Hello everyone,

I recently discovered that I have L4/L5 ruptured discs which has resulted in excruciating hip, butt, leg when I stand or walk. Sciatica from ruptured discs has been my diagnosis, but I suspect it has also triggered Piriformis Syndrome as well (which I self-diagnosed from my own research), which also causes sciatica pain. It's so interesting and unfortunate that never once did the neurosurgeon I have seen every mention that condition, which it turns out is very common.

I am now seeing a neurologist, who is also a Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) and is trained about Piriformis Syndrome, and awaiting my first appointment with a pain management specialist that specializes in myofascial, trigger point injections and the likes. I am hopeful I can get to the bottom of this with these doctors.

However, in my search for understanding of my condition on my own, I stumbled upon this YouTube video showing this doctor eradicating severe sciatica pain from his patient within 5 minutes. While watching, I could relate to this poor guy who was agonizing in constant sciatica pain. I was floored to watch his doctor's visit and see the immediate results of his relief from pain, as he got up and began to walk without pain. It looked absolutely miraculous.

I began googling this doctor and his treatment like a maniac. It turns out this treatment has been successful for many people who have suffered with constant pain for years, and there are many many validating scientific studies. The treatment is a perispinal injection of etanercept, a TNF protein blocker. And the treatment lasts for years. Perispinal Etanercept is a patented treatment developed and invented at the Institute of Neurological Recovery (INR) in Los Angeles by Edward Tobinick M.D. in 2009.

*edited due to copyright & linking*

I am not in the health field, and was only a premed student in college years ago (now in have a career in real estate...don't ask..lol). But in layman's terms, how I understand this is that when something like nerve pinching occurs in the body, the autoimmune system sends TNF proteins to that area where the inflammation is to attack the cells in that area, which increases the pain. Etanercept blocks the TNF protein and causes immediate relief from the pain.
d patients may immediately return to their normal daily activities.

*edited due to copyright & linking*

I will be discussing it with my doctors as soon as possible, and am also waiting to hear back from Dr. Tobinick's office to find out if there are doctors in the NYC area where I live that is familiar with it. Having read the many sad stories about those of you living in such pain, I thought I would share this with you. Perhaps some of you already have some experience with this treatment.

I hope this can help you. I wish you all the best!

Robjwill