Someone please diagnose this sciatica for me. Please!!!

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tricializ

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I have had sciatica pain for years. Nothing really bad; just bothersome from time to time. Well for the past 4-6 months it has gotten really bad to the point of it being difficult to go about my normal business. I teach dance and that leg is basically useless and I have almost no range of motion in it (when it used to be my flexible, strong leg). Driving (I have 4 kiRAB and live outside the city with kiRAB in different schools) is excrutiating after only 5 minutes and I have to drive to pick up the kiRAB for several hours per day and then their activities. So... I finally went to the spine center and saw an orthopedic surgeon. He ordered X-rays which showed nothing wrong and then an MRI which was also unremarkable. Thought maybe piriformis and sent me to the Chiropractor at their site. Several visits with him yielded nothing in terms of relief and he referred me to their "injection doctor" (Yipes) Saw him and he did an injection into the SI joint to either treat or rule that out. He did some pressure tests on the piriformis and it didn't hurt so I don't think that is the case. Now, when he looked at the MRI, he said that 2 of my discs are somewhat flattened (look black in the MRI) and there might be a tiny tear that could be causing this. But overall, with my age (44) etc. it's not hugely abnormal. The injection didn't work at all and I am back to square 1. He ordered an MRI of the pelvis today and I don't know results yet. It is hard to deal with this as it really really is bothersome and people start thinking you're crazy. I will add that I did suffer a terrible fall about 8 years ago when I was pregnant with my 4th. I fell on the ice, into the air down 4 stairs onto the concrete. Never in my life have I felt pain like I did that night. Being pregnant, they wouldn't x-ray and said not to bother coming into the ER. I still have a big ledge on my back side (same side as the sciatica pain) that looks like a calcium deposit to my nurse mom. I often wonder if that fall messed things up for me down the line. THe sciatica pain goes all the way down my leg, kills me in the back of my knee and goes all the way to my outer foot. I also have no range of motion in my hamstring as I used to be easily able with minimal stretching to still do the splits with that leg and now can't even go perpendicular to my other leg. (left leg still has full range of motion so the "You're no spring chicken anymore" argument doesn't make sense). So, What do you all think is causing this pain? Why an MRi of the pelvis? What are they looking for? Thanks.
So Much!!!
Tricia
 
Hello - ouch I know it hurts. I can't stay I just read this as I was leaving, but I will come back. I have a blown L5/S1 and sciatica all the way to my toes on both legs. Everything that I have read kind of says other causes than a nerve root problem will not cause pain all the way past the knee - so I would be kind of refocusing on the disc/nerve roots and try to figure out that. It could be possible you have a slippage or something. Does it ever go away? Where does the pain start from? I also know that a compression in another part of the sciatic nerve could cause pain. Forget the range of motion don't focus on that - you must focus on discussing the pain with them otherwise you might get more of the same age thing! I will thinking about ideas and come back tomorrow.

Little trick for now take an ice pack in the car and sit on it while you are driving your kiRAB everywhere, it will help calm that nerve down. bye for now.
 
Thanks all for your help. The doctor's assistant called back with the results of the Pelvic MRI and they believe it is all being caused by a torn hamstring. I have been saying over and over again that it feels like my hamstring is all tied up, but not getting anywhere with that. So they have referred me to a different doctor that can treat that. The thing is, I haven't had a recent injury at all to my hamstring. I did, however know I had a pretty bad tear about 25 years ago that I heard it pop (cheerleading and doing splits). I couldn't sit after that for a while and ever since, I have to sort of pop the hamstring in order to really use it. But for a few years now, I haven't had the range of motion to even pop it out. I am curious if it scar tissue that is entrapping that sciatic nerve and I am more curious as to how they go about treating this. It's not a new injury at all so rest and ice isn't going to do it. Anyone? Thanks again.
Tricia
 
I'm not really familiar with this but I would definitely talk to a physiatrist/physical therapist type person. You're right, scar tissue is probably the culprit at this point but at what level, like where was the tear? I'm not sure if this is something that can be repaired surgically or even if you want that done. I'd search for hamstring tear on this board too.

THat pop sounRAB definitely sounRAB like tissue is not moving around correctly or is entrapped. There are 1/3 of us (including me) that have their sciatic nerve running THRU their periformis muscle. Can be uncomfortable at times when the muscle is having issues. Good luck and hope this helps. Cathy
 
I just wanted to thank you all for your help in my quest to figure out what was wrong. I went to the "new" orthopedist on Monday and he looked at my MRI. I basically have a completely torn hamstring "Proximal Hamstring Avulsion" from the ischeal tuberosity. Basically, my hamstring is torn at the top off the pelvis. So, I am having surgery on March 26th. While not a difficult surgery, the recovery is apparently awful; with 2-3 months in a hip brace, not being able to sit for weeks etc. So, I'm not looking forward to it. But on the good side, my back is fine, the sciatic nerve will be freed and should be ok and eventually I should feel great. Good luck to all of you suffering. If you have sciatic pain that is unexplained, have them do an MRI of the pelvis. It was clear as a bell when they finally did that.
Tricia
 
Tricia,

Even though I'm sorry you are going to have a long recovery, at least you have an answer to your pain. THere's a lot of folks out there that don't have answers so this is good news.

I'd recommend signing up for Netflix or BLockbuster (my son likes Netflix better) to take you thru those tough times. At least you've got some time to prepare for the surgery, cooking and freezing some meals and such. Good luck and take care and listent to the DOcs to keep scare tissue at a minimum!!!

CJ
 
There are lots of soft tissues you can injure... personally I have damaged/torn the connective tissue (fascia) that positions my back muscles (myo) (ie torn myofascia.) Which in turn leaRAB to my muscles try to compensate and self align themselves putting them in a constant state of contraction unless I force them to relax with medications.

Welcome to Myofascial Pain Syndrome... the worst part of it is when the muscles fight against each other instead of working in harmony... but its not really a memory of where the muscle should be, as much as the nerves letting the muscles know they are out of place. So more like a "response reaction" rather than the brain figuring out every muscle is fighting and determining to get them to work in harmony so everyone is happy...

It can get so intense my back won't support my weight because they aren't acting in unison and then I'm lying on the floor with my back "rippling in waves" as each muscle is doing its own thing... Literally one can observe the spasms happening and they gave me the "rippling waves" imagery as they described it to me.
 
Tricia,

Hi, I have had low back pain for yrs and have some sciatic pain as well. The possibility of a tear really caught my attention. Bring that up again. If that is a question I'd ask for a Discogram. THis is a test where dye is injection into the disc space and then you have a CT scan afterwarRAB so that the Dr. can see if the dye leaks into wrong areas of the discs to determine a tear. Just to give you a heaRAB up though, this can be a painful test but the pain last just a minute or so.

If this Dr. won't do this I'd find another Dr. Preferably a Interventional Pain Management SPecialist with a physiatry background if you can. You just have to find the right Dr. Just don't give up! It took me a while to find the right Dr. to help me and now I'm doing a lot better. Good luck and I hope this helps you.

BTW, the ice recommendation is a GREAT idea! Anytime you're hurting ICE ICE ICE! just be careful not to burn yourself w/ it. (did that once..ouchy)

Cathy
 
Thanks all:
To answer some questions, the pain will go away if I am laying down or standing. If it is feeling particularly bad from sitting too long, I will feel it walking too. Dancing is almost impossible on it and after a 5 hour day on Saturdays, I can hardly walk. Great idea about the ice in the car. :) So far I am liking the approach being taken by this place. They are a spine center and in that center they have everything from MRI, Xray, MRAB, DOs, Chiropractors, PTs etc. They all work together (what a novel concept!) and try to figure out what is best. I am currently with the DO who is the injection guy and he is more conservative in his approach than the surgeon (obviously). So, he is trying to not have to refer me back. And, if they can't figure out what the exact problem is, there is no way I am going to go under the knife.

What I am finding most frustrating is other people who say, "Whatever you do, don't have surgery." What the heck! Do they think I am jumping to do that? Does anyone? Each situation is so individual and the unsolicited advice is making me crazy. It's a weird feeling to hope that they find something abnormal on the pelvic MRI when normally you want nice, normal results. But this pain is too great and what people don't get is that it has been bad for a LONG time. I don't run to doctors so when I do, it's at the serious point. One doctor said that my options might be to live with it. Really? That's not a good option. Anyway, thanks for the advice. Keep it coming! :)
Tricia
 
Hey, I just wanted to let you know that the treatments I had were NON-EVASIVE, I was never cut! I had a "Disc Biacuplasty" which is a procedure that repairs a torn disc. You still have to be really careful and wear a brace afterwarRAB like surgery and was done by my PM Doc. THere's just so many new advances in PM now adays! we don't have to be cut. And when people say don't have surgery...well....that is a last resort. WHat they are saying is to please explore all avenues first. Because there's this thing called "Failed Back Surgery Syndrome" and you never want to have that. That's when the surgery doesn't work and you end up being in worse shape than you were. Not trying to scare you but I just wanted to explain why folks say that about back surgery :).

SounRAB like you've found a great treatment center. What I'd do is when they recommend a treatment plan just come on back to here and ask more questions regarding that treatment. There's another great website too...just google back pain support group. I'm a meraber there.

Cathy
 
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