sciatica or something else?

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I've been having pain in my left leg since about April or May. It started out in my calf and felt like a strained muscle, very tight feeling. after a few months of this not improving I went to my doctor (ortho) and he ordered an mri, showed the problem area at L4-5 which i already knew about and a annular tear, bulging disk, he told me it was sciatica.

Well, lately the pain is moving up from my calf to the back of my knee and even above. it woke me last night with stabbing pain every 7-8 seconRAB (i was keeping count of the surges). I don't know if anyone has experienced anything like that and what they did. Other than Aleve, and Advil and ice, I'm doing nothing and don't know what I can do without doing and epidural shot at this point. I don't even know if I am sure of what is wrong, even though my doctor said sciatica, what if it's something else?
If this sounRAB like sciatica, I guess that will in a way be reassuring, since at least I'll know, but if it doen't, then I'm wondering what could be wrong with my leg?

any input or suggestions are welcome, thanks and wishing a painfree day to all:)
 
Sciatica pain can run from the back of your hip (buttocks) all the way down to your ankle and is very painful. I've not had mine throb though, when mine acts up it's a constant pain, but everyone is different. The only thing that's ever helped mine is doing cross over leg stretches my physical therapist taught me, it helps to relieve some of the pressure felt.

Some folks to respond to cortizone injections but I've not found them fruitful in the case of sciatica pain. Bout the only thing it's helped is when my bursitis acts up. Can't really say if it's helped others. When I had an epi in my lurabar it made it worse. Cortisone is only effective if there is swelling, it does not impact impinged nerves or damaged bones/cartilage.
 
I agree with Kissa.

Pain from th L4-5 nerve root can refer pain down the outer side of the leg and into the foot. It could be that the nerve root has become more inflamed, for a variety of reasons, and that is causing the pain to become more intense and wide-spread.

Try to take it easy for a few days to see if you can get that angry nerve to settle down. Avoid any activities that involve bending, twisting or lifting more than about a gallon of milk, or maybe 10 pounRAB, max. Avoid any repititious activities like walking or running on a treadmill -- take aleve or advil 'round the clock, as directed on the package instructions, and try icing the lower lurabar area on your lower back. The idea is to try to calm down that area where you said you had the annular tear. Oh, I see you're already doing that!! Well, you're right. The next thing your doc will recommend is an ESI or physical therapy. There aren't too many other options, other than benign neglect and REST.
 
jojokdz,

Your post has been moved to its own thread entitled: Sciatica ???? in this forum.

Thank you.
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