so this morning I got up in the early hours to go to the loo and I suddenly felt this shooting pain down my left leg, emanating from my lower back I think. And I sort of collapsed on that side, not fully, but pretty heavily. It’s worse on one side, but definitely on the other too. The last few days I have noticed some odd pains in both legs, coming down from my bottom, I think. I thought it was ‘normal’ ( not PMR related )aches and pains from doing a a lot of decluttering in the night, as I can’t sleep properly at present. I’ve probably overdone it as I moved a bit of furniture in the process….
Any thoughts?
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Freshairfiend
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thanks, DL….I managed to get all the wires behind the router and phone in a mess whilst tidying up and Wi-Fi was down for a while! I tried paracetamol which I think may have helped as it has eased a bit, although I have been pottering and be8ng careful, which I think helps. I’m going to the pharmacy this afternoon and will ask his advice as getting thru to gp is a rigmarole. So may get co codamol. Was about to put a heat pack on lower back, as it is inflamed, when someone came round, so will do that now. Lower back is definitely inflamed. I used to do a lot of Pilates, but I’ve found it really hard since PMR. I think I’ll go and see my teacher and get some adapted exercises. I saw her in October and she was great….. gave me adapted exercises for my various injuries, then PMR diagnosed about a month later.
Thanks for link, very helpful. Inactivity, due to PMR, and consequent lack of core strength as a result seems to fit the bill.
I’ve booked to see my friendly local physio, two mins walk away, in the morning. He was helpful just chatting 8n the phone about causes, painkillers etc. and I may see an acupuncturist, I’ll see how it goes.
I’m due to reduce my preds next week from 15 to 14mg, so that should be interesting….. you may not remember but I had a big dip after initially reducing to 12.5mg and then gp agreed to up it again til I stabilised.
Well - a lot there…. hopefully you can get some relief amongst that lot.. but try one thing at a time.. don’t throw the kitchen sink at it. Or you won’t know what’s helping and what isn’t.. and maybe see how things are before you reduce… Even a drop of 1mg might be just too much added to other things for body to cope with.
I did reply earlier, but it seems to have disappeared…. Very wise words, many thanks. I’ve been ok this afternoon, walking the dog on the beach, gently, with a deep heat pad on my lower back.
Sounds like the sciatic nerve being pinched somewhere because of the apparent source of the pain and where it goes. However, you do need to seek professional help to decide whether it is being caused in the buttock eg. Piriformis muscle tightness in the buttocks or from the spine itself. I’m not an expert but the fact that it goes down both legs suggests a central source like the vertebrae, unless both of your buttocks are similarly affected. I would try to see your GP just in case an x-ray is needed and they can check your function too.
Yes, I’m seeing my physio in the morning and will seek an x ray if he thinks it’s needed. I think it’s probably slipped disk or similar, having read DL’s link. I read a post if yours from ages ago about the piroformus muscle. Didn’t know about it, very interst8ng.
I get sciatica occassionally and it is excruciatingly painful. In my case it normally goes down the buttock and the back of my thigh. At some points it is painful to breath even. I have found painkillers do not really work even strong ones. Exercise can help and also a TENS machine can a bit. In your case it could also be muscle strain if it is both legs and not too bad in one.
thanks for the reminder re TENS machine. They’re always handy to have, just in case. I’m going to the pharmacy today and will get one. Pracetomol was helpful this morning, I think.
I have sciatica. It is worse in the morning and I can feel it in my buttock. It then goes right down my leg and into the foot. I have it at the moment and I am lucky that I can walk it off but it comes back when I have been in bed for a while. I was given a low dose of amitriptyline and think it helps a bit and also helps with sleep!
That’s really interesting. Many thanks. Mine has improved today with pottering around. Nit keen on taking amitriptoline, even tho it might help with sleep. I’ll see how I get on with the physio tomorrow. As I’m up in the night a lot, and can rest in the day, I’m hoping I’ll manage tonight. I’ve got some codeine and paracetamol just in case and heat packs and pillow for between legs…..and the dog will love a trip round the garden in the night!
My sciatica (and neuropathy, too) disappeared about a week after I started taking low-dose naltrexone. LDN is helpful for PMR, to, but it hasn't helped me get off prednisone.
My daughter uses it for her autoimmune thyroid disease and I think finds it also helps with her ADHD. There are a lot of people on the website she uses saying it helps their PMR>
Hello Freshairfiend! Sounds like you are paying for the decluttering! I find similar injury when performing physical tasks on 2 planes simultaneously eg lifting a chair and turning at the same time. Sadly, I never learn, especially having been so strong previously. Paracetamol, codeine, or a mix would help. Hope you get relief soon.
yes, I’ve never seen myself as a multi tasker , but doing two things with my body at the same time seems ro be a multi task I’ve taken for granted. I’ve just been doing a bit of ‘gentle’ decluttering having been awake since 2am. My body is teaching me, I just need to listen! When I got up I got the familiar spasm and stumbling to the left. Paracetamol and deep heat has helped and didn’t need the codeine…..so far. Only two hours to my physio appointment. Will do a relaxing beditation now. Fingers crossed for the relaxing.
I feel for you! I suffered with sciatica years ago and when I decided against a fusion of lower vertebrae the rheumatologist prescribed Amitriptylene. I’ve been taking it at bedtime for years now and as well as stopping the pain it also helps me sleep much more soundly. I definitely recommend you give it a try. Hope you find something that helps.
Good morning Freshairfiend, I have been wrestling with sciatica for five weeks now and it is manageable without pain relief or heat pads but the nerve still needs loosening after a nights sleep. I try to do a 20 minute exercise regime I watch on YouTube presented by HASFIT, mostly stretches and strengthening, I can recommend it.
I’ve had sciatica for two years now…but, in my life Minky ever had it on one side at a time. Stretches are recommended. I see you are currently seeing a physio, though, so perhaps it’s connected to something else? As it’s both sides of the body, & you moved furniture, it could be something completely different!!
I saw the physio yesterday and it is sciatica. I’m seeing him again next week and will ask for stretching exercises as my legs feel so tight. Or I can look them up on the internet. Many thanks
Sorry about the typing error in my comment..goodness knows where ‘Minky’ came from! Should have been only. I must admit though that I have nearly had it in both legs…one stopped hurting & the other took over a week later! The physio should have given you specific exercises yesterday, if he thinks they are appropriate for you!! Hope it goes. Sometimes as the weather warns it improves & I find a heated bed blanket, & keeping my legs warm helps.
I liked the word Minky! Physio didn’t have time yesterday. Mostly a quick assessment and a bit of manipulation and I had to go to an appointment. I will ring* him today. Yes warmth works like magic! Only one bout of spasms when I went to the loo in the night. So sorry you’ve nearly had it, you must be shattered.
Ah OK…yes, ringing him is the best idea! I’ve had sciatica for 3 years now, on right, & trochanteric bursitus on the left…now the sciatica has moved over to join it. Deep joy!
I’ve had sciatica for years, also need hip replacement.... I just had a nerve blocking injection in each hip and one on lower spine ..L4,5.....pain is gone...it can last for a long time. sometimes years...but it isn't permanent...
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