Sciatica

[montyblanc]

I started getting excruciating pans in my leg - thigh, calf & ankle, when walking or standing for any length of time. Sitting relieved all symptoms. two weeks later I haev calf pain, stiffness in myankle and numbness in teh heel and toes.
Dr says trapped nerve but ruled out sciatica.

anyone experience this and does the residual pains/numbness subside?

[Buenchico]

Since sciatica simply refers to a specific trapped (or compressed) nerve, it's rather pedantic as to whether you've got it or not. The information here would still seem to be relevant:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Sciatica/Pages/Introduction.aspx
(Click through the links in black type, e.g. Symptoms, Causes, etc).

Chris

[divegirl]

Sciatica is the trapping or pinching of a nerve, the sciatic one funnily enough! I don;t know how your GP managed to rule it our as it sounds to me [ long term sufferer] that you have pretty classic symptoms. Mine was initially caused by two prolapsed [slipped] discs and I'm currently waiting for the results of an MRI to see whats causing it this time.

The pain will go but only when the pressure on the nerve is gone! It really is a awful condition... I can't advise on how to ease it as I can't ease my own :0(

Lisa x

[penelope2]

montyblanc, Sciatica IS caused by compression or irritation of the nerve roots to the Sciatic Nerve (i.e trapped nerve). Interesting that your symptoms are relieved when you are sitting.There are many exercises that you can do to relieve the symptoms, along with analgesia. My experience is that the symptoms subside after a few days with gentle exercise, specific stretching exercises and analgesics. Plus, keep mobile.

[montyblanc]

Thank you for all your answers. Lisa, sorry to hear that you are a chronic sufferer. The pain has all but gone now, but the stiffness and numbness are extremely annoying.

the relieving of the symptoms by sitting down surprised me too, but I was very grateful for it. Another method of gaining relief was to put my affected foot on a step or bottom rung of roadside railings and stand stooped over.

Thepain would go away almost immediately but funnily enough if I merely raised my foot off the ground the pain got worse.

I'll find out on Monday when I return to work how well I have healed.

[divegirl]

My symptoms are relieved when sitting too. During my first bout of it [some 20 years ago] it was only relieved by walking! It is a fickle beast to say the very least!
I know the stooping over trick lol. At the moment I can't walk very far at all, about 30 or so yards with out intense pain so use a shopping trolley [a Morrisons one] to go back and forward to the shops, luckily I live really close by, and it comes in handy for leaning on/over... lucky my neighbours know me well!
The kids keep threatening me with a 'granny trolley' for Christmas but at 43 I shall resist for now :0)

Lisa x

[Sqad]

This certainly sounds typical of sciatica.

It should subside within a period of 6 weeks, but if it doesn't then an MRI scan will be necessary.

I presume that you have no underlying medical condition.

[ummmm]

Sqad....can we demand an MRI?

You mention it often but is it routinely offered?

[Sqad]

ummm.....well, you can "demand" anything in the NHS, but it would only " p1ss off" the folks.

This is the problem.......MRI scans, X-rays....the NHS cannot cope with the work load that is required.

[divegirl]

Agreed!

I was offered one straight away as I have had this problem for many years, I've just got to a point now where the pain is unbearable and I can't walk. I have been in pain for months so it appears it's not going to go away on it's own. I waited six weeks for the scan which I didn't find unreasonable [just painful lol]

Lisa x

[montyblanc]

Thanks again for all your comments. Currently my symptons are more irritating than hurting. If the chronic pain returns after work I shall go back to my GP, although I think his answer would just be to not aggravate the condition and give it more time to heal.