Is this sciatica? Does anyone have similar aches?

Hi Donna  It does sound like it is sciatica you could try hot and cold bags place them on buttocks for about 20 minutes  i was told this from my Doctor when i had sciatica hope this helps   Best Wishes

 

Yep sounds like sciatica hot water bottle wrapped in a towel works wonders had mine since last August had physio having a mri scan next week my disc are the trouble 

If you get in in both legs tell your Gp 

Thank you for your comments, everybody seems to have similar symptoms! Why is it important to tell my GP if I get it in both legs? I mentioned this today and nothing was said. Think I might try hot water bottle tonight actually thanks for the advice. X

Oh right really? Thanks for letting me know il bear that in mind, I will be asking for an xray if it doesn't get any better. Hope we all find some relief soon! X

Not keen on MRI scans! U find out things you didn't want to find out about lol, they see everything that's going on! Why did you have to wait a year?

Hi donna, 

It does sound like sciatica but don't accept that as an asnwer, the tail bone is knows as the sacrum which is made up on discs naturally fused together, I had a slipped disc here that pressed on the nerve going into my left leg!

It gave me all the symptoms you have but it is not sciatica just a trapped nerve! 

I recently saw my 'back doctor' I forget the official name but that irerlevant and he was very helpful, he told me to stop lifting anything above chest/head height and to stretch even if it hurts, you wont do any more damage by stretching and it will allow for the discs to open up and take pressure of the nerve allowing the swellings to go down and with time heal.

I've been like this for almost a year and i'm finally having some pain free days!

Talk to your doctor about Naproxen! it's an anti inflamitary and it works wonders with me! it allows me to do so much more than I could, try and keep active also and dont sit for more than an hour, if you have to for work or whatever take regular breaks, just stand up if you can and stretch out take a little walk for a few minutes to take your mind off the pain!

It will take some time to heal! some cases only last a few weeks some for several years!

Ask your gp to book you in for an Mri, It will take some time as the waiting list is long but it will allow you to make sure there is no other underlying issues like degernative disc diseases etc! I know this all sounds like scary stuff, and it can be when you don't know what it wrong or how to treat it, so just take each day as it comes and listen to your body, If it hurts more than normal stop what you're doing and rest! It's not great to lay down for too long unless you are sleeping because everything closes back up again and that is when it will feel its worst in the morning.

If you are just laying down because it hurts either lay on your side, either will do and place a pillow between the knees, this aligns the spine naturally and will stop any unessary pressure or lie down on your back with a pillow under your kees! 

Im rambling now but if there is anything you want to know or maybe just some advice feel free to message me!

All the best and hope you have a speedy recovery!

-Ellis

Hi Donna.  I've been having pain and numbness in my left leg. I've always had some lower back pain on and off through out my life but never numbness until now.  My left foot and upper leg sometimes feels numb/tingles depending on how I am sitting (in the car, at work, etc).  It started when I over-exercised one day on a treadmill. Had the treadmill elevated to the max - was walking at a good pace for 40 or so minutes.   Next day, fealt really bad pain all over my left leg for at least a 2 months which has been replaced by intermittent tingling.  I was told sciatica by my GP.  Strangest thing.  I've been athletic all my life - but not so much now at 61, but still try.  Anyway, at 7 months now, most tingling has subsided,  and what's left is some numbness in foot and leg every now and again when sitting or sleeping on my side (all just just annnoying at this point).   It goes away when I stand, exercise or do not sleep on my side :-).  Back pain is fleeting these days.  I've been seeing a chiropractor and he is able to adjust things back to near normal for me.  But, enough about me, here is what I suggest to you based on a couple of your comments.  If you say hot baths help, loosens up when busy thoughout the day (I suspect there is activity in your work (not sitting alot), then part of your problem is muscular - in your lower back.  That was my problem.   I'm asusming you have not had a major accident. if so, then regardless of whether it's a pinched nerve or a diagnosis of Sciatica, it's the strained muscles that are keeping you that way.  Pinched nerves also keep the muscles tense holding those unalligned vertibra in place and sometimes making them worse - viscious cycle once it starts.  A chiro practor will help re-allign, with a goal of un-pinching the nerve and ultimately helping the muscles to relax.  Muscle relaxers are a short term fix and are unhealthy.  Anyway, here are some of the things I would suggest.  Hope these help -  1) see a chriopractor, let him give you several adjustments  (he'll take xrays too) 2) Get a good mattress (temperpedic or even a water bed - that cured me some years back - a bed needs to contour to your back - water has the least resistance  3) continue to stretch and exercise (moderately at first - don't over do it in the beginning) 4) get into a hottub (jacuzzi) more often (maybe at the gym) after a workout.  Sounds kind of basic I know - but I really beleive you will begin to see some results - it did for me.

Hi thanks for all your comments, iv just bought a vibro plate which is supposed to be good for muscle aches, it's the dull nagging pain in buttocks and lower back that irritates me, I get about 2 days a week break from it and then it's back again! X