R-leg Weakness With Sciatica(anyone) Posted: 05-26-04 17:49pm
New here to the board, and was wondering
if anyone can share encouragement with me.
I have an l-5 ruptured disk, and really
don't have any pain at all in the back,
but suffer from sciatica. The problem
that I have is some weakness in the right
calf muscle along with some pressure in
the back of the r-thigh with some burning
in the right foot. Now I was taking anti
inflamatories for two months and am now
off of them. I felt as if the problem was
going away, but now it appears that my
limp comes back from time to time, along
with the foot burning. Question(s) to
all, has anyone had a similiar case such
as mine, and if so...How long did it take
for the strength to return in the calf
muscles?? I am a 32 yo. Active
weightlifter of 17 years, and am trying to
work on the calf muscle specifically. If
any one has a similiar case how long did
you continue the anti-inflams??? Any help
is greatly appreciated!!! :d
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alisonjoan
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 May 2004 Posts: 36 Location: santa monica
Leg Weakness Posted: 05-29-04 16:00pm
Dear kevin ,
hello I am sorry I cannot answer your ?
I am writing because I have weakness in my
left thigh with sciatic pain and numbness
behind the left knee . My pain started
a month and 1/2 ago with my hip ( couldn't
cross my legs). I went to er for pain
last week - they did no ex-rays and just
sent me off with pain meds . I went to
orthopedist 2 days later. He took
normal x-rays and said they were fine but
found a bone spur ( said must have been
past injury - I do not know about it
anyway) wants to do blood tests for
arthritis I do not think that is it.
Feels like a pinched nerve to me. How
did they go about finding your disc ? Did
they do an mri right away ? What were
your symptoms. Ps they refuse to give
me muscle relaxants . Any ideas why -
also I am going to post this as a general
post so for those reading this excuse the
repetitiveness- alison
Last edited by alisonjoan on 05-30-04 14:33pm; edited 1 time in total
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kevin272
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 3 Location: va
Back Pain Posted: 05-30-04 12:27pm
I was diagnosed with a herniated disk on
l-5 from a Dr. At the er.From ex-ray
only...Was referred to another Dr. Which
ordered a mri ,,from that it was apparent
that the disk was large...Praying and
working out to aid in the problem, hope
this helps...Mri is alledged to analyze
soft tissue....A also use glucosomine, and
try to use good body dynamics.. :d :d
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alisonjoan
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 May 2004 Posts: 36 Location: santa monica
Thanks Kevin Posted: 05-30-04 12:49pm
The location you describe which one (disk
) is that? The er - you were lucky -
they did nothing for me what so ever in
terms of diagnosis.
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quiltframe
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Oct 2004 Posts: 9 Location: Rockford, Ill.
Sciatica Right Leg Posted: 10-23-04 18:12pm
I'm 53 and have been doing housekeeping
for 23 years. Four weeks ago I developed
sciatic pain from the right hip to the
heal so bad that I could not walk at all.
My calf would go into spasm and I ended
up in a wheelchair. Naturally I have no
insurance, but I do have a friend who is a
massage therapist. My Dr. Says that I
injured s1 and gave me me valium and
vicoden for the pain and spasms. I have
had much more luck with deep massage,
acupressure and ice. After a week of
therapy I can now walk and am off most of
the meds. I start on the treadmill and
balance ball next week. Ice can really
give you a lot of pain relief.
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drlarry
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 25 Oct 2004 Posts: 7 Location: Portland, OR
Posted: 10-25-04 14:39pm
You really need to be careful with this
situation.
Loss of motor strength is a bad sign
indicating that you have neurological
deficit. If this continues for a
prolonged period of time you will risk
losing partial or greater function of that
nerve permanently.
Nerves do not repair or regenerate.
An mri with possible surgical intervention
may be necessary for proper resolution to
your problem. Surgery may not be
something we want but it sometimes is the
only available solution to the problem.
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quiltframe
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Oct 2004 Posts: 9 Location: Rockford, Ill.
Sciatica Posted: 10-25-04 15:04pm
I do understand the situation, but with no
insurance, no one will touch you. I am
lucky that my physician will treat me at
all.
The weakness is fading and I still have
pins and needles if I over do it, but I am
using a cane for balance and the pain is
pretty much localized to the back and
buttock now.
I am going to have to find another line of
work though.
Thanks for the reply.
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drlarry
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 25 Oct 2004 Posts: 7 Location: Portland, OR
Posted: 10-25-04 15:18pm
Disc herniations are very unpredictable.
I see them in people that have physical
occupations and in people who sit and do
nothing all day long.
It seems some people just have
congenitally poor discs etc.
Symptoms decreasing is always a good sign.
Hopefully over time your symptoms will
go away and never return, but error on the
side of caution and try get some health
insurance down the road for peace of
mind.
If something comes up and you need advice
drop me an email.
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quiltframe
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Oct 2004 Posts: 9 Location: Rockford, Ill.
Evidently this particuar problem is
hereditary. Both my oldest son and
daughter have herniated this particular
disc.
I am doing the treadmill, slowly, and the
balance ball,which I promptly fell off of.
For some reason my symptoms got
dramatically better after this. I can
walk upstairs and upright now and am off
all pain meds except advil. I hope it
continues but won't count on it.
My mother's bottom three discs had fused
by my age and she never had another
backache....Go figure.
The massage and accupressure really do
help.
I would like to get insurance but 1600 a
mo for the two of us is a little much. I
can get 10,000 deductable for 200 a month
but don't have even that as we just took
in my mom and have had to start a business
just to have work. We're older, it's
not easy.
Have found a neighbor to team with me when
I try to go back to work in a couple of
weeks and if I have to quit at least
she'll have work.
Tingling better and foot doesn't drag, but
can't wear shoes with any support as it
still sends my foot and calf into spasm.
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summers1
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 1
Scatica Posted: 11-08-04 18:10pm
Can anyone give me some advice I was a
health active young woman (34) went to
step twice a week swam, walked the dog 5
times a week was generally in good shape.
Then suffered severe leg pain couldnt
walk and ended up in hospital for a week.
A disk was out in my lower back sitting
on the scatic nerve I am now left with a
numb buttock, back of thigh, numb heel and
small and next toe I cant feel, I now walk
with a limp have been doing exercises but
still feel the same. It has been 4
months now and no better I can hardly walk
for more than 15 mins and my heel is
really sore. Please can someone tell me
when it gets better so I can go back to an
active life and loose the stone i've put
on
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quiltframe
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Oct 2004 Posts: 9 Location: Rockford, Ill.
5 Mo. Posted: 11-09-04 00:22am
What on earth did your Dr. Tell you
besides your disc was out? Five mos. Of
numbness is a long time. I changed my
shoes to flats because the really
supportive tennys that I was wearing put
my calf into spasm and barefoot is the
most comfortable. My achilles tendon had
been shortened by the shoes and it
agrivated things.
Are you on any meds? I know it's
humiliating sometimes but using the store
wheel chair or a walker occasionally to
take the weight off your hip helps.
There's a website called healthetech that
features a diet program called balance log
that has taken 60 lbs. Off me and it
seems to have helped some of my friends as
well. I even lost 3 lbs in the last two
mos. Of this attach, a first believe
me.
The last time I herniated a disc (higher
up) it took 4 mos. To get back to work an
a couple of years before I felt really ok.
The numbness gradually faded and so did
the pain. Sorry.
