All pain is not equal

[Michelle Maree]

Why isnt Radiculopathy seen as an an emergency?
I dont understand why sciatica isnt seen as an emergency seeing as it can be permanent so quickly. Why do you have to be crawling on the floor and wetting your pants before it is serious? You can have disc pain for years and years and get it removed and be pain free, but nerves are another issue.
In Australia you have to have Cauda Equina syndrome before you are kept in hospital otherwise you are given pain medication and sent home and told to see a specialist. And if you have to wait 5 months to see a surgeon like i have it can be too late!
In the US if you have sciatica and call your specialist are you seen to sooner?
I dont think I can mak e it untill October.
All pain is not equal and shouldnt be treated so.

[dshobbies]

Michelle,
Even in the US, it can take quite some time to see a spine specialist. In 2002I knew I needed surgery and had to wait 3 months to see the same doctor who did my 1994 surgery. I complained I was in severe pain and feared a repeat of the rupture that caused an emergency situation. I was told to call back if my disc ruptured and to take meds for my pain.

In 2004 I waited 3 months to see Dr. Delamarter and another month for a discogram and again, another month for the results. Another 4 months went by waiting for the FDA and by then, I was fed up with unreturned phone calls. I found Mark who arranged an appointment with Dr. Regan within 1 week and I was scheduled for surgery by the time Dr. D got around to calling me back, 6 months after seeing him.

I realize these doctors are busy and can only squeeze in so many emergencies but when you're scared and in pain, these doctors seem uncompassionate. Yes, some actually do not care but others are just overworked.

[Michelle Maree]

does anyone know how long you can have constant mild to moderate sciatica for before it is permanent? From possible foraminal stenosis.
I used to be able to stretch and sometimes clunk my facet joints and it would free the nerve but now that doesnt seem to work anymore.
Any other tricks for relieving sciatica that anone knows?

[dshobbies]

MM,

You might try an inversion table. Prior to my ADRs it provided temporary relief whenever I needed it. Be sure to tether at about a 45* angle and if you're not used to it, use it for only a few seconds, increasing your time gradually. If you lived closer, I'd give you mine. It's a no-no post ADRs.

Good luck, Dale

[jessmith07]

Michelle,

I lived with sciatica for over a year before I finally had a laminectomy, and the disc was herniated and compressing the nerve for at least 6 months of that time. After the laminectomy, it took about 4-5 months for the nerves to completely heal, leaving me with disc pain, but no more nerve pain, and I eventually had a 2 level ADR.

The doctor did tell me that I could have permanent nerve damage, because the herniation was so severe and had been compressing the nerve for so long, and while it did take longer than "usual" to relent, it finally did, so don't give up.

One drug that I did use, after the herniation, was called Topomax. It's non-narcotic and at high doses is used to treat epilepsy, but at lower doses, it had been proven to help with nerve pain. It does have some strange side-effects in the beginning (can't feel the bubbles in soda or beer, losing common words in a conversation, difficulty concentrating) but I found that over time, these symptoms dissipated. The down side is, that over time, it seems to lose it's effectiveness, and the dosage has to be increased. I started at 50 mg/day, and before I finally decided to have the surgery, I was up to 250 mg/day. However, during the 6 months I was on it, it increased my quality of life to the point that I was exercising every day and walking 15-20 miles/week. This could be an option while you're waiting.