Sciatic Nerve giving me fits........

[JRD77VET]

My FIL sciatic nerve flared up right about the time the hay was ready to be baled. The doctor told him no tractor at all.

He called and asked if I could help him out. I said I would. So there I was on a White 105 tractor pulling a baler with the hay wagon behind. I got a quick lesson from Irwin on tractor speed, how to keep the baler lined up with the hay mounds ( rows) , how fast to run the bale thrower and how to adjust the bale thrower direction. It may not seem like a big deal since you're only moving just above walking speed but it's a lot to do on "new to me" equipment. ( I was very familiar with the White 105 but I always stacked the bales in the wagon. )


So I'm driving the tractor and my BIL Les is in the wagon stacking bales. I told him to watch out since it was new to me.

We just started on the third wagon that day and just as the baler launches another hay bale back into the wagon, Les turned his head.

Cleared the glasses right off his head Once I saw he was ok ( and somewhat blind without his glasses ) , I

He did pay more attention that day

[mrvette]

Originally Posted by JRD77VET

My FIL sciatic nerve flared up right about the time the hay was ready to be baled. The doctor told him no tractor at all.

He called and asked if I could help him out. I said I would. So there I was on a White 105 tractor pulling a baler with the hay wagon behind. I got a quick lesson from Irwin on tractor speed, how to keep the baler lined up with the hay mounds ( rows) , how fast to run the bale thrower and how to adjust the bale thrower direction. It may not seem like a big deal since you're only moving just above walking speed but it's a lot to do on "new to me" equipment. ( I was very familiar with the White 105 but I always stacked the bales in the wagon. )


So I'm driving the tractor and my BIL Les is in the wagon stacking bales. I told him to watch out since it was new to me.

We just started on the third wagon that day and just as the baler launches another hay bale back into the wagon, Les turned his head.

Cleared the glasses right off his head Once I saw he was ok ( and somewhat blind without his glasses ) , I

He did pay more attention that day

Glad it turned out OK, years/decades ago a buddy told me of his cousin out on some farm out mid/west that kissed his wife in the AM and went out to plow/disc/harrow some LARGE field, and had some system on it that allowed the tractor to keep going in circles, and so it seems the thing was still running over his body, cutting him to pieces because he apparently slipped off some rig, and fell under it.....

Carl told me of that about a week after it happened and so......

[StaticCling]

I've had sciatic issues for years, a lot of it work related I'm sure.

I find that working out helps the most. With LOTS of stretching. Occasional visits to the chiro and accupuncture help as well.

I slipped a disc a few years ago also. Took about 1.5 years to fully recover.

[Black94lt1]

Originally Posted by Gilligan

When I drive long distance/time....I wind up taking my wallet out of my ass too, stick it in a front pocket,

Ever since I had sciatic issues, I never drive even 5 minutes with my wallet in my back pocket, heck even sitting at my desk, the wallet comes out.

Have your leg length checked too, one may be slightly longer, which can contribute to sciatic issues

[Jay13]

I take 4 vicoprofen a day; one a half hour before I have to get up, lunch, dinner and about 3-4 am, depending on when I get woken up. Been doing it for about 7-8 years now. It keeps the pain down to a point where it doesn't drive me batty like a constant toothache.

Unfortunately my compression is in a very difficult spot to operate. Chances of getting worse are the same as getting better. A pattner of mine had it done and has been using a walker for a year now.

Get the MRI and get at least 3 opinions. There is no shortage of doctors willing to operate.

GL


Edit - And Cyber's right. L4-L5 is the most common compression resulting in sciatic pain (or so I've been told).

[Chris Fowler]

Originally Posted by chinaski

I've had sciatic issues for years, a lot of it work related I'm sure.

I find that working out helps the most. With LOTS of stretching. Occasional visits to the chiro and accupuncture help as well.

I slipped a disc a few years ago also. Took about 1.5 years to fully recover.

Working out has been my saving grace for years...until I injured it last year badly enough that I cannot work out without making it worse.

Stretching, inversion table, strengthening exercises, pain meds, chiropractor and acupuncture have kept it in check, but have not improved it to the point that I can get back to working out.

Bulging disk at L5-S1 with left root nerve impingement. Thus the numbness and weakness of the left leg.

Not bad enough for surgery.

Not good enough to work out.

Stuck in the middle.

[Chris Fowler]

Originally Posted by Jay13

I take 4 vicoprofen a day; one a half hour before I have to get up, lunch, dinner and about 3-4 am, depending on when I get woken up. Been doing it for about 7-8 years now. It keeps the pain down to a point where it doesn't drive me batty like a constant toothache.

Unfortunately my compression is in a very difficult spot to operate. Chances of getting worse are the same as getting better. A pattner of mine had it done and has been using a walker for a year now.

Get the MRI and get at least 3 opinions. There is no shortage of doctors willing to operate.

GL


Edit - And Cyber's right. L4-L5 is the most common compression resulting in sciatic pain (or so I've been told).

My pain doc doesn't believe in giving hydrocodone to someone as "young" as I am. I used to have it from my primary physician for the bad nights.

As it stands, 100mg Tramodol, 600mg Gabapentin and 500mg Tylenol 3x/day, plus a muscle relaxant at night for me...

[Vet4jdc]

Damn....now I am completely depressed after reading all of these!

[Cybercowboy]

Originally Posted by Vet4jdc

Damn....now I am completely depressed after reading all of these!

If you are able to do basic stretches, are able to sleep at night without meds, and aren't in constant pain you are miles ahead of many people with this issue and you can get back to 99% of your old self by simply doing the workout thing that I and others have mentioned. You'll start feeling better within a short period of time. Heck, I'm able to golf 36 holes in a single day now, injured my L4/L5 13 years ago and even to this day my right foot and part of my right leg is pretty dang numb (I haven't had feeling in my right little toe for 13+ years now) and I know that certain muscles in my right leg have pretty much withered away, with others compensating. My wife can tell, but the average person would never notice. Yeah, this injury sucks, if indeed that's what's happened to you (and I'd say it's almost 100% that you have a disc compression issue.) But it's not the end of the line, you can rehab it and be far better off than you are now.

[Brett K]

I have similar issues. I had a rough time a few weeks ago with back spasms that landed me in the ER twice. I had an issue back in 94 that resulted in the numbness down my leg. I would rather that than back spasms. I am doing some PT now with stretching and core strengthening. I have herniated disks at L4 and L5. It has put my softball season and home renovations on hold for a bit.

[Olustee bus]

AT about 38, I had sciatica very bad. I had surgery scheduled but backed out. It was so that I could not walk after waking up in the morning. I took 3 800 mg of ibprofen a day. it helped cut back the pain.

I took a trip with a friend in his Supra (pretty good supporting seats) from Alabama, to Oklahoma to south Texas and then back to Florida in a little over a week.When I got home, I no longer had sciatica.It was gone.

It did reappere but I easily controlled it with ibuprofen but I don't have a problem

[mrvette]

Originally Posted by Olustee bus

AT about 38, I had sciatica very bad. I had surgery scheduled but backed out. It was so that I could not walk after waking up in the morning. I took 3 800 mg of ibprofen a day. it helped cut back the pain.

I took a trip with a friend in his Supra (pretty good supporting seats) from Alabama, to Oklahoma to south Texas and then back to Florida in a little over a week.When I got home, I no longer had sciatica.It was gone.

It did reappere but I easily controlled it with ibuprofen but I don't have a problem

Like I have said before I got a rusty skeleton, bad ball joints, from China, bad bushings from India, and I take 600 mg Ibuprofen 2-3X/day.....

[onedef92]

The Jeffersons Pilot - YouTube

I have. Stretched slowly out on an inversion table then had my son gently walk on my back for 5 minutes or so. Just like Mr. Bentley and George Jefferson and shit!

[16again]

I had it real bad for quite some time. Went to all kinds of doctors. My ex wife suggested a friend of hers that did acupuncture and rolfing (deep tissue massage). I'll be damned if that didn't help within a few days. Been fine the last few years.

[simpleman68]

Originally Posted by 16again

I had it real bad for quite some time. Went to all kinds of doctors. My ex wife suggested a friend of hers that did acupuncture and rolfing (deep tissue massage). I'll be damned if that didn't help within a few days. Been fine the last few years.

I've heard this story told many times by people that found ways to improve their condition where multiple doctors had failed to.

Nobody can tell you what course may be right but if you don't have major disc damage, the right chiropractor can do incredible things to ensure alignment is correct, recommend a stretching regimen, and exercises that can make all the difference in the world.

I have a fused L5 from a motorcycle accident when I was younger and have the leg numbness but no other issues.
Just be sure you don't waste time with the wrong chiropractor if you choose that route. Big waste of time/money.
Scott

[Vet4jdc]

Today's update....

I saw my primary care physician last Monday at 1:00 pm and she started me on the Prednisone, Skelaxin and the 800 mg Motrin. She put the request in for an MRI with her assistant and I was to hear something in 7 days. I follow up this morning with the assistant and they have no clue what's taking so long. I call my health insurance hotline and ask if the request for an MRI is in their books and they have no record of it! WTF!!!

Call back to the Dr's office and the assistant says, "we don't know what happened, we had to put in the request again today". I asked if they could expedite it and she said the Dr has to request that! Again...WTF?

Actually, I feel somewhat better today and can stand up straight with little leg pain. Sitting in a chair is somewhat comfortable. Maybe I am actually mending on my own without knowing what is wrong exactly?

[onedef92]

Prednisone,

That stuff will make you mean as a rattlesnake! (among other ill-advised side effects.) Be careful with it.

[Chris Fowler]

Originally Posted by onedef92

Prednisone,

That stuff will make you mean as a rattlesnake! (among other ill-advised side effects.) Be careful with it.

allergic to Prednisone. I get hiccups.

[Vet4jdc]

My MRI is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. Although I am starting to feel some better and getting some relief from the constant leg pain, I am going forward with the MRI to see if they can find the cause. Wish me luck.

[JRD77VET]

Originally Posted by Vet4jdc

My MRI is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. Although I am starting to feel some better and getting some relief from the constant leg pain, I am going forward with the MRI to see if they can find the cause. Wish me luck.

MRI are noisy, if you have good ear plugs take them along. I have Howard Leight ear plugs with a NRR of 33, they're better than the cheapo's they hand you.

I fell asleep during my last MRI