Back pain/sciatica

[idahoblues]

Been a strange few days, I often get lower back pain then sciatica down my right leg/groin, this suddenly has switched to my left leg but 10 times worse now, for the last two days very little sleep, my left leg even into my big toe has been like a toothache multiplied by 1 million, then I noticed my hamstring in that leg is so tight I’m thinking it’s that, usually I’m quite supple but I couldn’t even straighten my leg when lay on my back that’s never happened before. So today I’m hobbling around and thought fuck this I’m going walking g no matter what, i took my dog on a 3 miler up and down the moors, this has eased the pain a great deal in my left leg although it still feels like I’ve been kicked by Ruben Dias, but the aching has now returned to my right leg!
I really don’t know what the hell is going on, I’m going to have a hot bath and hopefully can do some stretching as my muscles heat up, but if this is a sign of things to come I’m booking a one way trip to Switzerland.

Once you’ve had the hot bath you might try icing your lower back, sounds weird but it reduces inflammation

 

[Man_City_Loyal]

Been a strange few days, I often get lower back pain then sciatica down my right leg/groin, this suddenly has switched to my left leg but 10 times worse now, for the last two days very little sleep, my left leg even into my big toe has been like a toothache multiplied by 1 million, then I noticed my hamstring in that leg is so tight I’m thinking it’s that, usually I’m quite supple but I couldn’t even straighten my leg when lay on my back that’s never happened before. So today I’m hobbling around and thought fuck this I’m going walking g no matter what, i took my dog on a 3 miler up and down the moors, this has eased the pain a great deal in my left leg although it still feels like I’ve been kicked by Ruben Dias, but the aching has now returned to my right leg!
I really don’t know what the hell is going on, I’m going to have a hot bath and hopefully can do some stretching as my muscles heat up, but if this is a sign of things to come I’m booking a one way trip to Switzerland.

Same here can go running and my pains go away, then it returns when just sat down

 

[-dabz-]

Been a strange few days, I often get lower back pain then sciatica down my right leg/groin, this suddenly has switched to my left leg but 10 times worse now, for the last two days very little sleep, my left leg even into my big toe has been like a toothache multiplied by 1 million, then I noticed my hamstring in that leg is so tight I’m thinking it’s that, usually I’m quite supple but I couldn’t even straighten my leg when lay on my back that’s never happened before. So today I’m hobbling around and thought fuck this I’m going walking g no matter what, i took my dog on a 3 miler up and down the moors, this has eased the pain a great deal in my left leg although it still feels like I’ve been kicked by Ruben Dias, but the aching has now returned to my right leg!
I really don’t know what the hell is going on, I’m going to have a hot bath and hopefully can do some stretching as my muscles heat up, but if this is a sign of things to come I’m booking a one way trip to Switzerland.

You want to try 30 years of it and a three year spell of lying in the same spot till your legs atrophy because you can't even stand up. On top of that, having your wife holding a washing up bowl to your arse so you can crap, then suffer the indignity of her having to wipe your arse at the age of 38...Then, after a botched op, a redo, to then find out that a simple insole would have solved it in the first place.....And then be cheated out of all benefits and genuinely left with absolutely no fucking money and no way of earning any.... Couldn't go to Switzerland even if I wanted to...Which I have on an almost daily basis. But hey ho, a spell in Hope hospital neurological ward taught me there is always someone worse off than you.

 

[Blue Maverick]

You want to try 30 years of it and a three year spell of lying in the same spot till your legs atrophy because you can't even stand up. On top of that, having your wife holding a washing up bowl to your arse so you can crap, then suffer the indignity of her having to wipe your arse at the age of 38...Then, after a botched op, a redo, to then find out that a simple insole would have solved it in the first place.....And then be cheated out of all benefits and genuinely left with absolutely no fucking money and no way of earning any.... Couldn't go to Switzerland even if I wanted to...Which I have on an almost daily basis. But hey ho, a spell in Hope hospital neurological ward taught me there is always someone worse off than you.

Well I feel better now thanks! Sounds like a shit time pal.

 

[-dabz-]

Well I feel better now thanks! Sounds like a shit time pal.

Trust me...That's not a fraction of my story.... And all through no fault of my own....If I had done my own research instead of listening to "experts" I wouldn't be in this mess...I'm 57 in a few weeks, this shit started when I was 25.

 

[Kirkstall Blue]

Bend from the knees definitely not the waist, that’s assuming your knees are okay

edit that sounds trite after Dabz experience good luck mate

 

[Blue Maverick]

The pain in my left leg and in particular my ankle had become unbearable over the last few days, sleeping in a foetal position with a pillow between my knees, just not sleeping at all. I decided to go to a Thai masseur who had been recommend, this woman battered me but she confirmed my left leg/hamstring was so tight and knotted for whatever reason, a reaction to my back maybe that this was my main problem at the moment. She basically massaged the hell out of me, however about 20 mins in and she pushed the heel of her foot into a knot on the back of my thigh and it was like someone had turned the pain tap off, it was such a relief, she carried on for another 40 mins, prodding and standing, stretching me all over the shop, and although I’m not 100% yet Jesus I might actually sleep properly now.
She said I must stretch properly every day, which I’ve been trying to do and I think this is my future now, everyday doing 20 mins of stretching to keep the pain at bay. I’m looking at going to a rehab place through work for them take a good look at me, but as of now I’m just relieved to be almost pain free.

 

[-dabz-]

The pain in my left leg and in particular my ankle had become unbearable over the last few days, sleeping in a foetal position with a pillow between my knees, just not sleeping at all. I decided to go to a Thai masseur who had been recommend, this woman battered me but she confirmed my left leg/hamstring was so tight and knotted for whatever reason, a reaction to my back maybe that this was my main problem at the moment. She basically massaged the hell out of me, however about 20 mins in and she pushed the heel of her foot into a knot on the back of my thigh and it was like someone had turned the pain tap off, it was such a relief, she carried on for another 40 mins, prodding and standing, stretching me all over the shop, and although I’m not 100% yet Jesus I might actually sleep properly now.
She said I must stretch properly every day, which I’ve been trying to do and I think this is my future now, everyday doing 20 mins of stretching to keep the pain at bay. I’m looking at going to a rehab place through work for them take a good look at me, but as of now I’m just relieved to be almost pain free.

My pain was in my arse cheek, back of my leg, and across the top of my foot...A pain similar to toothache. The spasms were the worst though, that's when I had the blackouts. My stomach constantly felt like I'd done a thousand sit ups because of them. My whole body tensed up when they happened, it was fucking awful. The slightest movement was like sticking my finger in a socket. Glad to hear you have found some relief, You have my sympathy. I didn't sleep for a week once, got the emergency doctor out three times over the week begging him to give me morphine or at the very least a sleeping tablet...Bastards gave nada. The sleep thing became a massive issue by the seventh day, it was killing me, literally, till my missus phoned them again pleading with them to help me sleep. Finally they came out and gave me something to get me to kip...The next day, the pain had reduced drastically, enough to actually stand up.
Good luck with it.

 

[hilts]

The pain in my left leg and in particular my ankle had become unbearable over the last few days, sleeping in a foetal position with a pillow between my knees, just not sleeping at all. I decided to go to a Thai masseur who had been recommend, this woman battered me but she confirmed my left leg/hamstring was so tight and knotted for whatever reason, a reaction to my back maybe that this was my main problem at the moment. She basically massaged the hell out of me, however about 20 mins in and she pushed the heel of her foot into a knot on the back of my thigh and it was like someone had turned the pain tap off, it was such a relief, she carried on for another 40 mins, prodding and standing, stretching me all over the shop, and although I’m not 100% yet Jesus I might actually sleep properly now.
She said I must stretch properly every day, which I’ve been trying to do and I think this is my future now, everyday doing 20 mins of stretching to keep the pain at bay. I’m looking at going to a rehab place through work for them take a good look at me, but as of now I’m just relieved to be almost pain free.

The only thing that worked for me was an osteopath recommended by someone at work. Was a bit concerned when he took me down to the cellar I gave myself 50/50 for getting out alive. It was all about pressure points to relieve pain then exercise once you have left(good intentions and all that) I was 95% pain free after one visit.

The 2 great ones were continuous pressure with fingers and knuckles to the right of the base of my spine, the pain which was at the base spread outwards then went. The mad one though was when he got me to lay on by back and lift my leg up. Managed about a foot before it really hurt. He started on a point a few inches to the right of my belly button for a good 10 minutes. Leg went almost vertical. Voodoo:-)
I never continued with the exercises he gave like a dick but I stretch my calves hamstrings hips a lot during the day. Only gets bad now if I’m really lazy, sitting posture is a killer for me.

Before this some days I couldn’t stand up straight.

 

[Blue Maverick]

Well I spoke too soon on last night about 2am it returned, not as bad but enough to keep me tossing and turning. Seems lying on my back pillow under left leg arching it at the knee helps, I need to get to the doctors purely for pain relief, now I know where the problem hopefully is I’ll be concentrating on my hamstring etc.

 

[Jimmieblue]

Might help someone ...... try a chiropractor rather than physio .... that’s if it’s not arthritis that is. If you have a disc pressing on a nerve it’s best to see a chiropractor. They deal more in nerves. I’d suffered with a disc for years, sciatica and excruciating pain. Chiropractor was totally honest said I needed an operation. He told me at the time, almost 20 years ago, to get a neurosurgeon, not an orthopaedic surgeon. Small operation, bulging disc parred off, best decision I ever made. Thankfully we had private insurance at the time.

 

[Blue Maverick]

Might help someone ...... try a chiropractor rather than physio .... that’s if it’s not arthritis that is. If you have a disc pressing on a nerve it’s best to see a chiropractor. They deal more in nerves. I’d suffered with a disc for years, sciatica and excruciating pain. Chiropractor was totally honest said I needed an operation. He told me at the time, almost 20 years ago, to get a neurosurgeon, not an orthopaedic surgeon. Small operation, bulging disc parred off, best decision I ever made. Thankfully we had private insurance at the time.

They are saying arthritis however 20 years ago the chiropractor I saw said it was the fluid in between my discs that had gone! I’ve heard how dangerous an operation can be in that area so that is a last resort for me.

 

[grunge]

I've got some really odd back pain going on recently, I boarderline about phoning a doc about it but its not "bad" just very regular / constant. An annoyance more than anything else.

Its centre of the back near the spine at the very bottom of the rib cage. Feels like a lump/bruise/swelling there but nothing there to the touch.


I assume disk related but doesn't change on movement. Laying down does help though. in the morning its fine most of the time but gets worse during the day.

 

[Jimmieblue]

They are saying arthritis however 20 years ago the chiropractor I saw said it was the fluid in between my discs that had gone! I’ve heard how dangerous an operation can be in that area so that is a last resort for me.

You can hear a lot of fear stories unfortunately, but things might have moved on since I had my surgery, micro surgery etc. Surgery is a scary way to go. Backs are problematic, sitting causes a lot of problems and now I do Pilates every week to correct bad posture from having an office job most of my working life.

 

[Blue Maverick]

You can hear a lot of fear stories unfortunately, but things might have moved on since I had my surgery, micro surgery etc. Surgery is a scary way to go. Backs are problematic, sitting causes a lot of problems and now I do Pilates every week to correct bad posture from having an office job most of my working life.

Funnily enough I’m going to do Pilates and yoga thank god for you tube. Daft thing is before this happened last week I was regularly stretching and doing HIIT sessions along with 3-4 Mike walks with the dog.

 

[Jimmieblue]

Funnily enough I’m going to do Pilates and yoga thank god for you tube. Daft thing is before this happened last week I was regularly stretching and doing HIIT sessions along with 3-4 Mike walks with the dog.

Best of luck anyway, backs are a problem, but if you are able to keep up the exercise.

 

[-dabz-]

Might help someone ...... try a chiropractor rather than physio .... that’s if it’s not arthritis that is. If you have a disc pressing on a nerve it’s best to see a chiropractor. They deal more in nerves. I’d suffered with a disc for years, sciatica and excruciating pain. Chiropractor was totally honest said I needed an operation. He told me at the time, almost 20 years ago, to get a neurosurgeon, not an orthopaedic surgeon. Small operation, bulging disc parred off, best decision I ever made. Thankfully we had private insurance at the time.

I had the first op done by an orthopaedic surgeon and it backfired to the point where I nearly lost the use of my bladder, bowels and legs and needed an emergency op...The neurosurgeon insisted it was a disc still pressing on a nerve and even showed me on the scans...It turned out to be not that at all but it was a bit of disc the ortho had left in...Ten years of hell it cost me and is still ongoing thanks to both ops. During my pre med interview, the neuro explained what he was going to do and asked me if I had any worries. I told him I wasn't arsed about the op, but was a bit freaked about putting me under, didn't fancy that one bit...His reply? "I can understand that, I can only cripple you, they can kill you"...Absolutely true word for word.

 

[Jimmieblue]

I had the first op done by an orthopaedic surgeon and it backfired to the point where I nearly lost the use of my bladder, bowels and legs and needed an emergency op...The neurosurgeon insisted it was a disc still pressing on a nerve and even showed me on the scans...It turned out to be not that at all but it was a bit of disc the ortho had left in...Ten years of hell it cost me and is still ongoing thanks to both ops. During my pre med interview, the neuro explained what he was going to do and asked me if I had any worries. I told him I wasn't arsed about the op, but was a bit freaked about putting me under, didn't fancy that one bit...His reply? "I can understand that, I can only cripple you, they can kill you"...Absolutely true word for word.

I’ll never forget the chiropractor saying to me that he would only let one of the three neurosurgeons in the GM area touch his back, not an orthopaedic surgeon. I’m sorry you are still suffering,

 

[hilts]

I found the more I read up on back problems the more confusing everything got. Any sort of surgery would have to be the very last resort though.

Some docs say rest
Some say that's the worst thing you can do
Yoga, pills, hard mattress, soft mattress, chiropractor, osteopath, bend toward the pain, bend away. It's a bloody crap shoot.

Exercise and osteopath worked for me pretty well but I probably have to accept it will never be 100%. Maybe it's like any instrument abuse it then it breaks don't use it and it becomes weak and seizes up.

Daft thing is it might not even be your back.

 

[-dabz-]

I’ll never forget the chiropractor saying to me that he would only let one of the three neurosurgeons in the GM area touch his back, not an orthopaedic surgeon. I’m sorry you are still suffering,

Dr West at Hope hospital did mine, I was told he had Harley street cred (pardon the pun, couldn't resist)
Other than back ache when I do certain things, for instance sitting for any length of time cripples me, I can live with it...It's the financial/work thing that is my real suffering. I was cheated out of benefits about twelve years ago and have no income whatsoever apart from the odd bits and pieces....It's soul destroying and a struggle to keep my mental health in order when it comes to xmas, birthdays ect....Luckily I have a missus who wiped my arse when it was really bad and has carried me financially ever since, but it really isn't fair...As one doctor put it, "you've fell through the cracks"