Sciatica or neuropathy?

Hi. With my neuropathy in my feet they burn n "fizz" with pain, then my feet go frozen n sensations are lost n numb like in certain toes n areas of the feet. Sometimes at night the burning n pain keeps me wide awake it really can be awful. Bones n joints in feet arthritic too! Have been told circulation n neuropathy caused by my BS being consistantly high since 2009 n yet not under control... true diabetes damage! my husband has sciatica due to driving long distances in his job, n has to keep walking about to relieve the pain sitting n standing make it worse he says! it is in his bum cheek n travels down his leg following the nervous system. Any help? Anna. x

chrissieworne said:

Hi all, yet again I have awful Sciatica (or so I and my GP think!) pain in bum cheek, shooting down leg in to foot and making ankle, knee and foot tingle, go numb etc.

My GP said its not neuropathy because my bum cheek aches and the sensations shoot etc and I have no weakness in limb as such. Sometimed my leg "feels alive" as though someone's moving ruddy house in it.

How does neuropathy manifest then?
Thanks Chris

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Hi,

Sounds like sciatica to me.

As to your question," How does neuropathy manifest itself then?" There are several types of neuropathy and this article explains how different areas of your body can be affected.
http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/neuropathies/

I had sciatica a while ago, well I was told I had it by NHS so sawa physio and did the exercises regularly but still had problems over 5 years. I visited an osteopath (back inthe days I had money) they proved to me in 1 visit that NHS was wrong, it was actually a nerve leading into the sciatic nerve so had similar symptoms but different cause. A different cause meant different exercises to remedy the pain, thanks to NHS physos I'd been doing the wrong thing for 5 years! If circumstances allow I'd recommend an osteopath as they are more specialist in this type of field and certainly from my experience helped get the right diagnosis.

I think I am in a similar dilemma.
I have a pain in my back just above the bum crack(sorry for being gross)
The pain in my legs is symmetrical, very symmetrical. The Endo professor doesn't seem to think it is diabetes related. I have had a CT scan and no lump on the spinal cord but he has ordered an MRI to take a closer look at the nerves and also some nerve conduction tests.
At the moment sitting for log period aggravates it. Walking about actually relieve is. I do some leg stretching exercises which may or may not be helping. I take 2 -3 x 50mg Tramadol per day which do help. I moved to cymbalta for 1 day and my body took an immediate dislike to it, the worst burning pain ever and 12 hours of solid none sleep leaving me half dead the next day.
Fortunately I work and a network engineer from home so I can just about manage to hold my job down.
My experience of the NHS in east yorkshire has been first class. The whole team really seem to know what they are doing and I ask lots of questions which I prepare before hand so I dont forget. I also have hyperparathyroidism and possibly MEN1 (genetic testing on the way). On the diabetes front I presented with a UTI and a fasting of 12 and a HBA1C of 10. Now I have a fasting between 4.8 and 6.5 and hba1c of 6.1 after 8 weeks of low carbing and 4 stone in weight loss (over about 3 months).
The Endo did say that my dramatic good control may well have contributed to the sudden presentation of nerve pain as the nerves are getting a whiff of oxygen that they are not used to. Hopefully this will not last for much longer, but who knows. I have a parathyriod operation too look forward to so this pain is going to have to wait.

Hi Chris

I am having severe back and leg problems at the moment, after having lower back pain and progressively weaker legs for years. The pain is focused on my right hip, but is also across my lower back, in my right buttock and right front thigh, wanders down to my knee occasionally. I also have 'spider-crawl' feelings on my lower leg, and numb skin patches across my shin. I can barely move around the house, and I'm actually more comfortable walking bent forward. Aaargh! :shock:

Yesterday was murder - I couldn't lie on front, back or either side without pain, can't sit, can't stand, just as painful with weight off hip as with weight on it.

Anyway, I went to see the doc today about the results of last week's X-ray. I do have osteoathritis in both hips and my lower spine, but this appears not to have degenerated any further in the past 6 or so years since the last one.

However - Doc has suggested Spinal Stenosis, and is going to pursue this, as well as referring me to the physio and doing B12 and folic acid blood tests.

I Googled 'lumbar spinal stenosis' (he told me to - how well he knows me! :lol: ) and every single problem I have been moaning about for the last 10 years is there, listed as a symptom. It's a narrowing of the spinal canal which squeezes and constricts the all or some of the many nerves in that area, producing pain in one or both legs. Relatively common in older people, as the spine is affected by wear and tear.

So we'll be following that through, maybe even with a CT scan. Anyone had one of those?

I hope yours gets better. Let me know how you go on - I'll do the same.

I may have to stop blaming the statins for my painful legs :shock: - not yet though! :lol:

Viv 8)

I too am suffering from sciatica. All started last August, could be gym related (I was going 4+ times a week) or could be posture at work etc.

Whatever it is, it's very painful. Thankfully doesn't stop me sleeping. I'm on two types of tablets which work a little bit, but really all they are doing is masking the pain.

Been referred to the physio at the NHS and given exercises to do which make little to no difference. Spent a great deal of money seeing private physios and chiro's with little success. Trying a different chiro this week to see if someone else can make a difference.

After the NHS physio, I've now been referred to the pain clinic (NHS again) but still waiting for an appt (taking their time!!!) after two months.

I've been told it's a joint problem, but not really sure what difference this makes. If I feel the joints and muscles in my lower back (the ones that you can feel moving when you walk) then it's these that hurt but I also get the pain down the left leg (and sometimes a little bit in the right).

I can totally sympathise with the OP as it is horrible. I've had this so long now I've forgotten what it's like to not have pain!

What does an osteopath do that a chiropractor doesn't and vice versa?

Thanks

I can only sympathise with you. I was in agony with the pain down to my knee in my right leg and to my ankle in my left leg. It started with pain in my lower back. that was about 10yrs ago. Now I get a little nervous when my back aches. With careful excersice and patience I slowly recoverd, but it took what seemed for ever, which was 4months to get back to somewhat a normal life. Had pysio and exrays plus lots of painkillers. It started with bulging discs. Never want to go through that pain again. I do hope you will soon get better.
so just take care

I'm a massage therapist (12 years) and also have cervical stenosis, neuropathy, and also have had some bad bouts of sciatica. So I guess you can say this is my area of expertise. Sciatica and neuropathy manifest very differently. Diabetic neuropathy usually manifests where your sugar levels are highest - hands and feet. It can be a burning, stabbing, tingling pain, or just numbness. In sciatica, your sciatic nerve gets pinched either in the SI joint, or around the piriformus muscle underneath your glutes (bum). In sciatica you usually have a sharp pain in the SI joint or your piriformis area, and sometimes this is felt down your leg too. The sciatic nerve can run unerneath, on top of, or right throug the piriformis, plus here are two other nerves narby that can lso get pinched. A good massage therapist can relieve sciatica and some chiropractic as well. Sitting is the worst and going up or down stairs will just kill you if you have bad sciatica.

Strangely enough, neuropathy can be bad in the morning (high blood sugar in the feet) but feel fine in the afternoon, (lower blood sugar). Nothing can help bring the damaged nerves back but, Alpha Lipoic Acid can help new nerves sprout. So neuropathy can be blood sugar controlled, sciatica is more a muscle/bone imbalance that pinches a major nerve.

By the way, I've cured myself of both. I have very little neuropathy or sciatica. I quit siting and started dancing 10 hours a week... Also I've been taking ALA for over 10 years. Blood cholesterol drugs - statins - can cause neuropathy.