AuntieM Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 DH has been having pain that almost every pregnant woman can describe as sciatica. So, he goes to a new doctor for a diagnosis and to find out what to do about it. Well, new doc wants him to have an MRI and possibly a cortisone injection. He scheduled the MRI, and a clinic rep called him with a pre-procedure questionnaire. He was asked whether he had ever gotten metal in his eye, "because that could do some real damage to your eye in the MRI machine..." He is in the auto business and while he has no distinct memory of ever getting metal in his eye, the question freaked him out. He is now rethinking the MRI. So, I am wondering, if millions of pregnant women get this condition and don't have to have an MRI to diagnose it, isn't this doc going a bit overboard? He suggested no therapy, stretches, etc, just an expensive test and injections. Is it just different for men? Whaddaya think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6packofun Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Wow, that seems a bit over the top to me; a chiropractor and exercise got rid of my sciatica. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 I'd say that the chiropractor would the first line of treatment. It has helped me through pregnancies as well as my degenerative disk disease. The only thing MD's wanted to do was meds (cortizone treatments, mega pain meds, bed rest, etc.) So, unless there was some underlying condition that would cause a doc to suspect something serious is wrong, I would say the doc's treatment plan is overkill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leanna Tomlinson Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 I had major sciatica pain even one year after my 7th baby. My friend recommended a book called Pain Free that improved my situation immediately and I was literally "pain free" in two weeks. She had used this book with her dc who had congenital abnormalities in their feet that led to a lot of back pain. I can't figure out how to put links on here, but the book is on Amazon: Pain Free by Pete Egoscue. The premise of the book is that Americans do not get full range of motion and do many repetitive activities that lead to pain. Each chapter of the book is a prescription for stretches and positions that will realign and strengthen the body. The author recommends doing the exercises daily (or more often for relief of pain) and then moving to a series of exercises for maintenance. BTW- I was going to a chiropractor when I started the Pain Free exercises. When I would do the exercises, I FELT like I had been to the chiropractor...only the relief lasted longer. It's worth a try before spending $ on an MRI. HTH, Leanna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G5052 Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 (edited) My beloved husband has "failed back" after six surgeries including one that was followed by a near-fatal surgical infection. The reality is that back pain is miserable, but most people get better without invasive procedures. If he's taken anti-inflamatories and maybe muscle relaxants (only Rx) and tried heat and/or cold for a good six weeks, and maybe also chiropractic and/or physical therapy too, then and only then would I consider the MRI and injection. Injections are not 100% and have their own risks. Keep in mind too that MRIs are NOT 100% in terms of diagnosing what's truly wrong. Two of my husband's surgeries were for "severely herniated disks" that weren't when they got in there. A dear friend of ours had bi-level neck fusion earlier this year for "severely herniated disks" and found out afterwards that it was mainly Lyme's disease that was causing her problems. There are people walking around with no pain who show herniated disks on their MRIs. So be a skeptic! Edited June 18, 2009 by GVA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newbie Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Chiro. is only treatment that works for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffeefreak Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 I do Yoga. It's amazing the difference it makes. A good pair of supportive shoes makes all the difference too. I feel great, and then I spend the day barefoot on our tile and I'm up all night. Make sure he has good shoes:001_smile: I'm going to look into the Pain Free book too. It sounds interesting. Blessings! Dorinda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Well, since he does not have a pregnancy causing the pain ;) adn MRI would be to figure out what is causing it. Anyway - my mom has this - she gets the steroid shots every three months. in her case, she had back surgery for a slipped disc 40-some years ago, and it is possibly that coming back to haunt her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntieM Posted June 18, 2009 Author Share Posted June 18, 2009 Wow! Thanks for all your replies and the validation! I am definitely going to have DH read the replies! Our library has the Pain Free book, as well as Pain Free for Women by the same author, I put a hold on both titles. I like the "try something else first for 6 weeks" suggestion. He has only had twinges of pain before now, and he does not have a super-active lifestyle, so one wrong lift-and-twist probably set it off. Also, he has foot issues, so a trip to the podiatrist (instead of the MRI clinic!) may be in order. He mentioned chiropractic, perhaps that will be on the after-6-weeks list. Love all your thoughts so far, will enjoy hearing more... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OHGrandma Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 I've had sciatic pain off and on for years. The last bout was treated with everything just short of surgery. I still have numbness in my foot after 3 years due to the herniated disk. I'd start with chiro first, and read the books recommended. However, if he's got more severe symptoms like an inability to flex his foot right, or loss of bladder/bowel control, then he better get the MRI and see a specialist ASAP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntieM Posted June 18, 2009 Author Share Posted June 18, 2009 So, it sounds like a possible cause of the sciatica would be a herniated disk? And perhaps the doc wanted an MRI to rule that out? I will ask DH if that was ever mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OHGrandma Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 So, it sounds like a possible cause of the sciatica would be a herniated disk? And perhaps the doc wanted an MRI to rule that out? I will ask DH if that was ever mentioned. Yes, especially since he's not pregnant with a baby lying on the nerve. But, my chiropractor said many people have herniated disks to some point and it causes no problem. My chiropractor was the one who referred me to the specialist to arrange an MRI and eventually the cortisone injections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 I had a pinched sciatic nerve in a non-pregnant state years ago. My hip apparently rotates forward, which allows the nerve to slip into some crevice and have pressure put on it. Way fun. My doc sent me to a PT who shoved my hip back into normal alignment, did some infrared therapy and massage, and prescribed exercises. If I start feeling it again, I generally use a doorway to shove my hip back. Daily yoga keeps everything aligned well, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 The cause of my sciatica was an old sofa, :D. Seriously, if your dh has a favorite chair or spot on the sofa, it's well worthwhile avoiding it completely for a week or so to see if the pain improves. My treatment cost $1,200 (new living room furniture!), but I have been pain-free since then. If he's just now going to the doc about it, I can't imagine not trying a few things before getting an MRI. Chiro, yoga, new chair - - these work for many people! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OHGrandma Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 Oh, just remembered something else to try. If he carries his wallet or anything in his hip pocket, get it out! Even my car keys can irritate my sciatic nerve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 Pete Egoscue can do more for it than anyone. He developed his own brand of physical therapy and it has helped me a lot. Pain Free Books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyDay Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 I've got to throw in another vote for Pain Free. A wonderful book!! It has really helped dd with foot pain as well. Instant Relief: Tell Me Where it Hurts by Peggy Brill is another great one. So is her other book, The Core Program. Both these have really helped me. Nothing is worse than back pain. If your arm hurts, you use the other one. If your back hurts - your stuck. For me, if I do "something" everyday, I am relatively pain free. That something varies between weights, aerobics and stretching. But, miss a day - I'm stiff. Miss 2 - I'm sore. Miss 3 - I hurt. Do you have a good massage therapist??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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