lilc - sciatic - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

curiousforever · 02-12-2006, 12:32 AM

sciatic nerve problems are a ms thing too?

I've had problems with mine for a few months...came on pretty suddenly...

lilc · 02-12-2006, 04:56 AM

Curious, it can be MS related. I know and know of 5 other people who had "sciatica" for a few years before an MS dx.
When I was sent to PT and chiroprator for sciatica I never even had an x-ray. The extreme pain I was having fit perfectly for a compressed sciatic nerve. The PT and chiro (and massage) didn't help at all...It eventually went away (now it comes and goes).
Last year I had MRI of my entire spine. No lesions, but NO disc problems, no narrowing of the cord column, no "pinched nerve".
While it isn't listed anywhere as a symptom, and while it doesn't seem to make a GP think to refer you to a neuro, I keep hearing of people who had sciatic nerve trouble and ended up with a dx of MS down the road.

duttin · 02-12-2006, 10:43 AM

curiousforever,

Sciatic,L5-S1 nerve root,controls majority of nerves leading to the legs.I'm all to familiar with this one.I started having problems with mine 17 years ago.They can be extemly painful.I have had 2 back surgeries at that area.After several MRI'S and a mylogram to provide proof of no nerve root cut off they have linked it to the MS.There are meds that can lessen that.Painful as it may be try to keep it stretched.It does help if you can get past the pain.I have my physical therapist stretch mine each time I see her.

Prayers to you,

Toni

curiousforever · 02-12-2006, 11:06 AM

Which meds lessen the pain? All I get right now is percocet, cymbalta, and lyrica.

I do stretch - I can touch my nose to my knee. Not really really painful to do - it hurts more when I have to drive a lot...

curious11 · 02-12-2006, 04:15 PM

This is very interesting! I had sciatica/ numbness in my left leg when I was pregnant. I was seeing a chiropractor to try and relieve the supposive pressure the baby was putting on my nerve. The numbness stayed for awhile, even after I had my son. It was a few months after giving birth that I again had a bout with numbness in that leg. Then a year later ON. And now 3 years later here I am with SPMS. I wonder if that so called "sciatica" was or wasn't MS related. Very interesting!