I just had another epidural on Tuesday. Pain Dr. Hit the nerve and it hurt alot. He apologized for "getting too close to the nerve". I got a spinal headache that night and thinking the epidurals aren't working anymore. Not many options left unless I'm willing to try an ablation.
I had my yearly physical with primary Dr. He recommended duloxetine to help with chronic pain and nerve pain. Keeping my fingers crossed this works.

It looks like you have tried a lot. A Rhizotomy is what was great for me. total pain free on my psycotic (sciatica nerve) for like a month. They either chemically or electrically frazzle the nerve and it grows back in diff time frames for diff people.

That was the precursor to getting a spinal implant. The temp test implant went great! No sciatica pain for a week so that implant removed and a perm one put in place about 3 weeks later.

This placement of the implant didn't help this time like the temp one did. The random sciatica remains BUT, the implant did PREVENT two other painful PLACES. I had constant pelvic floor pain that Ched but if I sat more than an hour it became like sitting on a knife stabbing me and it stopped the bursitis pain on my right hip that was excruciating at times.

So,THERE WAS AND STILL IS A SILVER LINING TO MY IMPLANT. Make sure you tell them of all areas of pain and an implant will provide relief.

The sciatica pain is leftover from a 4 disk fusion in my lower back. the tailbone has already been fused by the arthritis.

I had been walking bent over for like 5 years so I did not feel the sciatic nerve until after my disk fusion. When I stood up straight it hit running down my leg.

The surgeon did not fuse the L5 right above the tail bone because I didn't mention sciatic pain. a laminectomy did not fix it later either.

Now I tell people to move, sit, stretch , bend, walk to find all potential painful places and the type pain it causes Burning, stabbing, sharp, dull ache, throbbing whatever.

Had I done it myself the sciatic would have been eliminated in my first surgery.

Hope some of this helps.

Did Duloxetine help your pain? Just wondering. I'm on it and I feel like it helps more than any other med I've been on. I still struggle with pain every day though.

Oh my , I don’t want to end up in all those surgeries. My sciatic pain was eliminated by epidurals injections. Other areas of the spine by triggers points, epidurals and ablations however there benefit has decreased in taking away my pain.

One of the suggestions I received. Thanks! 😀