Author Topic: Will sciatica ever go away? (Read 4182 times)

Long Roller · « **on:** October 06, 2006, 01:48:51 AM »

I've been fighting this for 2 months now and I absolutely cannot bowl unless I have 2 days rest, and I still need to take 1600 mg of ibuprofen. If I schedule a doctors appointment, is there anything he can do for me???
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Shane Soule

Ragnar · « **Reply #1 on:** October 06, 2006, 09:52:33 AM »

Yes, a dr. can help. IMO a good chiropracter can help more.
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"I do desire that we may be better strangers." Willie the Shake, As You Like it(III,ii)
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Long Roller · « **Reply #2 on:** October 06, 2006, 10:04:11 AM »

Is it bad to take 1600 mg of ibuprofen? Not sure what the limit of unsafe is.
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Shane Soule

Robadat · « **Reply #3 on:** October 06, 2006, 10:06:04 AM »

quote:
Yes, a dr. can help. IMO a good chiropracter can help more.

I couldn't agree more. I have suffered bouts with sciatica over the years myself. Pain meds help temporarily while they last, but it was always worse the next day.
I finally went to a chiropractor who would work it out, pain would be gone for a couple of weeks. After a few months of treatment, the sciatica cleared up, haven't really had it flare up in the last year, if it does, I will go back to chiripractor for a realignment.
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The facts expressed here belong to everybody, the opinions to me. The distinction is yours to draw...

Enjoy,
Bob

Long Roller · « **Reply #4 on:** October 06, 2006, 10:16:48 AM »

How often did you go to the chiropractor. My chiropractor wants me there like 3 times a week at 25 a pop. I stopped going because it was too expensive. I should probably try another one....
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Shane Soule

Robadat · « **Reply #5 on:** October 06, 2006, 10:30:31 AM »

When I first started going, it was three times a week. After about two months, we dropped it to weekly visits, within six months, most symptoms were gone. I had monthly visits for preventative treatments, then decided to stop as costs even with insurance were too much. $15 Co-pays added up. I now make a visit every six months, just to be safe.
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The facts expressed here belong to everybody, the opinions to me. The distinction is yours to draw...

Enjoy,
Bob

9andaWiggle · « **Reply #6 on:** October 06, 2006, 12:04:34 PM »

quote:
How often did you go to the chiropractor. My chiropractor wants me there like 3 times a week at 25 a pop. I stopped going because it was too expensive. I should probably try another one....
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Shane Soule

I went 3 times a week for a while too. In the beginning, I wouldn't hold the adjustment very long. After a while you will hold the adjustment longer and can space out your visits. Don't forget to ask for information about exercising and strengthening the lower back too - amazing how much keeping your lower back in shape helps you hold an adjustment. I currently go about once a month just to keep everything in line. To me, the $25 is a good investment compared to the pain I was having (at one point, I couldn't even tie my shoes because it hurt too much).

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9~

Ragnar · « **Reply #7 on:** October 06, 2006, 12:12:33 PM »

With my current chiro I went 5 times a week at first (I was a real mess). Gradually tapered off to once ever 3 weeks or so. Now I go rarely, only when I feel the need. And I haven't felt the need in over a year. A good chiro not only fixes the problem, but makes a fix that lasts.

BTW, my chiro isn't a bone cruncher. She exerts only very, very small force if any - usually uses galvanic electrical stimulation. As I've said before, I think she's a witch, based on her diagnostic methodology. I'd explain it, but I've done so before and don't want to bore you.
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"I do desire that we may be better strangers." Willie the Shake, As You Like it(III,ii)
http://ystig.com/spaghetti.jpg

mumzie · « **Reply #8 on:** October 07, 2006, 08:45:45 AM »

If the doctor says it sciatica, get thee to a chiropractor. If the doctor even HINTS at surgery, get thee to a chiropractor, acupuncturist, massage therapist, physical therapist, and/or witch doctor.

No offense to those who have had successful back surgeries, or to those who perform them, but my opinion is to try EVERYTHING else first - then, if and ONLY if the condition is NOT HELPED IN ANY WAY - have surgery.

I don't think the real success rate of spinal surgery is even 50% - and I know a huge number of people who were far better before than after.

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Doc Hollywood · « **Reply #9 on:** October 08, 2006, 10:32:14 AM »

I am a chiropractor and after reading all of what has been said here is my opinion.

First of all who diagnosed your sciatica? What were there recommendations? Depending if this is a first initial bout or a chronic one the problem could be dealt differently. What was the mechanism of injury?

Sciatica can from different areas of the body. From the minor to major - Piriformis spasm, sacroiliac fixation, lumbar facet syndrome, lumbar disc involvement. A proper history is 75% of the diagnosis ans well as a proper exam and diagnostic imaging if needed. Sciatica is very common as most of you who have posted either experienced it or know someone that has.

There are many forms of treatment. Nonsteroidal anti inflammatories as well as steroids, muscle relaxers, massage, stretching, exercise, acupuncture, chiropractic, inections, surgery. All of these treatments work if applied to the right mechanism.

Every bout of sciatica can be different as is each individual. Think of the term car accident. It can be anything from a scratch in the paint to a complete total.

You should go to a doctor you can trust and you need to ask a lot of questions. Treatment should be conservative and effective.

My opinion is that medications can help but rarely solve the problem of sciatica. Reference ACOEM guidelines in treatment of injuries.

When it comes to getting treatment the problem with chiropractic is that there are many ways chiropractors treat and some of the methods are way out there. Trust me when I say that. I am one and I hate some of those in my profession. Medical doctors are very cookbook and they all treat roughly the same. If you choose to see a chiropractor get a recommendation from someone that has been there before.

One more thing, You get what you pay for. The charges that you are stating is low by my standards. I charge much more but then again I am in the Bay Area of California. I am in the middle of the road and feel I am better than most of my colleages. I also get many refererals from some of the MD's in my area so they trust me with there patients.

I hope this helps.
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Doc
Owner and Inventor of
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Long Roller · « **Reply #10 on:** October 08, 2006, 10:50:05 AM »

I was never diagnosed with sciatica, just read about it and seem to have all the symptoms. I don't think I really had an incident that caused the sciatica. My opinion of where it came from is that I have gained 30 pounds in the last two years and have done a lot of bowling, and my back can not handle all of the stress. I've been to this chiropractor before 3 times and I thought he wanted me to come in too much. After reading others experiences, I see that maybe I was wrong. This chiropractor wants everyone to come in multiple times a week when you start and once a week your whole life to keep all major systems in top shape. The whole office seemed quite witchdoctorish so I stopped going. When he did crack me, I noticed that my leg had muscle spasms for a couple hours afterwards and I had a tingling feeling in my foot. I'm guessing that meant that it was working?? This guy has been around for 20+ years. Here is his website. http://schiffmanchiropractic.com Does he seem legit to you?
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Shane Soule

mumzie · « **Reply #11 on:** October 08, 2006, 04:41:14 PM »

quote:
(the highest level authority known)

JDT - we can agree to disagree about orthopedic surgeons right at that statement of yours...
There are some very good orthopedic surgeons. There are terrible ones, as well. All are SURGEONS first. As one said to me "I think you could be helped by surgery. But I'm a surgeon. What do you want me to say?"

My mother was an RN, an orthopedic nurse for a lot of her career. Her observations were the same as mine. My son is an anesthesiologist. He concurs.

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NOTE - custom bowling towels are here. A custom towel without that rubbery or sticky feel!! And you can do just one.

BOWL119 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 08, 2006, 07:30:50 PM »

quote:

I don't think the real success rate of spinal surgery is even 50% - and I know a huge number of people who were far better before than after.

If you made this statement 20 years ago, I would have agreed with you. But with the technology today, I feel this is inaccurate. Speaking from experience with having 2 successful back operations after almost 10 years of pain, I can tell you that it was well worth it. But the real question is, HOW LONG DID THAT 50% WAIT TO GET HELP? The longer you wait, the more damage you can do and then come to a point that nothing is really going to help. I had the operation on a Wednesday and walked out of the hospital the next day. The second operation, I was able to walk out the same day.

The reason for the 2 operations, was that I waited so long to get it taken care of. I put more strain on my lower back due to trying to adjust for the pain that I was in. In doing that, I hurt another area of my back and needed the other operation.
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T.J.

BOWLING IS FUN NO MATTER WHAT YOU SCORE. BUT A 300 IS ALWAYS NICE.

STRIKE ZONE & PYRO. STAND 15 AND THROW 10 OUT TO 5 AND SMASH THE POCKET. AT LEAST THAT IS THE PLAN OF THE NIGHT...

9andaWiggle · « **Reply #13 on:** October 09, 2006, 11:53:37 AM »

quote:
I was never diagnosed with sciatica, just read about it and seem to have all the symptoms. I don't think I really had an incident that caused the sciatica. My opinion of where it came from is that I have gained 30 pounds in the last two years and have done a lot of bowling, and my back can not handle all of the stress. I've been to this chiropractor before 3 times and I thought he wanted me to come in too much. After reading others experiences, I see that maybe I was wrong. This chiropractor wants everyone to come in multiple times a week when you start and once a week your whole life to keep all major systems in top shape. The whole office seemed quite witchdoctorish so I stopped going. When he did crack me, I noticed that my leg had muscle spasms for a couple hours afterwards and I had a tingling feeling in my foot. I'm guessing that meant that it was working?? This guy has been around for 20+ years. Here is his website. http://schiffmanchiropractic.com Does he seem legit to you?
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Shane Soule

I did not look at the website, but a couple of things concern me... One being that the diagnosis of sciatica was a conclusion you made yourself. Meaning, your chiropractor should have sat down with you and discussed your problem, possibly taken X-rays etc..., reviewed this info and then informed you about what he thought was wrong (and how he came to that conclusion) and recommended a plan of treatment.

Also, if your leg is twitching and numb after the adjustment, something doesn't sound right... I have never experienced any twitching after and adjustment, and the one time my wife felt numbness she asked about it before we left. He said she should not be feeling that, rechecked her, and made a second adjustment (after which the numbness went away).

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9~

Long Roller · « **Reply #14 on:** October 09, 2006, 11:59:04 AM »

I made a doctors appointment with my md tomorrow morning. I will post back with what he says.....
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Shane Soule

Author Topic: Will sciatica ever go away? (Read 4182 times)

Long Roller

Will sciatica ever go away?

Ragnar

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Long Roller

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Robadat

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Long Roller

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Robadat

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9andaWiggle

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Ragnar

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mumzie

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Doc Hollywood

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Long Roller

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mumzie

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BOWL119

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9andaWiggle

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Long Roller

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