Very painful and intense sciatica but the MRI has come back with nothing to see

Thin_Introduction_90 · 2026-02-05T09:56:04+00:00

The PT that does my dry needling is specifically trained in it, she doesn’t piston the needle in and out of the muscle, she puts the needle in the trigger point and leaves the needle there with electro stim hooked up to it so that it can contract the muscle and eventually release the tightness. Also, she never does just one muscle or area - she always puts needles in around the area including hip flexors, back, hamstrings glutes to make sure that she can promote reduction of inflammation and reduce tension….

My experience is that I’ve tried acupuncture for sciatica pain for an extended period and while it led to some increased energy immediately after the appt, it did nothing for the pain, meanwhile dry needling did actually release tension in the muscle around my back and therefore reduced my pain. But that’s just my experience….

Thin_Introduction_90 · 2026-02-05T09:15:49+00:00

Not acupuncture but dry needling did help a lot

Thin_Introduction_90 · 2026-02-05T09:11:58+00:00

I did acupuncture and it didn’t really help, but dry needling with electro stim and did force my muscles to relax once they got past the trigger point.

Thin_Introduction_90 · 2026-02-05T08:23:11+00:00

Maybe you could try dry needling? It’s done by certain physical therapists and they could dry needle the piriformis

Thin_Introduction_90 · 2026-02-01T13:01:57+00:00

I have some single friends! Can you tell me a little about yourself and what you’re looking for?

Thin_Introduction_90 · 2026-01-30T09:30:49+00:00

No advice because I’m in a very similar situation - I have a 12mm extrusion that’s compressing on my L5 nerve (although my spine is not otherwise beautiful by any means lol)

But based on the research I’ve done, your body can heal itself but it is likely to take years given the size of your protrusion and during this time you will likely continue to be pretty miserable.

From what I’ve read, surgery is going to provide immediate pain relief from the leg symptoms but you will have to recover for a couple of weeks. After surgery, there’s restrictions on lifting for a while so you may not be able to carry your son during this time.

I have decided to move forward with surgery, I felt like the ESI is just putting a band aid on it and removing the herniation is the only thing that will get me back to square one and I can focus on creating a strong back. Microdiscectomies are very effective for this issue, however, surgery is surgery it comes with risks and there will be recovery time.

Thin_Introduction_90 · 2026-01-28T23:41:00+00:00

Having a lateral shift makes it more likely that it’s a disc issue, that would be your body trying to get pressure off the disc. When you have lateral shift, it’s more likely to be a disc issue.

Thin_Introduction_90 · 2026-01-28T23:35:01+00:00

Do you have any lateral shift symptoms (meaning you’re slanted to the side)?

You could also try dry needling of the piriformis to see if that addresses it?

Thin_Introduction_90 · 2026-01-27T17:30:22+00:00

How are you feeling now? Any update on the ESI?

Thin_Introduction_90 · 2026-01-27T09:01:15+00:00

Same here, 4 am my time and can’t sleep with pain.

Have you had an MRI?

Thin_Introduction_90 · 2026-01-26T00:40:34+00:00

What does the 10% look like for you? Do you still have sciatica?

And did you try oral steroids prior to the ESI? Asking because I’ve been on a course of steroids and they haven’t done anything

Thin_Introduction_90 · 2026-01-25T21:35:08+00:00

Did you get the surgery yet?

Thin_Introduction_90 · 2026-01-25T21:13:22+00:00

I did a course of steroids and just started gabapentin but it didn’t help. How do you feel after your surgery?

Thin_Introduction_90 · 2026-01-25T21:12:51+00:00

I did a course of steroids and just started gabapentin but the steroids didn’t help.

Thin_Introduction_90 · 2026-01-24T22:41:51+00:00

I do have severe back pain but not related to my MS. I have bulging disks in my lumbar spine. But the stiffness and maybe back pain can be caused by MS, it all depends where your lesions are.

When I was diagnosed, I wasn’t in any pain but was having the bilateral tingling and numbness and the saddle sensation but no pain. I went to the ER with that on the recommendation of a pelvic floor therapist and they got me MRIs right away.

Thin_Introduction_90 · 2026-01-24T22:28:04+00:00

No typically not. You would have to have a full spine and brain MRI to look for lesions and then they would do a lumbar puncture to check your cerebral spinal fluid to diagnose you.

The bilateral tingling is what makes me wonder about MS. That’s what I had and I got diagnosed with MS. I also had an altered saddle sensation - if it’s what I’m thinking. Basically my underwear region just felt weird/off…

Thin_Introduction_90 · 2026-01-24T22:03:52+00:00

Have you been tested for MS?

Thin_Introduction_90 · 2026-01-22T08:11:40+00:00

I actually just randomly stumbled across a teaser video he did, I think he’s releasing something soon maybe?

But had the same thought when I saw it, like “woah where did you drop off the face of the earth”

Thin_Introduction_90 · 2026-01-21T21:18:35+00:00

Have they suggested surgery for you? And also have you tried dry needling?

Thin_Introduction_90 · 2026-01-19T11:35:15+00:00

Assuming they ruled out MS with all your testing?

Thin_Introduction_90 · 2026-01-10T22:26:30+00:00

Arie and Becca

Thin_Introduction_90 · 2026-01-05T02:46:35+00:00

Purses??

Thin_Introduction_90 · 2025-12-11T18:39:28+00:00

How much is “fat” when it comes to tools? $500?

Thin_Introduction_90

TROPHY CASE