Is this sciatica or something else?
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hallo. For almost a year now, I have had what I can only call a nagging aching pain (almost like toothache in the leg!) in my right calf, intermittently. At the same time, almost always I get the same pain in my inner thigh (and sometimes on my shin, for some reason which makes no sense). Now, I did go down with sciatica several years ago in that same leg, but that was what I understood to be 'textbook' sciatica (ie coming down from my buttock, and down my leg - it was extremely painful and I was bedridden for a couple of days), so I am not sure if what I have now is another form of sciatica. It occurs sometimes when walking and sometimes at rest, so no real pattern. My GP ordered a D-dimer test on it for DVT, but apparently there was not a positive result for DVT. She said that it must be a muscle pain, but it really doesn't feel like a muscle ache, it is very different, so am reluctant to go back. I am a bit worried about some sort of vascular disorder but I know my GP doesn't go in much for 'internet diagnosis', but I think that other people's experiences can be very useful - any ideas, please? Thank you
0 likes, 7 replies
msbrennan77 Caracoveney
Posted
MartiT Caracoveney
Posted
MartiT
Posted
Meant to say I've had sciatica for two years but it's under control. I take Motrin when it feels ache. Do you have vein problems. Might ask Dr about it. Be careful of blood clots too.
Rebeccarockchic Caracoveney
Posted
hi,
I may be able to help a little. I had 2 blood clots in my leg - 12 months ago - it is the most excruitaiting pain I have ever had! my leg ballonned double in size and the pain was felt in my lower leg, the carmap in my lower leg wasnt like normal cramp it was like the worst on going cramp pain ever!i did have cramp in my leg for 3 weeks before DVT happened, I still get pain from this cramps, bubbling, throbbing. You can get a deep vein thrombosis with no pain or signs but a negative D-dimer test is usually very accurate but if you really feel like you want a 2nd opinion then you should - dont take chances. However I feel it sounds exactly like the sciatica that I have. I have degenerative dic disease and bulging discs touching nerves in my lower back. I have pain in my left buttock radiating down my outside leg, but I do have a huge amount of pain in the front of my thigh and groin and shin and foot. The specialist told me this is from my back not from my DVT. I read somewhere that depending on which nerve is pinched in the back it can give different sciatica symtoms. For example my husbands nerve is pinched slightly lower than mine (he has had back surgery) and he feel it more as a numbness in his lower leg and foot.
Hope this helps to explain that sciatica doesnt always have to feel like the traditional buttock shooting pain and the pain from sciatica feels different than blood clot pain. - but also if you really believe it is a blood clot dont take chances...go to A and E yo will not be wasting anybodies time.
If you also injured your muscle it in your leg it can take a while to heal - ice packs out of the picnic cooler box are my fave thing they are cheaper than shop bought first aid ice packs and reusable. i use them all the time, wrap one in a tea towel. You can buy 2 for £1
and as said above keep soaking in epsom bath salts and try not to worry...
Becks
MartiT Rebeccarockchic
Posted
Caracoveney
Posted
Thank you all, for your suggestions. As it happens, I did a few hours on a craft project yesterday, which involved me having to reach and kneel round a large screen awkwardly, and it wasn't till after I had finished that the pain started with a vengeance, and lasted all night, and all day today, much worse than it has been, so have been topping up with ibuprofen and paracetamol last night and today, and I think now that it must be sciatica. What I think was muddling me was that the pain seemed to be in the wrong place for the sciatica that I had before, but it sounds exactly what Rebeccarockchic has said - the pain is in the buttock, outer leg, the hip, the calf, the shin and just wears you down. It certainly doesn't seem to be the symptoms mentioned about DVT, with the swelling of the leg etc. So, will let it settle and try some of the suggestions for easing it and for preventing it in future..
MartiT Caracoveney
Posted
Once the nerve settle down try to keep moving if just walking a short distance. Use ice packs. Eventually it will get to where you don't have pain so be careful not to stretch or be in positions that will cause a flare up. Even a sneeze can set off pain again. Best to you. Terrible pain but so is a kidney stone. It goes away though faster.