Feeling Overwhelmed!

[Deleted member 12723]

Sheila is there a chronic pain group around your area that you could go to? I think that having more support would offer you some suggestions that you have not heard of even an online group if there is one. I think you are being very wise iin considering your options. Has your doctor suggested that shots could be an option? Thinking of you.:hug:

 

[Changing4Best]

I have no car, so a chrionic pain support group is out. I would have no way to get there, other than by public transport, which only opperates from around 9:30AM to 2PM and costs a minimum of $10 per day. Also, I know of no such group around here. ANything online requires sitting, well a support group would too, which is out of the question right now. SItting HURTS!

 

[Changing4Best]

Even though I was unable to do my exercises for Physical Therapy last evening (when my medicines had just about worn off and my next doses were not due for another half hour) I finally was able to do them this morning. I was very concerned that something was radically wrong last evening, but it was just that my medicines were not taking care of enough of the pain to make it possible to exercise. That shows you how much pain relief my Tylenol, Gabapentin and Etodolac are doing to handle the pain(s).

 

[Deleted member 28740]

I also suffer from Sciatica. I use a homeopathic formula. Best I have used is: Link Removed. Reasonable to try and no side effects. Does not have any contra impact with other medications. Easy to take and very reasonable. There are other brands you can also try. Walgreens carries some etc. Give it a try. It helps me immensely.

 

[Changing4Best]

Thanks! I called their customer service line, but they are closed on Sundays. I shall call them tomorrow. I hope this stuff can help me as it does you. My only concern is that I take 8 prescription medicines and I hope none of them will react badly with it. @Changeling

 

[ghotiff]

Regarding pain medications. I personally strongly believe in them. Life is too short to suffer needlessly. So, with that in mind....

I had a close friend who had a lot of pain. She took a variety of pain meds until we found the right one for her. It was my responsibility to not let her take pain meds that made her loopy for more than 1 week. With this safety net she could try different pain meds and find the right one for her. There were a few that were a bad fit and I told her doctor that she would no longer take them. It was unfortunate that her doctor insisted we try them in his order preference so the one she was most frightened of she had to take, and it was a disaster which if she was alone she likely would not have been able to fight for a different one....but I had her back, she trusted me and I got her doctor to change that medication.

My point is, pain meds are great when you have the right one but I think you need someone to help you with the process, someone you can trust in this area. Maybe this story helps you somehow.

 

[Teasel]

Feel for you @SheilaKathy
Have had sciatica, worst pain I've ever experienced hands down.
Also understand your not wanting to go down the path of ever increasing amounts of pain killers.
Also I remember the time I got sciatica was when I allowed my doc to prescribe anti depressants for me. They disagreed with me severely, but I stuck with them for 2 months. Even though they made me feel so physically sick I barely moved from my bed for 2 months.
Since then, i sometimes get twinges of nerve pain if I'm v depressed and don't move much for a long period of time.
Since then any time I get such symptoms I realise I have to move n stretch / strengthen my body.
So how would it be if you considered short term use of Painkillers so that you might be able to do some things that help you? Like accessing the back doctor, doing the physical exercises, trying put the chronic pain support group and anything else that may help the root of the problem.
Then you could quit taking them and possibly still be better off than you are now?
Anyhow, I wish you all the best

 

[Changing4Best]

I was physically sick all winter, ione thing after another.... so that inactivity could well have brought this on. I am doing physical Therapy exercises at least once a day, usually twice. I go to P/T twice a week, so I get a good "workout" there. What I hate worst is the bus rides to and from P/T. There is a winding road that they have to take to get there and it is sometimes painful to ride on that road, strapped into the bus seat. I get this wild urge to stand up to relieve the pain, but of course cannot do so.

I will keep the staying in shape advice in mind though, as that seems to be wise.

I got the names of 2 Dr.s that might be able to help me from a Dr. who is a friend of mine yesterday. I have an appointment with my Dr. about a month from now, but I may try to move it up to a closer date, so that I can get this thing moving. I am going to try the herbal potion mentioned above too. I will try ANYTHING that I can, because I want my life back again. I want to be able to sit and enjoy life as I used to before asll this happened. I will try whatever I have available to me. I live way out in the mountains, so some options you mentioned are not available to me. For instance, there is no pain support group. Our local Hospital is small and I also have no vehicle to get to such a group. I may search for onje online though, as sitting in this computer chair is not as bad as sitting in some other chairs. It is possible to sit here for short times and that would be all I need to get somewhat involved anyway. I will let all of you know if I find one online.

THanks everyone for your supposrt and prayers. Your love and caring means a lot to me. Keep it coming!

 

[Changing4Best]

OK, I joined the HEALTH BOARDS and posted there. I have no clue if it is a helpful or active place. We shall see as time goes by.

 

[Teasel]

Sounds good @SheilaKathy That's a good idea to research online and I hope you find some good info and support that way as well as everything else you're trying.
I will light a candle for you today and send healing wishes for you too.
All the best

 

[Changing4Best]

Thanks @Berlinda

 

[Changing4Best]

The Physical Therapist's Assistant I have been working with for this month told me that she thinks I am doing well enough that I will be able to take my exercises home and go on from there just doing my exercises and managing it to the best of my ability at home. SHe recommended taking a pillow with me wherever I go (hey, she said, folks carry far weirder stuff around than a pillow!). SO I am going to see my lawyer tomorrow with a pillow and going back to the Senior Center on Wednesday with a pillow. If all that works out, I will be released from physical Therapy on Friday and next week I will return to my regular life.

I do want to know what is causing it though, in case it should flair up again. I will ask my Dr. to send me for an X-ray at least, or an MRI would be best. This way, if I choose to go to a chiropractor or something, I will have the X-ray in hand. I hope my Dr. cooperates with this plan, as she said something about Medicare (my insurance) not being willing to pay for X-rays until Physical Therapy was done. Well, P/T is done now, so hopefully I can get the X-ray.

From what I read on the Health Forum I joined, Sciatica is a recurring thing and tough to treat. Surgeries for it are risky and often unhelpful they said there. I saw a lot of folks suffering and very few had anything positive to say EXCEPT one lady that told about her mother and a homeopathic remedy. I just happened to have ordered the homeopathic remedy mentioned above on this thread, so I am hopeful that will be helpful too. I will try to take it exactly as directed, though I am forgetful, so I hope I will remember! They said it will be here in a few days....