JOONIE- Sciatica info? | Arthritis Information

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Hi Joonie

 
You posted this back in November... I am having similar problems but I don't think quite as badly as you went through. For about a week now, I have sharp pain that radiats through my right butt, down my leg and into my foot.  My foot gets tingly at times. It hurts badly to stand up and have to take a minute and move slowly...and hurts to sit.  I havent seen the dr. yet, probably should. Do you have anymore info on Sciatica? Did you see your RA dr. about it?  How are you feeling now?
 
Thanks!
 
Here's your post:
 
Ok... so yesterday when I woke up I had that pain, I had last October that sent me to the ER, in my right upper thigh again. It was not as bad as that time, but still it was pain and in the same darn spot.
 
Tonight... I am laying here surfing the internet and then the same spot and pain came back.
 
It is like a sharp, stabbing, jabbing pain that runs down my thigh. It feels like it orginates in my hip area and then runs down my thigh to the inside area of my knee. Kinda does like a curve. Starts from the outside of my right hip runs down my thigh to the inside of my knee.
 
My right knee is a little more swollen than it has been, and has been having a dull thorbbing pain for a week now. But not that is not easily ignorable.
 
But the recent pain I have been exerpirencing is a little less ignorable. 1 - because last time I went to the ER because the pain would not stop and pain meds I had done nothing for it. 2 - afraid it might get bad like it did last time and I soo do not want to go to the ER.
 
I am just wondering what is causing this pain? Fibro, RA, pinched nerve, or muscle spasm.
 
Those above options are what Dr's I have seen for this problem has said is what is causing this pain. The ER told me it was arthritis and muscle spasm. And the arthritis they were referring to was not RA, but to OA.
 
I wonder if it will go away again when I get my Remicade infusion again.
sciatica -- a real pain in the butt! Usually comes from a low back issue -- not fun -- and nothing seems to calm mine down. hope you have better luck.Hi Klynn!
 
I had typed out this long post to you just about 5 mins ago, and I hit "Post Reply" and the board lost it!
 
I have decided that my pain is caused from inflammation pressing on my spinal cord like my neurologist said it was. It has the hallmarkings of sciatica, but it is missing a few symptoms. I do not remember which I am messing, but to me... it was sciatica, but then it wasn't.
 
After I made that post in Novemeber, I got my Remicade infusion again, and I have not had that problem again yet. But my inflammation has been very little, so that would mean the inflammation in my back is probably very little as well.
 
I would go see a neurologist for it. Mine seemed confident about what was causing my pain, and I now believe him since I know mine goes away when my inflammation is down.
 
Please keep me posted on what you find out about your problems!

Thanks Islandwoman and Joonie! I think I will see someone Monday if it's not gone by then and watch it like Joonie said, to see if it comes and goes or gets worse with inflammation.  Glad you are feeling better Joonie, yours sounded awful. When new symptom comes up that I havent had before, I always wonder if it's related to RA...then "here we go again" plays in my mind... go see your pcp...she then tells me to go see the RA dr....then wait until he actually can see you...he then either has an answer or sends me off to someone else... it's sooo much fun, isnt it? 

Have a great day guys!

Hi klynn - I just wanted to stress the need for you to see someone as soon as possible. I started having sciatic pain in February last year. I thought I just needed to so some stretches and wait for it to work itself out. I waited until the beginning of May when I couldn't stand the pain anymore to see my back doctor. It turned out that I had a severely herniated disc that required immediate surgery. Looking back I think how could I have waited 3 months before going to the doctor? I was in agony, but I tossed it up to good old RA and my body malfunctioning as usual. I also was so tired of going to the doctor for all of my aches and pains. The doctor was able to remove the herniated portion, and aside from a multitude of complications post surgery, my back feels better than it has in 20 years and no more sciatica! Let us know what you find out, but please I urge you to go as soon as you can.


Hi Guys,
 
I went to the first dr. that could see me today (not my reg. dr.) After xrays, they said my spine looks normal.  Said I just must have hurt my back and it will go away with time. Last night I missed my dose of Celebrex. This morning, my pain was worse then it's been.  I then took Celebrex and it calmed down a little bit later during the day. I dont know... To have shooting pain running down your leg, making your foot tingle, and hurts like crazy to try and stand up from a seated postioin...doesnt exactly sound like a normal back injury...but then again, I've never really hurt my back badly before. Who knows!
 
He did mention he wouldn't have even given me x-rays if I didnt tell him that I had taken steroids. (Medrol)  He said that can cause hair line fractures.
It's good, I guess, that they didn't find anything. But, if it keeps bothering you, I would see a specialist. graciesmom2009-01-10 15:56:07I had sciatica problems when I was pregnant with my daughter about 22 years ago. I would be walking and the pain would shoot down my leg and I would fall down which isn't a good idea being 6 months preggo. My dr put me on bed rest which made it worse. +Then he had me do these exercises. Get on the floor on all four (which is hard but try make sure someone is there) arch your back as far up as you can then drop your belly down as far as you can. (This worked because baby was pressing on the nerve and is probably different with ya'll). It's not fun. I hope it gets better.Done with this placeLibby22009-02-10 01:21:19Just needed to vent... I am in so much pain this morning from the shooting pain down my leg. My foot tingles, I cant sneeze or cough without it sending pain down my leg. I could hardly get out of my car this morning and just stood there with this awful pain . Once I start to walk it feels a bit better. Its trying to sit, reach for something, or stand that sends that pain shooting.  When I saw the dr. Friday, he said xrays were normal and sent me on my way. Why are dr's . in such a hurry that they cant take the time to really make sure there's nothing else. I mentioned I have RA...could it possibly be inflammation? Didnt even go over that with me. Could it be a slipped disk?..ignored that one too. Do dr.'s just assume you have all this time and money to keep coming back to them? UGH! I'm so frustrated. I made another appt with my regular dr. and HOPE she will figure out what's going on. It seems like the patient these days has to do their own research to bring up to the dr's. Even my RA dr. said he had no time until Feb. to see me.Have you tried a massage? Tell you doctor you are in agony and be firm in expecting an answer. Request an MRI. Xrays don't always show the real story. Do you take a muscle relaxer? That could help some. Also, Lyrica helps with nerve pain.

Here is a website that has good info on sciatic nerve pain. There are some stretching exercises which may be helpful. However, you need to be able to determine the cause of the sciatica to figure out which ones
to do safely and for relief.

http://www.spine-health.com/wellness/exercise/overview-sciatica-exercises

Thanks Graciesmom
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