Unable to sleep due to sciatic pain

Lewkat

Lewkat

Senior Member
Location
New Jersey, USA
After recently finishing my second round of Prednisone, my sciatic pain on my right side has returned with a vengeance. I am finding it impossible to rest comfortably at all. In the morning, I'll call my pain management doctor and arrange for another injection. This last one has severed me well for 6 months, so I shouldn't complain. However, it is taking my breath away and will not let me sleep. My physical therapy had to go on hold today until I can get something done. Anyone else have a situation similar to this?
 

When I had my slipped disc, I had terrible sciatic pain. The doctor gave me an epidural and then another MRI and he decided it was time for surgery to repair the slipped disc and that took care of it. The epidural did give me a lot of relief.
 
So far, the shot directly to the sciatic nerve has been lasting for about 6 months. At my age, surgery is out of the question. The problem is a cyst on the last lumbar disc is pressing on the sciatic nerve, and they do not wish to touch that anyhow. Now, I awoke to a major snow storm, so I'll have to wait another day or so to make an appointment. I cannot believe our governor declared a state of emergency for this storm.
 

We’re getting some pretty heavy snow here in PA. I had the same disc, the L6. At first, I was given only a few sots of Lidocaine. When that didn’t work, I had my first epidural under the fluoroscope. That helped for about 9 months. Then the pain came back worse than before. The doctor gave me another epidural and ordered an MRI.

He showed me the slipped disc on his computer and recommended I should have it repaired. I agreed and after the surgery, I felt much better. Occasionally, I still get pain that may last up to an hour or so. I take some pills, non narcotic, that does help tone down the pain. At first, he gave me Tramadol, which did nothing. Now I take Amitriptyline. It does just OK. I’m lucky the pain doesn’t last long and the drug takes the pain down about 50%. I only get maybe 4 or 5 of these pain episodes per year. Usually after a hard workout, which I now limit.
 
Lewkat said:
So far, the shot directly to the sciatic nerve has been lasting for about 6 months. At my age, surgery is out of the question. The problem is a cyst on the last lumbar disc is pressing on the sciatic nerve, and they do not wish to touch that anyhow. Now, I awoke to a major snow storm, so I'll have to wait another day or so to make an appointment. I cannot believe our governor declared a state of emergency for this storm.
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I hope you can get some relief soon!
 
Lewkat said:
After recently finishing my second round of Prednisone, my sciatic pain on my right side has returned with a vengeance. I am finding it impossible to rest comfortably at all. In the morning, I'll call my pain management doctor and arrange for another injection. This last one has severed me well for 6 months, so I shouldn't complain. However, it is taking my breath away and will not let me sleep. My physical therapy had to go on hold today until I can get something done. Anyone else have a situation similar to this?
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I'm sorry to hear that Lewkat, hope you can get some relief soon....hugs.
 
Lewkat said:
So far, the shot directly to the sciatic nerve has been lasting for about 6 months. At my age, surgery is out of the question. The problem is a cyst on the last lumbar disc is pressing on the sciatic nerve, and they do not wish to touch that anyhow. Now, I awoke to a major snow storm, so I'll have to wait another day or so to make an appointment. I cannot believe our governor declared a state of emergency for this storm.
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I don't know anything about deep cysts, but have you gotten a 2nd opinion? Can they aspirate that thing (use a long needle to empty it)?.

I'm sorry you're in such pain. I got a soft, memory foam matress for under $300 and it has helped my arthritis pain so much. I also do Essentrics exercises. I have posted about those before. They help a lot too.

But you have a physical thing, a cyst, irritating the nerves. Seems to me to be #1 to remove that cyst. Maybe the PCP doesn't want to deal with it, but the right kind of specialist could.
 
We were having lower back pains for a while, mostly after getting up from bed.

Then we got a medium-firm mattress from Costco, and topped that with a foam mattress from Dormeo. Apparently our bodies had been sleeping all kinked up, so it took a week or so for our bodies to stretch back out to normal but, since then, ... pain gone!
 
VintageBetter said:
I don't know anything about deep cysts, but have you gotten a 2nd opinion? Can they aspirate that thing (use a long needle to empty it)?.

I'm sorry you're in such pain. I got a soft, memory foam matress for under $300 and it has helped my arthritis pain so much. I also do Essentrics exercises. I have posted about those before. They help a lot too.

But you have a physical thing, a cyst, irritating the nerves. Seems to me to be #1 to remove that cyst. Maybe the PCP doesn't want to deal with it, but the right kind of specialist could.
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I can assure you, I have been to the top specialists regarding this. It is only one part of the existing problem. Please refrain from jumping to conclusions when you haven't a clue to the entire situation. I am a nurse, so of course I know what steps to take. I spare everyone the details lest I bore you all to tears.
 
Yes. I get this from gaining too much weight and not stretching enough. ( broke my tailbone as a teenager and ruptured some lower discs.

When I get it my hands and feet go numb and my legs don’t work well after sitting in the car for any length of time

When I last had this, I had no medical help at all so I looked up what to do online and found a set of stretching exercising to do at least once a day. They were easy exercises and within days I felt much better. Now I do yoga throughout the week and my hands and feet are no longer numb.

You could also ask to get some physiotherapy and maybe your insurance will help pay for it.

Good luck
Stretching creates space where it’s needed.
I wish you the best.

The bad thing about steroid shots is that they stop the pain but not the source of pain. Due to this, can make your symptoms worse.

Another good thing to use, cause it really works is a TENS unit. It’s not an instant cure. After a week or two of consistent use, you’ll start noticing an improvement.
 
Lewkat said:
I can assure you, I have been to the top specialists regarding this. It is only one part of the existing problem. Please refrain from jumping to conclusions when you haven't a clue to the entire situation. I am a nurse, so of course I know what steps to take. I spare everyone the details lest I bore you all to tears.
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I didn't know you were/are a nurse. I was just trying to show compassion. I guess you are giving me an "F" at that. Note taken. You and your cadre of doctors can fix it yourself. No words of empathy needed from me. Got it.

I don't know why you or anyone here, or anywhere, posts about chronic pain if you don't want people to possibly brainstorm solutions. If that is my blind spot, always thinking people want solutions, then I am sorry. You have all the information you need. Got it.
 
VintageBetter said:
I didn't know you were/are a nurse. I was just trying to show compassion. I guess you are giving me an "F" at that. Note taken. You and your cadre of doctors can fix it yourself. No words of empathy needed from me. Got it.

I don't know why you or anyone here, or anywhere, posts about chronic pain if you don't want people to possibly brainstorm solutions. If that is my blind spot, always thinking people want solutions, then I am sorry. You have all the information you need. Got it.
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I guess I worded it wrong. I was really posting about the inability to sleep, which is most unusual for me. I rarely gripe about my infirmities, since I don't really want advice from anyone on here regarding same.

So, let us begin again. I am still waiting to see my pain doctor, but did manage a good night's sleep last night.
 
And you can’t use them if you have a pacemaker, either. My husband has two of them, a regular one for at home, and a small one that he carries in his workout bag when we go to the fitness center. They work really well for him and he uses it anytime he has muscle pain.
I usually use DMSO if i have muscle or joint pain, since that does not affect my pacemaker.

For sleeping, we both take melatonin about a half hour before bedtime, and I have my ipad set to turn on the blueblocker after dark, which is supposed to help a person sleep better.

Hoping that you are feeling better soon, @Lewkat , sending prayers for your recovery.
 
Hope your sciatic issue has quieted down. Last year we took a three hour drive north and then back again which brought on horrible pain and discomfort in my lower back. I’ve gotten relief by using special seat cushions on chairs and in the car and by limiting drives to an hour before stopping to walk and stretch. I’ve also gotten much relief from my chiropractor and acupuncturist. It hasn’t ceased to be an issue but now I know how to live around it without triggering a lot of pain.
 
I'm so sorry your body is forsaking you Lewkat! I hope you'll be able to get relief from that pain soon.
 

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