sciatic nerve damage

I bought a Tens machine , used it twice and now it's stuck in the cupboard. Waste of time as far as I'm concerened. Too many wires, very little ,perhaps no effect. Also bought an Infra-red lamp. Then they told me you have to be completely relaxed while you use it, lying down, so that's sitting there too now. Hardly used and not decorative!

Hi

Hope you are doing well and found a solution. I am feeling the same and hope you can help shed some light as to what it could be. I'm getting the run around from docs.

Keep a symptom diary. Keep going back. Nag, insist on a second opinion, tell them you want to see a specialist. Use google & I other peoples experiences & go armed to appointments with information & evidence. Don't be afraid to say that you think the problem is because if you don't then they can just fob you off again. 9 times out of 10 if you say you think it is whatever, their dr pride gets in the way & they'll do everything to disprove your theory, so in a backhand way you get the tests you need. Drs hate that people are able to be more proactive in their own care now, & can go to them with an idea of what is going on, because we don't have the degrees & years of training they do, most think we're too stupid to be able to decipher what is causing our problems.

Strange coz I got my own diagnosis whittled down to 2 possibilities, 1 which could have been right but as it turns out the neurological symptoms are from something else that along the way I've found out about! I was told over & over I was wrong, it was just wear & tear etc. I absolutely knew it wasn't & glad I objeced to being cast aside as I now know what I'm dealing with.

Good luck!

Hi

Thank you for your reply. I have been to neurologist, orthopaedic and rheumatologist who just keep giving me pills that don't work.

I am unable to walk without a cane since emg probe in October and getting depressed. That's why I was hoping you were. Enter and had found some solution

I am not the person who wrote the original message, sadly I am not much different from yourself, I went back & forth to drs and hospital for over 2 years.

I very recently found out the symptoms in the upper left side of my back & down that arm are from a curvature in my neck which is trapping nerves. The symptoms in my legs (mainly my left leg), & saddle area, horrible muscle spasms, & electric shock pains up and down my spine, are actually from my lower back. I found out in November, that an MRI in May had shown the a bulging disc at L5, with L5 S1 nerve root compression which explains the radiculopathy in my leg, it had also shown the cervical curvature.

They did a repeat MRI as Cauda Equina was suspected. Other than being told I didn't need emergency surgery I didn't find anything else out, not even what the more recent MRI has shown. The dr discharged me after a week on morphine plus my regular pain meds, saying there was nothing else they could do.

I am still currently fighting to try & get seen by someone else, I'm lucky in that I've seen a physio attached to the place I am atm, who used to work in a back clinic, & she's said I need to see a spine specialist, & fingers crossed she's going to assist with that & the pain clinic.

I already used one crutch as I've needed a knee replacement on the right side for a while now but I'm too young, & I get intermittent sciatica down that leg which was attributed long ago to sciatic endometriosis - I have no idea now if that's what it was, or if something has been going on for a while with my back or what. I now have to walk with two crutches & struggle. There's very strong history on the maternal side of my family of degenerative back problems, my dad had a problem with his, and my brother who is younger than me has had a bad back for a while, but not to the extent mine is at now. So I don't know if there is also any other reason aside from the bulging disc & nerve root entrapment behind my issues or not.

I have already been through the system with pain clinic in late 2015 & they were useless, painkillers that drug addicts abuse I didn't even know I'd had them even then for other pain, & most of the time I would just endure the pain than take the tablets coz of my liver. Now I have very little choice in the matter, I'm having to take painkillers every day.

So I can only say keep on at them. Have you had an MRI? What if you did has that shown?

Just keep giving me pills

Did they tell you if you had any nerve impingement from the herniation?

I know you've said you're having to walk with a stick, but can you tell me a little bit more about your symptoms? Is it your actual back that hurts, or a leg/both, do you get any pins and needles type feeling or any other sensations? Weakness? Did the neurologists do a physical examination, if so did they give you any feedback about it?

Are you in the UK? (Asking because I know of advocacy services in the UK which can help you, but I don't have any knowledge of if there are such services anywhere else).

Just so I am not doing anything which could be misinterpreted, or is against forum rules, while I am asking for more information about your symptoms, please remember I am not a doctor. Any feedback regarding symptoms will be from my own experience & what I have found out for myself, but is not intended to be medical advice in any way. I will help you the best I can, say what I would do & give my own opinion, but I am not able give any specifics like this is definitely what you're experiencing etc. Hope that covers this and any other posts with the forum admin.

Hi

i understand fully you are not a doctor - I am in Canada - Quebec to be exact- where Medicare is free - but doctors are so busy they push you out after 3 minutes.

I had had a pain in March in my left lateral calf area. I thought it was a Dvt and went for an ultrasound which was normal.

I went to a clinic and was told probably tendon and given naproxen.  I remember helping a friend move and had my hands full and tried to keep elevator door open and it hit the lateral leg bit of pain then but nothing after. I assumed could be related so took naproxen 2 weeks. 

Pain persisted and progressively got got worse and started feeling tingle on thigh. My doctor ordered MRI and neuro consult. I went to see neuro who

had team do EMG felt little zaps that were merely uncomfortable. Then neurologist came in asked me to walk on toes and then lie down. She stuck a needle in my calf and I tensed up as the pain was excruciating. She then told me might be from my back and ordered Gabapentin 3 times a day. 

Since the needle probe I have walked with a cane. I thought a nerve was touched and it would take time - but this was done in October and progressively gotten worse. 

The MRI shows L4-L5 bulge but not so severe as to operate

The pain has gotten so bad I have pins and needles in my lateral calf and ankle. Pain is excruciating especially getting up in the morning and sitting with feet up watching a movie.  

I was in pain before the EMG but was able to work and get things done -take a couple of Tylenol and  no need for a cane

now I take Gabapentin, naproxen, Tylenol and in constant pain - unable to bear weight on my ankle so need cane

I just don't know what to do - I sent my referral to a pain management clinic but the list is long there as well. 

Don't know where to turn - all I do is cry I'm in so much pain and MRI of ankle was done as well and does not show anything. 

I was wondering if you could say who are the people in England who might be able to help?

In September 2016 I was involved in an RTA, and suffered with various symptoms until Christmas. I am a workaholic and with quantities of medication I worked through the pain and symptoms during this time but did not feel my mind was my own and I was not working efficiently. When I got home I had to go straight to bed to relieve some of the pain by lying down.

From September to December I attended physio sessions but nothing helped, I also had regular appointments with my doctor and tried various medicines to see what helped.

During the christmas holidays things took a turn for the worse. I was sent for an MRI and it disclosed that I had to herniated discs at L4 and L5.

I have not yet returned to work since Christmas due to the pain - sciatica symptoms. I once again have been trying medication that suits and for the past month it seems to have settled. I have been on diazipam, tramadol and cocodomol 30mg but they didnt suit. I take 24 tablets a day and the pain and symptoms are still there and side effects, the medication now ncludes cocodomol, naproxen, baclofen, pregablin.

This year I have gone through various symptoms and sometimes I cannot lie down and sometimes I cant sit down. I cant stand still for more than a minute. if I make any effort to do anything or walk approx 100m the pain, pins and needles and numbness starts and I also get lower back pain. Even with the medication I would say 80 % of the time I am suffering. Mostly the pain is in my right leg. My symptoms could be calves cramping, shooting pains from my bum right down my leg, burning, pins and needles and my foot being numb. Also I am assuming the following are side effects.... my eyesite has drastically deteriorated and I have to wear glasses all the time (wore them for driving only before), dizziness, headaches, constipated and when I go to the toilet I urinate and once finished I get up but start again this can happen a few times.

I am being refered but the doctors have advised do nothing, rest and take medication. The physio said there is nothing they can do until I have been seen by the consultant, which apparently is for a lumbar epidural. I know it is pain relief but cant see how this will solve my issues?

I just dont know what to do this is 5 months now and I am at my wits end with the medication not easing the daily pain and no appointment date yet.

Sorry this is so long but I wanted to get most of the info accross.

Any thoughts? Thank you.

Kelly