Just Finished Treatment for Sciatica
Posted By: Ellen S. on 2006-03-05
In Reply to: Ever had sciatica? - Lisa
I was diagnosed with sciatica/piriformis syndrome about a month ago. My physiatrist sent me to physical therapy for Graston therapy and iontophoresis. I was to the point where I had to sleep in my recliner with a heating pad on my hip. Of course, this is the result of sitting for too long......a battle wound common to the medical transcriptionist.
The Graston therapy is pretty painful and you really wonder how it could possibly help. The iontophoresis consisted of a patch with two large circular pads connected by an electrode. The pads are soaked with dexamethasone. The patch is then stuck to the butt for 24 hours. It's painless, except I pulled off a couple of layers of skin when I removed them. I had this done about 5-6 different times over a three-week period. I was also taught some gentle stretches to stretch these muscles, which I haven't been too diligent about doing.
Bottom line is that I completed my PT about two weeks ago and I haven't had any pain since then. I hope you get some relief for your condition. I know how very painful it can be.
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Sciatica
They thought that mine was sciatica and went to PT and so on. It was my quadriceps and if I do steps and stretches for the quads my hip pain goes away. I also use either a rolling pin or a tennis ball to roll around on the very sore spots. I am serious, spent a lot of money when they thought it was the sciatica and went through a lot but once I get the quads stretched out it really helps. Last night I could barely get out of a chair, did my steps for about 10 to 15 minutes and some stretches on the using one of the PT balls, and today I literally have no pain. Last month I was convincend I needed a hip replacement as could barely walk or sit but since dong this, it really helps. I do the core workouts and that has also helped. But this is just what I found out.
Ever had sciatica?
This is the worst pain I have ever had - had a shot of Toradol, have used muscle relaxant, Flexall, heating pad, hot baths, still hurts.
Urgent Care today said it is most consistent with sciatica and gave me rx for anti-inflammatories and then said to go see my family doctor and possibly set up an MRI. Has anyone had this and were you able to get well without surgery??
sciatica
Was in bed for a month with this two years ago. Had two epidural steroid injections almost 16 months ago and have not had a problem since. It was like a miracle......
sciatica
Had it for years, since I was a teen, then one day nothing worked and had to have emergency surgery or risk losing motor below the waist. Had L3/4 discectomy, and ZERO PAIN from either the surgery, or the disc level after that.
sciatica
Yes to both questions. Try to keep pressure off your hip/leg/thigh when sitting, stretch leg out under desk, walking kills doesn't it? But, with time, it will get better and numbness/spasms/pins and needles will abate. I do hope you feel better, it is not a very pleasant thing when you have to sit and type for a living.
sciatica
I don't know that I would abide by the comment of the massage therapist regarding chiropractic, but I do know that I will look at the information for Rolfing. I have suffered with sciatica intermittently over the past 30-plus years, but last year it got really bad. A back x-ray after a car accident showed LOTS (in the words of the ER doc) of arthritis, so I figured some day the problems would start. I was determined I would not undergo surgery and had to find something else. I have been seeing a chiropractor regularly for over a year, and he has helped me immensely. I decided I didn't need to go so often, and managed to get myself in trouble again, so am back to twice a week at this point. Today he told me I'm the only patient he has who flips back and forth between which leg is shorter than the other. I would hate to give him up. But he doesn't do short-term work. He expects a lifestyle change and a commitment to health and wellness, including chiropractic. My whole family goes, and my hubby for the first time in years has a normal blood pressure. From November on, however, he didn't go to the chiropractor, and recently his BP was back up again. The only difference is stopping chiropractic. So he's back in there again twice a week. I'm not saying it's a cure-all, but it certainly has its place. I think I would be a cripple in extreme pain now if I hadn't gotten treatment when I did.
Sciatica from below
They thought that I has sciatica, they thought it was my ileo psoas, but it turned out to be my hamstring. I could hardly walk, had trouble sleeping, one part of the thigh just hurt/burned/ached terrible. I went to PT and then to the gym and worked on my hamstring stretches and especially just doing step exercises. When my hip and thigh begin to really ache while typing, I take 5 minutes and do 50 steps on my step and it really helps. I also bought one of those foam pads for my bed even though I have a brand new pillow top mattress and that also helps. But the stepping and hamstring stretching worked the best. I could not bear the thought of walking up and down stairs but now now problem. 
Sciatica pain help
Any hints on pain relief for sciatica while working? 
Rolfing for sciatica
Drugs have their place, so do chiropractors. I once had a massage therapist tell me that if you get chiropractic done without soft tissue work, run the other way. So my search took me down the path toward a reputable, qualified Rolfer. I had problems in my 20s with sciatica and have been on a long road to find good care sans surgery. I founding rolfing to be an excellent form of treatment. Much different than massage and deals with the origin of the problem. I feel better now than I did when I was a teenager. And I have learned, from my Rolfer, how to attend to my own hot spots. Also, check out the Sacro-Wedgy; this little thing works great to help the sacrum/S.I. joints (a problem source for sciatica).
Thanks for sciatica answers!
Thanks to all of you for your advice about sciatica. It gives me hope to know that others had it and have gotten better - and I am really happy to know what all the options are for being treated.
To the person who said this is a result of being a Transcriptionist and sitting so much - is that true??? I never thought about that being a factor. I normally walk about 4 miles a day (not right now of course) but I guess that doesn't outweigh the loooongg sitting that we do, does it?
Also another sciatica question
For those of you who have had this, did you have numbness of your leg and/or muscle spasms in the thigh area? I am having both of these, and walking is the hardest thing of all!
Perhaps sciatica paresthesia? nm
nm
TMJ treatment
I have had TMJ for years. I had an appliance that I wore for years, and it helped, but was nothing permanent. I don't remember everything I did, but quite a few things. This year we started going to a chiropractor, and one of the things he has worked on is the TMJ issue. He uses some kind of a little tool on the jaw, gives it a click or two, which pushes on the bone at the joint, and this has helped more than anything I have done over the years. My daughter also has TMJ, and this very simple treatment has helped her, too. I don't know if all chiropractors do this or not. He isn't a go-in-and-have-your-back-adjusted-because-it-hurts kind of guy. We started out seeing him three times a week, and are now down to twice a week. He has helped all of us (hubby, daughter, grandson, too), and we consider him a big part of our health care. Knowing what I know now, I'd certainly opt for this very simple treatment before I did surgery, braces, appliances, etc.
QA Treatment
Well said MTheaded.
Ischial bursitis --> sciatica
Do you know the cause of the sciatica? In my case I get pain in my ischial tuberosities from sitting pressure, especially the right side. There is a bursa at each tuberosity, and they can develop inflammation. Since the sciatic nerve runs close to the bursa, swelling annoys the nerve - ta-da - sciatic pain. That's why it's important for me to walk or do bum-firming exercises. Keeping the muscles in shape keeps it from getting started. The other thing I always mention is the right chair. I need support at my sacrum and along my thighs to distribute the weight around and away from my sitters.
aggressive treatment sm
You are correct. I hope I never get that QA person!
I wish you the best of luck with your treatment.
I worked with a lady who underwent treatment for a lung mass and she worked up until she got too tired, but bounced back really well once the treatment was over. She came back really strong. There are so many new modalities to treat it. As far as your work, I am wondering if you could try to do as much as possible and find someone in your area to assist when needed. The reason I say this is because this will keep you sort of balanced. You don't want to give up your clients because they will be support as well. You may just want to mention it to someone you trust at the practice, and I think you'll be surprised at how supportive some offices can really be when you are dealing with these types of issues as an independent. Take care and God Bless!
Who is dishing out the bad treatment?
Sometimes I have to remind myself that those persons at these companies who treat/treated me badly are not the owners. The recruiters, QA, trainers, account reps, supervisors, unpleasant person who answers the phone, etc., are usually employees as well. Whenever I have experienced foul treatment at a company, it has come from these other employees. Whenever I have actually had contact with an owner, they have generally been very nice and respectful. Of course, I'm not referring here to pay rates and benefits, just attitude and respect.
I hope you're OK and are looking into treatment.
I had a bit of a cancer scare myself about a month ago on top of losing my job the month before that. The doctor said I'll probably still need surgery but the condition isn't malignant. I'm getting rid of things left and right and trying to figure out what to do with my life now. I even gave up on two of my hobbies because I never have time for them. Well, you take care of yourself. {{{{hugs}}}}
she was in Mexico for treatment for cancer, BUT...
From what I heard on GMA a few days ago, the clinic she was in was deplorable. There was even an article about it on the Watchdog website, AND the man running the clinic was NOT a doctor. So, what does that say about the person or persons who took this woman there for treatment?
or "more agressively treatment"....
that hurts my ears! LOL
Why I deserve more money and better treatment as an MT...
I do NOT transcribe "medial sonoscopy."
Good Lord.
Sciatica - small knots in calf muscles?
Sorry to keep asking sciatica questions but I am in terrible pain! Did anyone have small knots in their calf muscles, probably from the spasms pulling so hard on them? They are about the size of a fingertip. I felt a snap in that area when I was stretching last night, but it didn't hurt all that much, probably because my calf is relatively numb.
Does this sound like it could be a little snapped peice of muscle or do I have a tumor? (Always reminds me of Arnold in Kindergarten Cop "It's not a tumah"
Symptomatic treatment is the only thing you can do, and watch for
x
It's Laetrile and it was supposedly used for cancer treatment
x
I'd give the kids the same treatment on their birthday....sm
that should get their attention!
Sounds like you are giving them star treatment!
Good job!
But be sure to drink lots of fluid after a treatment and...
you might get on a good calcium with magnesium supplement to aid in good healthy of your bones. My chiropractic treatments have decreased tremendously since I got on the drinkable kind! Good luck......there's enough pain in the MT world these days without pain in one's body, too!
No, I just was finished with my break and had to
get back to work. VPN is not connecting and I'm on hold with tech support.
There are a few things that would make me leave: A really harsh line rate cut for the same work; being forced to be an employee with a set schedule are two reasons that come to mind immediately.
OMG! Just finished listening to a doc with the -
next thing to laryngitis! What a treat that was!
oops - sent before I finished ...
Now for 2007, they are planning to start sending 20% of our local plant's work overseas. Twenty percent of my little town's factory workers from this place will be out of a job. This is just the start.
i have telangiectasia on face. laser treatment - very painful...but works
what could be more unsightly that broken veins on the face? well, lucky me, i have them. eveyr few years go in for treatment. electrical zaps to destroy broken blood vessel. Hurts like the dickens though. Can't use pain relievers because it causes constriction of blood vessels, they told me.
Meant to say normal treatment for woman in Amish comnmunity. nm
...
Finally finished, no dead air.
Just finished. Took an hour. No blanks. Going to
and drink a beer lol
36+ years. I wish I had finished my Masters. sm
The field is changing. I would never recommend it. I do not see a bright future.
Just finished 150 minutes today
Still have 30 to go.
Just finished jury duty....
Ended up getting almost as much reimbursement for jury duty as I would have working, when mileage was figured in. Only had to be there 2 days, so it wasn't a hardship. Met some interesting people and was overall a positive experience. I was VERY reluctant, but was glad I did it.
My SIL finished a course at a local college
She got a job on-site and could be sent home, but she has decided to cross-train for a management position. If she takes it, the salary is $65,000.00 per year. So tell me there isn't money in this business. She just finished her course!!!
Wait. I misunderstood. MS4 = student, a Mr. - R4 = MD, but not finished SM
with residency in his specialty.
My son just finished is enlistment..best thing that every happened to him..I sent them my son..they
nm
Do they hire people that haven't finished their MT course yet?
I'd like to know what kind of test they give people, folks who have barely even started the transcription portion of their MT course, yet they're being hired as MTs. Gives us all a bad name.
I just finished training, which I thought was GREAT! sm
The platform is EXText, although I think they have others. I like the way they seem better organized than other companies I've tried. I'll let you know about the 2-week honeymoon period whether the "marriage" will last or not!
I do the same thing. Then when the report is finished, I scan back through
the whole report to make sure I didn't leave any stop code markers behind, and listen to each blank once again.
Pole (North): Have U finished ur Christmas shopping?
I'll start: NO!
homemade potato soup, cornbread, and just finished
Just finished Black Creek Crossing - he never lets ya down :-)
x
You might be sending finished work back to an FTP site
s
Well I just finished watching Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy. How that for an evening. N
:
my friend just finished her BSN 2 years ago, working 32 hr/week making $60K with benefits nm
x
Wants high quality finished product at 3 cpl editing and 6-8 cpl straight typing. Also rumored she
doesnt like to pay in a timely manner. I passed..
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