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Ginger1218
Member
08-31-2001
| Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 3:11 am
I have been having a severe sciatica attack now for the past 2 weeks. I have been getting accupuncture and physical therapy and nothing is helping. I am afraid I will become addicted to vicodin. The physical therapist says if I don't get some relief soon, I should really consider an epidural, because he doesn't want the nerve to become more inflamed than it is. Has anyone had this for back pain? Did it help? Did it hurt to have it done? Give me your opinion please
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 5:20 am
I only had it to give birth for both c-sections. They numbed the area though so it didn't hurt.
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Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 11:03 am
Have you considered a second opinion? Epidurals don't hurt when you get them, but my epidural GAVE me my severe back pain later on. I've never heard of getting an epidural for back pain.
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Ginger1218
Member
08-31-2001
| Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 11:15 am
It is with steroid medication that they do it, to relieve the inflammation of the nerve I was told to do this by 4 people (doctors, etc.)
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Mak1
Member
08-12-2002
| Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 11:26 am
MrMak had epidural spinal injections for his sciatica pain, caused by a bulging disc in his lower back. He tends to feel pain more acutely than some (to put it nicely). He said his fear of having the injection was terrible, but the actual injection wasn't bad at all. It did help him considerably but wore off after a while. I really think his work is what was aggravating it, because after two months of working in his steel-toed boots on hard surfaces, he had to have another injection. Since retirement, it hasn't bothered him. I doubt that's a coincidence. Here's some info, in case you want to read a bit about it. Epidural steroid injections Spinal injections are not new – the use of spinal injections to treat low back pain was first documented in 1901, and in 1952 epidural steroid injections were first used to treat low back pain with associated sciatica (pain in the sciatic nerve due to lumbar disc herniation). Today, epidural steroid injections have become an integral part of non-surgical management of low back pain. An epidural injection is typically used to alleviate chronic low back and/or leg pain. While the effects of the injection tend to be temporary - providing relief from pain for one week up to one year - an epidural can be very beneficial for patients during an episode of severe back pain. Importantly, it can provide sufficient pain relief to allow the patient to progress with their rehabilitation program. An epidural is effective in significantly reducing pain for approximately 50% of patients. It works by delivering steroids directly to the painful area to help decrease the inflammation that may be causing the pain. It is thought that there is also a flushing effect from the injection that helps remove or "flush out" inflammatory proteins from around the structures that may cause pain. spine-health.com Good luck, {{{Ginger}}}. I'm so sorry you're dealing with such debilitating pain.
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Ginger1218
Member
08-31-2001
| Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 11:36 am
Thank you MsMak. I miss you. <whining> LOL Poor MrMak. He is such a sweetie, you stop talking about him. LOL Thanks for the info.
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Mak1
Member
08-12-2002
| Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 11:42 am
LOL! I'll be nice to MrMak. He deserves it...even when he whiiiiiiiines. You're welcome, and I hope you can find some relief soon. I miss you, too!
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Dahli
Member
11-27-2000
| Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 1:20 pm
My daughter uses the teeter hang up for hers and also has had some success with EFT... My Ex swears by the Bowen Technique, but he's in the states and it's easier to find practitioners there. Hasn't had trouble with it ever since that treatment. Hope you find relief somewhere amongst all these suggestions!!
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Ginger1218
Member
08-31-2001
| Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 1:26 pm
HUH? LOL what is the teeter hang up? and what is the Bowen Technique?
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Dahli
Member
11-27-2000
| Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 1:29 pm
The Bowen Technique Gentle Touch Produces Miracles by Gerri Shapiro, MS Ed. For as long as I can remember, I've suffered from back pain. Although I have experienced some relief using heat, cold, massage, chiropractic and acupuncture, invariably the pain has always returned. Until one day I visited a friend in California who had similar back problems. She told me she had some body work done called Bowen. Her back and hip pain were gone after just one session! I was definitely intrigued. I couldn't wait to find out more. When I arrived back home I got on the internet and learned that the Bowen Technique involves a series of very gentle rolling moves on the body using thumbs and fingers. It was developed in Australia in the 1950's by Thomas Bowen, a gifted healer who devised a simple but powerful method for releasing pain. Hoping to find a Bowen practitioner near me, I emailed close to 40 practitioners around the U.S. and asked if they could refer me to someone. After 39 "no's" I got one "yes!" I arranged to have three Bowen sessions. After the third session, my back pain and sciatica were "history!" I got so excited I decided to train to become a Bowen practitioner. History Tom Bowen was a gifted natural healer from Australia. Late in life he discovered he had an unusual gift that allowed him to intuitively know what was ailing people and how to help them relieve their pain. His healing technique is unique in that it was developed without him having had any previous medical or healthcare training. He claimed he could feel tiny vibrations in people's muscles that helped him find the exact location to work on. He spoke of his skill with great humility and frequently stated that his work was simply a gift from God. Tom had the capacity to quickly assess what was wrong with someone and where they were out of balance. He could look into a room full of people, glance at them for about 20 seconds, and know what their problems were. Although he never advertised, it was estimated that he treated over 13,000 people in the course of one year, and he claimed a success rate of about 88%! Like Palmer (Chiropractic), Rolf, (Rolfing), Feldenkrais (Feldenkrais Technique) and Usui (Reiki), Tom Bowen had a unique talent. He dedicated his life to turning his gift into a practical application that has proven to be of great benefit to thousands of people all over the world. A Unique Technique The Bowen Technique is quite unique. There are several features that set it apart from other modalities Gentle It is so gentle that you hardly notice you're being touched. People usually become very relaxed right away, and often fall asleep during a session. Fast Rapid pain relief is common. Most pain and injury will respond within two or three sessions. Long-Lasting Relief People often experience a deep and long-lasting relief. Two to three sessions spaced one week apart are usually enough to achieve lasting relief, even from long-standing pain or injury. Safe There is no one who cannot be treated safely with Bowen. It is so gentle, it can be used on babies, pregnant women, the elderly and the disabled. It is not dangerous to those suffering from chronic illness and it is ideal for treating children because it is non-invasive and non-threatening. Two Minute Pauses It is a unique feature of the Bowen Technique that there are two minute breaks in which the practitioner actually leaves the room. These pauses are crucial as they allow the body time to absorb the "messages" presented by the moves. Painless There is no cracking, no force and no needles. There is little discomfort or pain involved because there is no heavy pressure or hard probing into sensitive muscles or joints. Less Is More The practitioner does the minimum needed to bring about a healing response in the body. The more acute the pain, the less they do. The less they do, the more profound the effect on the body. Great First Aid Tool When you apply the Bowen Technique right after a fall, injury or accident, the release of tension acts in a preventive way to help correct any imbalance before it can adversely affect the body. Easy To Learn The technique is easy to learn. There is only one basic move. How Does Bowen Work? The gentle yet powerful Bowen moves send neurological impulses to the brain resulting in immediate responses of muscle relaxation and pain reduction. The moves create energy surges which are concentrated in specific areas of the body using "blockers" or "stoppers." These are released when you stand up. The Bowen Technique helps the body remember how to heal itself. Electrical impulses sent to the nervous system remind the body to regain normal movement in joints, muscles and tendons. This helps relieve muscle spasms and increase blood and lymph flow. Several of the moves are located along acupuncture meridians or on specific acupuncture points which are known to stimulate and balance the body's energy. A Bowen Session A Bowen treatment lasts about 30-45 minutes. No oils are used. Treatment can be done through clothing or directly on the skin. The practitioner "rolls" over the muscles with her fingers, which causes the muscles to relax. The moves are done in groups. Between sets, the practitioner leaves the room for at least two minutes to allow the body to relax and make its own adjustments. The moves send out signals which: stimulate energy flow; facilitate lymphatic drainage of toxins and waste; promote good circulation; release tension; increase mobility; encourage the body to relax, realign and heal itself. Some people feel shifts in their bodies during and after a Bowen session. While many experience immediate pain relief, improvement is just as likely to unfold over the next few days to a week. Two or three treatments are usually enough to achieve long-lasting relief. Even long-term conditions may respond very quickly. The ideal situation is to give the Bowen Technique a try for 3 sessions, once per week, without having any other kind of bodywork in between. Surprising and Unexpected Recoveries People with chronic disabilities such as chronic fatigue syndrome, MS, fibromyalgia, cerebal palsy, muscular dystrophy and arthritis have been known to show a gradual improvement in the condition and quality of life. If someone has not responded to other forms of treatment, it is always worth trying the Bowen Technique because in many cases it has been known to trigger sometimes surprising and unexpected recoveries when nothing else has worked. Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue - One Woman's Story Exhaustion had become a stable part of her life, as had the pain. During a visit to a new doctor, a brief mention of the Bowen Technique was made and she was referred to a practitioner. She had no idea what to expect and she was very nervous during her first visit. The therapy was explained in a very reassuring way, even though she didn't really understand the part about "energy flow" and she found the whole thing a little weird. But she had come this far, so she thought she might as well give it a try. The treatment itself was very relaxing. In fact, she almost fell asleep several times. Since she was accustomed to a life of conventional drug therapy, she tried to rationalize how Bowen could possibly help, especially after nothing else had worked. The week after her first session she remained skeptical, and so it was to her surprise that within a few days she began to feel different. Her pain was still there, but she felt different. Like she could do more. She decided it was probably a coincidence. Over the next few weeks she began to take regular walks and without even noticing it, she slowly developed less reliance on pain killers. Gradually the time between Bowen treatments grew longer. It is now months since her last treatment and she still doesn't understand the whole process, but what does that matter? When did she ever understand how conventional medicine worked? All she knows is that without the aid of prescription drugs, she is slowly regaining much of the life she had lost for so long. The main difference between Bowen and other modalities is how fast it works, how gentle it feels and how long the pain relief lasts. Anyone can learn how to do the Bowen Technique: there is only one basic move. The technique has been successful in treating back pain, sciatica, headaches, migraines, arthritis, fibromyalgia, sports injuries and much more. For me, the miracle lies in the fact that doing so little produces such long-lasting relief. http://www.boweninfo.com/ http://emofree.com/ \newurlhttp://www.teeterhangups.com/products/product-list.html
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Dahli
Member
11-27-2000
| Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 1:35 pm
oops it's the inversion table she uses, not the rack
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Dahli
Member
11-27-2000
| Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 1:38 pm
http://www.teeterhangups.com/products/product-list.html
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Dovez
Member
08-27-2005
| Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 2:06 pm
hi ginger...i've had a series of three spinal epidurals. they were a last resort before surgery in my case. and also in my case they were not effective. unfortunately i am very very sensitive to steroids. i have heard of some good results from the procedure.
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Ginger1218
Member
08-31-2001
| Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 2:50 pm
Thank you Dahli, very interesting. I am not so sure about the teeterhangups, but I sent an email to the Bowen site to get locations, I am willing to try anything. I have to be very careful, because I have severe spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis, so I have to be very careful about the treatment I get. But, those things are what causes me to get sciatica. Thank you all for answering, I appreciate the feedback
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Wendo
Member
08-07-2000
| Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 2:58 pm
Before having my ACDF surgery on my herniated disc, we tried conservative care an epidural steroid injections. While my pain seemed to be less (though I was on pain meds), it didn't relieve the pressure on my nerve. Thus, the surgery. The procedures weren't that bad (I had two injections.) During the first injection, though, I did experience a vasovagal reaction. Came out of it ok though. The second one a couple weeks later went fine. Didn't have a third since there wasn't significant improvement after the first two.
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Dahli
Member
11-27-2000
| Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 3:09 pm
YW Ginger, I hope that you can find some help. EFT is also available by phone, the woman I know is working with a young man in Africa with amazing results with his PTS from a war there. It is a very interesting modality and she was a huge help with my dad's Parkinson's disease last year. The hangup not so much!?? LOL It's a very weird sensation lemme tell ya!
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 8:21 pm
Bigdog was pretty much immobilized by back pain a few years back when we went to Texas for the winter. (I'd like to have a whine-off between Bigdog and MrMak; we could all place bets.) They tried the muscle relaxants first, no relief. He had the epidural, and he had almost immediate relief. Procedure itself was a piece of cake compared to the pain he had been having. He has had only minor back pain episodes since, and none since he quit Lipitor (turns out back pain and other muscle pains are a side effect of taking Lipitor, which we didn't know until I read it here at TVCH).
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Dahli
Member
11-27-2000
| Thursday, August 31, 2006 - 7:40 am
http://www.bowendirectory.com/ Ginger, found another link to locate practitioners.
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Mak1
Member
08-12-2002
| Thursday, August 31, 2006 - 11:55 am
Lol Juju!
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Ginger1218
Member
08-31-2001
| Sunday, September 10, 2006 - 6:21 am
I am going for an epidural on Wednesday. I hope it helps. I am truly losing my mind from this pain. It is amazing that since the fire I have not had one day without pain.
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Mak1
Member
08-12-2002
| Sunday, September 10, 2006 - 6:40 am
Good luck, Ginger. I hope it helps bunches!
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Sunday, September 10, 2006 - 7:33 am
Good luck!
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Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Sunday, September 10, 2006 - 8:43 am
Lots of interesting information regarding the epidural here. I hope this is the answer for you Ginger and makes the pain go away. I'll keep you in my good thoughts.
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Retired
Member
07-11-2001
| Sunday, September 10, 2006 - 8:46 am
I hope the epidural helps with your pain.
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Sunshyne4u
Member
06-17-2003
| Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 12:54 am
Epidurals can cause problems in the long run. If a person is already in chronic pain it is awfully hard to tell when it gets worse (after the freezing runs out of course) It took many practitioners of differing interests to get any relief from my problem. Cranial Sacral therapy may help. Dahli has posted a great blurb on Bowen therapy. Many of the therapies are so similar. My first question to you would be HOW did the sciatica start? A bad twist? woke up one morning? Chronic prob from pregnancy? How it started is the key to how it is fixed. I had sciatica so bad I was unable to use a leg. Could put no weight on it. It started as a pop in my low back at work when twisting over a patient's bed. Chiropractic put the bones back in place and I had instant relief. Most 'regular' physios do not have the ability to put your bones back where they need to go. Acupuncture is a bandaid to block pain by putting needles there to swell and block the signal. Hope I helped! Let us know what you've done eh?
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