sciatica not improving

[gee324]

I have been seeing my doctor for sciatica. The pain is in my back and butt and shoots down my leg.(left side)Althouth I have been through the steroids and muscle relaxant treaments it doesnt seem to be improving. I fact I believe it is getting worse. Dont know if this has anything to do with it but now when I sit for awhile I get numbness or tingling in my genital area and also my feet. It goes away within minutes. This new onset concerns me. Don you have any idea of what it may be?

[Cindee56]

I have the same pain.  The burning and shooting pain is horrible.  I also have neck problems.  Did you get an MRI?  It could be helpful to find out exactly what is going on.  I am scheduled for one also.

I agree, the muscle relaxants don't really help.  Try ice and heat.  Alternate the two.  Also I take 3 Advil in the morning, then 3 at night.

[nuggetone]

I had the same problem.  went to Dr. complaining for 6 mths.  Then she did MRI and seen I needed surgery.  I went to a Nuerosurgeon and I had extruded disc material broken off and lying on the nerve causing the pain.  Sometimes your body will reabsorb the material so he made me wait for 4 wks.  Pain still there and I had lower lumber discestomy-herniated disc, another bulging disc.  I had the surgery and was good for a few mths then it started again.  I am having MRI NOv 20th to see if another one has -rayherniated. also have DDD, spurs.  Ice is better per nuerosurgeon.  The lidocaine patches help while I work.  I take somas.  4 a day.  Valium at night.  I have oxycodone but it makes me sick even with phenagren.  Seems when one complains of back pain they wait till the last minute to do MRI. I just told my dr. something had to give .  Therefore we did surgery.  As of this time I am worse off than before.  Insist they do MRI on you.  That will tell the true story.  Looks as though I am going to have surgery again in the next few mths.  An xray dont show much.  I had been xrayed 4 times and they saw nothing.  So tell them to do MRI.  Remember ice is better than heat.  I wish you luck.