sciatica, for janice

On 18 Jul 2004 02:03:30 GMT, SnugBear wrote:

"susanjoneslewis" wrote:

This is interesting to me because I think I may have suffered from this
just recently. It rings allot of bells. I have this ache in my left
butt cheek that radiates down my left leg.

And it also sounds like what got me out the door walking on February 20,
2002. Nothing made the pain stop except walking for a week.

The rest is history g

I wish walking had cured me Laurie. I managed to do a week's
hillwalking earlier in the summer but the pain was still bad every
night when I lay down. Thank goodness it hasn't actually stopped me
going for long walks, anyway.

janice

janice wrote:

I wish walking had cured me Laurie. I managed to do a week's
hillwalking earlier in the summer but the pain was still bad every
night when I lay down. Thank goodness it hasn't actually stopped me
going for long walks, anyway.

I wish it helped you too, Janice. I know you're a great walker! That pain
just outright scared me into a different life and I'm very grateful.

--
Walking on . . .
Laurie in Maine
207/110 60 inches of attitude!
Start: 2/02 Maintained since 2/03

janice wrote:

I wish walking had cured me Laurie. I managed to do a week's
hillwalking earlier in the summer but the pain was still bad every
night when I lay down. Thank goodness it hasn't actually stopped me
going for long walks, anyway.

I wish it helped you too, Janice. I know you're a great walker! That pain
just outright scared me into a different life and I'm very grateful.

--
Walking on . . .
Laurie in Maine
207/110 60 inches of attitude!
Start: 2/02 Maintained since 2/03

"janice" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 16 Jul 2004 15:10:42 GMT, "susanjoneslewis"
wrote:

"Dewolla Stepon" wrote in message
news:r9wJc.82935$a24.20927@attbi_s03...

This is interesting to me because I think I may have suffered from this
just recently. It rings allot of bells. I have this ache in my left
butt cheek that radiates down my left leg. I've been calling it my hip.
I thought maybe it was tendonitis in my hip. I'm pretty much Ok if I'm
up and moving but the moment I sit down or lie down its unbearable. This
was just last week when it got worse because I was working allot of
hours. 2 nights I spent up and down from bed, until I went exhausted,
and slightly hysterical to the sofa and finally got a couple of hours
sleep. I have tried every over the counter pain med I could find and
even resorted to taking a vicoden I had gotten from the dentist some
time back which didn't bring allot of relief. I was blaming this on
working too much and my broken tailbone from several years back. Since
I've had a few days off the pain has lightened up. I had no idea
sciatica existed. Thanks for the thread. I'm going to have this checked
out. Any suggestions on how to manage this when it's worse?

Susan
280/189(yay! another lb down today)/140

It does sound like what I have, Susan, which I have already described
in this thread so won't repeat here. I started by thinking it was my
hip, but then I realised that nerve pain made a lot more sense.
Whether I've been in pain all night has no effect on whether it hurts
during the following day. It can come and go and doesn't leave
stiffness like a muscle pain would do. The first thing I was glad to
find was that pain in the hip joint is felt mostly in the groin. I
dread having arthritic hips.

It was finally doing a lot of reading on the internet about symptoms
(thigh pain, etc,) which led me to suspect sciatica, which although
I'd heard of it I had no real idea what it was.

I can't offer any suggestions for dealing with the pain when it gets
really bad. Personally, I don't take pain killers unless pain is
really unbearable. My worst problem with this is the shooting pains
that come so often when I lie down. It does sound a lot like what you
have.

janice

"janice" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 16 Jul 2004 15:10:42 GMT, "susanjoneslewis"
wrote:

"Dewolla Stepon" wrote in message
news:r9wJc.82935$a24.20927@attbi_s03...

This is interesting to me because I think I may have suffered from this
just recently. It rings allot of bells. I have this ache in my left
butt cheek that radiates down my left leg. I've been calling it my hip.
I thought maybe it was tendonitis in my hip. I'm pretty much Ok if I'm
up and moving but the moment I sit down or lie down its unbearable. This
was just last week when it got worse because I was working allot of
hours. 2 nights I spent up and down from bed, until I went exhausted,
and slightly hysterical to the sofa and finally got a couple of hours
sleep. I have tried every over the counter pain med I could find and
even resorted to taking a vicoden I had gotten from the dentist some
time back which didn't bring allot of relief. I was blaming this on
working too much and my broken tailbone from several years back. Since
I've had a few days off the pain has lightened up. I had no idea
sciatica existed. Thanks for the thread. I'm going to have this checked
out. Any suggestions on how to manage this when it's worse?

Susan
280/189(yay! another lb down today)/140

It does sound like what I have, Susan, which I have already described
in this thread so won't repeat here. I started by thinking it was my
hip, but then I realised that nerve pain made a lot more sense.
Whether I've been in pain all night has no effect on whether it hurts
during the following day. It can come and go and doesn't leave
stiffness like a muscle pain would do. The first thing I was glad to
find was that pain in the hip joint is felt mostly in the groin. I
dread having arthritic hips.

It was finally doing a lot of reading on the internet about symptoms
(thigh pain, etc,) which led me to suspect sciatica, which although
I'd heard of it I had no real idea what it was.

I can't offer any suggestions for dealing with the pain when it gets
really bad. Personally, I don't take pain killers unless pain is
really unbearable. My worst problem with this is the shooting pains
that come so often when I lie down. It does sound a lot like what you
have.

janice

janice wrote:

I can't offer any suggestions for dealing with the pain when it gets
really bad. Personally, I don't take pain killers unless pain is
really unbearable. My worst problem with this is the shooting pains
that come so often when I lie down. It does sound a lot like what you
have.


I've had several flare - ups and I've found that Robaxin works to help
control the shooting pains and the horrible muscle spasms (which make sleep
impossible). It's prescription - only here in the States but in Canada it's
an OTC medication. I order mine from Canada, and the generic version is
pretty cheap. Google some of the Canadian drug sites for ordering info (I
use www.canadapharmacy.com , there are scores of others). Also I've seen
back exercise gizmos that are designed expressly for sciatica, but the best
prevention is weight control and exercise - an exercise bike really helps,
in addition to getting out there and walking. The absolute *worst* thing for
a sciatica sufferer to do is to stay still, exercise is paramount. Also a
really good hard mattress helps - soft mattresses (and soft upholstered
furniture in general should be avoided). Here is some basic info on Robaxin:

http://health.yahoo.com/health/drug/202523/_overview

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants (Systemic)
The Following Information Provided by Thomson MICROMEDEX
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Overview | Precautions & Side Effects
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
BRAND NAMES:
In the U.S.
Carbacot
EZE-DS
Maolate
Paraflex
Parafon Forte DSC
Relaxazone
Remular
Remular-S
Robaxin
Robaxin-750
Skelaxin
Skelex
Soma
Strifon Forte DSC
Vanadom
BRAND NAMES:
In Canada
Robaxin
Robaxin-750
Soma

Description:

Skeletal muscle relaxants are used to relax certain muscles in your body and
relieve the stiffness, pain, and discomfort caused by strains, sprains, or
other injury to your muscles. However, these medicines do not take the place
of rest, exercise or physical therapy, or other treatment that your doctor
may recommend for your medical problem. Methocarbamol also has been used to
relieve some of the muscle problems caused by tetanus.

Skeletal muscle relaxants act in the central nervous system (CNS) to produce
their muscle relaxant effects. Their actions in the CNS may also produce
some of their side effects.

In the U.S., these medicines are available only with your doctor's
prescription. In Canada, some of these medicines are available without a
prescription."

[...]

janice wrote:

I can't offer any suggestions for dealing with the pain when it gets
really bad. Personally, I don't take pain killers unless pain is
really unbearable. My worst problem with this is the shooting pains
that come so often when I lie down. It does sound a lot like what you
have.


I've had several flare - ups and I've found that Robaxin works to help
control the shooting pains and the horrible muscle spasms (which make sleep
impossible). It's prescription - only here in the States but in Canada it's
an OTC medication. I order mine from Canada, and the generic version is
pretty cheap. Google some of the Canadian drug sites for ordering info (I
use www.canadapharmacy.com , there are scores of others). Also I've seen
back exercise gizmos that are designed expressly for sciatica, but the best
prevention is weight control and exercise - an exercise bike really helps,
in addition to getting out there and walking. The absolute *worst* thing for
a sciatica sufferer to do is to stay still, exercise is paramount. Also a
really good hard mattress helps - soft mattresses (and soft upholstered
furniture in general should be avoided). Here is some basic info on Robaxin:

http://health.yahoo.com/health/drug/202523/_overview

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants (Systemic)
The Following Information Provided by Thomson MICROMEDEX
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Overview | Precautions & Side Effects
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
BRAND NAMES:
In the U.S.
Carbacot
EZE-DS
Maolate
Paraflex
Parafon Forte DSC
Relaxazone
Remular
Remular-S
Robaxin
Robaxin-750
Skelaxin
Skelex
Soma
Strifon Forte DSC
Vanadom
BRAND NAMES:
In Canada
Robaxin
Robaxin-750
Soma

Description:

Skeletal muscle relaxants are used to relax certain muscles in your body and
relieve the stiffness, pain, and discomfort caused by strains, sprains, or
other injury to your muscles. However, these medicines do not take the place
of rest, exercise or physical therapy, or other treatment that your doctor
may recommend for your medical problem. Methocarbamol also has been used to
relieve some of the muscle problems caused by tetanus.

Skeletal muscle relaxants act in the central nervous system (CNS) to produce
their muscle relaxant effects. Their actions in the CNS may also produce
some of their side effects.

In the U.S., these medicines are available only with your doctor's
prescription. In Canada, some of these medicines are available without a
prescription."

[...]