Foot/leg pain...MS sciatic nerve related

[MostlyShell]

Hello all,

It's been since, wow, April since I last posted. I read my last post and could have cried.  I was so excited with the news back then that my feet were fixable from the dx of plantar  fasciitis.

Good news is not.  Since then, I got my yearly MRI and nerve conduction study, only to find many more lesions and that my sciatic nerve is damaged, causing my feet/legs pain.

So, this is forever? Can anyone on here help me? Nothing seems to help this. I know what can aggravate the hell out of it, walking, standing, etc. But, what helps? Many nights staying awake pretty late with them.

Sorry, for being off from here so long. I was so disgusted from results that I hid from everyone concerning MS, including the doc til lately.

Thanks,
MostlyShell

[cimini]

I have MS for 21 years and terrible sciatica down my entire left leg into foot for 3 years. I had decompression sx in March, and the ortho, neuro sx, and physio, all say the nerve looks good, though the sciatica continues to be terrible and interferes with most aspects of my life. My neurologist just told me last week that sciatica CAN BE related to MS. If you are not a doctor, please get your information from one, (or several). If anyone has any success stories of recovering from long-term sciatica, please share, I could really use it...
Thanks!

[sandie490]

Hey guys!

I just wanted to mention that I have pinched nerves in my left leg.  Alot of pain.  Anyway, I went to a pain management dr and he suggested the epidural shots back there.  Let me tell ya. It took me going for them twice, but the second time was the charm. It worked, on the second go around.  I do notice that it lets me know that, it 's there if I over do anything, but it took most of the pain away.  Feel better guys!

Sandie

[MostlyShell]

Oops, forgot to mention. Sorry Heather. Have you had a nerve conduction study done? If not, they check the brain signals to certain parts of your body. My signals to and from the sciatic nerve are incredibly delayed. Same for hands, etc.
Does that make sense to you? If you feel that it isn't MS, could you help me understand better? Or, do you have another idea that I may seek the answers for?
Thanks, I really do appreciate your help.
Shell

[MostlyShell]

Hey all!
I have missed you all so much, 2009 was one hell of a year. Sorry for not getting on here sooner. Just now reading your replies.
Heather, my neuro stated that she found the sciatic nerve damaged when she was doing the nerve conduction study. She sent me in for x-rays just to be sure it wasn't a problem with vertebrae, also had just had MRI on entire spine. No evidence of structure damage there either. It's also how, she found that I had lesions in my ulnar nerves. Explains why I always had this awful hand and wrist pain but never could get a carpal tunnel dx. Not to mention the way I described how I need my husband to squish my feet really hard, actually kind of makes them feel a little better.Weird I know. But he hates doing it cause he is afraid he'll break them.  But, neuro says that it is rare that someone would feel it in both legs and feet but I do. And it ***** so bad.

Sandie,
My feet and calves do weird things too. Like the sensation in my feet is so weird. When I walk barefoot on carpet, it feels wet. Don't recognize my feet are too cold, till the pain sets in. Tingling, etc. as well. I've only had this kind of thing going on for about 3 years but too long in my book.

ShockedToday,
How did your doctor visit go? Any help at all?

Thank you all for writing to me. The support system is so awesome here. It's so hard to do this MS thing alone. And I've isolated myself from so many since last November. But
I'm picking myself up, dusting my butt off and am giving it another go.
Hope you all are doing well, write soon if you can,
Love ya,
MostlyShell

[sandie490]

Hi MostlyShell,
We haven't crossed paths yet, I'm fairly new here.  I also have sciatic problems.  I have a pinched nerve, from a slipped disc, and the pain can be undescribable.  Is that a word?  Anyway, I'm in the process of being dx, and I am having so many problems from this leg. Mine started after a really bad fall, but I've had additional problems too.  Have alot of foot pain, tingling numbness,nerve pain,and also my calf is always numb.
None of the dr's know why.  I have also been getting very bad muscle spasms in my calf, itching burning, and I also get a feeling of something dripping down my leg, but there is nothing there.  

Do you get any of these additional problems, like me.  When I go anywhere that requires any kind of walking for more than 5 or 10 minutes, I bring a cane, otherwise can't do it.  I also have a weakness in that leg, and vertigo, so there is always an off balance issue.

Sorry, about your pain.  Hope it eases up soon.  I know this sort of pain can be debilitating.  Feel better,  Sandie

[Heather3418]

The sciatic nerve is NOT damaged by MS.  The messages to and from our brains and up and down our spinal cord, is what is affected by MS.  The "transmission" of signals.

I know from experience, that sciatica can hurt like hell and seems to come in spells.  It's like taking a direct hit to the butt and leg from a very sharp dagger.  Wow...it will stop you in your tracks.

I wish I could answer what helps this kind of pain.  For me, it's the heating pad to my butt and not over-doing with that leg, until it starts to heal.

I hope you feel better.  I know you're hurting....

Big Hugs and good to hear from you.  You've been missed dearheart.

Heather

[ShockedToday]

I'm sorry to hear that you are in a lot of pain.  I wish I had some answers for you, as I also am having leg pain and don't know what to do about it.  I go to see my doctor soon, so hopefully he will have some answers and if so, I will pass the info along.  In the meantime I will pray that your pain lessens.