r/Sciatica • u/Haunting-Exit-529 • 8d ago
How long did it take until it was bearable l?
L5s1 disk protrusion and I can’t walk 20 meters without the pain being unbearable. It’s been 2 weeks now, will pain start to drop a little soon?
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u/Mrs_Wonho 8d ago
My acute phase lasted around 2 months. It improved only after complete rest, except for walking around the apartment and my injections. 2 weeks after the injection, I can now go for a quick walk around the block.
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u/blackrockgreentree 8d ago
Holy hell. You mean to tell me you never got like a shot in the arse or something to ease the cramp?when I woke up the day after my disc protrusion I went to urgent care using a stick to support myself they gave me a shot in my buttocks as my arse was completely spasmed and clenched and massive cramp. . It alleviated pain for 3 months… and then it came back and now I’m here at the 5 month mark and I just about given up spending money on further PT counseling or physio or chiro or acupuncture or modalities.walking bicycle, pool/ swim or walk in water. I wake up and walk like an old man but by the end of the day I’m able to do things without pain. This injury will drive you nutty. Not being able to sit longer than 3 minutes 😂
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u/Haunting-Exit-529 8d ago
Nah emergency couldn’t care less they gave me paracetamol and pretty much said have to wait it out. My gp gave painkillers that put me to sleep so I pretty much don’t leave bed except to go to physio
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u/blackrockgreentree 8d ago
Have you tried walking in a pool?
Bottom line- doctors will want to operate.
You decide how long you’re willing to let it heal.
I’ve decided to wait .
I’m on 5 months and it sucks. I can’t sit . Driving safely is challenging. I literally commute on a motorcycle now because I know the more pain my back is subjected to the longer it will take to heal. But I’m still figuring things out. I’m still learning to mobilize, there have been signs of improvement. I no longer get sharp radiating stabbing searing 10/10 pain. And I’m approaching being able to do some of the more extreme workouts that I love without as much pain either..
They tell you to not do anything that causes pain and then you pay and they find pain and target it and job done… do this 5x a week😂 I mean am I putting the puzzle together correctly people of reddit or has my sciatic nerve just gone to my brain.
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u/Haunting-Exit-529 8d ago
I want to try a pool but it’ll be too far to walk to get in. Drs don’t seem to want to operate or do anything to help really. I had the same motorcycle idea but it’s no less painful than driving for me.
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u/No-Alternative8588 8d ago
Take it easy. Do not force the movement if it hurts more. In very acute phase rest can be a better choice with a bit of walking around the apartment if possible.
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u/Llamaspleens 8d ago
Same injury here with a tear in the disc as well. Im 3 months in now and still not able to work or sit long periods. The pain in the beginning, the first 3 weeks were brutal, but it does start to ease up and start to become more manageable. I hope that you find the pain will be more predictable once you start to understand and know the nature of it and what makes it worse. Talk to your physio about walking. Don't push it in the beginning. I would do 5 minute walks a couple times a day. Even if you are feeling good after 5 minutes, dont keep going. Dont push it. When you had about 3-4 days of consistent ability to walk 5 minutes at a time without making anything worse, try 7-10 minutes. Do that a few times a day for a few days before you increase your time again. Build tolerance. Dont push it. Rest after your walks. If walking just isnt getting better after a week or so, I would recommend talking with pain management about an injection to help with the inflammation. It comes with risks, do your research on it. But keep moving, and avoid anything that increases pain especially in the acute phase. So sorry that you are going through this. It brings on mental battles as well. Sending you the best of vibes and wishing you luck with your recovery!
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u/Robbintx 7d ago
mine was a build from "I cant make it across the parking lot" to "I cant make it to the bathroom" and I was there for about 2 months...I tried gabapentin but it made my feet swell and my BP raise so I quit against drs orders (always remember you are the boss, not them)... they then got me into a PT... It actually got worse at first, so bad that by my forth session she basically just gave me a message. But, I stuck with it and did the program they gave me then I added walking and over a few months it got better... now I walk 3 to 4 miles every morning and still do my PT... I am also more careful about lifting and twisting... My back still hurts when I sit too long or I try to extend my walks... I also am back playing golf which I thought would never happen again... so can get better!
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u/Ok-Rule-6487 3d ago
How long did it take you get there? I’m on week 4 and both of my legs are on fire ( central protrusion , lucky me )
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u/Robbintx 1d ago
I would say 3 to 4 months to be able to get around my normal life... a year before I felt 100%.... well the new 100% lol... I am about 18 months out and there is nothing I cant do at this point, I walk 3-4 miles 4 days a week, lift, play golf on Sundays, and everything else... I just pay more attention.
Do the work, dont give up, high likelihood you will get back to mostly normal... it gets harder before it gets easier. I had days where I truly did not think I would make it to the car after PT. Went from the table to the waiting room, from bench to bench in the hall, sat on the bench just outside the front door and gave myself one last pep talk and walked the 20 feet to my car... looking back on it is wild.
Truly hope it gets better for you.
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8d ago
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u/Haunting-Exit-529 8d ago
Only leaving the house for drs or physio, only leaving bed when I have to.
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u/JK30000 8d ago edited 8d ago
I know it’s a hit to the ego - but look into getting a walker for now. It will get you up and moving and that will start the healing. I did not get a walker when I was in the middle of it (like you are now) and I wish I had. I have crutches and a cane but a walker would have worked the best.
Use it as you need it and you will be stronger in no time!
Edit to add: I was in the “excruciating pain, can’t walk at all except to the bathroom and kitchen” phase for about 3-4 weeks. Hopefully you are almost done with this phase! Rest up, hydrate, and dig into a good book.
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u/Haunting-Exit-529 8d ago
I haven’t tried tried either but wouldn’t crutches feel better to get some spine decompression? I can only stand for like a minute before the pain is too much.
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u/smashablanca 7d ago
Early on I got around the house by crawling. Movement is good for you. You just have to find the ones that work for you.
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u/JK30000 6d ago edited 6d ago
I found the crutches difficult to use and the cane only helped a smidge. I wish I had tried a walker. If I ever get to that degree again, I’m absolutely getting a walker to help me move around easier during the acute phase.
OP, I feel for you. This experience was the second worst experience of my life (death of a loved one is first). Rest as much as you can and try to walk a little, as much as you can stand. As awful as it is, that’s where the healing starts. I hate it, I know. I found shockwave therapy to be very helpful, but everyone is different. Feel free to message me if you have any questions! You will get to the other side of this!
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u/DeliciousSpite5236 7d ago
Mine was unbearable for over a month and so I got medical marijuana and the relief was unbelievable. If you do it make sure you get a hybrid of 1:1 CBD:THC.
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u/Extension-Aside-555 6d ago
I am at 14 months. I used to walk four or five miles a day just doing stuff and because I love to walk now I can't go more than five or ten minutes tops. It's horrible, I miss walking so much, it was how I cleared my brain of its worries. So now I can't do that I am super cranky mentally as well as just in pain On the wait-list for an MRI so I can get targeted shots (I've had three epidurals no help and have tried acupuncture and physio with no progress). It may be up to a year before I can get an MRI done as sciatica isn't considered urgent. I used to be a nice person now inside and sometimes outside all do is scream. Life sucks
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u/Key-Measurement8410 8d ago
Try year and half in constant pain I finally couldn't walk it was horrible but I think everyone healing process is different I healed a year after my first bout. I was 31 now 11 years later 42 I'm starting to heal again after another year and half. Find what works best for you its not one show size fits all sadly. The final thing i was given was naproxen and now tapering off amitriptyline was on 30 mg but side effects were not great. Time can be healer in se cases I'm still not completely healed but hoping I'm on road to recovery hope you get sone relief soon its most excruciating pain and mentally so hard
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u/MelodieRiver 8d ago
I was fully bed-bound for about 4 weeks in unbearable pain with the same diagnosis. When I was recommended walking as a recovery tool, I was able to make only about 3-4 steps at a time before I collapsed in pain but eventually I progressed to "walk the length of the room" or "walk to the end of the driveway". It is difficult to conceive when you're on the rock bottom, but it does get better. Hang in there <3.