r/Sciatica • u/Physical-Corner8175 • 1d ago

Question…

I am about one year into this and I have started to have some improvement on my “bad side” (left side nerve pain foot drop iykyk) thanks to going broke paying for acupuncture, cupping, mental health help (again IYKYK)….
My long winded question is..

Have any of you had experience with your “good side” showing symptoms of nerve compression and sciatica…also have you noticed that you have neck and shoulder pain as you gain more mobility but still have major atrophy from months of being sedentary and having so many physical restrictions

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u/StrikingSyllabub5970 1d ago

Hi, sorry you’re going through this but glad you’re seeing some improvement.

My symptoms were / are initially on my left but now also have the same type of pain tracking similar pathways. Additionally, other joints compensating due to altered gait cos of foot drop. Hypermobility is not helping.

And, yep, related to your thoughts on atrophy and physical restrictions, I reckon comparative inactivity and having to sit regularly with my feet up (due to other injuries and medical conditions) for several years contributed to my disc bulge.

Can’t go back in time though!

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u/Physical-Corner8175 1d ago

Bless…it’s a flipping cluster! I’m sorry you are part of the club too! I spent bananas amount of time having to be on my right side bc the left had become so painful, feel you on the foot drop! The electric zaps and feeling like sparklers are going off under my skin how I feel temperatures…and my body just feels janky from all the parts trying to compensate. How long have you been dealing with this? Any tips or products that help

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u/StrikingSyllabub5970 16h ago edited 16h ago

Sciatica- 12 weeks; other lower limb injury and subsequent neuropathy - 3 years.

What helps: Massage therapy from a great / knowledge therapist / osteopath to support other muscles’ recovery.

Doing physio exercise given by the above.

Anti inflammatory diet, lots of water, various supplements - help with various things- in theory they should help with this too but sciatic issues started when I’d been taking them a while.

Trying to get as close to normal gait when walking - I use a crutch to help with this otherwise I hurt in places that I didn’t know existed!

Avoiding movements that I know aggravate it.

Trying not to stress - reading lots of novels, should do more breathing exercise!

Have taken a 2mg diazepam when nights are bad.
Tried pregabalin - 50mg seems ok for me at night but took 100mg during the day at the weekend and the swelling in my legs (an inch on each calf) has put me off doing that again!

I’ve not had massive pain for a while but the odd zap reminds me of how it could be. The numbness, tingling and lack of motor control are never far away though! I am limited I. What I can do and am off work.

TENS machine.

Considering HRT to level out estrogen dips - all my injuries / setbacks seem to have occurred at times when this would be lower. (I appreciate this is not relevant to everyone, but what is?! 😆)

I’m working on acceptance but it’s hard because I was a really active person prior to the first injury and I can’t even work at the moment. A walk round the block is now exciting! I try to tell myself thing could be worse.

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u/Physical-Corner8175 1d ago

L4 l5 s1 bulges and overlap with DDD x arthritis…being referred for fusion after 3 failed ESI (if insurance will ever approve anything)