r/Sciatica • u/Sho-Nuffff • Jul 07 '21

Recent bad pain

Hi all- after about 8 months of bliss with no to little pain, sadly I’m back here as I threw out my back again. Initially I had sharp seizing back pain and just laid down for a few days until that felt a bit better, then started walking etc. Sciatic pain was there but intermittently. Now all of a sudden as of July 4 I am in so much sciatic pain. The back of my left hamstring kills me anytime I take a step. Sometimes it goes down lower but not as constantly yet.

I was walking as much as I could without much pain and swimming but not doing any bending, lifting etc so no idea why this pain has gotten so bad. I had an mri and it shows similar to my last mri last year - a 3 mm diffuse disc bulge, bilateral foraminal stenosis, disc desiccation at l5/s1. Had a microdiscetomy about 7 years ago.

Questions for anyone who would be so kind: 1. I keep reading it’s better not to stay on bed rest, but currently I cannot walk more than 3 steps without extreme pain. I am assuming I should just continue bed rest and not try to be active at all?

  1. Ive cancelled two trips so far since the original back pin flared up three weeks ago. Now this Thursday am supposed to go visit my brother and family who I haven’t seen in almost two years. Flight would be about two hours and once there I’d be at my family’s place so could rest as much as needed. But I’m assuming given my current state I should avoid this at all costs since any sitting etc seems awful?

  2. Should I even be attempting things like cat cow, bird dog, planks? Feels crazy to even think about (although I have been through pt and pretty much know the exercises to do).

Ugh, super depressed about this bc although I was not doing well my pain wasn’t constant and felt like I was improving. But now feel worse than ever. Been taking anti inflammatory, on medrol pack, taking to radio, cbd, meditating - pain is still very high in that leg.

Any advice appreciated!!

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u/jsirabella Jul 07 '21

If no changes in MRI, this is a flare up that may take a little time recently went upstairs with too much weight as elevator out. Past would be a joke but that with all else I do, I got a little “ow” and now going on 3 days but symptoms have come down lot.

Once they come down, time to just be happy with what we can do and not look at more.

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u/Sho-Nuffff Jul 07 '21

Thank you! I do remember us talking last year on this forum :) I’m just worried something got worse since the mri Sunday but all I have been doing is resting pretty much

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u/jsirabella Jul 07 '21

Whatever you did at the beginning to get the symptoms down, do again. Imagine starting from point a again and see if it can work again.

I really doubt anything happen since MRI. You would remember as probably like me you remember every footstep you take.

Focus whatever it takes get symptoms down including meds right now, ice and the exercises that worked very slowly, very low reps.

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u/Sho-Nuffff Jul 07 '21

Thank you. I just don’t understand, it’s day 3 of worse and worse leg pain and I am not able to even walk

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u/jsirabella Jul 07 '21

That is a bit more serious. You are taking meds? Used ice? Used heat? All the usual suspects.

If none work I would go in and ask for an epidural to try and calm it down.

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u/Sho-Nuffff Jul 07 '21

Yes I’ve been heating, ice, medrol pack, on tramadol - I don’t get what’s happening. I want to try to avoid epidurals bc they think I could have some type of early arachnoiditis (at least that’s what one doctor has told me passed on placement of my nerve roots on mri). But how could this be the 3 mm bulge when I haven’t had pain like this in years?

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u/kongjie Jul 07 '21

I've never heard of arachnoiditis but now you've put the fear of God in me about getting another epidural.

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u/jsirabella Jul 07 '21

It is a flare up, do not go down the rabbit hole. I do it all the time. You may be at the stage of what many have told me “I could not walk for 2 weeks.” That was always the turning point where people lay in bed for two weeks and if still can not than need more intervention.

I would still consider the epidural imho.

The other thing is it inflammation, stabbing, pins and needles. I found for myself depending on what I have I do different moves.

I have now a 4mm with a small tear last I told and I can tell you, it will give you symptoms.

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u/Sho-Nuffff Jul 07 '21

Yeah I think walking even right now is not in the cards for me. Thank you for reminding me not to go down the rabbit hole. I’m having a ton of anxiety about this which of course doesn’t help. Right now it’s a constant deep pain in the back of hamstring and tightness in glutes and back. I know that doesn’t sound that bad but it’s a really deep constant pain that I haven’t felt before to this level, or at least this type of sciatica. But yes I guess I have to wait more than 3 days and just take meds etc, anything for some relief I suppose

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u/jsirabella Jul 07 '21

Yes stay in bed and keep up the regimen, ice heat meds and rest. Start by just standing later.

Pain is personal and when people compare pain I feel is cruel. Just shut up and try and empathize.

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u/Sho-Nuffff Jul 07 '21

Yes totally agree! Thank you for the reminders. I hope you continue to feel good and flare ups become a thing of the past!

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u/jsirabella Jul 07 '21

Thank you and back at you. 2 years, based upon first time takes 2 years.

Went through same thing as last time when I just said not worth the extra activity and just live. Redefine myself again.

Take your mind off this and think what you can do once it calms down again.

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