Hi everyone,
18 months ago i ruptured 2 discs and was in an unbearable amount of pain. I had played rugby for years with all the breaks of bones you could imagine and still played till my early 30's. i was then taken out completely, by picking up a piece of wood out of the garden that weighed about 16oz.
I then had 8 weeks of intense pain, then this disappered completely then had 3 weeks of pins and needles. My gp referred me to surgeon, mri confirmed diagnosis. I was then told surgery is only option after all sorts of treatments, physio, acupuncture, hydoetherapy, sports massages all to no avail.
I had a 2nd mri in july, then awaited my surgeon to see me. I seen him on 21st decemebr and was told suregry within 6 weeks.
2 weeks ago the pain has intensified. What i have noticed and since i have done it is my muscle weakness in my leg. I know i am sending the message from my brain to my calf muscle and it feels like i am tensing it, but it doesnt do anything.
I do however, have what it feels like a solid part on the outside of my leg and this does concern me.
Has anyone had this symptom?
Is there anyone who can recommend something that eases the pain.
I have tried heat, ice, tens everything i can think of to help, even to the point of buying a rope and using like a helicopter rescue brace and hanging from the attic rafters to try and stretch my back. I had a course of traction literally am willing to try anything.
Hi
If the nerve is compressed then its ability to send signals its full length from your lower back to the toes (where the S1 nerve ends) is impacted upon. This in most will mean an increase in pain in the leg and also reduce the nerves ability to 'fire' when the brain wants to send signals (contract/expand muscles).
The way I found pre-surgery to get around this was only by reversing the signal through calf raises. Standing against the wall initially using both calfs in unison so the brain recognises what it is achieving. After a few weeks I went onto single leg calf raises. The key for me was doing a lot, and I mean like 500 until the calf muscle was so fatiqued I couldn't stand. Then have a bath to help the muscles relax. Doing this repeatedly over time stops the muscle wastage and keeps those brain signals going until they reform (nerve+muscle memory). Also (and I go on about it a lot) try a bandage from hald way down your calf to the ankle (fairly tight). This inhibits the nerve signals in the S1 transmitting and
can reduce the pain.
Where is the solid part on your leg? I would suggest asking the Dr about this but randomly if its the calf approx 1/3 down in the middle I had a lump pre-surgery that turned out to be knotted muscle from lack of exercise. For me a sports massage broke it down BUT IT WAS AGONY as the sciatica plus massage was just debilitating pain. Again only a Dr can help you there I think.
I hope you find the answer that helps
Hi microsuccess,
Thanks for your reply.
The solid part is hard to describe really. Its on the outer part of my left lower leg. Starts just below the knee and goes down to my ankle. It feels like the nerve but could be a tendon but is incredibly painful. I have practically had this since the pain initially went and during my episode of pins and needles.
I'm just waiting for the operation now which cannot come quick enough to me. I have read your posts on your successful op, and whilst i appreciate i will have post op pain, i doubt it is as much as what i have now.
What i cannot fathom is that since i did it, i have relatively been pain free until the last couple of weeks. I havent done anything out of he ordinary i wouldnt normaly do yet the pain is as bad as it was when i first did it.
Thanks microsucces.
It starts just below the knee on the outer part of my leg. Its hard to describe really but just feels like a solid line of something in my leg from my knee down to my achilles.
I have constant pain in the back of my knee, my achilles and then the outer part of my foot.
It feels like someone is squeezing my foot constantly.
Today i tried a compression bandage on the advice of a nurse friend, whilst the pain hasnt diminished the support i get does ease it somehow. I also have applied voltarol gel. Now whether these are doing anything or it is psycological i dont know.
I do not take any tablets at all at the moment as i try and block the pain out. I was on allsorts of tablets previously, but slept 22 hours a day and with work i cannot afford to take time off anymore.
Tens machine does help which seems to be on constantly even in work.
I just want my leg back to some form of normality and pray for the day i can walk properly, even with a bit of pain its all i ask.