leg pain relief?

I am having horrible leg pain that at first I thought was sciatica.  This is the first time I've ever had leg pain since I've been dx'ed with MS (Feb 2010).  Thinking it was sciatica, I saw my primary care physician who ended up giving me Vicodin -- because double dose Advil was not even making a dent in the pain.  The Vicodin worked the first day, but after that it hasn't worked at all.  At the time I saw the doc, I was only having trouble with the right leg. I am now also having pain with the left leg, though not as much as I do with the right leg.  Is it possible to have sciatica on both sides at once?  Or perhaps this is leg pain from MS?

I see my MS neuro on Tuesday for my regular check up.

Does anyone have suggestions for pain relief?  I can barely concentrate on anything -- which is making my work suffer and I'm getting behind.

My doc suggested a heating pad, and a nurse friend of mine suggested warm compresses.  

Does anyone have other tips?  I'll do anything.  Seriously.

[Lulu54]

Jean, that sounds painful. I was going to suggest cold since the heat isn't working.  You never know.  Its lucky you see your neuro on Tuesday- I hope you can get some relief.

Lulu

[grannyhotwheels]

I feel your pain... I'm sorry the pain medication isn't working for you... Hopefully your doctor will prescribe you something like Baclofen... A lot of MS'rs take it for the spasms/pain in the legs and it really does help... Please let us know what he tells you and we are praying for your relief...

I'll be praying,
Carol

[rendean]

Jean,

Since you said that the cause was sciatica I am assuming that the pain is ocurring down the back of your legs? I have leg pain which feels like the bones are aching. I have been told by several neuros that this is  neuropathic pain which why the Vicodin didn't work.

Neuropathic pain calls for different types of meds , usually a drug called gabapentin and/or anti-seizure drugs. These can bring the pain level down to a tolerable level. My pain keeps me up many nights as it doesn't occur usually until I am in bed.

Ask your doc for the use of neuropathic pain meds , similar to what diabetic take for their neuropathic pain. A warm, NOT hot , heating pad sometimes helps my pain but it is a matter of learning just how long you can leave the heat on before it causes even more pain.

I hope you and your doctors can find sometime soon to help you  as I do know how miserable this pain is.

Ren

[erin183]

Let us know what the doc says. I experience that really deep down in the bone kind of pain in my legs and I've found absolutely nothing that has helped so far. I'm not sure if you're having that type of pain, I've heard that described as "MS Pain" or maybe neuropathic pain. Good luck and I hope they can relieve this for you!

[jean_619]

Thanks for all the responses so far.  

I've had both the pain down the back of the leg -- which is typical of sciatica, and the kind of deep, dull pain that it sounds like Erin and Ren have also had -- which sounds like neuropathic pain.

Then I have a 3rd type of pain -- somewhat of a stabbing pain -- or it feels like a muscle cramp.  That is on the side of my leg about 3-4 inches above my knee.  I get that on both legs.  Would that be like pain from a spasm?

I see the neurologist tomorrow morning, and I'll let you know how it all transpires.  She's not one to explain things in depth -- but I'm going to try to get her to explain things well to me.

Jean