Sciatica Support Group
Sciatica is a term meaning pain that originates from compression of the sciatic nerve, the longest and largest nerve in the body. If the sciatic nerve is pinched or compressed (perhaps by a bulging disc in the low back) a patient may experience leg pain--the classic symptom of sciatica.
Here is how my journey began . . .
Last thursday night I was walking in the grocery store and I began to feel a painful discomfort in my right thigh with each step. It seemed to help if I placed my hand on the base of my back just to the right of the spine and moderately pressed with each step. By the time I got home, I was aware of a painful discomfort in y back right side as well. Im usually pretty good with pain, but this quickly became strong enough that I took tylenol when I got home.
Looked it up online and all signs pointed to sciatica, though no pain in what I considered to be my hip. Thought the pain meds, ice and easy stretching was a good place to start.
Not severe, but more noticeable next day. Went to work, made sure I didnt sit for too long. Pain getting better by saturday. Able t rehearse, stand and sing. Then as the pain improved, a numbness spread from my mid-top thigh inside and down my leg almost to the ankle. I continued alternating ice and heat. By sunday, I felt it prudent to add a topical ointment for pain, which Ive never done before. Had toger balm at home, so started with that. N the advice of the pharmacist, I switched from tylenol to Advil since it is anti-infammatory. Went to work monday, but noticed it was more uncomfortabe to walk. I wondered if I was taking enough meds(400mg every 6 hours).
All this time, I had a full range of motion, could bend forward, stretch backward, side, etc. Little more discomfort when first getting into bed, but okay after @20 min. Slept on left side mon night in fetal position with pillow between knees as recommended to relieve spine.
The tuesday morning, BAMMM!!! Sat up in the bed ad immediately ad mind-numbing pain in right thigh and ase of back. Also, could not straighten my right leg or back . . . too much pain. So bd I was terrified and called an ambulance. At ER, my bp was sky high due to pain and fear. Doc examined me and concluded scatica. The gave me a shot of lortab . . . Nothing. Then a shot of morphine ad still no relief. After second shot if morphine, the only relief I had was when sitting still on the bed or standing still leaning against the counter. Couldnt straighten leg or bck due to pain and got screaming pain in thigh each time I lifted my right leg. Numbness now covered whole knee and muscle weakness started particularly the back inside thigh muscles above the knee.
Docs sent me home with script for vicodin and flexeril. Said I could add ibuprofin if needed. Vicodin alone did nothing, added 400mg advil next time, no help. Added 600mg next time and no better. Saw pcp wed afternoon who also said sciatica and switched me to percocet. Perc only seems to help some, as I left work crying in pain and walking on a cane. The morning after I switched to perc, slept okay, but when I sat up and put my feet to the floor, still sitting, had screaming pain from thigh into knee, none really in back. Relieved little when tenderly twisting from side to side and had to alternate that with massaging my thigh while I cried for 10 minutes before I could stand up with more than moderate pain. Mind you, hadnt yet missed a dose of pain meds.
Today is saturday and even on perc, pain is about an 8 unless im sitting on the side of the bed or standing leaning against the kitchen counter. First few steps are okay, but the need cane to lean on, muscle weakness has increased and I noticed worse with screaming pain when I lift my leg. Also noticed that my thigh doesnt feel like its properly connected to the hip. Still cant straighten leg and back and when I lie on my side I cannot close my legs right away, have to do it very slowly. Really feels like some kind os dislocation hs happened and beginning to wonder if thats why meds not helping pain much. Pc said still just sciatica, but I went to ortho. Xray didnt show a dislocation, but he ordered mri to be sure no othe displacement. I asked if sciatica could make the leg feel literally disconnected at the socket, he said yes. Thats just not reconciling in my mind, so I wanted to ask you all. Is it really just sciatica and
Why so much pain in my thigh and leg upon sitting up in the morning?
Why arent ain meds helping more, do I just need something stronger? That thought scares me.
Whats with the hip dislication feeling?
When will this start to get better?
Really scared, frustrated and hurting. Im 44 years old contemplating a walker becuse my bavk is now beginning to hurt from leaning on the cane.
Please help.
Last thursday night I was walking in the grocery store and I began to feel a painful discomfort in my right thigh with each step. It seemed to help if I placed my hand on the base of my back just to the right of the spine and moderately pressed with each step. By the time I got home, I was aware of a painful discomfort in y back right side as well. Im usually pretty good with pain, but this quickly became strong enough that I took tylenol when I got home.
Looked it up online and all signs pointed to sciatica, though no pain in what I considered to be my hip. Thought the pain meds, ice and easy stretching was a good place to start.
Not severe, but more noticeable next day. Went to work, made sure I didnt sit for too long. Pain getting better by saturday. Able t rehearse, stand and sing. Then as the pain improved, a numbness spread from my mid-top thigh inside and down my leg almost to the ankle. I continued alternating ice and heat. By sunday, I felt it prudent to add a topical ointment for pain, which Ive never done before. Had toger balm at home, so started with that. N the advice of the pharmacist, I switched from tylenol to Advil since it is anti-infammatory. Went to work monday, but noticed it was more uncomfortabe to walk. I wondered if I was taking enough meds(400mg every 6 hours).
All this time, I had a full range of motion, could bend forward, stretch backward, side, etc. Little more discomfort when first getting into bed, but okay after @20 min. Slept on left side mon night in fetal position with pillow between knees as recommended to relieve spine.
The tuesday morning, BAMMM!!! Sat up in the bed ad immediately ad mind-numbing pain in right thigh and ase of back. Also, could not straighten my right leg or back . . . too much pain. So bd I was terrified and called an ambulance. At ER, my bp was sky high due to pain and fear. Doc examined me and concluded scatica. The gave me a shot of lortab . . . Nothing. Then a shot of morphine ad still no relief. After second shot if morphine, the only relief I had was when sitting still on the bed or standing still leaning against the counter. Couldnt straighten leg or bck due to pain and got screaming pain in thigh each time I lifted my right leg. Numbness now covered whole knee and muscle weakness started particularly the back inside thigh muscles above the knee.
Docs sent me home with script for vicodin and flexeril. Said I could add ibuprofin if needed. Vicodin alone did nothing, added 400mg advil next time, no help. Added 600mg next time and no better. Saw pcp wed afternoon who also said sciatica and switched me to percocet. Perc only seems to help some, as I left work crying in pain and walking on a cane. The morning after I switched to perc, slept okay, but when I sat up and put my feet to the floor, still sitting, had screaming pain from thigh into knee, none really in back. Relieved little when tenderly twisting from side to side and had to alternate that with massaging my thigh while I cried for 10 minutes before I could stand up with more than moderate pain. Mind you, hadnt yet missed a dose of pain meds.
Today is saturday and even on perc, pain is about an 8 unless im sitting on the side of the bed or standing leaning against the kitchen counter. First few steps are okay, but the need cane to lean on, muscle weakness has increased and I noticed worse with screaming pain when I lift my leg. Also noticed that my thigh doesnt feel like its properly connected to the hip. Still cant straighten leg and back and when I lie on my side I cannot close my legs right away, have to do it very slowly. Really feels like some kind os dislocation hs happened and beginning to wonder if thats why meds not helping pain much. Pc said still just sciatica, but I went to ortho. Xray didnt show a dislocation, but he ordered mri to be sure no othe displacement. I asked if sciatica could make the leg feel literally disconnected at the socket, he said yes. Thats just not reconciling in my mind, so I wanted to ask you all. Is it really just sciatica and
Why so much pain in my thigh and leg upon sitting up in the morning?
Why arent ain meds helping more, do I just need something stronger? That thought scares me.
Whats with the hip dislication feeling?
When will this start to get better?
Really scared, frustrated and hurting. Im 44 years old contemplating a walker becuse my bavk is now beginning to hurt from leaning on the cane.
Please help.
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My 6mo twin DD's are EBF and just started rice cereal on the first. Everything has been going fine except this morning one of them had a diaper rash (lots of redness around her anus). I read this as one of the signs of an allergy. BUT I did just buy a different brand diaper yesterday (which they have used randomly before w/no issues). Do you think its the cereal or the diaper? Im ready to start...
It DOES sound like sciatica. And it does sometimes feel like something is dislocated. It doesn't show up on MRI's or X-rays, but I understand why your doctor is running the MRI to be sure nothing else is going on.
The best treatment is therapy and rest. That sounds conflicting, but therapy is good for sciatica if you do what the therapist says. You must do the exercises at home as well as at therapy. Plus if the PT place has a pool, that is excellent for sciatica too.
As far as how long it takes, it's different for everyone. I'm not going to tell you how long I've had it because you would't believe me, and I don't want to scare you. Mine is a weird case anyway. But be patient, and try not to overdo things. Get plenty of rest, and use ICE for 20 minutes every 2 hours. That will do your back the most good. God bless and take care. Hugs, Lee