u/stevie_the_owl

I’m 2 weeks into a severe sciatica flare, large extrusion at L5-S1. Walking for longer than a couple minutes is still impossible for me. I can sit for a few minutes at a time but if I overdo sitting, I flare later. Laying flat on my back does relieve the pain, and I’m beyond grateful for that at least. For people who recovered from a similar diagnosis, when could you start walking normally with minimal or no pain— and what did you do to get there? I mean just daily functioning, not going on long hikes or anything.

Rant: I have multiple doctor’s appointments to do now for pain management, discuss MRI, discuss surgery if it comes to that, etc. Why on earth are ortho and neuro facilities not set up to help people with this condition (or any similar challenge) when they have to wait for long periods?!? I could barely get through my MRI because there was nowhere in the facility for me to lay down while I was waiting. I actually couldn’t wait to get on the MRI table to get some relief. After that, I asked my ortho office if there would be any way for me to lay down while I waited for my appointment because I was in pain and they looked at me like I was crazy. Damn. It’s just frustrating. Another appointment tomorrow and don’t know how I’m gonna do it. Maybe lay in my car I guess.

I’m a week into bad sciatica and I’m honestly terrified. I went from being super active, working out and dancing everyday to being bed bound and barely able to walk before it kicks in. Severe pain down my right leg when I stand or walk, with numbness and tingling in the foot. It goes away when I sit or lay down. Unless I sit too long and then it flares again. After a week of resting, short walks when I can tolerate it, and managing pain at home I have noticed:

- the amount of time I can walk before pain kicks in is a little longer each day
- regaining some strength in my foot on affected leg
- I still can’t walk normally or longer than a couple minutes before pain starts and when it does start its severe
- edited: pain is also starting to move back up in my body to my back where I originally had some issues

Is this “normal” for a recovery timeline and experiences for people who are still able to recover back to normal walking and pain free within 4-6 weeks? I’m just saying normal walking and not in severe pain everyday— I don’t expect to be back to my old exercise routines that fast.

This is my first time with sciatica and I’m so scared. Mainly because the pain is so bad and constantly keeps coming back, I worry I am permanently disabled now. I have an MRI next week. Have only been using NSAIDS and one Norco a day for pain when it’s the worst, otherwise have been resting because it hurts to walk too much. Just started a steroid pack.

I’m 6 days into what feels like an awful sciatica flare. This is my first one. I started having lower back pain about a year ago but it would always resolve itself, I even got into PT for it and thought I was doing all the right things. Well suddenly it transitioned into horrible pain shooting down my right leg. At first I could barely walk so I went to the ER. They gave me a 6-day taper of methylprednisolone, a muscle relaxer and a few pain pills. I am very scared to take the steroid pack because in the past I haven’t responded well to steroids. After a few days of rest, light walking, heat/ice, and NSAIDS I am seeing improvements in pain reduction and each day I am able to walk a little more before pain starts. I do have some tingling and light numbness in my right foot but it comes and goes. MRI scheduled for next week.

My question— will taking the steroid actually help me heal faster or will it just (maybe) reduce the pain a bit more? If it’s not going to reduce my pain ALOT I don’t want to risk having a horrible reaction. Also - is there a chance that getting on a steroid and feeling better will make me push myself physically father than I should and aggravate things more? I tend to have that problem.

Also— do steroid INJECTIONS affect people more intensely than oral meds? If not then I may just wait it out for my MRI result which I suspect will be a disc problem(s) and then I can ask for an injection.