Does this sound like sciatica or something else?

Hi Gary, sounds like it could be sciatica, though I am no expert. How you describe your pain sounds similar to mine. Best of luck with your diagnosis and hopefully the pain is not too bad.

Graham

Gary,

          The pain is very hard to describe. It is a kind of pain I have not experienced since having sciatica. For me the pain is in both feet, pins and needles, tingling, numbness with a loss of feeling in them. Then the spasms of intense pain now and then. It is worth reading the forum to see how other people are affected and what they are doing to try and appease the pain. All the best, Graham

 

Hi Gary,

I have very similar symptoms as you.  Mine is a bit worse when I lay down or sit down.  I can't get comfortable at night and I toss and turn.  I also feel like my spinal cord is being squeezed.  My legs and back have a constant dull ache (kind of like a tooth ache) it gets worse and worse until I change positions.  I saw my GP and a neurologist and a orthopoedic surgeon.  They said I don't have a tumour on my spine???  really??   Yeah!!  In other words they couldn't find anything wrong anatomically with my bones, nerves or joints, so suggested I see a psychologist..... I am not crazy.   So, I saw a core muscle specialist, who found one of my core muscles very weakened.  He prescribed specific exercises and found that the only time this weak muscle actually works or engages is when I run.  I know, very strange.  So when I run regularly (4 x per week/ at 30-35 minutes each time) I have very little pain and am able to sleep and life is good. Having said that, it's hard to run when you've not slept and been in pain for a long time.  Whether this is sciatica or not, I don't know.  The neurologist and GP are looking for the obvious and sometimes things are not obvious.  One thing though, neither looked at or tested the intricate, small important muscles that support the lumbar spine, hips and lower legs. 

My guy explained it like this, one muscle or a small group of muscles are weak and not functioning, so the part of the spine that they stabilize is weakened or unstable.  My spine went into too much extension which bends the spine and the spinal cord a little too much putting pressure on it.  This part of the spine makes up the sciatic nerve and exits through the bum down the leg.  If it is being squeezed it is felt down the leg or anywhere the sciatic nerve goes.  Moral of the story, keep looking and asking.  I would suggest seeing a hands on therapist (physio, chiro, alignment specialist, osteopath)  for some deep tissue work or an assessment of your core. 

PS  I have been running regularly lately and I feel awesome.

Gary,

Have you researched "restless leg syndrome"? If not, I think you should take a look. Your symptoms sound similar. Best of luck.

Michelle 

Here is what helped me.  First, insure the matress you sleep on is a good one - starting with temperpedic or even a water matress.  It has to contour to your body.  Try to begin sleeping on your back.  Next, see a chriopractor and let him take a look.  More than likely, he will tell you you have subluxation.  All that means is that one of your vertebrae is not alligned and is touching a nerve.  He will give you adjustments over time.  However, they will may take unless you are sleeping comfortably, otherwise the vertabrae just get out of whack again.  Just so you know, when a spinal nerve is touched, it causes muscles around the vertebrae to tighten especially around the one that is out of line.  Tightening only puts more pressure on that vertebrae and pinches the nerve even more.  If it's the sciatic nerve, then you are going to feel pain all over your leg, muscle pain and possibly tingling, maybe numbness too.  I am 61, but had back problems startign in my 20's - american football injury.  A water bed and chirpractic treatment cured me.  It took 6 weeks on a water bed - it ws not right away.  However, today, I am having some similer pain you are having from over doing some exercise.  I got rid of the water many years ago, my wife did not like it.  So I decided to get a better mattress - temperpedic - just last week.  I am hoping that works with some chiropractice adjustments.  I am a little concerned since this paing is a bit different but am sure it's all related to my back. Will keep you posted on how that goes.