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New here and trying to learn about sciatic nerve down my leg
I have been dealing with pain down my left leg for 4 months. I had 2 epidural injections in my back on 1/6/25. I had another shot in my piriformis muscle on 2/4/25 and another shot in my back on 3/4/25. between January and March, I was given 2 separate oral steroid packs. No one here in Savannah can tell me what the problem or my next step is. I had an appointment with the pain center at Mayo 2 weeks ago and they referred me to more x-rays and another MRI April 21 and see a Neurosurgeon on 22. I am in a lot of pain and hardly walk. With 2 weeks to go what can I expect. Just counting the days down. I have no back pain.
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@builderthad Welcome to Connect. Sciatic pain is awful. Did you have an injury to your back or neck? I am glad you will be evaluated by a neurosurgeon. I read a story about a young swimmer who had trouble walking because his lower spine was slipping. I am a cervical spine surgery patient. My issue was spinal cord compression in my neck, and that did cause sciatic pain, and actually pain all over my body. You may want to ask that question and see if they can image your entire spine. If they are just looking at the lumbar spine, a cervical problem could be missed.
Would you please check in and let me know how your elevation goes, and what recommendations you will have?
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5 ReactionsDid your surgery go well and get rid of sciatic pain and other pain issues? I have had 3 back surgeries and still have same issues. Doctors did not suspect a cervical issue for many years. A new opinion got me a possible answer why none of surgeries or steroid shots help. I have severe issues at c5 c6 c7 compression. Could be Funicular or tract pain causing all my problems. Scheduled for 2 level ACDF in May. Hope this is it and I can get back to a normal life without constant pain over 10 years.
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1 Reaction@builderthad
What triggered your pain 4 months ago? Did you get initial X-rays and MRI before they did your injections? How did they know where to do the injections? Did you see a neurologist and have EMG/nerve conduction studies done of your lower limbs? Did you do any physical therapy or massage to release/relax muscles? Did you ever see a chiropractor ?
Even though you don’t have back pain, you could have a disc bulge/pinched nerve root/nerve that is radiating pain signals down your leg.
There are times that cervical spine (neck) issues can affect your legs/lower body, too.
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1 Reaction@jds54
I am in my mid 50s and can relate with your story. I was misdiagnosed for so long and not treated for cervical degenerative myelopathy which caused many symptoms at/below my C5-C6 level. I had ACDF surgery in 2022 and it helped relieve some symptoms. I also had lumbar surgery L3-L5 in 2024. I am having ACDF on C6-C7 due to new herniated disc hopefully in May, too.
Besides pain, do you have numbness and weakness in arms/hands/legs/feet and do you have any bladder/bowel control issues? Do you notice handwriting changes or do you drop things often?
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1 Reaction@jds54
I also meant to ask if you had been to a neurologist for EMG/nerve conduction studies of your upper and lower limbs? What did it show? Do you have cervical spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease/disc bulges or herniations, bone spurs/osteophytes, and does it show compression/flattening of your spinal cord/signal changes?
Thanks for the reply. The 3 doctors I have seen in Savannah say it is the L4 L5. When I went to the Mayo pain medicine they were unsure and of course as every time I have been down there they want to get another round of Xrays and MRI. So I will be living in pain for a while. All those injections and steroid packs I have had the last few months are wearing off and I have a lot of trouble walking and just pain at all times until I get laying in bed. It is just my leg my back feels good.
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1 ReactionI have not had surgery yet. I guess that is next. Everyone is telling me that these new ones are a lot more effective and less down time. My orthopedic surgeon wanted to go in and do a fusion surgery while one of the other Doctors I was seeing say I wasn't there yet. The one thing I have learned was if you have this type of pain issue. See a Neurosurgeon not a orthopedic surgeon.
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1 ReactionIt started with Back pain last March. I got X-ray's with a Chiropractor and was put on a 3 month program 3 times a week. Went to a Orthopedic surgeon I got the first X-ray from Orthopedic surgeon. that put me on physical therapy. and they gave me a steroid pack the 6 day one. I was fine until about September when he did an MRI. I wish that I had just gone to Mayo months ago because my mistake was going to an Orthopedic surgeon when I should have been at a Neurosurgeon.
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1 ReactionNo it is just my leg and it is pain don't get much numbness. This about it I have had in the last 3 months 4 injection and 2 steroid oral packs. It will take time to wear off. the pain is definitely getting worst.
Yes I had a EMG/nerve conduction studies of your upper and lower limb with Mayo back in 2021 because of numbness in the same left leg and left arm. My left thumb is still numb 4 years later.
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