Does this sound like sciatica or something else?
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Hi, I am suffering from bialateral leg pain, my calfs feel very tight and sore, my ankles are also sore as are my achilles. I often wake up in the morning with lower back pain but not always. I have been to a regular GP and a nuerologist. The Nuerologist did a few tests like testing for reflexes, leg raises and walking on toes and various other tests but didn't find anything abnormal. Both my GP and the nuerologist suggest I get a regular lumbar x-ray as honestly the both didn't have a clue and the nuerologist doesn't think it sounds like sciatica. Do my symptoms sound familiar? It is with me when I wake and when I go to sleep, 24/7 for 2 months now, doesn't seem to be getting worse but it isn't getting any better either
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townie1978 garryM
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Graham
garryM townie1978
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townie1978 garryM
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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
rose43746 garryM
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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.
michelle18622 garryM
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Have you researched "restless leg syndrome"? If not, I think you should take a look. Your symptoms sound similar. Best of luck.
Michelle
guytort garryM
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garryM
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