on the 20th, of May with the Orthopedic Specialist.
I am doing fine, just taking care not to over do on heavy lifting. It sometimes is a little impossible not to.
My eye sight has changed. I know I need a new presciption for eye glasses. I already made an apppointment for the middle of July. Thats when my insurance will cover the expence.
You all are in my prayers.
Take care and God bless.
For all you women who are moms, Happy Mother’s Day!

Margie says:

Hello Caroline,
It’s been a while since I wrote. I am happy to hear that you are progessing in your healing. I pray that you continue to to get well. I wish for you and Les to have many wonderful years together. Thats what I’m hoping for Larry and I. I know that you and I are blessed in having a loving family.
On May 28, 2008, my mother gave my family a big scare, I had to leave work to take her to the emergency hospital. After having some tests done on her, the results was that she had gall stones. The surgery to remove the gall bladder was done on the 29th. She was able to come home on June 4. I have been busy looking after her, after work and also looking after my husband. Luckily she has a home health provider that takes care of her in the mornings.
I thank God that even though she is 83 years young, she is a strong lady. She has always been independent.
Caroline, I will not be able to write for a good while, due to the fact that my time is limited.
I will be doing extra chores for my Mom.
I am really scared of having pain back on my spine. I had to sleep on a recliner at the hospital and it was very uncomfortable. I have been getting Charlie horse on both my calves since since sleeping on that recliner. Luckily I know how to relax my legs to get the tension out.
I will be praying for you Caroline as well as our sciatic friends.
God bless you all. Till next time.
Bye.

caroline says:

Always remember each other in our prayers NEVER FORGET NEVER EVER

Caroline says:

Hello Fabie
Hello Darling Nice to hear from you. Sorry to hear that you have not been well.Wow what a wonderful job you have. It sounds like you are on the right track, it is so true about the massages and anti inflammatory pills I have been on them for a while now and they have made a different s to my damaged joints.I am not able to do stretches or exercise as this irritates the nerve and tissues around that area so I to have put on a few kilos about 10, and this hurts me more so I am on a diet now I started one myself so wish me luck. I also go to a Sports Physician who is also a specialist in the field of sciatic nerves. I have cuter zone treatments in the form of patches and injections it all helps. I go to a soft tissues therapist every week for a massage on the Hematoma and damaged sciatic nerve and muscles tissues and what ever else I damaged in the fall it has helped me to walk again and to be able to be more self independent NOT COMPLETELY but we are all working together for the day of the mi racial when I will be 100% but it all takes time after all I did a lot of damage when I fell over. (I wish I was drunk as it would not have hurt so much I would of just rolled over hahahahah) Well anyway Darling I will pray for you and sending you Hugs God Bless You Love from Caroline P.S. I was not able to go on this site for so long as I have not been well, I have had a little surgery and now I am on the mend bye for now

Shannon says:

I feel for you because I had battled having the same nerve damaged except the right leg. You know sciatic (??) for five years I had no insurance and tried to grin and bear it. Well unfortanetly nerves can not be repaired it to bad. A pinch will go away. So if it is still there it is worse than you think. I have to go to a pain clinic and yes get hydrocodone. Although this is what will help with out dulling it. Get one of those little machines that have the sticky things that you put on the back it sends electrical waves to the nerve. It will exercise the nerve without you doing the work and hurting it worse. I had this machine and it took batteries. I used this a couple times a day for a few weeks and then would feel better. I also had a cough that was caused from the damaged nerve and this machine stopped that also. Even if you feel better know I would look into it because you never know if it will come back. Also this machine is good for exerciseing the nerves to prevent this from reoccurring. Good luck to you and believe me I feel your pain.
Shannon

lisa says:

I’ve had sciatica and lower back pain over the years. While in an episode, ice the back 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off.
Find a comfortable position, preferably lying back (don’t sit up). Use extra strength Tylenol or ibuprofen or use them both, staggering the time. Get a muscle relaxer from your doc.
Get up and walk around every 20 minutes. Do some light stretching. Google stretches for sciatica and lower back. Do these gently.
Try to pinpoint where the pain is originating from and apply (or have someone else) acu-pressure.
When the episode is over, work on strengthening your back and abs. Google exercises for both. You can even go to youtube and find videos of exercises and stretches.
I don’t believe in chiropractics unless you truly have a spinal alignment problem and even then, know that chiropractics won’t help if your muscles can’t hold the adjustment.
Better to invest your money in acupuncture or massage. Everyone over 40 needs to work on their strength and flexibility.
Good luck!