Sciatica with no back pain

[Mbear]

Over the last 18/24 months I have had 3 really bad episodes of sciatica. For the most part it’s been horrific for a day or 2 then slowly got better each time. Except the last flare up has not gone. I have either pins or needles or pain the whole length of the nerve (so get pins and needles on the sole of my foot). There are also positions that if I sit then I get lots of pain and have to move. It eases if I stand or lie down, but the relief is not instant.
I have zero back pain though, so there is no where for me to pin point why/where this is happening.
I am so fed up as it is just not going anywhere. I’ve seen a chiropractor and am currently seeing an osteopath. This has been going on for about 4 months now.
I do my stretches and can still do some exercise pain free (running for example). It would be nice to watch tv in comfort though!
Has anyone had anything similar?

If the nerve is being irritated it happen anywhere along it’s path. Can be in the back, or buttock or really anywhere along the nerve. 3D anatomy can help-have a look at zygotebody.com to be able to see the nerve path. If sitting is a problem it might be the buttock muscles (there are lots of them), tightness/weakness there can annoy the nerve. Or deep sitting can be worse (think old sofa where knees higher than hips) is worst and puts pressure on sciatic nerve. Try sitting on a few cushions to ensure knees are lower than hips and see if this helps?

Thank you, I will have a look at the website. I sort of hadn’t considered the pain coming from anywhere along the nerve path - just assuming it was back/spine related. But then having difficulty in trying to get resolution as nowhere hurts other than the nerve.
I have certainly tried to be much more careful with sitting and positions etc. Some days nothing works though!

I get a little stiffness in my lower back with a sciatica flare, but not really what I’d call pain.

Hi op I have sciatica and I don't get back pain either .

The back pain came later for me

I have sciatica and don't always get the back pain. I have specific exercises given to me by a physio which I do religiously when I feel the first twinge in my calf that really help.

I’m glad it’s not just me then! I’ve been referred for an MRI to see what might be going on.

I had that

Did you ever get to what was causing it?

Mine was as a result of a large protrusion between my L4 & L5 vertebrae.
Only ever had pain in both my legs to the point that I would have willingly cut them off as the pain was so severe. Needed emergency surgery which thankfully worked very well.

I was a very severe case through. Others that had the same issue were able to resolve it with physio.

I have degenerative disc disease, which causes mine. My L4 disc is a bit squished

I am going through this. Since December. Pain in the back of my thigh, in my calf and my foot, infact my foot felt numb on one side. Pins and needles and lots of pain.

Sitting down on a comfy chair is ok, walking and standing are agony and as for lying on my back in bed - forget it.

The Osteopath reckons is a pinched nerve in my back and my buttock muscle, it is slowly easing, my foot doesnt feel numb anymore and the pain isnt as intense, still hurts but not the writhing agony it used to be. I used to have get out of bed every night as the pain was so bad and sit on the sofa for a couple of hours to "reset" the muscles. But i can go 3 or 4 nights now without having to do this and sometimes feel pain free! until i get out of bed then it starts again.

I have had sciatica before and i could walk and stand but not sit, this one is the other way round. I have an MRI scan in a couple of weeks, osteopath reckons they wont find anything as it is just muscle and not a problem with my vertebrae's.

It is just grim and annoying that everything has ground to a halt due to Covid.

Oh blimey, very similar except I’m the other way round for everything so I find standing, walking and lying ok, but sitting is a nightmare.
I’m not convinced the osteo thinks the scan will really show anything up.

I also suffer from sciatica and risk disease. I find using deep freeze on my legs a great help. I also am prescribed pregabalin and it works amazingly on the leg and buttock pain.

Oh and I have arthritis in my back which sometimes flares up at the same time but not always.

May I ask if you can feel/tell that you have an issue with your back. I’m really struggling to articulate how this all feels - like right now I am sat at my desk and the back of my knee feels like it’s going to explode and pain all in my calf. Pain in butt cheek feels like I’m about to get cramp but then nothing in my back!
I’m not due to speak to the go for a couple of weeks so just hoping it is just very slowly getting better. But don’t know what they might do pain killer wise, otherwise just have to stand or lie all the time!

With me it feels like cramp, but painful cramp, or a very painful pulsating ache, i very rarely get any pain in my back, but the Osteo said this normal not to get back pain. Then the pins and needles start which are not too bad but when i walk it feels like scalding water being flicked onto my foot and ankle which is so weird. I used to get pain all down my leg which was agony, or when i first got into bed, i would be rolling around clutching the covers nearly crying until the pain subsided but i dont get it as painful as that anymore now.

I think mine came about from working from home. Sat at the dining room chair for 8 hours a day for months is what caused it as dining room chairs are not designed for that.

The Osteo said that 60% of his recent new cases are from people who have been working from home. He thinks the biggest problem is a muscle in my bum that is causing most of my problems. I just want to be able to walk again.

I’m sorry that sounds rough. Funnily enough I think mine was originally from incorrect seating position. I have a rising desk at home which helps.
I’ve had pain so bad I can’t move and the doc had to do a house visit in the middle of lockdown! But this isn’t as bad as that, just permanent pain.

I had really bad sciatica with no back pain last year. I ended up having a steroid injection in my back, I was still in pain for about 2 weeks but then I felt great. Had the injection in September and still feeling great. I had been in constant pain for 9 months! I hope you find a solution.

Hey @Mbear- just wondering how you finally got on with your sciatica and what helped? I have very similar symptoms as you

Hi @Anonymous08 , it’s been a long time since I was on this thread.
I’m sorry to hear you are suffering as well, it is utterly pants.
Good news and bad for me really. There was a herniated disc which caused the problem. Had some not great times - had real problems jan 23 to about the mar time with just permanent pain, nothing was comfy in any position, so ended up on tablets - think gabapentin. Which helped a lot. Then it sort of ‘went’ again at the end of April 23 and although saw the doctor (checking for cauda equina) it’s sort of left me with some permanent numbness in my foot and some hip/thigh pain which comes and goes. I’ve seen a physio which did help and had exercises. Did take up swimming which was fine, but then had some bad ear infections which put me off a bit, so back to iust walking now for exercise.
I basically just live like I have to protect my back - which I do. I know some people who had the disc operation which had worked will for them. Not sure why I never got anywhere with any referrals but actually at the moment it’s all manageable. No pain killers, just gentle care. I do notice if I stand (still) for too long (ie watching my son play a rugby game etc) so over the last couple of years I have been able to narrow down some triggers, which I think has helped.

I did not proof read that at all 🤣

Thank you for your response. Sorry to hear it's still pretty much on and off for you. This pain is so agonising- I will do anything for it to go really.

@Anonymous08 where are you sort of ‘at’ at the moment? I really rated seeing an osteopath, and a physio (I didn’t see them in the same time period) but the stretches did help and even when it was awful, they were something to aim for even if I was just lying in bed. A foam roller helped as well. Just lots of little things. Also I always had more pain and issues down one side, so I bought a walking stick off Amazon to help me round the house, it helped me as had something literally to lean on.
its hard as what works for one might be rubbish for another.
Also I think I’m beginning to have pain in my neck a bit now, so it rumbles on!