The diagnosis is L4 and L5 herniation with DDD and arthritis. I had a granite bartop minus the hydrolics come down on my head in 2005 this is when I started to experience the sciatica. In early 2006 I had the most intense pain imaginable and this is when the MRI was done and I was told about the herniation. The lumbar steroid injections help a bit with the sciatica but they are not doing anything for the lower back pain. I was given a nerve block on the left side which gave me about 2 months of limited relief but the right side has gotten me right back where I started. I have scheduled another MRI for next week to see how much has changed from the last and I have a consult with my pain management doctor and an orthopedist to see what the next step is. I feel that I have a very high pain tolerance but I feel like such a failure that I cannot perform the simplest daily tasks from dishes to laundry and all I do is take pills all day.View Thread
2 days after injection and the pain is down to a 7 sustained. Still getting quite a bit of sciatic pain. Ended up on 900 mg of neurontin and 4mg of dilaudid for pain. The dilaudid gave me the worst migraine I have ever had with vomiting almost called 911. Still have not been able to sleep in bed hopefully sometime soon. Doctor is sending me for a new MRI and a consult with an orthopedist to go over the results. Looks like I will need another injection on the left side in the meantime. I don't know how to stay sane with all this pain. Husband and kids are having a difficult time understanding. They think that If I just got more exercise that would solve all my pain issues. I wish life was that easy. I can see how chronic pain and depression go hand in hand.View Thread