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Neurology (Expert Forum)
leg pain/sciatica?
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leg pain/sciatica?
by mbcats, Jun 22, 2003 12:00AM
Hello
I'm a 38 year old breast cancer survivor, finished a/c, taxol, rads 10 surgeries (including tramflap) about 2 years ago. I have a touch of neuropathy in my feet from taxol. About a year ago I developed what I think is sciatica, slight 'pulsing' pain down back of leg and buttocks, extreme pain down front of leg mainly in hip/groin area, down leg, and then tingles from the knee down. It comes and goes every 30-40 days. I can barely move when it flairs up. Onc. sent me for lower lumbar MRI, came back clear, no cancer, no slipped disc or anything like that. My guess is it's somehow related to taxol chemo, I think it did a number on my nerves, but my onc. says probably not. Another guess I have is it could be related to the back muscle stress I had with the tramflap surgery, not being able to stand straight for a few weeks. I don't know. What can cause sciatic nerve pain if MRI came back clear? It just comes and goes, doesn't matter if I've worked out, lifted heavy items, it's raining or I'm doing nothing, it appears out of nowhere, I cannot pinpoint any activity or situation that may bring it on. I cannot find any aspirin that helps with the pain either. Should I make an appointment with my onc. to try to figure this out or should I see a different doctor? Can anyone offer me suggestions on how to help or where to turn for help? Thank you!
I'm a 38 year old breast cancer survivor, finished a/c, taxol, rads 10 surgeries (including tramflap) about 2 years ago. I have a touch of neuropathy in my feet from taxol. About a year ago I developed what I think is sciatica, slight 'pulsing' pain down back of leg and buttocks, extreme pain down front of leg mainly in hip/groin area, down leg, and then tingles from the knee down. It comes and goes every 30-40 days. I can barely move when it flairs up. Onc. sent me for lower lumbar MRI, came back clear, no cancer, no slipped disc or anything like that. My guess is it's somehow related to taxol chemo, I think it did a number on my nerves, but my onc. says probably not. Another guess I have is it could be related to the back muscle stress I had with the tramflap surgery, not being able to stand straight for a few weeks. I don't know. What can cause sciatic nerve pain if MRI came back clear? It just comes and goes, doesn't matter if I've worked out, lifted heavy items, it's raining or I'm doing nothing, it appears out of nowhere, I cannot pinpoint any activity or situation that may bring it on. I cannot find any aspirin that helps with the pain either. Should I make an appointment with my onc. to try to figure this out or should I see a different doctor? Can anyone offer me suggestions on how to help or where to turn for help? Thank you!
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT, Jun 25, 2003 12:00AM
Glad that no cancer was seen on the MRI. One thing to keep in mind though is that sometimes an MRI can be normal even when there is something like a bad disc or narrow bony canal pushing on a nerve. In these cases, the EMG can be helpful to look at the integrity of the nerve and muscles. ANother consideration is that you say it comes every 30-40 days. Does it coincide with your menstrual periods? If so, there is such a thing called catamenial (fancy word for periods) sciatica in which patients with endometriosis have nerve involvement producing radiating pain down their buttock and leg in association with their periods. Hormonal therapy helps in some patients.
Consider asking your onc to set you up with a neurologist who can examine you and perhaps get an EMG for a more in-depth evaluation. Good luck.
Consider asking your onc to set you up with a neurologist who can examine you and perhaps get an EMG for a more in-depth evaluation. Good luck.
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Let me tell about the nature of my leg pain.
The pain is intense! I felt it often follows the path of my nerve - down the back of my legs and thighs, ankle, foot and toes, very few times it enters in to my back. The pain is pulsating. Some times I cannot even move my leg from one position to another. I can't tell it is happening periodically, but once or twice in two months , it is happening. Some times within a month 3 or 4 times. It may last for 2 or 3 days max.
The pain is not happening to both of my legs same time. if one day it is in my left leg, the next day it will be in my right leg.
Presently I am taking pain killer "Voveran-SR". This will reducethe pain for 20-24 hours, but I need a permanent solution.
I will be greatfull to you if you could suggest a solution to this.
Let me tell about the nature of my leg pain.
The pain is intense! I felt it often follows the path of my nerve - down the back of my legs and thighs, ankle, foot and toes, very few times it enters in to my back. The pain is pulsating. Some times I cannot even move my leg from one position to another. I can't tell it is happening periodically, but once or twice in two months , it is happening. Some times within a month 3 or 4 times. It may last for 2 or 3 days max.
The pain is not happening to both of my legs same time. if one day it is in my left leg, the next day it will be in my right leg.
Presently I am taking pain killer "Voveran-SR". This will reducethe pain for 20-24 hours, but I need a permanent solution.
I will be greatfull to you if you could suggest a solution to this