Hi Carey,
I had all the same symptoms. no sleep, pain all over. super depressed..
My MRI showed bulging disk on all lower back . plus degenerative arthritis on all facets joints of lower back. I had sciatica for 8 month, but I am getting very slowly out of this nightmare with the following :
egoscue technique realignement (peter egoscue)
yoga for scoliosis
core strenghtening isometrics ( made a huge difference in my spine stability)
all that was helping but I had still foot pain, leg pain, trapezius, neck pain, nerves numbness in my arms.
I started to do trigger point therapy ( trigger point therapy work book by clair davies ) on all my sore points ( 8 session per day) and I got my husband to do some ART active release therapy on my legs (could not find a therapist where I live.) with video from Youtube. it has being 5 weeks and the pain is my back is gone, neck pain gone, some remaining in trapezius if I have more pain. My pain is manly in my hamstring. still having trouble sleeping, and anxiety is an issue.
I am taking melatonin at night for my insomnia
I have quit all sugar ( which has being a huge difference in my anxiety )
I have fought this for 8 months.
It look like my sciatica is not due to my bulging disk, but due to my hamstring ( chronic tenditonis) ( got rid of my foot/ calves pain with trigger point ) I am going to see a sport medecine therapist next week ( will see if that can help)
I think there is a lot of things you can do to help your pain, I guess, everyone is looking only to the MRI and the scary results, there is a lot more then just the joint... and I can't take any drugs because my digestive systems won't take it. ( only ibuprofen)
hope this help virginie
Quote:
Originally Posted by ncmommy
Hello everyone! My name is Carey, I recently turned 37 years old, am a mother of 4 + a step son, and the grandmother of 2 wonderful grand daughters. I was working as a CNA, while pursuing my Associate/Bacholar degree in nursing. I was working in a nursing home, and loved my job. I was kicked by a resident in my lower back, 12/5/10, and have not been the same since.
I have had X-rays, a MRI, PT, TENS unit, 2 trigger point injections, an epidural injection, with another one coming up this week, I feel like I live on pain meds. I have not been able to work, and have days that I cant even seem to get out of bed. I have trouble doing even the normal daily activites. Am currently seeing an orthopedic specialist and have recently been refered to pain management.
A few of the symptoms I deal with are:
Severe lower back pain
Pain in neck & shoulders
Numbness & tingleing in buttocks area going down into legs. Mainly the right..Right goes down into my toes, but the left seems to stop at my knee.
Severe stiffness
Cant sit or walk more than 30min. at a time without pain in back, legs, and numbness starting
If i lift more than 10lbs. if shoots pains up my spine.
Have recently starting experiencing what feels like bees stings in my spine and down my right leg.
Have become very forgetful and forget things easily.
Do not sleep more than 3-4hrs per night
The list goes on and on, but those are a few of the main ones.
I have a copy of the MRI and the biggiest issues are see are:
L2-L3-Minimal posterior disc protusion
L3-L4- minimal posterior disc protusion with focal left foraminal protusion.
L4-L5- Mild broad posterior disc protusion, small bilateral annular tears. Mild bilateral facet hypertrophy. Right foramen if unremarkable, Mild left neural foramen stenosis.
L5-S1- Very mild broad posterior disc protusion. Bilateral facet hypertrophy. Mild bilateral neural foramen narrowing, left is slightly worse that the right.
impression:
mutilevel degenerative changes of the lumbar spine.
Due to it beinng WC, the doctors I hae been seeing, have not really explained anything to me about this MRI or what I can expect.
If anyone has any input in this, it would be greatly appreciated,as i am to a point I have no idea what to do anymore!!!!!
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