Having severe lower back pain and sciatic nerve pinch since over two weeks now. Pain is excruciating all over my lower back and right leg. Have been using Vicodin, Norco and Methadone until just today one of the emergency doctors gave an injection of a steroid called Medrol and prescribed Medrol Dosepack along with Methadone for now, whilst recommending further diagnosis and analysis. Also suggested accupuncture??? The injection seems to have considerably calm me down leaving "slight" ache. Any take or opinions on this? Thanks.
Is Medrol Dosepack recommended for severe backache and Sciatic Nerve Disorder?
Question posted by DKHAN on 30 June 2011
Last updated on 28 December 2017
4 Answers
Aleas
15 Dec 2016
After reading your post and seeing that you've been suffering for several years with this pain; I had to respond with what finally helped me. Tempurpedic Bed, it worked to alleviate my hip and leg pain, day 1 and it has never returned! They are very expensive, but worth every penny!
Stefanie999
9 Jan 2017
I tried many beds, also the TB. Nothing worked. After doing research i saw people writing about air mattresses. A $7 Walmart mattress has been amazing. The pain was so bad on my hips, im a side sleeper with other beds, now no pain. I have 4 bulging discs; L3,L4,L5, and S1, with almost no disc left on 4 & 5. Went to ER yesterday for sciatica. Hope all of us with.pain find relief
DaintyChef
19 Nov 2016
I have had sciatic pain for the last three years and have been prescribed numerous medications and none actually seem to help the pain. The methylprednisolone helped relieve a little pain but not much. I deal with the same excruciating pain you're feeling/were feeling on my left side. Have you found any relief? If so, what did you do?
Johninte983
7 Dec 2016
I have being going through the exact same pain for 2 years on/off and daily the past 2 months. There seems to be a debate with ice/heat and I use both; heat in morning and bedtime, ice during the day. I find acupuncture to give the most relief and the best thing I ever tried. Next would be massage and physical therapy (TENS machine, stretching). However, the reliefe seems to be temporary as the pain always comes back. I recently had an MRI and the orthopedic surgeon is recommending microdisc surgery to remove the hurniated disc which is also pinching a nerve. Is anyone familiar with this procedure? I would like to avoid surgery but if anything I try is only a temporary fix I would consider a permanent fix.
Overhead
21 Sep 2017
I know im a youngster i am only 30 last sept 2016 my sciatic nerve on my right side started going bunkers i mean i couldnt sit and when i was able to force my self i couldn't stand it was like a charley horse gone bad i went got an MRI found out that my L5-S1 was herniated as well as my L4 which was just black no color unlike the rest of my spin a month a ago August 13th i feel at qork on my right side back in January i had an injection steroid into my L5 worked for a few months untill my resent fall at work had my new consultation with my old ortho doc she prescribe me this Methylpred pak 4 mg. Took all 6 for the first day all at the same time. Anyhow i couldnt help but notice the talk of ice/heat. But i have found that icyhot with lydican does help with some comfort for a short amount of time rather a 9-5 shift but with the lydican also wearing a back brace and kinizer tape aka sport/athletic tape.
I feel all of you or us with this pain i know surgery is the last thing anyone wants to gp through but wpuldnt it help more then whats going on Now?? Anyhow my fall caused my left side to go meaning my left sciatic nerve now im going for a 2nd MRI to find out good luck to you all and godbless us.
sherri huff
2 July 2011
medrol is for inflammaton, it will help with the sciatica pain, which is an inflammed sciatic nerve, have you tried going to the gym, and sitting in the hottub, iI had sciatica so bad I couldn't even walk, the hottub was the only thing that soothed it, it cleared it up in about a week.
DKHAN
2 July 2011
Thanks Sherri for your reply. Though I am a regular, I haven't been to gym since I got this pain nearing three weeks now. The doctor at the ER told me to take cold showers and lots of ice-packs. Not sure about the Jacuzzi since the inflammation is associated with heat, yeah? Sounds quite soothing though loosening and relaxing the nerves and muscles all around but I just might try it.
DKHAN
3 July 2011
Hey Sherri, went to the gym yesterday and sat in the hot tub for about 30 minutes while slowly stretching/exercising my legs. It sure felt good and the pain was relieved. But then afterwards while taking shower, the pain got back more so and remained for the rest of the day even after taking Methodone. Wonder why? I haven't yet started on the Medrol Dosepack and hoping to get a "kick" out of it starting from tomorrow (ah ha Memorial Day). I just sure hope this will elevate relief of pain. A friend of mine also performed acupuncture last night but that too didn't help much either.
Wishing all here a Happy Memorial Day.
sherri huff
4 July 2011
hi Dkhan, i DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE EMERGENCY ROOM DR. TOLD YOU TO APPLY ICE, ICE IS FOR THE SWELLING, NOT THE PAIN, SERIOUSLY, KEEP GETTING IN THE HOTTUB, IF YOU GIVE IT AT LEAST ONE WEEK IT WILL START TO WORK, HAVE YOU TRIED RESTING ON A HEATING PAD? iF YOU COMBINE THE HEAT WITH YOUR PAIN MEDICATION YOU SHOULD SEE MUCH RELIEF, I HOPE YOU START TO FEEL BETTER!!
DKHAN
4 July 2011
I was told that swelling of the muscles, joints, etc., is associated with heat and that it also heightens rash and itching (which is what I also have), and that adding more heat will worsen the overall effects. He said that in this case, hot tub or heat pad should not be used frequently but only sometimes to loosen the muscles/swelling and that cold showers and ice pad should be used instead. I am really confused, dah!
sherri huff
8 July 2011
hi DKHAN, ARE YOU FEELING ANY BETTER, I AM A NURSE AND I HAV E HAD ALOT OF BACK PAIN, MY SCIATIC NERVE WAS SO INFLAMMED THAT I COULD NOT EVEN WALK, OR WIPE MYSELF CLEAN AFTERTHE I WENT TO THE BATHROOM, I WAS PREGNANT , AND COULD NOT TAKE ANY MEDICATIONS FOR RELIEF, MY DAUGHTER WAS LAYING ON MY LOWER BACK, PRESSING ON MY SCIATIC NERVE, THE ONLY OPTION I HAD WAS TO GET IN THE HOTTUB, AND IT DID CLEAR UP MY INFLAMATION, I HOPE THAT YOU CAN FIND SOME RELIEF FOR YOUR PIN AND THAT YOU FEEL BETTER
GandD
25 June 2015
Did you get your MRI results back? I have had 2 xrays of lower lumbar and SI joints all came back normal. I am in a lot of pain in lower back/glutes. I get random glute spasms. Constant pain for 6 months. I started a Medrol pack today. Did it help you?
GandD
27 June 2015
Will medrol efffect lumbar mri results? I want to get one but started a pack a couple of days ago.
olderandachy69
29 Dec 2017
just got on this site..have had sciatica severe pain for at least 3 weeks and have done lots of yoga and lots of alleve etcetera..no help..went to the orthopedic doc yesterday who gave me an rx for the methylprednisolone pack taken 5/4/3/2/1..today is day two and the pain is worse than yesterday! doctor advised walking (very painful) and using ice not heat..have physical therapy prescribed and coming up next week..frustrating as everything says do not take alleve or other such as it will cause stomach and bleeding issues..dont need that..any other suggestions,,, never had this before and I am 69 year old!!
DzooBaby
30 June 2011
Medrol is a steroid medication used for extreme inflammation. If your back has responded to this, it means you have a great deal of inflammation causing your pain. Steroids can not and should not be used on a long term basis so you might want to look into a non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug to help with inflammation on the long term basis to help reduce your pain. Something like Celebrex may help if your other health issues allow you to be able to take Celebrex. Talk to your primary care doctor about what the best NSAID would be for you.
DKHAN
1 July 2011
Thanks for the reply. Yes, I do have a lot of inflammation/bulging of my lower right-side of back and increased numbness/tingling/pain effects down my thighs, knees and on to the foot (most of my right leg). The doctor gave me Medrol dosepack 4mg taken 6 tablets from day one down to 1 tablet in succession starting from tomorrow. She did prescribe me Flexaril at first but then changed her mind to Medrol, perhaps due to increased inflammation and pain; along with Methadone HCL 10mg taken twice a day. I do not have a primary care doctor at this time but will be seeing an Orthopedic soon for complete analysis (perhaps an MRI). My back and right leg is "killing" me since over two weeks now and have never felt such excruciating pain.
FYI, the Medrol injection given this morning did provide calming effects throughout the day though, but am "worried" about taking the steroid which the doctor assured that this was only temporary and should not cause any adverse affects and would certainly relax my inflamed muscles and ease my pain taken in conjunction with other medication. Appreciate any other input. Thanks again.
DKHAN
1 July 2011
Hi, after further reading upon my prescribed medications as indicated earlier, I do have couple of other questions that just came to mind and would appreciate anyone's thoughtful replies:
1. The medication Methadone (for pain) indicates one of the side-effects of Insomnia (didn't sleep the whole last night and still awake, CA time) whilst the other medication Medrol dosepack (muscle relaxant) indicates one of the side-effects of drowsiness and dizziness. Can these opposite side-effects cause any problems or concerns? Are there any other known or experienced untoward indications for taking the two simultaneously?
2. One of my friends who is a "retired" acupuncturist, wants to perform his method on me to cure Sciatic Never disorder and muscle spasms. What he does not know is that if he can do it while I am on those medications and should there be any concerns?
Thanks.
Related topics
Further information
- Medrol uses and safety info
- Medrol prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Medrol (detailed)
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