Arthritis in Lower back

[Alloagirl]

Had an MRI due to unbearable pain in left leg. Symptoms very like sciatica except the pain is down the side of my leg into the foot. Well the results showed arthritis in the spine. I just want to know why I do not have pain in the back but in my leg. The consultation with the doctor was over the phone and it is difficult to remember to ask all the questions. I am wondering if anyone has the same problem has me. The 30/500 cocodamol help but I only take 2 of those as the constipation problem. The pain can move about too. Sometimes in the calf and sometimes the thigh. Walking is difficult but doc said I must exercise. Any of your thoughts would be good.

[piglette]

Spinal arthritis is awful. Have you seen a physio?

[Alloagirl in reply to piglette]

Hi piglette, No the doc seemed to think walking was the best exercise at the moment. I have not been referred to hospital. The doctor more or less said I am at the beginning of the road which at the moment only painkillers are offered.

[piglette in reply to Alloagirl]

Walking is a good idea your doctor is right, but a good physio can show you other exercises that can help, based on their experience. Painkillers are an easy answer for doctors!

[Happyrosie]

wow Alloagirl. Just like me!!!!!

I tried Flesequ ? I think it’s called ) with no benefit though I prob didn’t give it enough time. You have to leave it on for ten minutes so can’t get dressed for a while

I take ibuprofen and make sure I have lansaprozole to avoid tummy probs. Do take Coco as you but constipation calks.

I was given exercises by physiotherapist through NHS One of these made it far worse so she gave others which didn’t help. I do walk 10000 paces a day. Consultant said to swim but I don’t.

He also gave me booklet from Versus Arthritis which I was following anyway. All this assumed my prob was in hip though.

I’ve no answers!

[Alloagirl in reply to Happyrosie]

Hi Happyrosie, I have not been given the choice of physio. Walking is his exercise of choice. I did see a physio when I first had the pains which were not too bad at first, the exercises also made it worse. Then I had naproxen which made me ill so that is why I had the MRI. This was in the lumbar region so lower back. Just have to wait and see and hope the tabs and exercise helps. Don’t need walking aids at the moment.

[Hectorsmum2]

For the constipation you can take some magnesium citrate or high dose vitamain C or both. There are some exercise groups running around the country or online called 'escape pain' Nuffeild health also run excercise classes in thier gyms for people with arthritic pain which are free. You might want to phone verses arthritis for furthur advice.

[Alloagirl in reply to Hectorsmum2]

Than you for your reply. I already take Lactulose which suits me well. I want to choose the right physio as the one I had who just sent me exercises via my iPad and which I did religiously just made it worse.

[Karen-Eleanor]

The reason the pain is in your leg not your back is due to nerve compression. The arthritic joints are inflamed and swell consequently crushing the nerve .

[Alloagirl in reply to Karen-Eleanor]

Thank you for your reply. Yes I do have two pinched nerves but in the left side and the pain is in my right leg.

[Pixix]

yes!I have sciatica on my right side & the pain goes down the side of my thigh. But I also get pain sometimes in the bottom of my bottom! Calf trouble occasionally. On the left side I gave trochanteric bursitis. The acute pain is similar to sciatica, & pain does occurs in my leg. But the worst of the pain is lower back & hip. I have osteoarthritis in many joints, too. Hope this helps a bit.

[Alloagirl in reply to Pixix]

Hi Pixix, do you have physio for your osteoarthritis. I don’t seem to have pain in lower back, a bit of stiffness. As I have said before I am concerned I am just given painkillers and hoping for the best. I am hoping there is something I can do that will lessen the onset of needing walking aids. Thank you for your reply.

[Pixix in reply to Alloagirl]

Unfortunately I have a benign spinal tumour, which causes me lower back pain as well as the bursitis. I don’t have lower back pain on right side where I have the sciatica. I went to physio once, but the physio said there was nothing they could do to help, except give me exercises to improve my hip muscles. I can’t take ibuprofen or similar NSAIDs, due to stomach problems before I got PMR. I went to an arthritis specialist 3 times with OA in thumbs & wrists, & she gave me day splints & night splints & exercises to do daily. But not to the physio dept. I suffer with hypermobility & my joints are liable to dislocate or subluxate quite frequently, & that restricts what can be done to help, too. Ive had steroid injections for osteoarthritis quite frequently (well, as often as allowed!) Not for sciatica, though.

[Alloagirl in reply to Pixix]

Oh my goodness you have a lot going on. I am going to speak to my GP and find out if anything else can be done such as physio. I do not want NHS physio all they do is send exercises. I want to see someone face to face . Not been offered steroid injection. Perhaps I am not bad enough yet. He seemed happy with me on the cocodamol. I do hope you are not in too much pain. X

[Pixix in reply to Alloagirl]

Really? I’ve always had face to face NHS physio. Perhaps a steroid injection isn’t suitable for you. Why don’t you look/post on Versus Arthritis web site? May get more info, replies? I’ve been in 24/7 chronic pain for 15 years (started with fibromyalgia), & acute pain for a while (four car crashes over a period of 30 years). Pays to be optimistic!

[chrisj]

Same problem diagnosed some years ago.

I ended up barely able to walk when the pain was at its worst. The bottom of my spine is arthritic and caused sciatica, the pain was right down one side of a leg even to my toes, very little in my lower back. I guess the wear and tear on vertebrae exposes nerves and thats where the pain comes from. The damage showed up after x rays when a gp told me I had widespread osteo arthritis including the spine.

Over the years its settled down but I can still feel it sometimes when I sit down. Codeine is my go to pain killer when needed, prescribed by a rheumatologist.

[Alloagirl in reply to chrisj]

Hi Chris, I was really interested in your post. I have two pinched nerves but on the left side, yet it is my right leg causing me the problem. You mention a rheumatologist, were you referred by your GP. Also I am wondering if you had any physio. My GP only said I should walk for exercise. I do feel stiff if I sit too long. I just feel I have been brushed off with painkillers and hope for the best.

[chrisj in reply to Alloagirl]

Yes it was a GP referral. I was already under rheumatology for SLE but had been referred a few years earlier for x rays.

I've seen several physios over the years mainly for what is now severe OA in one knee and as its known as wear and tear, I'd become scared to move or walk too much I was struggling..

The physios were very encouraging about moving and walking and learning how to pace myself. I'm not good at slowing down so its not been easy. Stiffness as well if I sit too long, all I do is get up and walk from room to room or if I feel like it have a short walk round the block where I live. Have a middle aged son with me, he's partially sighted and agoraphobic but he's willing to come with me, been thankful for that.

Following advice from physios my confidence is better but I can't walk far, I've tried...sorry to rattle on but yes a referral is what got me to physio and a pain management programme that lasted for 6 weeks. I don't know if those are still available.

[caz1967]

Hi Alloagirl, I have Osteoarthritis in my finger toes feet hands elbows shoulders, but the worst is my back, It has also accelerated the deterioration of my disc disease i have. So i feel foe everyone, having been suffering since 2006, it was found after i experienced a extreme attack of sciatica, which i woke up too, this was so bad initially GP over the phone thought i was having some degree of a stroke, however when she arrived at the home, i could not move my right side of my body, she diagnosed extreme sciatica. MRI'S CT'S all agreed but discovered my soriatic joint & Coccyx area were badly affected. Anyway sine then ive steadily had medications strengthened and changed, the current list has been since 2011. Ive realised not much relief from osteoarthritis pain, swelling stiffness is had from any of the medications. A water bottle and very gentle exercise have more effect. My medications i take now are for the Sciatica & other spinal problems. I hope you find what works best for you, just remember only exercise if you feel able. speak to your GP about referring you to see a pain clinic who offer lots of other forms of relief which could be your answer , hydrotherapy, TENS machine I believe some even offer Acupuncture. just dont let the GP put you on lots of opioid's as I am on and are not the answer!!

Good Luck

[Alloagirl in reply to caz1967]

Hi Caz1967, I am so sorry you have suffered so much. Do you manage to get around much. I think I definitely want to speak to GP about physio. Not NHS do not think much of them after the last time. Not sure how my problem will go. It is better using just two 30/500 and 2 8/500, then just paracetamol. Still some pain and pins and needles but so much better than before Christmas. I have a tens which I used for my OAB. It was really useful but stopped using it since this problem. I will not take too many opioids because of constipation. Hoping things are not too bad for you.

[Happyrosie in reply to caz1967]

You mention opioids, caz. I was prescribed opioids in the form of Butec patches because of a different pain problem which I won’t go into here. These patches to me are an absolutely amazing pain-killer. When the issue for which I was taking them went away I tried to come off the patches, managed to reduce the dose a bit,

Coming off them was very hard (depression, cramps, whatever) so I’ve decided to stay on these for life (well I’m 77 so I’ve got a few years left) along with Co-coda on at night every other night and ibuprofen the other night. During the day I put up with it, along with the patches.

You imply that opioids are not good?

[Birchy]

Hi been suffering with pain in the groin left and right, buttocks left and right and thighs left and right, from May 2023.Xrays and MRI scan done. Had guided injection in the left hip got 3 weeks pain relief then pain moved to the right side/hip. Consultation with hip surgeon said right hip not bad enough to operate said left hip was worse!!!! Had a couple of days away between Xmas and New Year where right leg just completely gave way and fell flat on my face, Since then pain now in left hip, groin, buttock so insisting that I see hip surgeon again and not telephone appointment as planned. 1st consultation I said to him that i just wanted to walk and sleep without being in pain. His record of our consultation to my Dr. says I didn't mention any problems with Sleeping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He kept looking at his watch all through the consultation!!!!!!! I felt like saying "am I keeping you". I also had guided right hip injection on 5th Dec 2023 at surgeons request with no pain relief whatsoever. Keep plugging away and don't take no for an answer. Good luck

[Alloagirl in reply to Birchy]

It seems that consultants are getting quite a bad name. My friends also were not happy with their consultants attitude. Trying to contact physio at the moment. My problem is arthritis in lower spine. It affects my right leg. Just taking cocodamol at the present but just 2 of those and the 8/500 twice a day. Still have some pain when walking and now across my lower back. OK when sitting and sleeping. I have no idea why one leg is affected nor has the GP. Sorry your second injection didn’t work. Are you on pain meds. Hope you get somewhere with your surgeon.

[Birchy in reply to Alloagirl]

Hi yes on Pregabalin 75mg which make me dopey. I also have Tramadol but try to avoid like the plague as that makes me really dopey and constipated. I also have OA in the lower spine and have for over 5 years and I get flareups where I go stooped and in chronic pain for 3/4 days then gradually go upright again. It's weird as it always happens over night. The physio is not convinced that all the pain is coming from my hip. He thinks maybe lower back problem. 30 years ago I was under a spinal specialist called Mr. Martin Knight and what a great guy he was. He did 4 procedures on my lower spine and he wanted to do a semi fusion but my back was too bad for that so suggested a full fusion but it would have meant me going to Brighton for 3/4 months and at that time my son was only 18 months old so had to say no. He got me to a time where I wasnt completely pain free it was a pain I could live with so parted ways. I thought that by the time I was in my 60's (as i am now) my problems would have gone away. Silly me they are back with avengeance. I sympathise with you greatly and hope that somewhere along the line your knight in shining armour will come along.

[Alloagirl in reply to Birchy]

I am sorry you have so many problems. I suppose I can say I’m lucky as this started just a few months ago I am 76. Trying to arrange physio as I want to know why the pain in my right leg is the problem. Aching and uncomfortable in my left but can live with that. It is so painful that it stops me going out etc. The cocodamol help a bit but I restrict them because of side effects. Want to see physio before going on stronger painkillers. I hope you are managing it seems your life has been spent fighting pain. X