This was more like lower back pain turning into streaks of pain in my buttocks, down the back of my thigh, and even into my upper calf. Caused, it appeared, by my sleeping on my stomach or sitting with good posture in a chair (you know, like you're supposed to do on a computer, like, y'know, at work) If I got up and walked around a bit, the pain would subside. Mostly.
Problem is, these symptoms sounded a lot like sciatica, which is is a set of symptoms caused by something else, but is essentially when something gets pinched in the lower spine, like the sciatic nerve, which runs down into the legs. That can happen from an injury, or just something getting noodged a bit out of alignment and causing swelling that pinches the nerve. But it's not something to be ignored, as my friend Mary can attest to.
So I was a dutiful person, and did two things. First, I set up my home computer as a standing desk — which an upended milk crate does just perfect for. Then I called the doctor first thing Monday morning, and got in to see her Monday afternoon.
And, yes, she was definitely concerned over the description of the pain and all of that, as well as the reduced range of motion in raising the left leg and the slight weakness in the legs I was describing. She prescribed me some steroids to bring down swelling (if that was it), and had me schedule an MRI.
I went through the course of steroids over that week, working from home (I put in a request for a standing desk there, but it can take them 4-6 weeks to get hold of one) and trying to be good. And, in fact, by last weekend I was actually feeling pretty darned good.
So this week I worked at the office for the most part, sitting properly, and didn't really have much of a problem …
… until as the week went on, and definitely today, I noticed that I'm getting a bit of numbness in the foot and tingling in the legs. So things haven't magically gotten fixed. Alas.
I've been keeping the doc apprised, I have instructions on what Real Danger Signs (i.e., go to the ER) are, and I've "reinstalled" the standing desk here at home. The MRI is scheduled for week after next. And I'm just going to hang loose and grumble.
(I haven't been chit-chatting about this online so far because either (a) I wasn't feeling up to it, (b) things were still uncertain, (c) things were getting maybe better. Now that things are … mezzo-mezzo … it seemed a good opportunity for TMI for my reading audience.)
Sciatica
Sciatica refers to pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in the leg. It is caused by injury to or pressure on the sciatic nerve. Sciatica is a symptom of another medical problem, not a medical condition on its own.A.D.A.M.
About five or six years ago, I had this very same thing. I couldn't stand straight without having a shooting, standing, pain going down the left side of my left leg and all the way down to my foot. The left half of my left foot was totally numb and I had to walk hunched over for two months. Sitting or hunching over, I was fine….I just couldn't stand up straight.
When I went to the doctor's office, (after a week of symptoms) they gave me a couple cortisone shots, which did absolutely nothing and I continued to have to walk like Quasimodo.
The night the second World of Warcraft expansion came out, I went and stood in line (hunched over a shopping cart was more like it) for over an hour….hey, what can I say, I was a dedicated fan…and found that the more I stretched, the better my back felt.
Long story short (too late, I know), I started lying on the floor, in the morning, and raising my left knee up to my chest, holding it for a few minutes. I did this for a week and my back started feeling a lot better. After another week, I was able to walk upright again with little to no pain. The left side of my left foot was numb for two months after this, but at least I could walk like a normal person and wasn't in any pain.
So, maybe stretching might help you? It did for me.
I assume they’ve ruled out any disc problems? I had a bulging disc some years ago, and it caused severe sciatica-like pain and numbness in my heel. But, just sciatica sucks! And hurts. Hope you find a way to be more comfortable very soon. Steroids help, but unfortunately, you can’t take the dadblame things forever. May you receive good news (something easily fixable) when you have the MRI.
@Ellie – It could very be disc-related. The MRI should help determine that.
+Mark Means Hmmm. That certainly makes a measure of sense … but I'm going to hold off a bit until the MRI; stretching might do it, but unless things get worse, I don't want to do anything that …. might make things worse. 😛
Bummer. I have no advice to give, but by weird coincidence it coincides with a multi-part series I'm writing about pain. I'll be posting the first installment tomorrow.
I received pain meds and a course of PT for my sciatica. The stretching exercises were effective, if unpleasant.
Regular walking, even lunchtime perambulations, may also serve as a good maintenance exercise.
Good luck!
I had sciatica (post-injury, one leg became weaker than the other) and luckily saw a wonderful physiotherapist who gave me a set of exercises to do that really helped. In fact they cured me. I'll describe two for you:
1) lie on the floor on your side, put an arm or small pillow under your head for comfort. Very very slowly, as slow as you can go, raise the leg on top upward. When you get to about 30° hold for a couple of seconds. Then, slowly lower your leg back down, all the way, until it is completely at rest. Repeat 10x if you can, and remember, the slower the better. Don't lose control of it. When you're done, do the other leg.
2) lie on your back, knees up, feet positioned comfortably away from your bottom. You can gently lift your bottom off the ground and lower it again to help get your spine flat on the ground. A pillow under your head may help. Like before, very very slowly, keeping your feet where they are, lower one knee sideways down towards the ground to about 45°. It's good to let your foot rock onto its edge so there's no stress on the ankle. Then slowly return to the start position. Repeat 10x for each side.
These exercises will strengthen the muscles around your hips. Whenever I feel even the slightest tingle now, I do these two exercises and the tingle is gone again, usually for a couple of weeks. If I did them every day I'm sure I'd never even experience that initial tingling warning. But these exercises were so effective it's hard to remember why I should even do them!
Well, now you have reason to quote W. C. Fields. "Suffering sciatica!"
I can personally tell you this is no joke. You need to take care of this before you turn out like me. I have had chronic back pain and severe arthritis for years. I had a minor fall and couldn't get the pain to go away. I went through all the same stuff with the corticosteroids. I the had a steroid shot into the gluteus maximus. Two days later I woke to find that I could no longer move my toes or lift my foot. My foot always feels like it's asleep and walking on pins and needles. I'm unable to stabilize my ankle. So, I run the risk of rolling my ankle. To make a long story short. My left foot is permanently paralyzed. I have what is called drop foot. If this should happen get to an ER immediately. You basically have a month to correct the problem or end up like me.
Dave, I hope very much that you recover with a minimum of fuss. A disc in my lower back blew out when I was in my late 20s, taking most of the S1 nerve root with it, and it's been a long road to regaining mostly normal function.
+Tiffany Knoell Thanks. It's to avoid something like that happening that I'm taking this seriously and carefully.
+Lorne Lehrer I'm definitely trying to keep up my lunchtime walking. The doctor recommended it, too.
+David Savage Those both sound doable and good advice, like the one +Mark Means suggested. I'm probably going to hold off a little on the stretching exercises until we learn more (from the MRI) about what's precisely bollixed up and how. Thanks!
+Gamber Shaw Yikes. Again, a cautionary tale showing why I'm dealing with this seriously. I've been reporting in the symptoms to my doctor (in addition to the first visit) and following her ongoing advice. I have some "if this starts happening, let me know ASAP" and "if this starts happening, get someone to take you to the ER" trigger points to follow, too. Thanks.
@TheMiracleWave
nice