Question
Hello Doctor, I am just writing as I have been stricken with sciatic since the end of March now, and while perhaps not quite as bad as it originally was, it is still pretty severe and I have it every day. For about 6 weeks I have been going to a chiropracter, and while slightly better, I am still in much pain, not too much better than when I began.  I can run, walk, stand, stand on my toes or heals fine with no problem.  My problem is sitting, and sometimes lying down, but mostly sitting.  The pain is sometimes unbearable when it flairs up.  Usually worse in the morning, and if I have to go drive early it's torture (luckily it's my left leg, not right).  The pain is mostly in my left buttock, but does occasionally go down to any part of my leg.
I had an MRI done about 3 weeks ago, and the summary states:

"Disc herniation at L5-S1 compressing the left S1 nerve root in the lateral recess.Findings: Alignment is preserved. Vertebral body height is preserved. The conus is normal
in size and signal. Incidental note is made of Schmorl's nodes at the L1-2 level.
At L5-S1, there is left central/subarticular disc extrusion compressing the left S1 nerve root
in the lateral recess. There is mild neural foraminal narrowing due to diffuse disc bulge."

All the rest of the discs are normal.

So my question is....how long does it take to get some relief from this?  Is it normal to still be in pain so many months later?  Any recommendations on what to try next, as while I feel slightly better than when I started at the chiropractor, I still am in much pain.  I do take alleve for the pain, or advil, and only find that to mask the situation that I have a problem.  I don't need pain management, I need something that will help this heal!
Please advise.  Thank you so much.

Answer
This Chicago, South Loop & Elmhurst Podiatrist of AnklenfootCenters.com says.......

Dear Chris,
For your sciatica.Unfortunately sciatica can take up to 90 days to quiet down. That said-you should have seen a fair to moderate improvement within 6 weeks-without other complicating factors,such as weight, work, activity,etc.
Try modifying the way you sit-and perhaps a warm shower to help with the lower back & buttox muscles that may be pressing on the nerve. A hot pack may also be used 2-3 times a day.
Have the x-rays evaluated by an MD back specialist to see if the bulging discs are a problem. The physical therapy perhaps should also be re-evaluated to see if other forms of therapy may be more beneficial.
Anti-inflamatories, including steroids can be beneficial in healing, if they are used to quiet down inflammation and bring a condition to a less acute or chronic stage. This needs to be coordinated with your therapy. Perhaps a long acting anti-inflammatory at night-time-to allow you to wake up pain free-until the inflammation subsides.

Hope This Helps!
and
Good Luck!
The podiatrists of AnkleNFootCenters.com are specialists in foot & ankle pain.
We are located in Chicago & Elmhurst

Dr George Tsatsos & Svetlana Zats
Podiatrist Chicago 60618 & Elmhurst 60126 Podiatrists
Board Certified in Foot and Ankle Surgery & Orthopedics
New South Loop Location-Chicago 60661
AnkleNFoot.com
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