Health Question

dwna1a

dwna1a

Well-Known Member
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Apr 23, 2012
5,981
James River
Boat Info
88 Weekender 300 "Seahorse"
Engines
Twins 350
Does anyone or has anyone pinched a nerve and can you tell me what med I may be able to take for the pain? This is all a continuance of my fall on my homes deck. I am seeing a doctor and have been placed on a tens unit, but I'm out of work for the next 5 days or so.
 
I pinched my syatic nerve (Large nerve that controls your legs) in 2008 on the boat due to repeated motion digging out the calking between the upper and lower half of the boat. I was put on pain killers with codeine in them strong stuff. Did not do any good. I went for physiotherapy and that did little at first. Physiotheratrist in the end used electric shock to treat the pain in my back and on my numb leg. After 3 treatments the pain was gone and I had full movement again and the numbness was gone. In the mean time my doctor did lots of test and found I had seven severely compacted disks and my left hip was slightly deteriorating. With the pain gone he said to leave it all until the pain came back. All is still fine.
Pills hide the pain. When I broke my arm 2 years ago I was on oxeycoden and that stopped the pain but I lost my mine when I took the pills. Things were normal but I did not recognize people I knew. I stopped the pills.
Get your doctor to send you to a physiotheratrist it might help.
 
I have had a laminectomy on L5 in about 1996. Around 2002 I did C5/6 in my neck and went 7 years before finally succumbing to an operation.

I am left with a dead spot on the sole of my left foot and little upper body strength, stamina.

So have a reasonable amount of personal experience.

First and foremost, the hardest, REST.

painkillers I used (still carry but only rarely use now) Panadiene Forte, I found normal painkillers don't high it enough.

Mobic, or an anti-inflammatory

I have tried various painkillers, digesics and others, most just don't agree with me. I had Endone, which I hate, if is too strong, and I would have hallucinations. But would use them just before I went to sleep.

Gabapentin, basically a nerve painkiller, developed for epilepsy, best of the whole concoction.

Then unfortunately if your pain lasts a long time, probably an antidepressant to take your mind off of it.

Then the non- medication, exercise ( for me, walking ) accunpuncture, ( has been very good to me) Pilates, proper Pilates with a physiotherapist trained instructor, one on one, not a glorified exercise workout. Massage, most often just a relaxing massage, but I still use regularly for maintenance.

And again most importantly REST, because if you don't, you just keep inflaming it.


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I was also given a set of exercises to do.They helped but; I have not done them in 4 years after things got better. I avoid lifting heavy things and streching. If I feel any start of any numness or pain I stop what I am doing and relax. I no longer do any maitenance on the boat that streches things or requires me to get into a not normal position. All I do is change oil, water pumps and wash the windows.
Good luck it took a while for things to get better. Scotch does not work.
 
Am trying to avoid surgery for a L7 herniated disk that is between two other badly deteriated disks and totally agree that Gabapentin (Neurontin) is the best of the medications. Doesn't have any of the narcotic side affects and helps to relive that crawly, zinging nerve pain.
Physical therapy also helped.
 
I go back in today to have more therapy done. Hurts like nothing eles to drive, took the boat over to pump out and get inspected. I could even lift the hatches for the Coasties. I'm also going over to my Neroligest today. Ive got to get back to work after this past winter
 
Sorry to hear you're not doing so good. Try and rest as much as you can (easier said than done). I had sciatica really bad about 15 years ago and was eventually rushed to hospital and had to be given morphine for the intense pain. It was the worst pain I have ever experienced and I have had two children and a fractured spine! Masasage helped too so I would look into that as well as a pain killer. My left hip has never been the same since the bad sciatica. Take care, hope things improve for you soon.
 
Just got home, MRI is set for tomorrow, no meds till after that. Masasage is set for Wens after PT. Driving is still the worst pain I've ever had but I don't like folks driving me around. A week of crappy weather is moving in so I will be forced to rest
 
I had the disk issue as well, and the eppideral shot in my back worked wonders for me.
 
Anti inflammatory meds like ibuprofen and naproxen (not just for the pain but actually reduce the inflammatory response), ice to the affected area, TENS is great and rest. The narcotics mentioned will knock you out of work anyway, but they just cover the pain, not help the nerve issue. I doubt you would be placed on Neurontin for an acute injury. If the pain persists longer, then your MD may try those things. If it is a back injury, epidural may be in your future. I had that to no avail, then had a microdiscectomy to relieve the pain.
 
I live on Naproxen for my migraines and started taking it today in a much higher dose. The nerve is in my neck and controlling my right arm and hand. I'm resting today on ice, very two hours then off for an hour.

No sleep and no work have made George a very grumpy husband and dad, I can't even drive to Fredricksburg to get Caitlin on Friday. I will post a photo of my young blond nurse maid here shortly


BTW Full House is doing great, we had a few small winter issues this past year. All in all she's running great! Even Rusty gave me some great comments about her and the hull designs for that year of SeaRay. You did a great job with her and we here thank you. If you ever get back to the east coast you'd be more than welcome to come by and see her
 
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I stretch EVERY morning and that seems to keep my Sciatica at bay. I absolutely HATE having to depend on medication every day, but every once in a while I'll have to pop a few naproxen when I feel it about to bite me in the butt.
 
MMMMmmmmmm, Darvocet! I had back surgery in 2009 to replace my L4/L5 disc with an artificial disc and my L3/L4 was fused with hardware (metal plate and 4 screws). I have not taken a pain pill since early 2010 and that was 1/2 a pill. Darvocet was one that did reduce the pain or at least make me not care about it. I should dig up shots from my CT Scan and post sometime...
 
dwna1a said:
I live on Naproxen for my migraines and started taking it today in a much higher dose. The nerve is in my neck and controlling my right arm and hand. I'm resting today on ice, very two hours then off for an hour.

No sleep and no work have made George a very grumpy husband and dad, I can't even drive to Fredricksburg to get Caitlin on Friday. I will post a photo of my young blond nurse maid here shortly


BTW Full House is doing great, we had a few small winter issues this past year. All in all she's running great! Even Rusty gave me some great comments about her and the hull designs for that year of SeaRay. You did a great job with her and we here thank you. If you ever get back to the east coast you'd be more than welcome to come by and see her
Click to expand...

Sorry to here that. That is where my neck pain was running when I did C5/6. After 7 years it then radiated down both arms, and thats when I got really pissed off.

Be prepared for 2nd opinion as well. I wasnt comfortable with the neurosurgeon that did my lower back when I went back to see him. I actually went home and googled as aI was after a surgeon that did the disc replacements. I found a Surgeon. managed to get a cancellation appointment a week ahead, and operated on a few days later.
He actually mapped out several paths we could take, and believed that the minor op, of a port and polish would hold me, Which meant going through the back of the neck, anything more is through the front.....

But I reiterate, Rest, Pilates, Physio etc.....FIRST...............there is another memeber on here, who has had the titanium discs inserted, and reports very good results............I dont know how the medical works with you there. Here the discs are not covered, the Surgeon put me in direct contact with the importer, the discs were quoted to me at $10K, then he would have done the surgery etc which my medical would have covered.

As I said I didnt have the replacements, I am reasonably fit, however I have not been able to get upper body strength back, more to the point though is not so much the strength, I can lift etc, what I dont have is stamina in the upper body, I feel myself fatigue very quickly.
 
Update, MRI was cancelled do to my BP 180/120. Until it comes down I am on Oxy and a anti inflation drug pack, then a nerve testing appointment. For the first time I heard the word surgery today. Now I am getting a little scared. I want to thank everyone for the advise and will do my best to keep everyone informed
 
Update. I've only been on the inflammation meds two days and the pain meds one. The ice and inflammation meds are working the best so far. Still can't work but with the rain we've had it's been alright. I've got killer cabin fever and get to drive for the first time tomorrow, I'm headed to the boat just to spend the day with her. I'm not allowed to work on her, but at least I get to hear the motors run
 
Good News, make sure as the Meds start to work, that you dont jump back into life straight away. Let the body heal. Believe me I know how hard that is to do, but you have to rest it
 
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