Photo Copyright: Maggie May
It seems that after a thorough examination by my Oncologist that I am suffering from Sciatica. There is also a possibility that I am suffering from a stress fracture due to radiation treatment that will take a couple of months to heal if that is so. It is a relief that they don't suspect its anything more sinister but believe me, it is a very painful condition.
I've had Sciatica before and its taken months to get right in the past. We seem to be prone to it in our family.
I'm hobbling around, sometimes with a stick and I'm trying to keep exercising as that apparently is the new way of dealing with it and not lying on a flat board like they used to do.
The pain killers make me feel sick but I can't manage without them.
I had lots of plans that I've now had to put on hold. In the meantime, I'm trying to carry on as normally as possible, allowing myself plenty of time for everything because I am now as slow as a slug.
I'd be interested to know what others do if they have this complaint. What has benefited you?
22 comments:
Phew I'm so happy to hear it is nothing more sinister Maggie!
I had a bout of Sciatica not so long ago and it took months to go. Not sure there's anything one can do to ease it.
Maggie...I'm so relieved to hear that the test results for your back pain don't show anything related to cancer. An answer to prayer, my friend. When I have back pain (and it is quite uncomfortable,) I go to our chiropractor. I read your earlier blog that said that you can't do that because of the fragility of your bones due to radiation. I understand that completely. Perhaps you could find a position that you could lay (looking on the internet for solutions) so that your back could get some relief and some stretching. Google "Sciatica" and see what some of the people who have had problems with it have done to get help with their pain. I continue to pray and have prayed a prayer of thanksgiving that your back pain isn't related to Cancer. I send you love and hugs.
Jackie
I always find that gentle relaxation exercises help my aches and pains. You can do them comfortably lying down on your bed. Walking is also a good exercise. You just mustn't force anything. Being relaxed and comfortable is the main thing and the pain medication will help you be that too. I'm glad your problem isn't anything more serious. Good luck getting better and do keep us up to date on your progress.
xox
I'm so thankful that it's not anything sinister, Maggie. I'm thinking that if you have had good results from a trusted chiropractor in the past, perhaps he or she can give you some hands off advice about stretches, positions, strengthening methods. I hope your pain eases soon.
Good news indeed—but pain is pain, whatever the cause. No advice, I"m afraid. I sort of work on the theory that it will go away: sometimes it does!
Literally a real pain, but so glad it's nothing more sinister.
Oh, Maggie sorry that you're still in pain. That must mar the happiness at the fact that it's "only" sciatica.
Massage would help, preferably an aromatherapy one, if you can get one. IFPA website would have a list of suitably qualified people. I know when we were training, there was one point at the top of the leg, where we pressed, that was good for sciatica.
Best of luck with it, hope you can get relief soon :-)
Oh Maggie, I'm so sorry you are suffering from sciatica. I have that ongoing problem myself. Like Jackie, I am happy this was not related to the cancer, but am sorry that the fragile nature of your bones due to radiation means you can't do radiation.
I find that massage really helps. Heat helps. Sometimes a hot rock massage is just great. I also do Pilates. The stretch from Pilates helps as much as anything, but be careful to only stretch up to the pain. If it hurts, stop. Look online to see if there are suggestions for these stretches if there is not anyone near you to show you these stretches. Will your doctor prescribe physical therapy? Sometimes the physical therapy is really great because they will do the massage and teach you the stretches.
I'm so glad your pain is not due to cancer. Thank goodness! Sorry, I don't have anything else to add, but I hope you can get through this sciatica soon.
Sending gentle hugs
Having had sciatica when having my first daughter I so sympathise - she was lying on my sciatic nerve.
Have you tried acupuncture Maggie?
I find it really works for me
So glad its nothing worse xx
I am totally in this place right now!!
Sheesh!!
Blogging...reading...just resting is best I can tell you.
Good luck
Be well and be careful
Hugs
SueAnn
Nothing wrong with being "Slow as a slug" Maggie when you're dealing with aches and pains like that. Go at them with ease, don't try to rush and a little bit of exercise here and there -gentle stuff -will slowly replenish the injured spots and get you back to normal then. I have frequent issues with my legs and back and depending on how I may have overused or slightly abused them to get them really fired up and hurting more than usual, I generally uses some topical applications -like Ben Gay or Icy Hot on the sore, stiff limbs. Last week, I did resort to sitting in a tub of hot water with Epsom Salts dumped in there and it did soothe a little but then I was finding it problematic first to just get in the tub and sit down and after that, worried about how I would get up and out safely. But thankfully, I didn't slip/slide or fall or anything like that so the worry ended up being for naught!
Peace and try to gently ease into using the muscles again.
I use an osteopath but that's no good if you have a suspected fracture :-(
Are you taking codine? It always makes me feel sick too. I do feel for you, back pain is terrible. I hope it improves soon
X
Physiotherapy, a really good reclining chair where I could sleep for up to an hour at a time, heat on the lower back and a computer game that was challenging enough that I could forget the back for a while when I played it.
It sounds crazy to say I am glad it has turned out to be sciatica, but I am. Three months of therapy is what it took me, but I hope it will be less than that for you.
Hugs
I'm glad it is nothing sinister, but ow for sciatica - having had it I can truly empathise :( luckily I had a fab physio, but as she lives on the North Norfolk coast that's not much help really
Hope it eases for you soon xxx
As others have said, while I'm happy that the diagnosis was not sinister I'm sorry you are in so much pain. I haven't had any dealings with sciatica yet but I hope things get better for you soon. x
My mum has got sciatica and she had an injection in her spine, cortisone, which seems to have helped. Hope it improves soon!
Sciatica is a pain in the butt - and the back- and the leg, and despite my jocularity, I do truly sympathise, Maggie. May it soon leave you in peace. ♥
Sciatica is indeed very painful. I am so sorry to hear you are enduring yet another painful situation. I read somewhere that laying in the fetal position helps ease the sciatica pain.
AHA - I popped in at just the right moment - I not only get sciatica but teach a deep form of stretching that can help. There are certain stretches you can do to ease the piriformis. Hmmm. Let me know via my blog if you want me to find you some exercises.
new address is http://familyaffairsandothermatters.com
Lx
I'm so sorry to hear this, Maggie, but on the other hand, I'm glad it turned out not to be anything worse. I know that sciatica can be very painful, but it looks like other readers who have suffered through it have some good suggestions. I know it's frustrating to have to put off some things you wanted to do, but take it slow and don't overexert yourself.
I am blessed to have never had the condition.
Does it help to eat with the medication?
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