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Does this sound like sciatica??

Posted , 7 users are following.

stacey11102022
stacey11102022

Hi there i suffer health anxiety so this may be a long post.. I went to my doctor a few weeks ago as i had been having pain in my right buttock , burning/pinching sensation in my thigh the doctor told me i had a trapped nerve in my back and sent me on my way with naproxen( has not helped) . But the past 2 weeks the pain has spread down to my calf and back of my heel . It sometimes feels prickly , sometimes feels as though its burning but when i check to see if its hot its the same temp as my other leg. I can walk and it doesnt hurt but when im sat down or laying down or stand still for a long period of time it aches/feels like its being pinched. Its not terrible pain . Im worried about dvt . But i was just wondering if this sounds like sciatica? I have 4 small children and experianced severe back pain and pains like this when i was pregnant so im just wondering if this could be the problem . Any input would be very helpfull x thanks in advance.

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • stacey11102022
    stacey11102022

    Posted

    I also keep getting muscle spasms or little pings in my calf and thigh .
    • timmyb
      timmyb stacey11102022

      Posted

      I am currently suffering with this and my treatment plan as been as follows; initial diagnosis from gp

      self referral to NHS physio and 4 weeks of physio... Did nothing

      Mri scan which showed disc bulge on L5

      Referral to spine surgeon.

      Epidural injection into nerve..extremely painful and worked for one day!

      Further mri planned to establish if there is any further damage then surgery to remove the disc.

      I personally feel that my particular experience has been dealt with in the right manner although it has taken a year up till now and I am still waiting for surgery.

      I will never contemplate using a osteopath, chiropractor or sports massager. How do they know what's wrong without an MRI? Good luck!

  • Lotsofpain
    Lotsofpain stacey11102022

    Posted

    yes this sounds exactly like sciatica.  You probably need some physio or osteopathy , your GP can refer you .  NHS physio waiting lists are horrendous but you can also be referred to an osteopath - at least you can round here - waiting lists there tend to be shorter
  • sue72189
    sue72189 stacey11102022

    Posted

    That definatly sounds like sciatica some people suffer with excruciating pain and some are lucky to have less pain associated with sciatica my pain was unbearable I didn't wait for refereals from my gp I had acupuncture and went to the ostiophath both helped but very slightly in my case my MRI results now shows multiple disc slips so iv been refered to back specialist but go back to your gp or get a acupuncturist to do their magic on you good luck x
  • stacey11102022
    stacey11102022

    Posted

    Thank u all for your replys has helped alot i find paracetamol helps the pain for a few hours then it creeps back again. Also are the muscle twitches normal with sciatica? Its a horrible thing just wish it would go away x
  • Lotsofpain
    Lotsofpain stacey11102022

    Posted

    Yes the twitches are all part of it .  Can you take nurofen - ? stomach upset) it may help in reducing the imflamation but what you really need is physio / acupuncture/ osteopathy so your body is realigned and is not pressing on the nerve.  Can you get a referral if not if you could afford even one trip to a physio it would help you
  • ginger97577
    ginger97577 stacey11102022

    Posted

    Timmyb - I know what you mean about the injection going into the nerve.  My doctor said that it "rarely happens".  The intense pain was so unexpected, I was half off the table.  And, no, the injecion did not help.  In fact my right leg got worse and my left leg stayed the same.  I have been doing pt and taking 2 arthritis strength acetaminiphen twice a day, using heat, going to phisiotherapy, but there are still periods of intense pain.  I guess surgery would be the next step, but my spinal stenosis  and disc problems throughout my lumbar spine are such that it really would be a last resort.
  • stacey11102022
    stacey11102022

    Posted

    Thank u all for your replys i guess im glad its sciatica have had the symptoms on and off for years except this time it seems to be not going away like it usually does . I will go back to my gp and ask for some physio although hes as much use as a chocolate teapot most of the time so not holding out much hope to be honest. I can take nurofen but it sometimes gives my tummyache so tend not to take it
    • thills21
      thills21 stacey11102022

      Posted

      Hi Stacey 

      Your not alone, I have been having the same sort of problems as you for the past 4 months.  it started as a mild sciatic pain in the buttock and now is so bad I sometimes i cant stand and make dinner, i have to sit.  The pain is like a very bad head ache in my leg that starts in my buttock and goes to my shin.  In the night in bed i have to sleep on my side with my knee pretty much up under my chin and even then I still get woken up by twiching.  In the day its not to bad except for the crawling feeling in my right foot and the sort of cold burning feeling in my shin.  I am already seeing a physio and i am now on gabapentin (just going up to 3 a day) so we will see if that helps.

      the frustrating thing is no one seems to know what it is or why.

      I might go back to gp and ask for an mri.  if i can get an appointment before im 90 that is lol  (im 44)

      Any advice would be good 

       

  • Sharon22222
    Sharon22222 stacey11102022

    Posted

    I'm in a similar situation. My sciatica has been pretty constant for months but manageable until recent weeks. I started off with pain in my left buttock. Then I had a severe back spasm. Excruciating pain that lasted for I think majority of day, relieved by house doc and lots of medication. I never want to experience that again. I've had 3 kids on gas n air and considered my pain threshold to be quite high. Then sciatica got worse couple of weeks later..Pain was every day when I stepped out of bed. I kept taking the Naproxen zapain pregabalin and diazapam to try to manage daily life. Last couple of weeks pain has spread down my left leg. I cannot go out. Pain is in buttock back of thigh and often calf. Now its started in foot as an odd irritating feeling. I use roasting hot water bottles to manage with the thanks of my husband to get them and anything else I need. I stay in bed most days because I usually regret the trip downstairs to the couch. I had hoped somebody would have a story of this subsiding. I know that bed rest is said to be the worst thing for back issues and sciatica and I don't know what to do.
  • Quasar273
    Quasar273 stacey11102022

    Posted

    Hi Stacey,

    How are you feeling now? Did you find a solution? Was it sciatica?

    I have been having pain at the back of my calf for about a month. I felt pain when I squatted. My dad told me son, it looks like sciatica! I went to see an orthopedist two days ago. He gave me muscle vitamins (b6 and magnesium) and asked to come back in a week. He also told me there doesn't seem to be any thing wrong with the calf so it may be coming from the back.. I think he means it is sciatica.

    Ever since the visit, I have become more observant. Today my left foot got a bit numb and tingly while I was siting at office. Now at night, my buttock is twitching.

    The symptoms are not painful to the extent that I would worry, but I'm concerned about the progression and if there is anything I can do now to prevent it.

    Thanks for your help and sharing your condition

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