Need advice--back pain now sciatica??

[MZB]

Hello again folks. I have been having a terrible time. As many may remember,
I first posted here with knee pain and then back problems. Surgery worked
great for the knee pain (torn meniscus in two places and lots of arthritis).
Back pain resolved after 3 months.

Well, I was recently dx. with prostate cancer. Surgery is scheduled for
1/25. But 2 weeks ago my back went out. I've had tremendous back pain
(disabling) and now the last 2-3 days the pain is going down my leg. In
fact, my back is significantly better (not normal, but better), but the leg
pain is miserable. I suspect it is some kind of sciatica (perhaps a
herniated disk or I just irritated a nerve due to favoring my back). The
pain starts just below the buttock but on the side, goes down the side and
into my ankle.

I have never had much luck with chiropractors, but I may try one that has
been recommended.

I am trying to work it out at the gym (treadmill and other machines) as I
want to be in good shape for the surgery. I need the cardio but it has not
helped the sciatica (I'm calling it that). I teach and will have to struggle
starting on the 4th. I'm hoping to improve matters this next week. I have
some exercises for my back from my P/T but this leg pain is new. Any
suggestions?

I'll see my P/T on Tuesday and hope he can suggest something.

Mel

[Leslie& The Furbabies in MO.]

I had something like that. It turned out the big nerve from my buttock to
ankle was inflamed. A cortisone shot did the trick for me. I hope yours is
as simple to treat. My doc was (he's no longer practicing) a jolly fellow
who liked to tease me- he said I had Tennis Elbow but in my butt... so it
had to be Tennis Butt! ;-)

Leslie

"MZB" <m...@noway.prudigy.net> wrote in message
news:hh8qji$uuk$1...@news.eternal-september.org...

[Squirrely]

not sure what to tell you. But you are still in my prayers. I feel for you,
you really have too much going on at one time.

--
Love and hugs to all
Love Squirrely Jo

[Squirrely]

I am sorry I know this is not funny because it has to hurt really bad, but I
am giggling.

It made me get to wondering if that is what some people mean when they say
do you have your elbow up your butt. LOL sorry, I am having one of those
nights.

I sure hope you heal up quickly, because that does sound really
uncomfortable.

--
Love and hugs to all
Love Squirrely Jo

"Leslie& The Furbabies in MO."

[Ron Stewart]

Mel,
I had exactly the same symptoms as you. I had off and on lower back pains
for years. While my wife was in rehab from TKR I developed a terrible pain
in my left leg that wouldn't go away. It hurt night and day. I went to my
doctor and told him I might have injured a nerve in my leg by sitting too
long by my wife's bedside in rehab. Knowing my past back problem history he
was sure it was something else and ordered an MRI which clearly showed a
ruptured(herniated) disk. He referred me to an orthopedist(the same doc that
did my wife's TKR). He prescribed pain meds and 2 weeks of physical therapy
and nothing helped. I finally had the back surgery and when I woke up the
leg pain was gone. This was in 1996 and I haven't had any back or leg pain
since. He gave me a book of exercises to do and I have been doing them every
day for 13 years. The disk that herniated was the L5/S1 disk.
I hope my story is of some help to you and I wish you the best with all your
problems.
Ron

"MZB" <m...@noway.prudigy.net> wrote in message
news:hh8qji$uuk$1...@news.eternal-september.org...

[MZB]

My problem is I have PC surgery set for 1/25. That comes first, in my mind!

Mel
"Ron Stewart" <ron...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:5OKdnXHNlvnQyqfW...@giganews.com...

[Michael B]

Best wishes to you on your surgery next month.
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6384044.html

Might want to discuss Piriformis Syndrome with your PT.