nerve pain down left leg

[Rosemary M]

This is not exactly a back pain issue but possibly a sciatic pain issue that is really puzzling.  I am a 56 year old woman.  I have osteoarthritis and Heberden's nodes on my hands.  About 3 weeks ago I woke up in the middle of the night with pain in my left butt.  The next night it got worse, etc. so that by the 4th day I was in agony.  My doctor sent me out for an MRI (I had a cyst on my spine that was removed 8 months ago because it was pressing on my sciatic nerve).  The MRI shows nothing.  In the meantime the pain became so bad that nothing relieved it and I found myself on the floor or in bed crying (and at times yelling) because the pain was so bad and actually nauseating me, and I have a very high tolerance for pain.  My doctor put me on tylenol 3 because pain medicine makes me sick and the 5 days steroid pack.  the pain finally started to go away after I finished the steroids however I was left with intermittent intense burning in the front of my left calf and and it's also almost completely numb.  The left thigh is not numb but occassionally has some deep inner pain.  Because I still had problems the doctor put me on another 5 day steroid pack, which ends tomorrow, to see if it could be some kind of inflammation.  Of course, I don't have the intense pain but the leg still starts to burn about every 6 hours when I then take 1 pain pill.  the leg is always partially numb in the front calf.  All this started about 2 weeks after I started having what felt like heart palpatations.  I'm now scared the intense pain will start again when I'm out somewhere.  My doctor also checked for potassium levels which were normal.  I exercised at Curves 3X a week (for the past 3 years) which is hydrolic machines and step pads so I wasn't doing anything different than I had been doing.  I don't understand why the intense pain, what could be causing it, what can I do about it or to prevent it in the future?  The doctor's don't seem to have any answers either.  I need some help or questions for my doctor when I go see him again.  Which brings me to the question should I go back and see the spine doctor or the arthritis doctor?  Thanks

[ree213]

I have very similar sounding problems.  I have found a pt that has helped tremendously.  Go to http://www.sidysfunction.com/booksdvdsresearch.html   and read their info.  I am not cured but it has helped tremendously with getting rid of the pain for extended periods of time.  I get nothing from promoting this   but wish I had found it sooner and would like to help anyone else that may suffer like me.

M reed

[msfergy]

My nerve pain is down my right leg and the orthapedic place acts like there is nothing they can do, i started out with bulging dics in the lumbar and i had 3 epidural steroid injections done, now i had the mri repeated because my pain is so bad now i cannot walk or stand hardely for no more than 15 minutes, so now they tell me there is Facet Joint disease and disc degeneration from L1 to S1, this came up within 4 months after my first mri. I have been on and off neurotin and it just doesnt seem to help anymore, also I have a thyroid problem which they act like that is the blame, i dunno what to do anymore but maybe go get a second opinion.

[chadry]

I do not know about you but I am afraid to do anything anymore that might bring on this pain. I have problems with the L4-5 and also I have a few discs in my neck that are herniated or bulging. Have you had and EMG done to detect exactly which nerves may involved. On my good days I avoid so many things now that might bring on the horrible pain. I try not to walk too much, or sit too long. This is a terrible way to be but I am so afraid of the pain episodes and how bad they can be. Do you find yourself doing the same thing? I had the nerve pain so bad in my left arm that just breathing made me want to scream. That lasted about 2 weeks before it calmed down. Just wanted to know if you do the same thing to avoid any additional pain.
Chadry

[mom2and4]

I have pain in my left leg and can't walk right. They say it's a ruptured disk. Two doctors say I need back surgery. I find out tomorrow the results of the MRI.  Reading everyone's comments scares me about back surgery and also about taking the steriod shots.  I have two children and I worry that I won't get back to normal to run and play with them, pick them up etc. I'm 42 and I feel like I'm 90!

[getreal19783]

I was in the hospital for a back fusion and was very dissappointed that the leg pain did not go away. I think I have nerve damage from the years of the leg suffering in leg pain and not one doctor helped me until I found a spinal specialist. But he too, cant fiqure out why the leg pain. I also was given steroids injections, and I am going to but a stop if it can cause damage in the long run.
Any one who can give me advice please do!

[[email protected]]

i'm having the same problem with my legs , i had my first back surgery with fusion and screws and cages then a year later they came lose from the bone , i have been in pain management for 4yrs and tried all kinds of meds and yes shots too,but i can never get a dr to understand the importance of my legs i can't walk far at all with out pain, there's nothing they will tell me they tried to tell me i was a diabetic well i had that checked out it wasn't that, the dr wanting to go in again and explore, i have already had there levels fused and now he's ready to start again, i'm scared to death i will be in a wheelchair one day and i will do anything to avoid that but are they help or is this the way were going to be i'll be 41 next week and i want to be able to take my grandbabies some where and be able to drive again if any one has any answers please help me before i have to have this surgery again. tahnk you tammy

[Dave W.]

I feel for you,I have had 2 hip replacements at age 30,and now at age 35 next
month,have been dealing with nerve damage(pain) the whole time. The pain
meds have become useless,no matter how much I take. I'd advise you to
please find another Dr. as far as the Steroids go. Steroids are one of the
reasons I contracted Avascular Necrosis,which in turn,destroyed my hips.
Steroid use is one of the main causes of AVN. I know the steroids mask
the pain,but also destroy joint ares to the point that there is nothing left
to do but to havemore surgeries. Dr's Know this,and that';s why they give
you Cortizone shots,because they've got you for life then. It starts as you
coming in for pain issues,then they give you a Cort shot,but it only lasts so
long,so you have to keep coming back every week or so to pay the Dr.
Then comes the PT sessions,then comes the Total Joint Replacement.
I'm sorry,I'm not trying to scare you,beleive me,I'm just telling you the
disturbing findings my father sent me from a website the other day. I was
floored.It was about"What Dr's Don't Want You To Know". There is this
process or injection that actually allows the area in question,to swell
and then in turn heal itself naturally. Cortizone actually does the opposite.
It actually stops the healing process al together.Why do you think injuries
swell up when you get hurt? It's your bodies way of healing that hurt area.
I'll get the info on the revolutionary procedure and get back with you soon.
I'm not sure which type of Dr. you should go see,but the new process is
availible through only certain Orthopedic Dr's. I'm sorry your in so much
chronic pain. I can't find a Dr. either,that can at least tell me what is wrong.
I'm almost certain,it's nerve related. What would cause severe pain only
on occassion that's stabbing and get worse when I take the pressure off
the affected leg? I'm lost too,along with the Dr.s. Good Luck and be pain
free.