Post-Surgical Herniated Disc & Sciatic Nerve
Author: Amy H.
Date: 06-18-2014
Views: 9,932
Word Count: 596
Questions Received: 1
Testimonial ID: 9815-OR
Brand Neutral: No
Scientific Studies: 8
Note: Not all essential oil brands are the same, and you get what you pay for. If you expect to achieve results similar to those described in this testimonial, then ensure that you are using oils from pesticide-free plants. Also, the brand should use 100% pure, high-quality essential oils that do not contain any synthetic additives. Do your own research or ask a trusted friend to find a brand that is reputable. Buyer beware.
I had surgery 15 months ago to address a severely herniated disc in my lower back. I am a healthy 42-year-old mother of 7 and have had recurrent sciatic pain in my lower back and down my leg due to lower back muscle strain for most of my adult life. But I never imagined that I would have a disc that had herniated and require surgery for correction.
Prior to surgery, I was attempting to address the problem with rest and medication. One of the medications I elected to take was lyrica. The lyrica addressed my neuropathic pain completely, which was severe in my leg and foot, but I had every conceivable listed potential side effect from the medication, including 45-pound weight gain, blurred vision, memory loss, joint pain, and muscle aches.
Eventually the benefit was clearly outweighed by the subsequent problems. I had to undergo surgery. I could not walk; I could barely stand. The pain was incredible!
Immediately following surgery, to my dismay, I realized that I still had neuropathic pain down the outside of my leg and foot, typical of the pain experienced when a particular nerve center is being pressed on. My surgeon told me that I should recover -- and the pain should resolve -- within 18 months.
Well, 15 months later, the pain was alive and strong. I had another MRI, in February and in May, and it confirmed my worst fear. The disc was clearly re-herniated in February's image and even worse in the May scan. Another back surgery was a nightmare I did not want to revisit.
After lots of reading and research, I joined Young Living and purchased my starter pack of essential oils a couple of months ago. The desire to treat my family with fewer drugs and to get far more natural in our response to injury or illness drew me in.
I am thrilled and amazed with the effects of the Thieves and Lavender essential oils in our lives. However, my body's response to the essential oils that I have used for my herniated disc and sciatica has floored me!
I have been using a combination of essential oils each evening at bedtime (I am looking forward to ordering more and using them morning and evening to see if that boosts the effects), all of them referenced in the essential oils reference book.
My protocol:
* Valor on the sole of my bad foot and on the small of my back (2 drops each spot)
* Cypress on the small of my back (3 drops).
* PanAway on the small of my back (2-3 drops).
I am in the middle of packing moving our family, and for 2 or 3 nights in a row I was simply too tired to use my essential oils. By last night, my leg was screaming again. So I used the oils last night before bed, and today my leg and foot are SO MUCH BETTER! The oils were clearly helping, and my lapse was proof enough for me!
Once my family gets relocated, I plan to combine some good physical therapy and exercise to address strengthening my core and back. But in the meantime there is no question that the essential oils I have been using have made a significant difference in lowering my discomfort and increasing my mobility and longevity each day!
I know that, medically and physically speaking, each individuals response to any therapy is "host specific." It is different for each of us, but I intend to continue playing with the combination and expect even greater things from my essential oils!
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| Supporting Scientific Studies | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Associated topics: spine,muscle-pain,sciatica,back-pain — "We examined the evidence regarding the effect of herbal medicine on pain in people with non-specific low-back pain (LBP).... Lavender essential oil applied by acupressure appeared effective in reducing pain and improving flexibility compared to conventional treatment." | Link |
| 2. | Associated topics: muscle-spasm-/-twitch — "Peppermint oil is harmless and acts locally to inhibit GI [gastrointestinal] smooth muscle contraction.... Peppermint oil solution administered intraluminally can be used as an antispasmodic agent with superior efficacy and fewer side effects than hyoscine-N-butylbromide...." | Link |
| 3. | Associated topics: muscle-spasm-/-twitch — "Lavender essential oil has been used as an anxiolytic [anxiety] drug, a mood stabilizer, a sedative, spasmolytic [muscle spasms], antihypertensive [high blood pressure], antimicrobial, analgesic [pain] agent as well as a wound healing accelerator.... The present study suggests that inhalation of lavender essential oil may be an effective and safe treatment modality in acute management of migraine headaches." | Link |
| 4. | Associated topics: muscle-spasm-/-twitch — "Anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic [muscle spasms], antimicrobial, antioxidant, carminative [flatulence] and immunomodulatory properties of caraway suggest that it might exert beneficial effects on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).... CHE and CEO [caraway essential oil] at all doses tested were effective in reducing colon tissue lesions and colitis indices and the efficacy was nearly the same when different doses of plant fractions were administered p.o. or i.p..... These data suggest that caraway fractions are both effective and possess anti-colitic activity irrespective of the dose and route of administration." | Link |
| 5. | Associated topics: nerve-pain,numbness-/-tingling-(Neuropathy) — "The patient was successfully treated with topical peppermint oil [for postherpetic neuralgia, a complication of shingles].... The authors believe this is the first evidence of peppermint oil (or menthol) having a strong analgesic effect on neuropathic pain." | Link |
| 6. | Associated topics: nerve-pain,numbness-/-tingling-(Neuropathy),sciatica — "Ameliorative effects of Ocimum sanctum [holy basil] in sciatic nerve transection-induced neuropathy...." | Link |
| 7. | Associated topics: muscle-spasm-/-twitch,muscle-pain — "[T]he effect of essential oils on skeletal and smooth muscle...: The first type of effect on skeletal muscle involved a contracture and inhibition of the twitch response to nerve stimulation shown by a sample of clary sage, dill, fennel, frankincense, and nutmeg; ...lavender reduced the twitch response alone." | Link |
| 8. | Associated topics: muscle-pain — "Herbalists treat skin ailments, such as fungal infections (like candidiasis), wounds, eczema, and acne, with lavender oil. It is also used in a healing bath for joint and muscle pain. One study evaluating treatments for children with eczema found [that] it was therapeutic touch from the mother that improved symptoms; in other words, massage with and without essential oils (including lavender) both reduced the dry, scaly skin lesions. Another study found that lavender oil may improve pain control after surgery." | Link |
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