leg pain relief?

[jean_619]

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.

[Ark43]

I to have MS and have just had what I believe to be a severe flare up in my lumbar area.  I was flat on my back for 7 days.  now my back is better but the pain behind my left knee (thigh& calf) is excruciating for4 days now.  cannot move it.  feels like a horrible muscle cramp, but deeper.  my neurologist gave me a steroid (methylprednisolone) blister pack for the swelling which should bring relief.  I start today.  also pcp thought it to be sciatc.  ordered mri of spine to rule out any disk issues.  neurologist wants me to start ms meds soon after mri.  hope steroid works.  keep u posted.

[ashleystach]

I just got finished with my first Pelvic Floor physical therapy and the evaluation of just my vaginal muscles, she said that she doesn't believe its PFD. The Neuro Surgeon that diagnosed me with PFD gave me the pelvic exam while on ny period so obviously my muscles were inflammed and hurting to the touch. My next PT appointment is on Friday and she said since I've broke my tailbone that she has to hive me a rectal exam to make sure that its not those muscles. She also stated that its not sciatica because that pain would go directly from my back straight down my butt cheek to my ankle and I have pain that goes my my back and it curves around my cheek down my leg. I am super inflammed from my mid back all the way to my ankle and she said she's never experienced a patient with this much inflammation and pain with PFD so after my next couple PT sessions, if she cannot help then its back to my PCP and Neuro Surgeon to do more tests. I'm tired of these medications, they don't help the pain, and all I want is a proper diagnosis so I can work on a treatment plan... ~Ashley

[kwarendorf]

Lower back is more likely sciatica than MS. I've have/had both :-) It may not be exactly sciatica, as that involves a specific nerve (the sciatic). I had drop to my knees leg weakness caused by lumbar spinal stenosis. Any disk impingement on and nerve can cause the kind of pain you're referring to.

Kyle

[ashleystach]

Kyle, I'm not exactly sure what part of my back I had the MRI done but I am able to access my results through my hospitals website so Il post that. I have not had an MRI or CT scan of my head and I wish that they would give me one. One of my sisters friends just got diagnosed with MS and she has the same symptoms as me and she had several ft scans done and the test that finally diagnosed her is a spinal tap. I am on my way to my first PFD PT so I will be discussing everything with my therapist. If I don't have MS, I truly believe I have sciatica. My pain starts from my lower back and radiates down my right leg. Even with being on the Gabapentin, just to touch any part of my lower back all the way down to my ankle kills me. I will post after my therapy. Thank you for replying. Ashley

[kwarendorf]

Hi Ashley -

Welcome to our group. Even with your family history, what you describe does not sound like MS to my non-doctor-self. What part of your back was covered by your MRI? have you had MRI's of your brain and c-spine, done with and without contrast?

Kyle

[ashleystach]

andeven with all three of those, the pain is still ther The heating pad helps greatly but I've had a burn since pretty much live on it...

[ashleystach]

The first part of my comment must've got cut off. I know that this is a pretty old forum but I'm in pretty much the same boat except I have not been diagnosed with MS. My father had MS and all of my symptoms are exactly what I am experiencing yet the doctors are saying that its not MS. I've had an MRI done on my back and it showed minor disk damage and went to PT for 3 weeks and the therapist told me that I had to go back to my primary doc for a different pain management solution before returning. After my revaluation with my Primary Care doc, she told me my pain is more muscular and referred me to a neuro surgeon. Upon seeing the neuro surgeon, she didn't even exam my back. I've had severe falls near my pelvic region so she did a pelvic exam to see how my pelvic muscles were and my right pelvic muscle is very tight so I got diagnosed with Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. I start physical therapy for that tomorrow.I am on Norco, Valium, and Gabapentin (nerve stimulator

[ashleystach]

D burn from pretty much living on it. I'm not sure if its from all the medicine I'm taking or from what I believe is MS but I've been out of work and seriously feel like I'm losing my mind because I cannot concentrate on anything! I'm a 27 year old women that has also had 6 chemical miscarriages, I've been out of work for 6 weeks and 3 days and my expected date to return to work isn't for another 5 week's IF this therapy/drugs work. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

[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

[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!

[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

[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

[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