sciactica

[Alloagirl]

I am not sure if I am in the right group but,I have been suffering what I think is sciatica in both legs for a month. Is it normal to last for so long. I have an appt with doc 4 October made at beginning of Sept. The pain is from my lower back down to my ankle. It is more of an aching pain rather than sharp ,shooting pain. My legs are painful when I walk. I have never had anything like this before so would welcome advice and whether it can last a month or more. Funny enough it eases when I am holding on to something like a supermarket trolly or my granddaughter’s pram. Thanks for any comments.

[Madlegs1]

Sounds like it could be sciatica.

There are stretches on YouTube that will help. Try Brad and Bob.

Good luck.

[rabbits65]

You ask if it’s normal to have sciatica for a month. Yes I have had sciatica on and off for over 40 years !!!! Most people I think get sciatica down one leg radiating from the thigh. I trigger my sciatica nerve if I carry heavy shopping or if I move or stretch awkwardly. If you find it does not clear up soon see if you can see your GP . Hot water bottles and rest are comforting, but you must also exercise moderately as well. Swimming is good.

[Alloagirl in reply to rabbits65]

Thankyou for your reply. I have a docs appt next week. Waited a month for it. That’s our surgery. I am 75 and not had any problems with joint pains or anything. This came out of nowhere. So really want to know if it is sciatica, though the symptoms seem the same .

[cyberbarn]

It is worth remembering that sciatica is a symptom, not a disease or condition in itself. So it is worth seeing a doctor to figure out why it is happening.

For me it is likely spondylolisthesis which is where one bone in the spine slips forward of another one. But it could also be related to a disk slipping. Or arthritis of some sort.

I had sciatica on and off since my 40s but it was only in my late 50s that I finally saw someone about it when I had a particularly bad flare.

[Alloagirl in reply to cyberbarn]

Thankyou for your reply. Yes will be hearing from doctor next week. Phone appt. We have to have that first , no pain when sitting down, but very painful walking.

[CarlJamesShutt]

bbc.co.uk/news/health-49235474

[Defenders]

Hi, I’m from UK. I had, what I thought was sciatica, in both legs, until my dr said, it’s not sciatica if it’s in both legs! He was right of course, the pain was from my lumbar spine which was degenerating. I was prescribed Gabapentin for my agonising pain, which at first, left me unable to function! Do you have pain or discomfort in your lumbar spine?

[Alloagirl in reply to Defenders]

Thankyou for your reply. No , I do not get pain there. It is more of an aching pain which spreads down my leg. The right is worse and it was just that one to start, then a week or so later it started in the other leg. Though that one not so bad. Hoping the doc sends me for tests and doesn’t just say sciatica.

[Defenders in reply to Alloagirl]

I’m no dr but it doesn’t sound like sciatica to me. Maybe it is something in your lumbar spine that you don’t know about. Good luck with your dr appointment. Isobel xx

[Hidden]

I'm in the US and I've been seeing a pain management doctor for 3 years because of this. I have had lower back pain most of my life but as I got older it got worse. The doc had me get an X-ray and an MRI. On my MRI report it has: Scoliosis, displacement of lumbar intervertebral disc, Lumbosacral spondylosis, and spasm of back muscles. The X-ray report has severe degenerative disc disease. I can be fine most of the time but if I get active and start lifting things or doing yard work, my back will start hurting and I know that something has shifted in my lower spine causing pressure on nerves and I'll feel the pain you talk about going down my legs. There are several things that have helped me. The first is my pain doctor giving me steroid shots in my lower spine to help with inflammation and ease the pain. I have also had two RFAs done by her and that has helped some. The second that has worked for me several times is massage and manipulation. This involves my wife. I will lay on my stomach across the bottom of the bed towards the edge so she can reach me. So there are two things she will try. The first is to put her hand with palm down on the middle of my lower spine and rock me back and forth hard and fast as she presses down slightly. That is the massage part. The second thing is she will put her palm out on the far end of my hip bone and press down hard. Both of the techniques have caused what ever was out of place to move back to where it should be. We can actually hear light popping or cracking sounds indicating that something has moved. The severe pain I had goes away almost instantly but the area is still a little sore so heat and cold on the spot will help reduce the inflammation. It's basically what Chiropractors do but a lot cheaper. Hopefully you have someone who can be your massage therapist.

[Alloagirl in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou for your reply. I am hoping the doc will send me for tests. Never had any problems with joint pains etc. this just started about a month ago. Glad you have found a way to deal with your pain.

[Mistygreyhound]

Hi there,I have been suffering for around 5 months,but its not the 1st time but tjis is the worst its ever been,triggered by having a fall and landing on my bottom,mine is similar to yours but I have been diagnosed with spinal Stynosis,does the pain help if you sitting but painful to walk or stand for any length of time?pushing a shopping trolley takes pain off too,apparently its because you taking pressure off your spine,I had been having physio but because it wasn't getting any better they referred me to the MSK clinic who are sending me for an MRI on October 8th,at last I will know then what is going on,i have just been perscribed gabapentin after trying numerous pain relief that didnt help just gave me more problems,hope you get answers from your doctor but it's a long journey unless you have a good doctor,my surgery didn't help me in any way.

[Alloagirl in reply to Mistygreyhound]

Thankyou for your reply. Yes exactly. No pain when sitting but as soon as I stand pain in bottom down to ankle. My left leg has some discomfort too. Standing is worse. Pushing trolly or pram makes walking easier. Sounds just like yours. Not had any problem until a month ago (that’s how long to get an appt). I don’t want physio by the phone or an email of exercises. I want tests to confirm what I have. I take Solifenacin for OAB and the side effects sound the same as the Gabapentin. I don’t think my doc would prescribe that for me. Hope you get some answers , good luck. By the way seems a 20 week wait for an appt to MSK clinic, that’s according to Google. How long did you wait.

[Mistygreyhound in reply to Alloagirl]

I waited 5 weeks for MSK,it was the phsio that put me up for this not the GP they just passed the buck as usual and said they could femfur me for MRI but it's quicker to go through Phsio,but they can't refur you its the MSK clinic that does this I saw a lovely lady who got me an MRI appointment within 2 weeks,good luck,let us know how you get on,I also tried acupuncture but don't think it helped and was expensive.

[Alloagirl in reply to Mistygreyhound]

Sorry to keep asking questions but were you referred by your GP for physio or did you go private? Obviously you know you have spinal stenosis so was that by x-ray. I am hoping my GP will send me for one. I just have the feeling it is not sciatica . Good luck for your MRI I hope they can find a solution for your pain.

[Mistygreyhound in reply to Alloagirl]

Hi there,the doctor gave me a number to refur myself for phsio but I had to wait for 6 weeks for an appointment and it the physio who dianosed it was spinal stinosis,there is no cure for this but hopefully can be managed with pain relief and sometimes an injection but i have not been offered this as yet but the MRI will see how bad it is and the hopefully some other kind of treatment can be offered,feel free to ask whatever you want and hopefully you will get some answers soon.

[Alloagirl in reply to Mistygreyhound]

Did you have a face to face with the physio. Just wondering how they diagnosed what was wrong. Thanks for answering, it is so helpful to see how others get on. I never thought this would happen, a month ago I had no pain or problems with walking/moving about. Now I have taken two paracetamol, they work a bit, to making walking easier.

[Mistygreyhound in reply to Alloagirl]

Yes I had a face to face,he examined me and looked what movements I could do and asked how I was struggling,gave me excercises to try which i do every morning,which hasn't really helped,although it probably helps with the stiffness 1st thing,i have had sciatica in the past which has always got better after a couple of months but this time i have had this 6 months and no better in fact it's got worse,see what the MRI reveals although I don't know how long you have to wait for the results,the MSK nurse said the results will come back to her and she will go through it with me,you can also be referred to the pain clinic at the hospital at some point so there is hope.

[homeandgarden]

I too had terrible sciatica pain. You need to strengthen your core. See a Physical Therapist to learn the correct exercises. Drink water!!!

[Alloagirl in reply to homeandgarden]

Thank you for your reply. I drink loads of water , but I am not convinced it is sciatica . It is both legs and the pain is around my thigh and the side of my leg. Some stiffness in my knees too. This happened suddenly, had no problems with joints or anything before.

[Mitch48 in reply to Alloagirl]

You need to go on a reputable website to look at the areas of your buttocks/legs/feet are affected by the sciatica (SpineHealth.com is fantastic) you ARE describing areas that can be affected by sciatica, it’s the main nerve down each leg but can also be affected by so many conditions of the spine. I have sciatic nerve pain down both legs, one far more than the other & my numerous doctors have never said it’s not Sciatica because it’s both legs that are affected. I have complex spinal injuries, cervical & lumbar and have had several surgeries & including many procedures over 19 years including two rare conditions, so have some experience of what you are wanting advice for. If this is the first time you’ve had pain in these areas, please describe your pain in detail as it can be suggested what type of pain it could be.

NICE guidelines usually suggest that doctors wait 6 weeks to see if the pain subsides or changes with perhaps Physiotherapy, mild meds etc before ordering scans, and usually begin with X-rays rather than jumping to expensive MRI’s unless they suspect something more serious. If you have the funds then I’d suggest trying private physio as it may get you moving about quicker & give you an idea of what is causing your pain.

Try self help first too, warm baths, massage gun, cold or heat spray, heat pads, massages & Tens machines, such a lot of injuries are mainly from muscle spasms which can be extremely painful. Muscle spasms & cramps can temporarily impinge nerves causing pain of different types .

I would always err on the doctors’ far greater knowledge, rather than going in to a consultation guns blazing & demanding scans, treatments, medications etc, as you may actually want something constructive from the medical professional rather than exactly the opposite!

*** I’ve just read your age on your post & it could be that you have started to have symptoms from osteophytes (arthritis or bone spurs) that will have been happily developing in your lumbar spine over many years & now they are suddenly causing you pain for the first time. If so, you have been very fortunate to get to your age now without any problems.

Good luck & please keep us updated.

Kind Regards,

Mitch

[homeandgarden]

I too did not think it was sciatica until I had an exray of the back. I have no back pain only pain in the thigh and side of leg. Yes usually sciatica is on one side but it can be both. The stiffness in knee can be a different issue. I am fine now but I did and still do core exercises all the time. I walk for a couple of miles per day and do leg exercises.

Good luck and feel better!

[Alloagirl in reply to homeandgarden]

Thanks , I have a docs appt tomorrow so see how that goes. Telephone though. I hate it that way.

[Alloagirl]

Well it appears that it is arthritis. I saw physio face to face and did the exercises she asked me to do. It seems that I have to strengthen the muscles around the hips , thighs etc. No sign of nerve, or spine trouble. 6 weeks of exercises , if no improvement to come back for further investigation. Thanks everyone for your input. It seems we can have the same symptoms and have different prognosis. See how the exercises go.