Left sided Sciatica due to Spinal Stenosis

Hello,

My objective is to get some inputs, list of remedies that could help me overcome pain (issues caused by diffused disc bulge with facet joint arthopathy in the left side of lumbar spine).

I hope to get valuable suggestions.

Left sided Sciatica due to Spinal Stenosis

- Age 65+, male, current BMI 29

- Diffused disc bulge with facet joint arthopathy
- Osteoarthritis related degenerations
- Lumbar vertebra(s) maintains thickness, position and spacing

- Most likely cause of pain is left foraminal narrowing
- S1 nerve is being impinged that means pain locations
- - Between Left Lumbar Facet Joints (arthritis)
- - Nerve pain Upper Left buttock

Stenosis symptoms
- Better by sitting in slouching position
- Or by pressing left buttock, that creates some space for nerves
- Better bending forward
- Worse Bending back
- Pain increases standing
- Pain worsens walking
- Store cart syndrome (better by shopping with bending)

Sciatica Nerve Symptoms
- Sciatica pain along S1, most in upper left buttock between lumbar spine and buttock
- Sciatica pain along S1, next most in above ankle, left-back area (that limits waling to few 100s feet)
- Dont feel pain in thigh or behind it, it is buttock area and then above ankle (left-back)

Self - efforts for improvement
- Lost 40lbs weight in 6 months by fasting or intermittent fasting
- Self exercises to reduce stenosis pressure in back of lumbar spine
- - Child Position
- - Double Knee to Chest
- - Seated Lumbar Flexion
- - Periformis Stretch
- - Nerve Flossing

Hospitals efforts
- Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections has become useless because of stenosis, no space, it spills out
- Got two steroid injections in SI Joint (to eliminate cause to be any SI Joint problems)
- Next step would be Laminectomy, that is surgical nerve decompressing removing bone and soft tissues that is compressing nerve

Symptoms
- Better by hard pressure, specially with bed warmth
- Stretching, if joints crack
- Stretching to create space
- - including while seated slouching forward, shifting weight right side or stretching by raising left arm
- Most likely chilly, preference to warm cloths (whole body), even in summer, dont enjoy taking daily bath, but at one or two days interval midnight bath with warm (very warm) water.

- Mind active, often skips sleep in night (over 5 times a month), Not sleeping does not affect next day routine.
- Mind very active for all functions except for names of people/friends
- Likes sitting (that is common symptom of stenosis)
- Desire for salty food, often oily
- Prefer sleeping of painful side, that is right due to right nape of left due to left lumbar.
- If pain is less, sleeping on belly, with hands on pillow and head over that.

- All problems left sided, except cracking under right trapezius muscle (i.e. right nape between cervical which is sensitive to draft and right scapula near spine)
- Facial Neuralgia around left eye
- Pain in left rib cage, often because of heart burn (better by eructation), but otherwise too, with compressed feeling in left armpit, and mid nerve pain radiating left arm/hand/fingers(ulnar as well as median)
- Left Lumbar Spine
- Left Buttock (S1 Nerve and sit bone)
- Left knee, specially under patella (cartilage wearing)
- Above Left Ankle (S1 nerve)
- Left heel spur (planter fascia)

- No circulatory issues
- BP 115/75, temperature 97.5
- No lower part digestive issues however to be regular, use of senna once or twice a week

Thank you.
[Edited by dhundhun on 2023-12-04 01:24:42]