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Avatar universal

At a loss.

I'm sorry if this post is in the wrong place, but like a lot of things with my condition, i really don't know what to to about it, of where to go for advice.
About 2 1/2 years ago, at work-I am a postman, sorting in a mail centre, I bent over to pick up a bundle of mail, and felt a "pop" in my lumbar area, followed by a "burning" sensation through both my feet, up to about mid calf. Within 10-15 minutes, I was unable to stand, and at a loss what to do, I went home sick.  All, this time I just felt weak.  I went to bed to find, my legs just seemed to go into spasms, and toe's just involuntarily just kept curling up wards, this carried on during the night.

I saw my GP  the next day, explained about the spasms in my feet, and calf's, and was told, it's sciatica-I have to be honest, I had doubts about it then, and still do. In short time, the spasms never let up, walking 6 minutes to the bus stop, took me 25 minutes, life really did look grim.  The GP prescribed painkillers, and amitriptyline, but couldn't say what is wrong with me, and trying to explain to a Dr, about the general spasms in my feet and calf's was met with the glazed look, of "I don't know what it is, but take the tablets and in time it'll go away."
Life at work also got to the point of, struggling to lift a letter, as my arms, felt like they were under heavy lead weights, and it'd take me longer to walk to the rest rooms, than i had for break, in essence my body was acting like 98 instead of 38, and all the while, the feet spasms drove me to distraction.
Then last year, I developed a sore big toe, and put up with the pain, as, i couldn't face another  day in more pain and discomfort.  My GP, prescribed colchicine for gout- (my grandfather also suffers it) within days, my toe stopped hurting, the spasms stopped, and I started getting my life back. I don't know to this day what is going on with my back, and muscle spasms, other than, if i miss taking the colchicine for a few days, the whole lot return and i suffer again.
4 Responses
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1295655 tn?1272467246
It does sound like part of your problem is sciatica. However that would not explain your arm weakness? ? ?
As the sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body it can be impinged or irritated anywhere along it's course. . . . by a disk or lower back (spinal) problem but ALSO by tight, spasmed muscles in the buttock(s). An MRI scan can usually rule out spinal/disc problems.
If you have sufferd from back pain for that long I would ask for a scan.
You could also go to a physio, they will examine all of the area and see what muscles are involved, if any, by deep massage. Can hurt a fair bit, if any muscles are spasmed or knotted tho'. Make sure they check ypur piriformis muscle for knots etc. This one runs next to the sciatic nerve and if tight will also cause sciatica. I live in Britain too, be prepared for neorosurgeons, if you need to get that far, to know nothing about piriformis syndrome. Good luck,

Helen
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for your replies, and advice.

The burning in my feet, that went up to my calf's, only lasted the night of the accident at work. And todate, that feeling has never returned.  Although until I was put on the colchicine, I was left with my feet involuntarily clenching up wards continuously, and an in ability to walk any distance, as my arms, calf's, and lower back felt so weak.

Since taking the colchicine, all the spasms have stopped, and I'm almost back to normal-although if I stop taking it for a few days, all the spams and weakness return.

As I'm in Britain, medical insurance isn't really an issue here. I was hoping to get advice on what it could possibly be going wrong, as my GP has no idea, and i really don't believe she would understand that now, without the colchicine, I would have been medically retired, as I couldn't function as a 39 year old male.
Helpful - 0
1227139 tn?1462334630
I suffer from Sciatica and Degenerative Disk Disease.  It's hard to say without having a CAT scan or more significantly an MRI.  X-ray's can help, but only tell them so much, especially if the area in concern is small and a muscular injury as opposed to a spinal injury.  If you have the medical coverage, I would ask for an MRI unless your symptoms have resolved.  Amitriptyline is good sometimes for nerve pain or neuropathy.  If you don't get the burning electrical pain, and only spasms, Amitriptyline may not help, it didn't help me.  Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant also known to help relieve pain and trouble sleeping.  Could your pain be related to something other like kidney's?  I know you said you heard a pop, but that could be secondary or unrelated.  My back always pop's in the lumbar area, and sometimes provides me relief as if I had just seen a chiropractor.  
Do you get burning or electrical feeling when you bend forward or lift your legs if you are lying on your back?  This is sometimes a way of gauging if you have a sciatic nerve problem.  Or a herniated/bulged disk.  Have you seen a back specialist?  Or someone who deals with Neuropathic pain like a Neurosurgeon?  I would suggest looking into it, if your pain hasn't resolved.

In addition to anything I have mentioned, please keep in mind, that while I or others may have extensive knowledge in many areas, you should always seek professional medical advice from your own physician, as it pertains to medical conditions or concerns.

Good luck, and if you have any other questions that I can help you with, please feel free to message me directly.

Sincerely,
Sandi (Dragon1973)
MedHelp Down syndrome Community Leader
& Ds Group Forum Founder/Moderator
Helpful - 0
975514 tn?1324997938
Hello,
I am sorry to hear you are going through so much pain. I suffer from Sciatica, a bulging, torn and dessicated disc at L-5, S-1 and nerve damage in that general area of my spine as well. I have had the Sciatica since I was about 18. I dealt with the debilitating back pain that came off and on until my left foot became numb when I was around 29 years old and I finally decided to go to the doctor at 31 because I tripped over my dead foot and fell down the stairs. Luckily I only fell down a couple of steps and didn't hurt myself beyond the damage that was already there.

I got an X-Ray (finally) and MRI and eventually an EMG and a NCV test. All of those test revealed everything I told you. Plus now at almost 34 years old I have degenerative disc disease and degenerative facet arthritis and disease as well.

I really think it is very wise for you to get some further evaluations done. The MRIs will show you if you have any disc problems, which I bet the pop you heard was a disc slipping. The EMG and the NCV is a test that is performed by a Neurologist to check your nerve function. Depending on what they see in your MRI, and if you have any numbness, or if you complain of any neurological deficits in your limbs, which is what it sounds like to me, this would be a good test to have done. Ask for it if you are concerned. If anything else it is a good thing to rule out and you will have the satisfaction of knowing the truth.  Good luck.
-Dusty
Helpful - 0
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