Answer Summary

Members responded to a question about treating sciatica from degenerative osteoarthritis by sharing a wide range of personal experiences with... Read more

Members responded to a question about treating sciatica from degenerative osteoarthritis by sharing a wide range of personal experiences with treatments that provided varying levels of relief. Several members found success with epidural steroid injections (lasting weeks to months), nerve ablation procedures (which many highly recommended), acupuncture, gabapentin or Horizant for nerve pain, physical therapy, heat therapy, hemp or CBD products, stem cell injections, and devices like the Lo-Bak Trax or tennis ball myofascial release techniques. A recurring theme was the importance of self-advocacy when doctors dismiss pain as simply part of aging, the value of pain management specialists over general practitioners, and the reality that finding relief often requires trying multiple approaches while balancing concerns about medication side effects, addiction risks, and the impact of long-term steroid use on bone health.