peripheral entrapment of the sciatic nerve?

I have a herniated disc that presses on my sciatic nerve. My pain is on the right side. Almost like a muscle spasm that never really releases. I recently had an MRI, some PT, and ended up getting shots into the nerve to shrink it. That has seemed to help me. You just need to be careful with numbness. If your legs and feet ever feel cold, that could be something more serious like a blood clot. My sister works for an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in spinal care so she's always on my back to be aware of numbness and coldness. I'd skip the running for a while. When I have my flare ups all I can do is stretching like Pilates or just walking in good sneakers. You should also see if you can push to get in to one of the docs emergency appointments. I'm pretty sure it's common for the Dr to leave slots open everyday for emergency patients. Good luck!

Hey everyone... Well I've been on this site for awhile but I don't usually start threads anymore but Im kind of freaking out. I am a runner who has been dealing with an injury for months... Long story short it started with my calf then my itband and basically my whole left side is messed up. I thought I had it resolved with a sports chiro but now I'm experiencing numbness and I keep injuring everything on my left from my achilles to my arch, and my hip, the list goes on... And the pain is getting worse, my leg and foot go numb for no reason. I emailed the doc but he doesn't hav an appt till the 17th... He said he thinks it could be a peripheral entrapment of the sciatic nerve... Does anyone know anything about this?? I'm just fed up of being injured! Thanks

-Leash

I had symptoms like this and I don't want to alarm you, but mine was a slipped disc and was bloody agony.

I used to suffer on and off with sciatica for years, however, my pain threshold must have got quite high because I trained on a sciatic-like pain down my left side (hoping it would run it off - what a bloody fool I was!), the next day it was slightly worse, I did the same again, then on the third day, I tried to run, but it was just too sharp a pain and too much.

That night I drove to work, did my shift and when it came to getting back in my car to come home, let's just say I was in a bit of pain :sick:

I got home, but was unable to get out of the car as I couldn't move. My husband had to help me out and I shuffled like an old woman indoors.

The pain comes from the jelly-like centre of one of the discs in between the vertebrae of the spine leaking out, this jelly touches the sciatic nerve, hence the pain.

Ice-packs eventually helped me no end, twenty minutes at a time, an ice pack on the affected area, the ice, I presume, shrinks the jelly back in and gets it away from the sciatic nerve. I had to stay well away from heat on my back as this would swell the jelly and make it leak more - not good and the thought of it makes me feel nauseous actually :frown: :sick: :sick: :sick:

To the OP, you may have to keep away from running until it has healed up, swimming is a good exercise to keep fit at and not such a shock to the body like running is everytime you pound along.

Do not try to run through it, do not life anything in an incorrect manner and do not strain yourself trying to shift furniture about or life heavy bags in an awkward way.

I really hope it heals up soon xxx

ps knew I would forget to type something in, I rattle and rattle on!! What I meant to say was that I hope you get to see a doctor or chiropractor very shortly because they are the only ones who can correctly diagnose you :flowerforyou:

DO NOT RUN or do any strenuous activity but you can swim but not if you feel pain. Do be very careful as this is something that will not go away without care. Please please see a doctor asap. I have had major back surgery NOT only due to a trapped sciatic nerve but that was part of my problem. Steroid injections given by a specialist may be the best course of action but rest may just do it. You need to be patient .Good luck.