I have sciatica, real bad. My problem is narcotic pain meds work real good for the pain but I am very busy building a financial business and I need to be sharp when I talk to people and not "looped" on pain meds and most times normal pain relievers can't touch the pain. What can be done?
2007-02-06 13:40:33 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Pain & Pain Management
Medications like Lyrica (Pregabalin) and Neurontin (Gabapentin) are designed to treat nerve pain specifically, but they too can cause drowsiness and a "clouded" feeling, especially Neurontin. Lyrica is taken twice daily and Neurontin three times daily.
The old tricyclic antidepressants like Elavil and Nortriptyline also work well against nerve pain (more likely to help than Lyrica or Neurontin by a factor of ten), but can also cause sedation, dizziness and weight gain.
Have you thought about adding in an alternative mode of therapy like accupuncture to try and take the edge off and reduce your dose of narcotic?
Also, studies show that no matter what treatment you employ, your chances of the sciatica clearing up and the speed of recovery are about the same. Most cases clear up on their own by 12-18 months after the injury, no matter what you do. It's helpful to stay as active as the pain will allow you to.
Note: regarding Keko's answer below: there are no surface trigger points for sciatica. It comes from the nerve roots in the lumbar and sacral spine.
2007-02-06 13:47:09 · answer #1 · answered by Amuse Bouche 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How is your mattress? Is it old and sagging? Is your tummy strong enough to support your lower back? Wear a back belt or harness for support. Regular adjustments with a chiropractor can help to correct a pinched nerve. The first visit will offer some relief. You will have to have regular adjustments more often at first and lessen over a period of a couple months or so. You may just have a pinched nerve. If not a more extreme option for chronic long term pain would be to receive botox or an epidural injected into your back by a pain management doctor. Get off of the pain meds as quickly as possible. Short term use only.
"Do something even if it's wrong. "- My Dad
Feel better,
Jen
Good Luck.
2007-02-06 13:58:45 · answer #2 · answered by Jen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did the surgeon tell you the cause of the pain ie is it pressure on the nerve or nerve damage? If it's pressure on the dental nerve, surgery is necessary to relieve the pressure. If it's nerve damage (neuralgia), ask for prescription of anti-depressants eg amytriptyline or anti-seizure drugs eg cabamazepine, gabapentin to relieve the nerve pain. But try normal anti-inflammatory pain-killer first. By the way, do you have diabetes? Diabetics tend to get nerve pain easier than the healthy person. I have nerve pain down my legs due to back problem and take 2 tablets of Daneuron (vit B1 100 mg, B6 200 mg & B12 200 mcg) for nerve strengthening every morning. This group of B vitamins are well known for nerve repair and maintenance. Brands like Neurobion besides Daneuron can be purchased from your pharmacy. But it's a long term supplement which is excellent for nerve support. Check with your dental surgeon whether the tooth was completely extracted ie the root was completely removed and nothing was left intact in the gums, causing the pain. Maybe an x-ray will help.
2016-03-15 22:08:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest looking into a cortizone shot. I was very reluctant and not willing to try it. My mistake. I had heard too many stories - steroids, it doesn't work, it's not good to have the nerve numbed etc. Boy, was I stupid. I was a weird case. I waited 6 years after the pain started before ever seeing a doctor. I then waited another year before giving in and getting the shot (after dropping the 80 excess pounds I was carrying and still having too much pain). 8 months later and waiting for the pain to reappear. Good luck!
2007-02-06 16:31:45 · answer #4 · answered by jennainhiding 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Find someone who works with trigger points, in the medical field they take searching for. I use a chiropractor who is a muscle specialist and a massage therapist.
Inform yourself pick up a book called The Trigger Point Workbook by Davies, it has a 75% success rate on getting rid of the pain - teaches you how.
2007-02-06 14:33:22 · answer #5 · answered by Keko 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
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2017-02-25 21:42:33 · answer #6 · answered by Barbara 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have nerve pain and my doctor put me on LYRICA and it has helped. So ask your doctor about it.
It doesn't make you loopy.
2007-02-06 13:46:09 · answer #7 · answered by oldhen53 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋