Does anyone know how they treat this and where I can find good info on it? My boyfriend has been dealing with all this for a long time now and I just don;t know what to do. He gets real bad back pain and it radiates down his right leg all the way to his toes and his foot goes numb. Some days are better than others. Some days, he has to walk around for an hour before he can really move. I know it is really affecting him because sometimes he can't really walk well. He can't sit in one position when we waTCH TV. He constantly moves his right leg until the feeling comes back. His dr took and x ray and said this was from arthritis in his back, but I am not convinced that's all it is because of the thing with his leg. Does it sound like arthritis or like something else? Please, I need advice on what on do here

My leg numbness was from a compressed nerve in the spine due to a disc rupturing in L4/L5 and compressing the sciatic nerve. Without further tests, it's hard to tell if it's just arthritis. He would need an MRI at least to detect a bulging or torn disk, which could cause sciatica by pinching the nerve.

I can say this: if it bothers him that much, and it sounds like it does, and it happens most of the time, then it is affecting his quality of life enough that i would see a back specialist about it and have further tests.

I do know this: if he gets any weakness in that leg or foot, or looses control of bowel or bladder, to get to doctor immediately. Those are serious problems that can happen from sciatic nerve problem. Mine progressed to drop foot where I could not lift foot and was dragging leg and then I had surgery immediately and it fixed the drop foot.

That sciatic nerve is the main nerve that runs through back, butt, thigh and leg down to toes. It supplies the blood to your muscles in your leg. lots of things can cause it to have problems. A lot of times the worst pain is in the darn hip and butt region making it hard to sit. you sit and it goes number, then pins and needles, then pain, then numbness and sitting makes it worse and it's horribly uncomfortable and you wind up on your side flipping side to side just to get some relief. Some people have this on and off and some of us constantly.

Ruptured discs in spine...piriformis muscle compressing the nerve...arthritis, all kinds of things can cause this. Physical therapy might also help him but I would get a better diagnosis first so they know exactly what is causing it. Xrays don't show much.

Tight muscles can cause flare ups with the sciatic, and tight muscles, especially piriformis (runs through butt) often accompany back problems. There is even a piriformis syndrome where the piriformis muscle goes all tight causing muscle spasms and squeezing that sciatic and that can be helped with PT. there is not a lot of room back there in the spine, so it's easy to compress that sciatic.

Trying to find out why your sciatic is acting up and then how to FIX it, is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Sometimes there is no real fix, but sometimes there is. I personally would not accept the diagnosis of only arthritis without further tests. You didn't mention back pain. If he has any back pain, then i would really want an MRI.

You are a loving girlfriend to be on here helping him. God Bless and good luck. Have him keep a daily diary of his symptoms: how he feels and especially what causes it to act up (sitting, bending, lifting, car rides) and what helps it (ice, heat, laying down). show that to doctor.

Thank you for your response. I'm just losing my mind because I know he keeps from me how much pain he is really in. Everything you described is what he experiences and it has been going on for years. His insurance won't allow an MRI, but at this point, I just want to pay for it. I am just so scared that this is going to turn into something where he can't even walk anymore. But if it is the sciatic nerve, that's treatable right? I mean, do some people just stop being able to walk?Thanks

Type "sciatica" into your web browser, then read all you can about it. Is he under the care of a spine specialist? Has he had an MRI or any other testing, been placed on meds of any kind or had any injections?

Sciatica can be caused by many things and it isn't always easy to pinpoint. Ice sometimes can help quiet things down, as can aspirin or motrin. But be careful, large amounts can lead to real problems.

Carol

First, get him to a specialist or see if his doctor can order an MRI. X-rays will not show a bulging disc or nerve compression. I have just finished physical therapy for sciatic problems & I am so much better. There are many options before or instead of surgery.

I agree. There are many things that can cause sciatic nerve problems. I don't know of any that can be diagnosed just with X-Rays. A test to consider prior to an MRI would be an EMG. This test is conducted by a neurologist and will determine if the nerve is being impinged and at what level (L4,L5 - L5,S1). It is also considerably less expensive that an MRI. At the very least, a trained spine specialist could conduct a number of simple tests ( reflexes, heel walking, toe walking ect.) that would aid in diagnosing the cause of his sciatic pain. If he has been suffering for more than 6 mo and it is not getting any better, it probably will not without help.

It's important to keep in mind that _most_ sciatica does not entail any damage to the sciatic nerve. It is rather irritation to that nerve and lots of pain. On the other hand, if there is also weakness, numbness, loss of reflexes (especially at the ankle joint) nerve damage is a more likely possibility. In those cases, an EMG makes sense. Otherwise, an MRI is probably the best first step.

Standingman

I have a bulging disk L-4, L-5, S-1 and I have nerve damage on both sides of my hips I am now in pain management. has anyone ever stopped hurting and burning from this?

I have a bulging disk L-4, L-5, S-1 and I have nerve damage on both sides of my hips I am now in pain management. has anyone ever stopped hurting and burning from this?
I did successfully get rid of the pain from a bulging disc with PT, but now I have one higher up & it is affecting my arm & shoulder, the burning pain is horrible & I'm trying to cook for 12 for t-giving! I'm in horrible pain, but refuse to get surgery, thinking about a pain management doctor myself!! How is yours going? I also got rid of the SI pain with PT this past summer, but I get one fixed & herniate another.