Sciatica pain for over 6 months

Brain and nerves
1

Hello!

Since late August last year, I have been having problems with my lower back and right leg.

It started as a lower back pain, but I used an ointment that the pharmacist recommended, and it got better in about a week.

But - about a month after that, I developed a pain that made me bend to the right, and if I have to stand up straight, I cannot fully extend my right leg.

The pain is bad, as you can imagine, and it spans from lower back, to the outer part of the hip, to the thigh area, sometimes even around the knee and below it.

I took the liberty to use a photo of an anatomy model to show where I feel the pain.

Now, the important thing that I need to emphasize is that I feel the pain only when standing or walking.

I can sit for hours and be as snug as a bug.

I have come to a point where I cannot sleep right, because if I lay on my right, I feel immense pain in my right leg, and if I lay on my right side, it is unbelievably difficult for me to get up.

I have seen four doctors - two orthopaedic doctors, a neurologist and a doctor of physical therapy, and they have all given me different diagnosis.

First orthopaedic doctor told me it was spondylosis.

Second one told me it was a herniated disc.

The neurologist said it was a "classic case of sciatica".

The doctor of physical therapy sad it was coxarthrosis.

I am still in pain after different therapies, and I don't know what to do next.

Please, if anyone has an idea, a suggestion, or even a kind word, I would be most grateful.

Have a good day,

Brian

2

Bless you, my pain is in the same areas, I've had no luck with doctors either. I'm going for an X Ray on my hip as the latest doctor thinks it might be a problem there causing the sciatica.

It seems like a never ending battle doesn't it?! I hope you can take some small comfort that you're not suffering alone! Best of luck x

3

Thank you!

I had an X Ray on my hips and spine, and the doctors say it looks just fine.

So no problems there, but the pain is so debilitating...

4

I'd start with the least invasive...have a chiropractor look for a locked SI joint in your hip.  Could very well be something simple.  If not, you need an MRI and a NEUROSURGEON!!!  Nobody else.  I've had plenty of sciatica problems caused by hip alignment or SI joints...but then I've had similar symptoms caused by a bone spur in my spine crushing the sciatic root nerve.  Simple laminectomy; pain free in a day.  Gotta find the cause of your pain and NEVR treat just the symptoms.  I'd start with a chiro...

5

I have seen two chiropractors, and no improvement, unfortunately.

I cannot undergo an MRI because I cannot lay flat on my back because of the pan, nor can I stretch my leg out fully.

 

6

There is now an Upright MRI ("stand up" MRI) that you can try.  Also, a neurosurgeon can order a CT/Myelogram with contrast...the "gold standard" test for finding spinal problems.

7

My "pain" started in Aug. of 2016. I'm 60 and have always been in shape. I've been ideal weight/height/body fat index my whole life. I was diagnosed with Degerative Disc Desease, with stenosis and /or Priformas. Affecting only my left side. After an X-ray, I was given all kinds of stretching excercises. Was to Physical Therapist, Accupressure, Accupunture, Orthopedic Specalist and Chiropractor.  Weeks of limping pain I finally got an MRI approval. That showed I only had mild narrowing (stenosis) of the vertabras for someone my age and physical laborous work history. 4 months into the pain I was getting numb on the left side of my torso, face, and left foot. At one point I would break out in a black and blue spot on the top of my left foot, in back of my thigh, and on my bicep. What was happening was the painful nerve in that area would rupture, releasing the pressurezed blood in that spot. I did feel some relief in that area.. 

The doctors said the major pain would go away time and excercise and suggested NOT getting any kind of surgery or cortozone shots.

So for 6 months I just suffered with the pain. My neighbor suggested the inversion table. I was desparate, I borrowed his, thinking this was just another TV gimmick like the Shake Weight. But I'll be damed, after 2 days of 3x's a day for 10 mins.each at a 30 degree angle.... my pain was reduced my 50%. I wound up buying an inversion table ($380), I bought a very good one. I'm still using it and still excercising/stretching. I have some pain but it gets a tiny bit better each week. Shoes are also important. I'm on my feet a lot on cement floors. I wear an insert to cushion my heels. I'm hoping by Aug. I'll be pain free. But I know i won't be completely healed. That cold take years.

Also, if you are having hip pain, have the doctor check for Lambra tear in the leg to hip joint socket.