Anyone else suffer from sciatica?

[VCgirl]

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I am about to start medical school and am concerned about sciatica in my left leg. I have had this for seven years now and there is no change. I work as a chemist so it really doesn't cause me pain on a daily basis since it only hurts when I sit in a chair. I have had three MRIs (two lumbar, one piriformis), tried physical therapy for six months, recently had an EMG that showed L5 radiculopathy and finally, a discogram three weeks ago that showed nothing but a healthy disc. I am at a loss. I still have significant back pain from the discogram (in a new region that I have never felt pain before and I think that this is not typical) and my neurosurgeon put me on Neurontin which helped with me tolerating sitting, but it gave me body tingles so I can't take the medication anymore. My ortho guy wants to give me a cortisone injection...my back is still messed up from the discogram so it's understandable why I don't want them touching my back again for the time being.

Sorry to go into the medical history in depth, but I just wanted to see if someone else there is suffering from this condition and has any advice on how it's possible to sit and study without going crazy..or even other testing that I can try before quitting my job in July. I really don't see myself making it through the first two years of medical school when car and plane rides aggravate my leg to the point where I literally don't know what to do with myself.

Thanks!!

 

[pattyk]

I have had low back problems for years and cannot tolerate sitting for long periods of time either. I try to stick as many pillows behind my back as possible and then wedge in a flat ice pack (got it from the physical therapist). I also make sure I get up every 30 minutes and walk around. Or I set up my books at a high table or bar and stand while I study.
hope that helps....

 

[SugPlum]

You may be able to get away with not bringing books to school for med school, but you will have to carry around binders full of lecture handouts. Get a backpack with wheels for heavier loads. There is more than one student at my school who uses a rolling backpack.

 

[Occams Razor]

The Americans with Disabilities Act applies to med schools too! Let course coordinators or instructors know ahead of time, and they can make arrangements for accommodations, such as breaks during tests and anatomy labs, taking tests in a different chair, standing at a bench to take exams, etc. Make sure your needs are met, and don't sacrifice your health!

 

[VCgirl]

Thanks for the advice. I haven't talk to the school about my condition yet, but was planning on doing so. Has anyone tried those ergo chairs? There is a site (ergo4me) that makes chairs designed for people with sciatica. Just wondering if it's worth it. I may also get one of those gel pads to sit on while in class. Sadly, I felt better before all of this testing during the past month...now I realize why my neurosurgeon said "be thankful for the sensation that you have" and leave it be.

 

[sentrosi]

If your school records lectures, you may be able to get away with not sitting for hours in the lecture hall.

Medical schools are pretty small for the most part. I think that makes them generally very accommodating. I doubt they will have a problem with working with you to find alternatives that will work for you for taking tests, etc.

At least you are fine when standing, since you'll probably do a lot of that in the clinical years (like for surgery).

 

[DrZeke]

I am about to start medical school and am concerned about sciatica in my left leg. I have had this for seven years now and there is no change. I work as a chemist so it really doesn't cause me pain on a daily basis since it only hurts when I sit in a chair. I have had three MRIs (two lumbar, one piriformis), tried physical therapy for six months, recently had an EMG that showed L5 radiculopathy and finally, a discogram three weeks ago that showed nothing but a healthy disc. I am at a loss. I still have significant back pain from the discogram (in a new region that I have never felt pain before and I think that this is not typical) and my neurosurgeon put me on Neurontin which helped with me tolerating sitting, but it gave me body tingles so I can't take the medication anymore. My ortho guy wants to give me a cortisone injection...my back is still messed up from the discogram so it's understandable why I don't want them touching my back again for the time being.

Sorry to go into the medical history in depth, but I just wanted to see if someone else there is suffering from this condition and has any advice on how it's possible to sit and study without going crazy..or even other testing that I can try before quitting my job in July. I really don't see myself making it through the first two years of medical school when car and plane rides aggravate my leg to the point where I literally don't know what to do with myself.

Thanks!!

I'm not interesting in getting my head chopped off, but since western medicine seems to be failling your miserably, have you tried any complementary alternative medicine - acupuncture, aquatherapy, anti-inflammatory regimens...? Might be worth a try if you are "at a loss". We had some pretty smart ppl come and lecture at our school a few weeks back on CAM and it's actually not as bogus as some medical students would think. Of course there were definitely some quacks on board, but it's not that hard to sift through those who have a clue and those who are talking out of their asses.

 

[cleothecat]

Most sciatica will get better with conservative management regardless of investigation. In low risk patients a wait and see approach with analgesia, anti-inflammatories, and physio will be successfull.

True sciatica may be discogenic, but also could be due to nerve entrapment distally such as pyriformis syndrome (usuaklly forgotten as docs think "spine". Other causes of sciatica like symptoms include facet pain, pars defects,or even hip disease

Consider yourself lucky that you went to a neurosurgeon who was not keen on operating too quickly.

Now that all that Imaging is completed, may I suggest a regimen of physiotherapy, regular exercise, and weight loss if needed?

 

[mcclesm]

I suffer from sciatica too, probably for 7 years as well. I finally went to the doctor about 4 months ago. I was refered to a physical therapist, and it has worked WONDERS! I'm a true believer that my sciatica was caused by slouching, sitting, bending over, etc. So, to fix/reverse the problem, you need to STOP doing those things. Get a lumbar pillow--it really helps. Get "Treat Your Own Back" by Robin McKenzie. Specifically, there is an exercise in the book where you lie face down on the floor, and push up with your arms so your back is arched. I was told to do that 10 times, 5 sec reps, 5 times a day. It should be done so much that your back is sore from it (at first). Honestly, I hardly do it anymore because my sciatica pain is probably 80% better. It really was that easy.

 

[Its_MurDAH]

I'm not interesting in getting my head chopped off, but since western medicine seems to be failling your miserably, have you tried any complementary alternative medicine - acupuncture, aquatherapy, anti-inflammatory regimens...? Might be worth a try if you are "at a loss". We had some pretty smart ppl come and lecture at our school a few weeks back on CAM and it's actually not as bogus as some medical students would think. Of course there were definitely some quacks on board, but it's not that hard to sift through those who have a clue and those who are talking out of their asses.

+1

 

[SomeDoc]

I am about to start medical school and am concerned about sciatica in my left leg. I have had this for seven years now and there is no change. I work as a chemist so it really doesn't cause me pain on a daily basis since it only hurts when I sit in a chair. I have had three MRIs (two lumbar, one piriformis), tried physical therapy for six months, recently had an EMG that showed L5 radiculopathy and finally, a discogram three weeks ago that showed nothing but a healthy disc. I am at a loss. I still have significant back pain from the discogram (in a new region that I have never felt pain before and I think that this is not typical) and my neurosurgeon put me on Neurontin which helped with me tolerating sitting, but it gave me body tingles so I can't take the medication anymore. My ortho guy wants to give me a cortisone injection...my back is still messed up from the discogram so it's understandable why I don't want them touching my back again for the time being.

Sorry to go into the medical history in depth, but I just wanted to see if someone else there is suffering from this condition and has any advice on how it's possible to sit and study without going crazy..or even other testing that I can try before quitting my job in July. I really don't see myself making it through the first two years of medical school when car and plane rides aggravate my leg to the point where I literally don't know what to do with myself.

Thanks!!

I'm not joking; you may benefit from seeing a DO (ortho/neuro/etc.- but one who specifically can perform OMM).

A point (which may or may not be) worth mentioning, is that at times, sciatica may be misdiagnosed for ischial or femoral trochanteric bursitis- a very easy test can be done to rule out either of the latter.

 

[RisingSun]

I am about to start medical school and am concerned about sciatica in my left leg. I have had this for seven years now and there is no change. I work as a chemist so it really doesn't cause me pain on a daily basis since it only hurts when I sit in a chair. I have had three MRIs (two lumbar, one piriformis), tried physical therapy for six months, recently had an EMG that showed L5 radiculopathy and finally, a discogram three weeks ago that showed nothing but a healthy disc. I am at a loss. I still have significant back pain from the discogram (in a new region that I have never felt pain before and I think that this is not typical) and my neurosurgeon put me on Neurontin which helped with me tolerating sitting, but it gave me body tingles so I can't take the medication anymore. My ortho guy wants to give me a cortisone injection...my back is still messed up from the discogram so it's understandable why I don't want them touching my back again for the time being.

Sorry to go into the medical history in depth, but I just wanted to see if someone else there is suffering from this condition and has any advice on how it's possible to sit and study without going crazy..or even other testing that I can try before quitting my job in July. I really don't see myself making it through the first two years of medical school when car and plane rides aggravate my leg to the point where I literally don't know what to do with myself.

Thanks!!

VCgirl,

Sorry to hear that you have sciatica. I herniated L5/S1 in Feb. and it was debilitating pain for about six weeks. What I did was: 1. Steroid epidural injection. 2. Neurontin. and 3. Naproxen. Seriously, maybe it is just how I metabolize drugs, but even high-dose hydrocodone did nothing for me whereas naproxen actually did a great job in handling pain. You might try switching to that and see if it helps. Seems like you are in a much more chronic situation than I was, so I don't have any more advice than what worked for me (and second the suggestion to maintain good posture and increase low back strength), but I feel your pain, literally. I still can't bend over without shooting pain, I have lost some pain/temp along my S1 dermatome, and no ankle reflex - everyone got to test my (lack of) ankle reflex during our clinical medicine class. Hope you are feeling better!

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

*MOD NOTE: This crosses over into asking for medical advice, which is not allowed on SDN. Please see your physician and/or specialist for the best care for your situation. Closing.*