Hi,
I just found this site after having an epidural for back pain and sciatic pain.
My journey with my ailments began in 1999. I saw 9 neurologists and no one could confirm why my leg was getting numb. Then it was just the bottom of my foot. It progressed to the point where now my whole right leg is numb.
Out of desperation, I saw and neurosurgeon who diagnosed me with a bifurcated piriformis muscle. He suggested surgery which I agreed to. He cut out my my piriformis but nothing has changed.
I was on the medication Cymbalta for about one year but three months ago I decided that since it was not doing much for me, I was going to take a more holistic route. I am exercising in a swimming pool, taking jacuzzis, saunas, steam room anything that can give me temporary relief.
I am hopeful the epidural will work but now that I found this site, I will also read the book from Dean and see what happens.
Sciatic & leg pain
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friseandcat
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2006 1:38 pm
Hello Dean,
Yes, the piriformis muscle was removed. According to the surgical report, the surgeon found the sciatic nerve entrapped between the bifurcated muscle. Only 10% of the population are born with a bifurcation. Lucky me. It also stated that the muscle was so damaged that it was fiberous, tendon-like. You can imagine what it did to my sciatic nerve.
It has been 6 days since my epidural and I have noticed a slight change. The throbbing in my leg has subsided. I see my doctor tomorrow.
Thank you for your concern.
Yes, the piriformis muscle was removed. According to the surgical report, the surgeon found the sciatic nerve entrapped between the bifurcated muscle. Only 10% of the population are born with a bifurcation. Lucky me. It also stated that the muscle was so damaged that it was fiberous, tendon-like. You can imagine what it did to my sciatic nerve.
It has been 6 days since my epidural and I have noticed a slight change. The throbbing in my leg has subsided. I see my doctor tomorrow.
Thank you for your concern.
Epidural
Hey Friseandcat
I too had the epidural injections. I actually had 2, the last one on the 21st. It took about 7 days for the effect to kick in on the 2nd one. I am feeling much better now and I am going to PT 3 days a week. It has helped me gain a lot of my motion which I lost with this bout of sciatica.
Hang in there and let the epidural work. The nice part is that it breaks the pain cycle and takes away a lot of the imflamation so that you can start exercising again. I hope it all works out for you. Be posting.....
Ken
I too had the epidural injections. I actually had 2, the last one on the 21st. It took about 7 days for the effect to kick in on the 2nd one. I am feeling much better now and I am going to PT 3 days a week. It has helped me gain a lot of my motion which I lost with this bout of sciatica.
Hang in there and let the epidural work. The nice part is that it breaks the pain cycle and takes away a lot of the imflamation so that you can start exercising again. I hope it all works out for you. Be posting.....
Ken
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friseandcat
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2006 1:38 pm
Epidural
Hello KRD,
I will be getting my second epidural on Thursday, 10/12. I look forward to getting relief from the numbness. My doctor also wants me to start P/T. Now with the stretching I am working on, thanks to Dean's recommendations, and the procedures I am getting, perhaps I've turned the corner on chronic pain management.
I will be getting my second epidural on Thursday, 10/12. I look forward to getting relief from the numbness. My doctor also wants me to start P/T. Now with the stretching I am working on, thanks to Dean's recommendations, and the procedures I am getting, perhaps I've turned the corner on chronic pain management.
With regard to discussion on seats and sitting, I purchased a Kneeler Chair with added Coccyx relief about two years ago and it has been fantastic for sitting at my PC, it is the only chair that I can sit on without a cushion and it promotes posture at the same time. I am in Scotland and have a BMW and go into Europe and I sit on a cushion with a cushion behind my lower back, I am going to get a wedge from a orthortic dealer and try that.
Sciatia exercise
I'm in my 20s and am having leg pain. I gave birth in Jan, had sciatica pain in 3rd trimester, but it went away, this month I started getting sore legs. Its a dull pain, mostly in my thigh, sometimes it runs down to my calfs. Its not made worse by standing, sitting, or exercise.
Re: Sciatic & leg pain
Hang in there and let the epidural work. The nice part is that it breaks the pain cycle and takes away a lot of the imflamation so that you can start exercising again. I hope it all works out for you. Be posting.....