Am waiting for mri to be done but am wondering whether anybody else has problems with pain when walking. I have had sciatica some years ago but don’t remember if I had this problem. Pottering around the house am fine but any distance outside I get severe burning in my leg that goes if I sit.
Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve and is typically felt in the buttocks, down the back of the leg, and possibly to the foot...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/sciatic-nerve-pain-from-the-perspective-of-many-decades-629096
If you have this kind of pain, you have to find its source. My discussion describes the times I have encountered it. Not fun...
It could have something to do with the SI joint mine is the same
There's lots of possibilities. Spinal canal stenosis, SI joint, disc degeneration, posture. The MRI is supposedly the definitive diagnostic tool but still does always work. Something is impinging hing on your sciatic nerve when youre in a forward motion. Walk upright from your head and check with a neutral spine until the neurologist figures it out. Go see a specialist
If you haven't read my link yet, please do. I've had ALL of the conditions Maggie describes. What has always worked for me was to start with the non-invasive, non-RX, inexpensive therapies such as chiropractic, PT, acupuncture, etc. Typically, these professionals can realign hips and spine, free up locked SI joints and more.
If that doesn't work (like the time I had a bone spur literally crushing the sciatic nerve root at L4). then you need another type of help. If it's spine related, that's a neurosurgeon. Taking meds and getting expensive pain shots doesn't ever fix the problem. Find the source of your pain and correct it.
PS: An MRI on your spine is not always revealing. I've had that happen a few times on my spine and knee. The "gold standard" spine test is a CT/Myelogram with contrast. It is the definitive spine test. With two fusions and two decompressive laminectomies on my medical history, trust me...I know this stuff cold...
Hopefully, a surgical fix will not be in your future. Start conservatively and go from there. Meanwhile. 800 mg ibuprofen TID should help with the inflammation. Do that for a week...10 days max. Topically, the best stuff out there is Voltaren Gel (RX in the US...generic diclofenac elsewhere). Good anti-inflammatory and pain reliever. Else, there's BioFreeze, Aspercrean with 4% Lidocaine or straight Lidocaine patches, all OTC.
Chico Max is absolutely right! I meant to say that MRI is NOT definitice diagnostic tool, instead it came out the other way around.
Please do start with conservative treatment.
Try the chiropracter etc, I also ended up having a spinal fusion and what I actually found THE MOST BENEFICIAL of all, is relaxing and staying ff my feet!
I still can do cardio exercise like swimming and spin cycle stationary bike ( with caution) but walking kills me! My feet feel like they are burning in a tight vice like clamp!