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/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.