Sciatica Pain – My Fault OR Degenerative Disc Disease???

[Farrar]

Sciatica Pain – My Fault OR Degenerative Disc Disease

I was diagnosed with Degenerative Disc disease a few months back as well as advanced osteoarthritis. I am now 49, 5’11” tall, 232 lbs. and 31% BF. Five years ago, I was 7% BF, 240 lbs., and training morning and evening. I have been running 12-16 week cycles since 2001 and am no stranger to AAS.

A few months back I was told that there was no longer any disc material left between L5 and S1. I did a round of 3 epidurals but still have a nagging, lower back pain. This last Saturday, I did my weekly injection of 2 MLs, 500 MG in my left buttock in the outside, upper corner with a 1.5 “ 23 gauge as I have done for 10 years. Five days later I noticed a lump, which I usually do not have and the sciatica symptoms. Today, I can take only a few steps and the pain on a scale of 1-10 is about 15. I am no stranger to pain but this is excruciating. I have tried 20 MGs of Lortab, 800 MG of ibuprofen, and even a Duragesic 50 MCG pain patch with no luck. The only thing that relieves the pain is to sit down OR bend over like I a touching my toes.

This could not have happened at a worse time. We have been comped in a luxury suite at a casino {which we are at now} and the worst part is I have tickets to Kid Rock on 3/12/2011, two nights away which are front row center. I paid 949.00 for the pair as a Christmas gift to my wife.

Anyway, I have been icing this 30 minutes out of every hour, rubbing all types of creams on my leg, lower back, etc.

Has anyone else had this problem? I DON’T think is/was from the inject but rest assured, it will be injected in the shoulder or pecs from now on.

What can I do for the pain?

Thanks!

[Dzone]

Re: Sciatica Pain – My Fault OR Degenerative Disc Disease???

Gosh, sorry to hear about that. Thats a tough one. If it is that painful, you might want to consider going to the ER and getting some type of relief. Good luck

[Farrar]

Re: Sciatica Pain – My Fault OR Degenerative Disc Disease???

My experiences with ERs, especially in my home town, is that you wait 2-3 hours and then get little help. I went to my local ER last year with chest pains that were extremely painful and they gave me an Aleve and a Prilosec.

[Dzone]

Re: Sciatica Pain – My Fault OR Degenerative Disc Disease???

Sounds like you need stronger pain pills if the pain is a 15. I feel fer ya bro. Hope you can find some relief. Go find a good Chiropractor. One that is not a quack. Thats what I would do. Go to activerelease.com and find an ART doctor near you

[ketsugo]

Re: Sciatica Pain – My Fault OR Degenerative Disc Disease???

SOunds like youhave two unrelated things going. The Disc thing- you would be best served goig to a orthopeadic specialist. Thats something only surgery can fix- Idid and it was the best thing I ever did. Its around here somewhere in this forum. The injection seems like you figured that out. You shouldnt treat a chronic injury at the ER. You need to find a competent specialist that will get to khow you and fix the problem.

[Farrar]

Re: Sciatica Pain – My Fault OR Degenerative Disc Disease???

Thanks to you all for your input. I also searched this site on the term "sciatic" and found some good advice. I have been using ice for the last two days. I plan to get a heating pad and see if that works. Most of the sites I have gone to for sciatica mention never use heat but I am thinking that is in the first few days and icing only provides releif for about 10 minutes and sometimes, not at all. I want to blame this on my disc issues and have read that the majority of sciatica symptoms are form the A L5 being slipped, or herniated. But, sometimes it is due to to the piriformis muscle. I am also starting some stretching excercises for the piriformis.

[BABY1]

Re: Sciatica Pain – My Fault OR Degenerative Disc Disease???

Surprised to hear that sitting and bending over relieves the pain. Usually with sciatica, sitting is the worst position. Maybe that is just me but I have sciatic issues and sitting just kills it. Maybe try some good stretches for the piriformis area(in butt) or if you can, go get a massage and have them work on that area and maybe some trigger point massage.