Does this sound like sciatica? Help talk me down.

[Probablyinpain]

So the last few days I've had pain in my calf that moves up and down my leg even in my groin and foot at times. It's worse when I've been sat for a while and movement seems to help the pain. My lower back hurts too but no where near as bad as my leg. Just back from a long drive and my back and calf were really sore. No pain in my bottom.
Does this sound sciatic?
I struggle with health anxiety and really trying to talk myself down from thinking its a blood clot. (I have no real risk factors, been slightly more immobile recently but still getting up doing chores etc. I do smoke - health anxious smoker, go figure.)

My health anxiety has been so much better after CBT and working on myself. I don't want this to allow me to go backwards.

Just to add. There is no swelling, redness or warmth to my leg. I do have more visible veins than your average person but I always have done.

I have really bad sciatica at the moment from a herniated disc. I have pain in my calf and foot, also in my hip and thigh but not my groin. I would say yours sounds like it could be sciatica especially as it is worse when sitting and eases when you move around.

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I'm sorry you're in pain though. I'll try to get in with the physio maybe. I hope yours clear up a bit soon.

My sciatica presents like that as I’ve got older.

I came to the health board to write my own sciatica thread after extensive googling and yours is top of the list op! I'm so sorry you're suffering.
In 33 weeks preg but have always suffered with sciatic pain.
Usually it only radiates down the back of one leg never normally further than half my thigh but the last couple of weeks after having PGP/SPD causing the pain to start from from hips - thighs - front of leg it's now gone as far as back of the last three toes and sole of foot.

When my sciatica flares often the cramp starts and the after effects of it is usually worse than the sciatic pain itself.
Drink loads of water to stay hydrated as it'll help the cramps
Take paracetamol
Have a hot bath or put hot water bottle(s) on your sore bits

Get well soon x

It sounds like it could be. One of the symptoms of my sciatica is a pain that moves up and down my leg depending on the day.

Sitting in a car or on a train is also a position that kicks it off for me. I find sitting in the back to be a bit better. I think that's because you sit more upright and with legs pushed further back and that helps a bit.

Well no one has come on saying you'd better get that checked out so I feel reassured thank you.
It's horrible pain isn't it. I'm sorry all of you are suffering though it is pretty rubbish.
I didn't realise sciatica can be caused by different things. Mine seems to be the performis? My butt muscle when rubbed/touched really hurts. Weird as no pain in my butt so to speak. Very strange.

Lots of exercises on YouTube. Has anyone had an success trying those out?

@messybun101

I came to the health board to write my own sciatica thread after extensive googling and yours is top of the list op! I'm so sorry you're suffering. In 33 weeks preg but have always suffered with sciatic pain. Usually it only radiates down the back of one leg never normally further than half my thigh but the last couple of weeks after having PGP/SPD causing the pain to start from from hips - thighs - front of leg it's now gone as far as back of the last three toes and sole of foot.

When my sciatica flares often the cramp starts and the after effects of it is usually worse than the sciatic pain itself.
Drink loads of water to stay hydrated as it'll help the cramps
Take paracetamol
Have a hot bath or put hot water bottle(s) on your sore bits

Get well soon x

Thank you. I hope it calms down for you. I think mine started out from pregnancy with my youngest. Had an epidural with the first and my back has never been the same since. I've also been getting weird feelings in the heel of my foot where the sole is. Hot water bottle is a great shout.

I find the exercises actually make mine worse.

Sciatica can be caused by different things so some exercises that are good for one cause might be harmful for another. For instance, my BIL had sciatica from a herniated disc and one exercise he had was lying down and arching his back. I had sciatica from spondylolisthesis and arching my back would have exacerbated my condition.
So be careful when getting exercises from YouTube.

Oh dear! I think that may be where you can have sciatica caused by different things and so doing the wrong one can make things worse. I'll leave the exercises alone. Peppa pig is helping me with life while I have 10 mins with a hot water bottle

I've given my physio a message.

My butt muscle also hurts if I press it, it's the glute muscle. Mine was very tight when I saw the physio but seems to have settled for the time being. My heel also hurts on occasion. I second the hot water bottle, I use 2 at a time under my thigh and knee. I started taking Pregabalin which is for nerve pain just over a week ago and that has made a big difference. With regards to exercising I agree with others about being careful, a physio will be able to advise.

@RamblesShambles

Oh dear! I think that may be where you can have sciatica caused by different things and so doing the wrong one can make things worse. I'll leave the exercises alone. Peppa pig is helping me with life while I have 10 mins with a hot water bottle

I've given my physio a message.

Exercise definitely helps as long as its the right exercise. It's definitely the right idea to get the physio to give you advice. I have every sympathy with you. I had it for 15 years before having a back operation. But my BIL whose problem sounds the same as yours, did manage to sort it out with exercise alone.