Any input on PAINFUL SCIATICA, ibu 800 mg, epidural injections

[Raney]

So, I have a bulging disk that is causing a sciatica flare up. It has been 2 weeks. It has never lasted this long. They have me ibu 800mg for pain & a medrol steroid .. I have read 50/50 on the bad effects of epidural back injections while on tx. I am on riba & sov 12 weeks...I am 6 1/2 weeks into tx.

Does anyone have experience or input with this? Any info would be extremely appreciated. The pain is terrible but I don't want to mess up tx. So far, my 4 wks were undetected. That was before the ibu 3x a day.

Please help me figure this out. I start a new job Aug 4. I can't even walk right now. I also want the hep c cleared. Talk about a catch 22.

[Pete]

Hello Raney - Your back issue sounds awful.  It sounds you may have had problems with your back in the past?  I can't speak to any of your questions.  But I think you know ibu should best be used for temporary relief.  Especially with underlying liver concerns.

Have you tried any homeopathic pain relief measures?    Staying off your feet, heat, ice, DMSO, pot?  Yeah the last 2 are controversial, but have been suggested for pain relief. 

Happy to hear your hep c treatment is working so far.  Hang in there Raney, and be well.

Pete

 

[Raney]

Pete, Thank you for the input. I've tried the heat ice message route but not much relief. I am allwrbuc to pot I discovered in high school which is ok since I didn't really have much interest in it. I work in the behavioral tech / addiction treatment industry so...I know that pills aren't the answer either. I heard gavapentin. I am going to see what pain management says at my appt tomorrow. Hopefully this pain will disappear when tx is over .. I hope the next 5 1/2 weeks fly by as fast as the first 6 weeks have.

[Pete]

Raney , Undetected at 4 weeks is a great spot be in with a 12 week program.  Sounds like you will come out of this in a better place when it's over. It will be over soon and you can put all of this in the rear view mirror.

Best,
Pete

[crabby old guy]

Raney,
I haven't had them while on tx but I had 3 of them then ended up having surgery. 5 years later I had 2 more because of the scar tissue trapping nerves. then 2 years ago I had 3 in my neck and another one in the lower back because its bulging on both sides now. My opinion is try it, you may get the relief you need. Hopefully you get the kind were they inject the medication and then inject a dye so they can make sure it goes exactally where it will help the most.

[Raney]

Thank you Crabby Old Guy  I'm so eager for my pain management Drs appt tomorrow. I'm going to inquire about gabapentin & also ask the effects of steroids or cortisone & hep c. I've read it had adverse effects and makes the vl spike back up. Yikes. .

Did you ever try gaba? (neurontin) of so, did it help nerve pain? I've been researching methods of pain relief for sciatica with hep c, as well as, while on tx, and gabapentin seems to be a much better way than injections. My gastro nurse said wait until after tx...so gaba may be my only option.

[crabby old guy]

Raney, I just looked up the side affects of the gaba. I would suggest looking them up, same shitty sides I'm dealing with now. If you have a hep c pharmacist I would talk to them. Pain man doc wont know enough about drug interactions.

[Raney]

I will have to do that. I asked my gastro's nurse today a few questions and she said they can't suggest any pain meds. That pain management will be able to, but that she suggests wait until end of tx for any kind of epidural steroid / cortisone injections .. it's like passing the buck. . but I want to stay undetected wth . . how wouldn't they know if gaba is ok to take? Your my liver Drs nurse.  Ugh

[Raney]

Kind of hurt my feelings n pissed me off at the same time. I have 4 years clean. Pills def were never my thing. I wasn't looking for narcotics...just other pain relief med since she said 800 mg ibu 3x / day for 10 days was TOO much. I hate even taking ibu for sheesh sake. Just want the pain to stop so I can get back to life. Been laid up in bed for 2 weeks. I start my new job Aug 4. I'm beyond frustrated in every direction.

[AussieRosa]

Raney, so sorry to hear you're in this situation. Dealing with serious pain when you're in recovery must be a very challenging and difficult problem. I hope your medical professionals will soon be of more constructive help to you. In the meantime have you tried topical remedies such as voltaren emulgel? Not sure what it is called in the usa. It's not one of those heat rubs. It's an anti-inflammatory gel that absorbs through the skin and works remarkably well. I use it when I get a severe bursitis flare-up in my hip joints. Also hot and cold compresses can be very effective when dealing with pain. Just some alternative suggestions that may take some of the edge off. Hoping you get some relief soon.

[Raney]

Thank you AussieRosa. I have been using biofreeze and at first i found relief. Now it just feels TOO COLD .. I will have to look into the voltran gel or something similar here. Thank you.

[Nicola000]

Hi Raney,
So sorry that you are still in pain. This is Nicola, (from the broken foot, wheelchair Harvoni catastrophe) that you kindly answered my posts last week.
I sure know what you mean by catch 22. I am taking coedine, which I was told doesnt interact with Harvoni. Also, I am under the impression that as long as we dont abuse medications and are not on it for a prolonged time, it is not that unsafe. I am only taking half what I am allowed in a day.
I am not a doctor, I dont know your exact situation, I am just repeating what I was told. Surely your specialist can find something that doesnt interact with the treatment ?
One thing I know for sure though with pain, it is very bad for your health to have unmanaged pain.
My doctor took one look at me after 3 days with broken bones and no medication and gave me pain relief. You can go into shock (I think I was ), become irrational and it puts massive stress on your body to be in unmanaged pain.
Gosh I hope you get it sorted. It sounds like a real ordeal.
I also know the extreme stress of having work hanging over your head. Its no picnic when your mind is worried about work performance or even making it there.
Hopefully, you can get some sort of relief.
My thoughts are with you.
Nicola

[Raney]

Thank you Nicola. I went to pain management Dr today. I asked about gabapentin. She said it's ok. It won't interfere. Then she asked why i don't like narcotics (the nurse asked me all kinds of questions b4 I seen the Dr & I mentioned no narcotics to be put in my chart) I explained I have 4 years clean and go to Narcotics Anonymous.
Anyways, the gabapentin seems to be working and I only took 1 pill. Fingers crossed.
Hope you are feeling better ..