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New here and trying to learn about sciatic nerve down my leg
Spine Health | Last Active: Apr 24 9:05am | Replies (36)Comment receiving replies
@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?
Replies to "@jds54 I am in my mid 50s and can relate with your story. I was misdiagnosed..."
My symptoms where always back burning pain along with left sciatic nerve pain when sitting. My lower extremity issues are aching limbs with burning sensation at bottom of feet bilaterally,
I have had L1/l2, L3/L4 and L4/l5 laminectomies because of spinal stenosis.
Doctors thought my walking issues where caused by the lower levels. Non of the surgeries resolved what appeared to be neurogenic claudication due to stenosis.
Last surgery was l4/l5 in 2021 and things have gotten worse. I do notice bladder issues when my pain levels spike especially when I have a bad night sleeping.
The cervical issues uncovered make sense to me at this point.
I really never had much upper extremity issues but did notice in last year or so Burning in my neck which I can correlate to getting worse in lower extremity problems.
After my l3/l4 surgery in 2016 didn't do much the neurosurgeon sent me for a thoracic MRI. The radiologist made note of seeing issue at the C6/C7 and recommended Cervical MRI. He never ordered it. If he had done so the c5/c6 would have been shown that shows the worse level of cervical compression.
Another opinion in December got me the cervical MRI.
I lost 9 years in finding out cervical cord issues may have been main problem all along.
Hopefully the ACDF improves my symptoms but regardless it is so bad that it needs to be done.
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No 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.