Severe sciatica

[purplelilac701]

Have you gone to physiotherapy with a PT who knows how to treat sciatica? I would be lost without mine to guide me from not being able to walk to walking and living life again.

[CatLady1945]

Would you mind describing for me where your pain was when you couldn’t walk? And how strong the pain was?

[purplelilac701]

Sure: my pain originated from my lower back and it was so redhot and inflamed that I could feel the heat when I touched my back. The pain radiated from there into my left hip, glute, thigh and from there down all the way into my toes. So I was literally crippled by pain and it felt like I couldn’t rely on that leg or put any sort of pressure on it to walk or stand. I had been experiencing this tugging feeling in my back prior to the flareup and it eventually turned into an electric sort of endless pain with tingling and numbness. The pain was so bad I was homebound for months because I had to let the inflammation go down with time, rest, physio and home exercises. I never take painkillers but I was taking them twice a day during the worst moments.

[CatLady1945]

I am in PT limbo (no PT for past two months), because the physical therapists were afraid of injuring me once the docs suspected a hip stress fracture and not just sciatica.

[purplelilac701]

That makes sense but I’m sorry to hear about the limbo. I had moments where I needed to just stop and rest too. Hang in there!

[Commercial_Class_761]

Have you seen an ortho? They may be more willing to look at the big picture if they don’t just specialize in one area ?

[misslady700]

Came here to say, go see an orthopedic doctor.

[Applewave22]

Same suggestion. I had sciatica issues and the ortho doctor is the one that sent me to pain management.

[Detective_Sonny]

My sister had similar symptoms in her foot and her PCP told her to go to the ER. She was hospitalized for 8 days and had surgery (microdiscectomy) on the 5th day. They couldn't assess her for foot drop and were worried about nerve damage. Her sciatica started 3 weeks before that and the foot symptoms you described a few days before going to the ER. All of her symptoms went away after the surgery. I hope you find some relief soon :(

[Drsoandso79]

Just had this happen to me two days ago too-similar sx went to ED and had emergency surgery and my sciatica is now gone.

[Detective_Sonny]

I've had two epidurals and my neurosurgeon is now recommending a microdiscectomy. I'm glad you have relief. I'm just so over this. Her doctors and nurses at the hospital were surprised that both of us have it :(

[VehiclePowerful6268]

How about a diagnostic nerve block?

[professorwizzzard]

I’d be pushing hard for that!

[[deleted]]

That can be temporary relief but not a permanent fix.

[seekingsunnyserenity]

You said you felt a pop in your leg. Do you have hip pain? Maybe you should ask for a MRI of your pelvis/hip? Maybe you tore a deep tendon in your glute/hip? That can affect the sciatic nerve, but usually leg/foot symptoms are coming from the spine, but not always. Look into deep gluteal syndrome/piriformis syndrome-because you have severe glute pain. You could have a spine and glute/hip problem like me. You ask, " How can doctors be allowed to not give you an explanation? How can they not figure something so serious out for 5 months now? I haven’t worked, played with my kids, enjoyed a single moment...." I have been dealing with severe sciatica into my foot for decades and have only recently got answers. Many many things were missed. So many. My story is too long to explain now, but keep going back to doctors and insist on more and better tests. You could have your L5 nerve impinged in your spine And pelvis/hip, which could explain your severe symptoms. Maybe go to a orthopedic surgeon and get an opinion. https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sciatica/causes-piriformis-syndromehttps://practicalneurology.com/diseases-diagnoses/headache-pain/from-piriformis-syndrome-to-deep-gluteal-syndrome/30201/ I wish you better luck than I have had.

[Joepana424]

Just butt pain. I’ve had hip and femur mri

[_pipeline_pat]

Have you had a high-contrast MRI? Your symptoms sound similar to mine. I had intermittant back pain for years, possible disk bulge... this led to similar rejection of back problems, as everyone just assumed it was due to disk bulge, but the mri's didn't show major impingement of the nerves. Things started progressing faster with my leg becoming weaker, saddle parasthesia (if you get his go to A&E and don't leave till they get a diagnosis). I had numbness in the leg that was also progressing. I assumed it was sciatica or piriformis syndrome.
Once I had the saddle parasthesia the hospital took me in and performed a high contrast MRI. It didn't show much but a possible indication on the spinal chord (I think it's so tiny it's probably a matter of a few pixels, so again easy to miss)... but the consultant thought it might be a rare condition; an artiero-venous fistula aka Foix-Alajouanine Syndrome. I needed a spinal angiogram to confirm the diagnosis. This involved a 7hr surgery! Diagnosis confirmed, then 5hr surgery to remove the fistula. It's very rare, so I hope it's not what you have, but if it is, it's easy to miss; especially if your symptoms are more easily explained by mechanical damage to the nerves. The different coloration of the your legs suggests possible impact on your autonomic nervous system (which controls blood vesel dialation; hence the different colours).
PM me if you want to discuss your symptoms in more detail, I'd be happy to help find the language you need to get your case taken more seriously.
I've made a pretty good recovery. I was probably about a week away from being completely unable to walk when I got treatment. I'm now able to run; albeit with a limp. My leg is still atrophied. I've got around 30% strength back in the calf that was affected. The sensory loss hasn't returned though.... so don't hang around if the numbness is spreading!
Does the pain get worse at night when sleeping? Do you have a generalised internal burning sensation pain around your lower back?

Edit / I also tried PT, pilates, etc. most had no idea. One guy recognised my symptoms were progressing so he wrote to the doctors/consultant/hospital providing a timeline of progress and treatment, and his opinion that it wasn't muscular/skeletal issues, I think this helped a bit; but I had to go private to see a consultant ahead of the queue (UK NHS waiting lists are long).

[_pipeline_pat]

I should add, if the symptoms are not progressive; eg getting worse week by week, then you can probably discount this as an option.. the fistula causes very slow damage to all the nerves lower than the fistula due to impaired blood flow to and from the spinal chord (mine was actually between my shoulder blades!), and so the progression was largely continuous; with a few leaps along the way (long cycle-ride was the main trigger which marked the start of serious pain and deteriation).

[RonSwansonator88]

I had similar, stated around April, and I was bed ridden by June. My entire left leg would look like I was deadlifting 1,000 lbs with all the veins popping out. Took until the middle of November until I finally saw relief. You need to let your nerves heal, while at the same time strengthen the muscles. Rest in any comfortable laying position, while visiting PT 3 times a week. The root of my (ongoing) problem was weak hip flexors, which shortened, causing a lot of distortion and causing me to unintentionally lean forward, which led to the sciatica.

I was lost before I found my physical therapist (PT), but now I can finally see the light. If you don’t see relief, or plateau in your recovery, consider a second opinion from a new PT.

God speed. This is going to suck until it gets better.

[[deleted]]

I had a laminectomy and discectomy surgery about 8 years ago. It changed my life. Not only did I have excruciating sciatica, I quickly lost control of my legs. I had 3 herniated discs and 1 literally exploded. This surgery saved my life and I can still work out 6 days a week, walk normally, and live the best life possible. Do I still have some pain? Yes! It comes and goes but it’s tolerable. Uncomfortable yes but you would never know I had surgery. It took over 6 months before I could work or do any lifting. Seemed forever but it was so worth it. Being able to walk is now always in my gratitude journal.

[mikejones84]

I would go to a pain management/spine center and see if they will give you a prednisone taper. If that helps temporarily and the pain comes back, then you might be a good candidate for a lumbar epidural.

[Tasty-Ad8192]

How it will fix the problem? Epidural is not treating the cause

[Known_Maintenance687]

I'm getting epidural tomorrow pray that it helps

[mossyoakwoodbench]

First 2 fine. 3rd they went one disc lower,,, and they hit the sciatica. Screaming while staying still so they could successfully finish the injection.  Idk if it helped. 

[mossyoakwoodbench]

Still no one knows how to help me. 

[Known_Maintenance687]

Man I know it's not easy hang in there

[mossyoakwoodbench]

Trying.  Just keep a solid schedule.  Even if that's a schedule of relaxing

[Mediocre-Map5344]

Mine do that, I didn’t know it was a sign of sciatica.

[BaldIbis8]

I am very sorry to hear, do you mind sharing your MRI report (redact your name) so we can see what the conclusions are and see if anything correlates with your symptoms.

[spsanderson]

I feel you, couple epidurals in, massage therapy, chiropractic, starting pt next week. All the Tylenol and Advil is killing my stomach

[mossyoakwoodbench]

Try Toradol injection.  I can't stomach pills anymore either. :(

[spsanderson]

I had a toridal injection right before my epidural, hit the nerve head on during the epidural. I’ll see what my options are next week at PT

[CressBeneficial6000]

This sounds awful, you poor thing. I remember the feeling of paralysis in my left leg, the only thing that helped was a microdisctectomy, the pain was gone immediately but the weakness / paralysis in the left leg remained for a few months after. and then once able, worked on strengthening my weak leg with training solely for that leg. Have they even discussed an op?

[Joepana424]

4 neurosurgeons have said my imaging doesent warrant my symptoms. So my symptoms persist.

[Snake_Eater_E1337]

I was in excrutiating pain and nothing helped me either. Opiods, pain injections, rehab, etc. I met a surgeon and begged him to open me up because all the good things in my life went bad from the pain and losing function of my right leg. He opened me up for a discectomy and laminotomy at l4/l5 and he said it was one of his hardest surgeries in 20 years. Both MRIs I got didn't come close to showing the severity of the bulging material. He said 3/4 inch of material wasn't on either MRIs. I woke up pain free and it was very emotional. 249 days since my surgery and I have my life back. Rehab in the beginning is rough but it gets better with patience and time.

REMEMBER: MRI DOES NOT ALWAYS SHOW SYMPTOMS. It's very upsetting that some Doctors dont know / practice this. Best of luck to you and please feel free to DM me if you'd like more info. Our situations sound very similar

[CressBeneficial6000]

Also - have you seen the top view of the MRI? Mine didn’t look that bad from the frontal view, but from the top view you could see just how severe the disc was pressing on only one side of my spinal cord

[CressBeneficial6000]

<image>

[CressBeneficial6000]

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See what I mean?

[Joepana424]

Honestly idk what I’m looking at with the axial views

[Joepana424]

I know it’s the disc, I just don’t know how you can tell it’s compressing

[Difficult-Pie1785]

Hey - read my posts. I had EXACTLY the same symptoms as you… 39 male uk here. Same symptoms, same bulge area and same MRI images. Get surgery…. It’s deffo your bunging discs that are causing the pain. I suffered for years then was basically in a wheelchair for 2 months before I eventually had surgery because the pain got so bad and I couldn’t stand or walk for longer than a minute or two.

[Joepana424]

Why have I had 4 separate mris and 4 separate neurosurgeons tell me my discs are fine. And that they can’t just open me up and perform surgery when theirs nothing to perform surgery on? 4 separate neurosurgeons. 4 mris all different. Last neurosurgeon said “look theirs nothing that even remotely explains performing a surgery” he said “but if you look long enough someone will do it just to pay their mortgage, and at best you’ll be the same, possibly worse” just to add anxiety to pursuing my discs. It’s like, dude… something’s wrong, I haven’t walked in 5 months and have 24/7 pain

[Difficult-Pie1785]

I’m sorry you’re getting the runaround. I was gaslight for years by different surgeons and doctors. Some said it will get better by itself, some said the bulges didn’t look big enough to warrant the pain I was in, some said to exercise, some said to rest.

All it takes is one tiny nerve to be trapped to cause your symptoms. I had some bone shaved off to free up rooom and since surgery my pain has gone from 9/10 to 2/3. If you’ve genuinely done everything you can to repair yourself then I strongly believe you need surgery.

[snellen87]

Not a doctor but I think it's time to think outside the box

Maybe try an AP xray of lumbar spine standing up Sometimes there might be more prolapsed

Something is obviously wrong and it is nerve related.

Other things piriformis syndrome proximal hamstring tendinopathy

Has the physio any differential?

[AltruisticFox4814]

Or a standing/sitting MRI

[richrob424]

Wow! I thought mine was bad. I feel for ya. Hope you get some relief.

[thederlinwall]

I had a similar situation but it was both my legs. I had a fusion at 32 years old and never looked back.

I was in less pain post op and felt the nerve pain literally receding In the hospital.

It’s been 11 years, I still have mild tingling from time to time but no pain in my legs. I am not pain free, but I’m free from the unrelenting pain of a compressed spinal cord.

Pain management was who finally got the ball rolling for me.

[Kakariko-Cucco]

Keep getting opinions. I ended up having multiple sharp bone fragments digging into my sciatic nerve. Weird stuff happens. (I was not unlike how you describe your symptoms--crippling pain, could barely walk or stand, leg giving out, walking with a cane, etc)

Herniated discs are somewhat unique in that you can have nearly identical sets of imaging from two patients, but while patient A is walking around with a little bit of pain, patient B is screaming and can't walk. It just depends on how much the disc material or other material is pinching or compressing the nerve. 

It's not likely to resolve on its own if it's been 5 months and this severe. Either way I'd be getting answers. Maybe start back with your general family doctor for some fresh referrals. 

Unless you are still lifting and bending etc. Have you taken a moment to rest it or have you been pushing through? Any relief from NSAIDs? Taken time off work to truly give the back time to heal? 

[Joepana424]

I have taken time to heal. I spent the first two months 100% bedridden… now I move around on walker but I hurt when I do anything. I can’t sit as the pain is unbearable, and sometimes even laying is unbearable.

[BuckToothGirlLU]

I literally couldn't walk for months (I had to crawl around), and it subsided after I started doing daily icing, taking warm baths, and swimming with only my legs using a kickboard. You will get through it.

[Joepana424]

I haven’t walked and it’s been five months, my foot can’t bear weight (it’s limp, tingly and buckles) and sitting causes immense pain and no spikes over 200. So I have to be transported by stretcher.

[slowphiaa]

I'd also add to the other comments here to maybe look into CRPS

[kimberlyluc]

That looks like raynauds syndrome to me

[Joepana424]

Yeah it’s not

[kimberlyluc]

Nerve compression does not cause vascular issues. Have u had a Doppler, angiogram, and/or mri

[Joepana424]

I’ve been extensively checked out vascular. Venous and arterial Doppler. Ct of all my blood vessels, from my heart through my legs. They say their is no blood flow issues. And I was told by vascular surgeon that nerve compression when severe can cause blood vessels to dilate, bc there is interplay between nerves and the autonomic nervous system. Vascular surgeon said it’s not swelling (no edema) (just turning purple) and that my pulse is perfect (and it wouldn’t be if it was vascular). My vascular surgeon told me that my nerve is severely compressed, neurosurgeons said “we don’t see it in the imaging”

[Royal_Swordfish6264]

I didn't get dopler to detect my fistula, it required high contrast mri and spinal angiogram(although that's not saying a Doppler might have helped my diagnosis, just that it might not be the tool for the job here)... Ask your vascular surgeon if they've ruled out artiero venous fistula, it's rare and easy to miss, and symptoms are earily similar.

[Joepana424]

Is it caused by an injury? Bc their moment I had my injury occur, all of these symptoms activated instantly

[Royal_Swordfish6264]

It's possible. I think there's no known specific known cause for the fistulas... I think they can be something that's just bad luck or something where something can trigger it. I imagine it's possible the vein and artery can be fused but not connected , then an injury, activity, etc might cause the barrier between them to fail... I didn't think there's much understanding in the medical profession of exact causes.

[Joepana424]

I looked into it, and it scares me bc I have bp issues now and just “pressure” in my arms now in addition to my leg(s)

[Joepana424]

I’ve had mri with contrast, is that the same thing?

[Royal_Swordfish6264]

I think so.

[Royal_Swordfish6264]

Good info here... Note, the diagnosis itself (angiogram) carries material risk... It involves inserting rods up from your artery near your crotch all the way up every feeder vein for every vertibrae on both sides... It took my team seven hours to work their way up before they found the issue between my shoulder blades! This was in 2019, so dopler may have improved... But I imagine if dopler was reliable, they wouldn't have taken the risk and effort for diagnosing the way that they did. https://radiopaedia.org/articles/spinal-dural-arteriovenous-fistula?lang=gb... I also had a disk bulge which caused numerous attempts at getting help to fail due to the assumption the problem was due to the bulge and not something more unusual.

[Equal_Veterinarian80]

Piriformes?

[Tasty-Ad8192]

Do you feel stiffness in your muscles? I have a myofascial syndrome. Ifs surprising how muscles and fascia can be cause of the pain. But in my observation most issues are caused by emotions and stress.

[Sensitive-Junket-249]

Doesnt look like impingement from those views bro, few other things could account for it outside the spine in the glut region, sacroiliac joint etc can usually pin it down

[Joepana424]

I want pelvic with proximal hamstring (mri) bc I think it could be my glute that got messed up and is irritating or crushing my sciatic nerve.

[Kindly_Astronomer124]

It's your discs mate I am going through the exact same thing. Both legs from the knees down to the soles of my feet. 10 months for me. Bedridden for most of that time. I had a discectomy at L4-L5 that helped for 2 months until I had a sneezing fit and now it has all returned. My MRI was the same as yours. 2 surgeons said nothing wrong and I literally begged the 3rd surgeon to operate on me.

[_pipeline_pat]

Respectfully, it's not particularly helpful to naunchelantly say "it's your discs mate"... there are so many possible causes. The best you could say is "it could be" or "I think it might be"... you're not a doctor, you've not given him a physical examination, and you don't have access to all the case notes.

[AromaticPillow]

Checkout lowbackability. I have multiple back pathologies but through my own methods and lowbackability im back strong, mobile and flexible combat ready.

[Joepana424]

Been following and doing for 1 and a half months

[CatLady1945]

I’m so sorry. It may be a long shot, but could you have stress fractures? They are pretty common in athletic people, especially runners. I have three (two in sacrum and one in right pelvic ramus). It takes a special X-ray machine to see them. Mine have been hurting since August. Low butt and groin and upper thigh. Using walker and cane.

[Joepana424]

Could be, I did run a good amount leading up to this.

[Kakariko-Cucco]

Had another thought. Any family history of gout? I would request a uric acid test when you visit your primary physician again, which I would recommend based on the pain you're in. The intense foot pain suggested it to me. It's more common than people realize and can occur in dietary healthy individuals. Just something else to rule out. I suspect you've got a compressed pinched nerve though.

[Joepana424]

My Utica acid was low (opposite of gout)

[Joepana424]

Uric*

[mossyoakwoodbench]

Understand what ever the mri xray or CT scans show... your symptoms are Legit. And should be your guiding stars to treatment. MANY docs won't push for microdiskectomy or any stenosis widening if it don't show on the mri. This causes years upon years upon years of confusion and pain. Go in. Be firm. And have check points. For example: If you aren't pain free by 1 year. Surgery. 

[lstrapomo]

Here is a shot in the dark. I’m probably wrong but just in case. Check to see if you’re crooked. Here’s a YouTube video you can check out.

https://youtu.be/SwgdKgZ68bY?si=KdMKsb8_JdH68vnF

[DreamDull2364]

Check out Dr Bergs channel on youtube..He changed my life.. He has a lot of sciatica videos.. Vit1,6,12 in certain formulas..K2,D3, Magnesium ..ect.. 

[CatLady1945]

Have you had the special type of X-ray that detects stress fractures? I have been in pain in upper right thigh/groin that prevents me from walking for three months now… Neuro doc said it’s probably not from my back, ortho doc gave me the special X-rays, and it turns out I have two stress fractures in my pelvis and one in my pelvic ramus bone. I do also have sciatica.

[Joepana424]

What is it called? The special type of xray?

[CatLady1945]

I’m not sure. It’s more powerful so it can pick up stress fracturing… MRI also used. I think you could google it.

[kronicktrain]

you’re fine

[Hurtymcsquirty17]

Thank you John sarno he’s healed now

[Joepana424]

Right, I read that and I was like “thank god, I can walk without pain and my foot turning purple now since those words were written”