I am very sorry things have been so difficult the last few weeks.

New pain and symptoms should be discussed with your doctor. If you did not take a lot of breaks during your driving trips you may have irritated your lower back, causing the leg pain. Have you tried hot baths then stretching for your lower back?

Glad your fiance is home. Lots of challenges for you in a short time. When you decide you want to stop the smoking I do have a way that I help my step father quit. He had smoked for 45 years. We started him smoking lighter cigarettes, then we only put out 1/2 of the pack for the day. Then we moved everything into his van. (meaning: if he wanted to smoke he had to get up and walk out to his car, unlock it, get the cigarettes out of the glove compartment and smoke out there. He quit because it became more of a hassle than it was worth). Remove all ash trays and putting them out of sight. If you normally get up and sit in a specific chair to smoke, re-arrange the furniture.

Sometimes it does seen like every time you turn around there is a new pain. It is very frustrating. I hope you can get to the doctor and make sure everything is OK with your lower back. Take it slow and pace yourself.

Sending prayers and positive energy.

Hugs-RJ

Thanks RJ but the leg pain actually started before my trip. I plan on calling my pcp tomorrow.

I am not sure if this is the cause of your pain or not, but I have had tailbone, lower back, and leg pain for many years, but severe the past year. I have had MRIs, scans, nerve conduction tests, PT, ice, heat, TENS unit, stretching, etc. but it is getting worse. There is no herniation and the tests show only degenerative disk disease. HOWEVER, I am back in PT and the therapist says my SI Joint is very unstable, and she thinks my trips to the chiropractor this summer for pain have made it worse. She says he never should have adjusted me with my back that hypermobile. I see a pain management doctor in two weeks, maybe for injections, but whatever he wants to do for some relief!! Sitting in the car for any length of time makes it horrible, and I can barely walk through a grocery store without feeling like I am dragging my legs to make them move. So perhaps it is also your SI joint? My legs have a length discrepancy, and I have ordered an orthopedic insert for my shoes, so hopefully this helps too. Pain sucks!

Sorry to hear about both you and your fiance health!
I'm assuming you smoke only outdoors so not to have the smoke odor indoors around him? That might help not pressure you into a hurry quit.
I as well would look to your back causing you problems with your back-hope your dr can find you some relief and some answers soon.

Thx guys. Megsmom I do have si joint problems as well as back problems. 3 lumbar surgeries and 5 cervical. No chiropractor would even touch me. This leg thing is new and I am praying it is not my circulation. Annette I have been smoking outside. It's really funny but when I am ready to stop it is no problem for me. I guess this took me off guard and I need to get used to the idea. I know I can do it. The timing isn't great right now. I will stop soon.

Jasmine, I hope you both start feeling better soon. This CP journey does make one tired and exhausted. I thought RJ's smoking cessation plan was creative and doable. I understand that smoking is so difficult to stop. Nicotine cause those receptor sites to scream for more.
I hope your pain settles down soon

Jasmine, have you ever had injections in your SI joint, or have they treated it conservatively?

Jasmine..
Sorry to hear you're having such a brought time.
Have you made an appointment to start the process of sorting it this new pain?
Hugs
jc

I have had injections in my si joint and I plan on calling my doc tomorrow for an appt. thx all

Did they work? I am in PT but my pain level is so high they are having a hard time doing too much with me. They do some mild stretches and tried traction but it hurt too much. Then they use the STEM on me with ice.

What do the SI injections feel like???

Hi,

I'm also trying to quit smoking but have learned that giving up nicotine is harder than quitting heroin. It doesn't surprise me at all since it's just been soooooo hard. I have to use one of those tricks on myself too so that it just becomes too much of a pain in the rump to smoke. I wish you and myself the best of luck with it.

Intramuscular stimulation worked wonders for my SI joint if you can find anyone that does it, want to try it and can stand it. I went from not being able to stand without pain for 5 minutes to working a physical job again because of it. Good luck and I hope you are feeling better!

I've never heard of that. I got a massage yesterday and I am so much worse today. It feels like he moved something or changed the pain a little. I could barely walk today at work, and there was a pressure in my tailbone and pelvic area....like I had to go to the bathroom pressure all day. I had to sit down every 10 minutes or so at work because my legs ached so bad. I am a teacher and on my feet all day. It feels like the pain is getting worse every day, but the MRIs were taken in January and show very minimal herniation or bulging. I wonder if the Pain Management doctor I see next Thursday will order more tests to figure this out. My doctor can't figure it out, and the PT isn't sure anymore about where the pain is originating.

I'm so sorry to hear that you are feeling worse. I know how disheartening it can be. I hope your pain management doctor can help figure something out. That sounds really similar to what I had when my SI joint was stuck and being stubborn. I had never heard of IMS (also called dry needling) until my physiotherapist recommended I look into it. He told me to do research on it and see if I think I could handle it. It is pretty painful and can make you very anxious/emotional and cry or tear, which some people may be uncomfortable with. I am a seasoned pin cushion so after the first few times it wasn't too bad for me. If massages knock you on your butt or you take meds that do, I would suggest getting a ride afterwards just to be safe. I was a wreck after each session. I would cry all the way home so I would make sure I had some time for some dog cuddles before I had to do anything else.

I am so sorry for your terrible leg pain Jasmine. I can relate and, like you, rest does help and so does HEAT but we have lives to lead...often, it's so difficult to do what we need to do because of pain.

There are PT videos on YouTube that I've used in the past to find exercises to try. Sometimes they helped, sometimes they didn't but I found exercises for other areas of my body since my doctor prescribed PT was only for my knees. I'm not sure if that'll help but it can't hurt to try a few.

I'm so sorry to hear about your fiance...I hope he is home and doing better...I can't imagine how scary that was! I am a smoker as well and I know first hand how difficult it is to quit. I had my pain management medication (Opana ER) taken away because I couldn't quit (I guess that's why...it was never explained to me). I wrestle with severe guilt and anger at myself over this...why couldn't I have been strong enough? I realize nicotine is the most addictive substance on earth and that it wasn't really about being strong enough...I was not able to use any "tools" to quit and cold turkey has only a 5% success rate but, still...I feel so much anger at myself. We can only really be successful with quitting when we are truly ready. Even then, it's extremely difficult and we need support and assistance. 1-800-QUIT-NOW has support and the American Cancer Society has great tools online. I've gathered so much information and I plan to quit soon...after I can get to the point where I won't constantly obsess over "why couldn't I have done this a month ago? Then I wouldn't be in this position." I have read partners have a higher success of quitting for good when they quit together. Maybe you and your fiance can encourage each other to quit when you are both ready.

I wish I could help more with your pain...I'd take it all away if I could! I wonder if compression stockings would help? I love my Tommie Copper compression sleeve but I know you can buy compression stockings at Wal-Mart and probably Target too. Or Amazon. I wonder if the compression stockings would help the pain while you are moving around. I find my heating pad also helps when I put it over my knees/legs in the evening when I'm able to put them up. I also elevate a little using pillows. And, on really bad days/groups of days, I throw in naproxen sodium (Aleve). I am cautious about regular use of anti-inflammatories (my mother had a heart attack after using them for a few years every day) but I do find they help during bad periods of inflammation and pain.

Anyhow, sorry to ramble so much. I hope your pain is starting to ease and hope you were able to discuss with your doctor.

Gentle pain-free (((HUGS))) to you.

~Michelle