Sciatica Support Group

I have been having hip/sciatic pain for 4/5 months. I have been going to Physical Therapy for 2 months now & im still having pain. I contacted my primary Dr. again to let her know how im doing. She's sending me to an Orthopedic Dr. The pain is deep in my right side hip joint which causes a muscle spasm in my butt muscles which then radiates down my sciatic nerve to the back of my thigh continuing all the way down to my foot. The back of my leg ends up numb & so does my foot.

I am starting to wonder if i may have a heriniated disc issue going on. I have already had an Anterior Cervical Dysectomy last July so of course im worried i may have to have more surgery. I am in pain everyday some days more than others. I cannot stand for long periods of time therefore i am not able to do alot. This is getting very frustrating & depressing because i cannot accomplish much in my home or do anything else. The only time i am not in pain is when i am laying down.

Has anyone else had any surgery to relieve some of the pain? I donot like feeling like i cant function fully because of it. I also have Sjogrens too which doesnot help either.

Thanks so much for your thoughts on this!

Caren

your description is not sciatica nor a pinched nerve/disc.

it is piraforma syndrome.

and that is good, because it can be treated with stretching.

this is a common problem for people wiht sciatica problems.

and it is also common to get lumbar problems when you have cervical problems.

There are lots of things you can do:

little thigs:

http://www.mdjunction.com/forums/spinal-stenosis- discussions/general-support/3636756-little-helps-that-add- up-to-be-a-big-help#3636756

Medicines:

http://www.mdjunction.com/forums/spinal-stenosis- discussions/general-support/3638244-medicines-that-combine- to-form-a-helping-net#3639422

stretches:

http://www.mdjunction.com/forums/spinal-stenosis- discussions/general-support/3638164-stretches-to- help#3638164

in your case go to the stretches for the pira formis.

hope these help.

feel free to post more and as much as you want.

hugs, Raoul

Hugs

Thank you for all the information. I am going to see the Orthopedic Dr. on May 7th so hopefully i will find out what exactly is causing the pain. I have been very frustrated because i cant do much standing or anything without ending up hurting. I would really like to feel like myself again if you know what i mean.

take care,

Caren

I do understand.

I have 4 herniated discs in my neck.

And I have 4 vertibrae with stenosis in my lumbar spine.

one thing - do not allow the doctor to push you into any surgeries -

never get surgery unless you are laying on the floor pee-ing all over yourself and cannot get up off the floor.

there are lots of alternatives.

we will work with you on alternatives.

hugs, raoul

I went to my Orthopedic Dr. on Thursday & he has put me on Steroid pills for a week. He said hopefully this will resolve the pain/numbness issue. We will see...of course im hoping so. He has suggested i have an MRI if it doesnt so we can see what is going on. I have actually already had an Anterior Cervical Dycectomy last July on my C5-C6 because i was having similar pain/numbness in my left arm. At first they thought it maybe carpal tunnell but i had an MRI for that after i had some Nerve testing done. I had lost 50% of my muscle strength in that arm & the surgeon said that would be permanent if i didnt have surgery.

Since then i no longer have the pain/numbness & i did regain the strength in my arm & shoulders so it worked for me. I donot want to keep having surgery but my dr. stated that it was caused from degenerative disc issues not my Sjogrens Syndrome which i thought it might be from. Anyway i will keep in touch & let you know how i make out.

hugs to you too!

Caren

I hope everything works out for you.

Big gentle hugs, Raoul

SURGERY ONLY as last resort and ONLY if you are really far worse off than you are now

Go to boards here and converse with others who have had surgery, you will find out why-I talk to so many who are same or worse off AFTER surgery-kinda scary

Raoul is right, You, like I, have piraformis syndrome. Such is muscle near sciatic nerve but our pain radiates in tad different route than sciatica

Listen to wise Raoul's suggestions , exercises...

Do you own a percussion vibrator?

Has anyone recommended a neurologist to you yet?

MRI is good, so are x-rays-when I had my 1st MRI, discovered I am claustrophobic-not good...explains a lot of things that have gone on in my life so far...

Also maybe sonograms of your legs to rule out other possibilities

You mention physical therapist, or do you go to chiropractor?

Anyway the Orthopedic put me on Steroids for a week, which i finished last Wed. I am still hurting & feeling numbness down my leg to my foot. It may have helped some but i dont know if a week would really make a difference. I am going to call the Dr. back this week & see if he wants to do the MRI he had said to me if the steroids didnt work.

I appreciate your thoughts on this.

Thank you!

Cj

Hugs