My First Thread on the CP Forum

Last Sunday morning, I woke up with horrible pain in right foot and lower calf. As the day progressed, the pain got worse to the point where walking, standing, sitting, or lying down were virtually impossible for more than 10 minutes at a time. My dear husband took me to the local urgent care clinic and I was diagnosed with sciatica, and prescribed flexeril and naproxin (generic forms). I've used both medications in the past because I suffer from issues with my facet joints which result in major muscle spasms in my back.

This time around, no back pain but some pinching in my right buttock and then the pain going down my right leg all the way to my toes. While the pain has improved quite a bit (no problems at this time anywhere above my knee), my biggest issue is at night: when I climb into bed, even with pillows between my knees and against my chest for support, my calf pain does not allow me to get comfortable. I've spent the past 5 nights sleeping in a sitting position on my sofa to avoid any pressure on my calf.

Usually, you'll find me on the prostate cancer forum and honestly never thought I'd be coming to you guys for advice. My doctor told me that this would be a slower process than recovering from facet joint issues but I'm kind of running of empty with about 3 hours of sleep each of the past 4 nights. I'm at my wit's end, and my poor husband doesn't know what to do for me.

Any suggestions as to what I can do to get a good night's sleep? If there's no improvement come Monday, I plan on speaking with my doctor about a script for some mild pain meds to help me through the night.

QT, thanks for your quick response. I've known a few women who suffered sciatica during and after pregnancy...understand that can be quite common.

I learned about sleeping with pillows years ago when I had my first experience with my facet joints. I normally sleep on my side so I place one pillow between my knees, and then have another pillow against my chest to stabilize my upper body. The problem is with pressure on my right leg...no matter which side on sleep on, there's pressure on my leg and it starts up a feeling similar to a toothache...you know, that deep ache that throbs (I'm giving myself the willies typing this!).

As for pain meds, don't have anything 'serious' except for the naprosin. By Monday, if I'm not able to sleep in my bed, I'm calling my doctor and asking her for a 'light' prescription pain med to be taken just for the night.

This morning for the first time I was able to do my floor exercises, gently stretching out the lower back and hamstrings. I didn't over do and I was pleased that I was able to do each exercise without pain. Leg lifts are the toughest for me because once I start to lift my right leg, I feel the muscle pulling on the outside of the leg. I paced myself, did the stretch very gently and didn't force the leg to the point of pain. It actually felt good and I was pleased.

Hi Selphie & welcome to the forum. I am sorry to read that you are suffering so with sciatica, boy that one is sure painful. I generally get a steroid shot to help with the inflammation when mine kicks in. This may be something for you to consider as well. You are on the right track with what you are doing. Just be careful and not over do on the exercising. I too am a side sleeper with the pillow between the knees, it helps take the pressure off of the spine. At least that is what my ortho told me. I hope that you start feeling better soon.

Anyway, I wanted to pop on & say hello & welcome aboard........Susie

Hello Sephie and I'm always sorry to see other forum members enter these halls of chronic pain. We welcome you but sorta reluctantly and although we're glad to have you we hope only that your stay is brief.

Sciatica is one of those things many people suffer from here and although its extremely painful, has a name its a symptom more then a diagnosis. Simply because it "describes " a type of pain that is caused by or related to some other issue.

Generally speaking it has flares and periods of remission and the inflammation makes it worsen. Thus the reason for anti-inflams. Most people get very little relief from narcotics with sciatica.

It responds much better to the meds such as Cymbalta, lyrica and neurontin. Some people use heat,some cold. I've personally found heat works better since it relaxes the muscles that are bearing down on the sciatic nerve somewhere.

I use hydrotherapy 2-3 times a week and that's my Savior. I also use and exercise where applying pressure to my foot and leg releases the "pinch " by simply putting my foot on the wall behind me and applying light pressure until the pain lets up. Sounds strange but as you've already found this type of pain can be relentless and you will try anything to just get a little relief.

Good luck

You might want to ask your doc for a med used to treat nerve pain specifically. Lyrica or Gabapentin or Cymbalta etc. Also a low dose pain med is probably a good idea sooner rather than later so that you can sleep, maybe tramadol or low dose lortab. Not getting enough sleep can equate to being drunk so it's really not a good idea to go without it. Lol.

Lexi, when I went to the Urgent Care Center, the nurse practitioner mentioned giving me a shot of Tramadol. Unfortunately, I had taken an anti-inflammatory only a few hours before and she said it was too soon for the Tramadol. I'll talk to my 'regular' doctor on Monday to see what she has to say.

Thanks to everyone for your kindness and good advice. I will keep you all posted on how things develop over the next few days.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Welcome, nice to meet you, sure wish we were meeting under better circumstances than CP.
I think you need to talk to your doctor and maybe see about low back and knee x-rays for a starting point. (Maybe updated MRI's)
Could be the sciatica or something else, might be a knee problem. I' m very concerned and you do need to get seen as soon as possible.
Keep us posted as we do care. Many well wishes, hope your doing better soon.

Biobabe, thank you for responding. I came across piriformis syndrome during a Google search about sciatica, and was wondering the same thing. The pinched feeling in my buttock comes and goes...yesterday, was feeling quite good and went to the gym to walk on a treadmill. Felt good until about midnight, then the 'cramping' in my leg and foot woke me up. No problems in my back - no pain, no spasms, nothing. Just from my butt down into my foot (right side), and it comes and goes. Nighttime seems to be the worse. Bought a knee pillow which helps alot but still not able to sleep more than 4 hours at a time before the cramping/aching feeling wakes me up.

Thanks again Bio for the suggestion. Hope you're doing well.

Oh, and I am well, thanks! I just recovered from myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), or a bought of trigger points in my glutes/legs, and am so grateful. :)

Thanks everyone for the helpful suggestions. My husband plays tennis so I'll ask to borrow one of his tennis balls. Years ago, I worked with a personal trainer at the local gym and she had these styrofoam rolls that I would lay on and roll my body over...worked great on the lower back and back of thighs.

Biobabe, I'm not too familiar with trigger points. Would you mind explaining this a bit?

QT: The pillows do help. I have a knee pillow, then a small "regular" pillow that I put between my ankles, then I use one of my bed pillows up against my chest. Used all three last night and had what I now consider to be a good night.

Bio: Interesting about the trigger points. Today, I ran my fingers along the area I would call the right mid buttock - just right of the tailbone. Found a spot that when I pressed on it, there was a mild tingling sensation in my calf! Guess this is a trigger point. I asked to borrow one of my husband's tennis balls (he said "of course"), and tomorrow will check in with my friend who is a Master Trainer at my local gym about these areas. Really appreciate the information, and what you say makes so much sense for the type of discomfort I'm now having.

The pain is pretty much gone but there's a deep 'ache' in the back of my calf and around my ankle. The stretching exercises I've been doing has also helped alot: when I first started them a few days ago, I couldn't lift my right leg more than 10 or 12 inches off the floor. This morning, I was able to lift it almost perpendicular to my body so I am very pleased with progress.

Also, last night didn't use any Percocet, just a muscle relaxer and anti-inflammatory. Woke up about 4:00 am with dull throbbing in my calf and decided that if I wanted any more sleep, I'd take a Percocet. Slept til 6:00 am (when my husband got up), but have taken a few cat naps throughout the day. Guess my body is playing catch up with sleep. Am actually looking forward to going to bed tonight as I believe I will have another good night. There is nothing better than a truly good night's sleep!

Thanks again to everyone for the helpful information and advice.

Hey Sephie! Just thought I'd put in my 2cents as I have been dealing with very similar symptoms lately. about 30 min before I go to bed I have my husband give me a 10-15 min massage for the leg muscles. Then I take 3 pills of 10mg overnight timed release melatonin and 10mg of ambien. The melatonin keeps me from random activities while asleep. Without the melatonin I would get up and bake in my sleep. We would wake up to homemade cookis, cobblers, pies, breads etc.

My sister does the same routine, but doesn't take the ambien. It works for her.
We both sleep rather well. Sleep is sooooooo imprtant! It's one of those things you don't appreciate until you don't have!

Hope this helps!
Lesey

Wow! That's great Sephie! I am happy you are feeling better and are getting more sleep :) Nothing is worse than being in pain and being tired all the time and it's amazing how different you feel when you sleep well.

Good luck working with the trainer! Let me know how it goes :) Knowing about myofasicial pain definitely changed my life.

You could also try hot epsom salt baths, too. I find they really help me.

Cheers :)
~Bio