Citytv Forums

I was diagnosed with a severe sciatic nerve problem 3 months ago.  It started in the buttock near the piriformis and one morning I woke up and couldn't straighten out.  The pain radiated down my left buttock, thigh, calf and ankle and my big toe and a few others went numb.  After all these months of chiropractic treatments, acupuncture and many other forms of treatment, my mobility came back but the pain in the ankle and what seems like the tendon going up the outside of my leg to the knee is constantly there and quite sharp.  It greatly subsides when I'm resting but feel a lot of pain after standing for even one minute.  My chiropractor said it's not sciatic any more but fibromyalgia, a condition I suffer from. 

 Has anyone experienced such pain in the ankle with sciatic nerve problems?  Did the pain persist for quite a while?  Can anyone recommend any treatments that have worked for them?  I find it difficult to walk with this pain and can't seem to walk without a limp.  I have started aqua fitness and my mobility has improved quite a bit but the pain in the ankle persists.

I would appreciate any information relating to ankle pain. 

Hi JB

I can hardly believe what you wrote - I have the identical experience and was just at the doctor today pleading for a solution!  I could have written this post myself, word for word!  It is the end of a long day but I will be in touch and we can exchange ideas. 

Evalina

Hi Evalina,

 Isn't that interesting?  I'm so glad you saw my post.  Since you had the identical experience, did your doctor or chiropractor suggest a brace that cinches your waist?  That was the first thing I did and it certainly eased the discomfort when I had to be on my feet and active.

  My family doctor suggested that I use the cane on the same side of my painful leg.  I tried to hold the cane with my left hand but found it awkward.    My chiro  disagrees.  I agree with my chiro now because when I put my cane forward on my good side,  I put more pressure on my good leg and alleviate the pressure on my painful one.  It was difficult  getting used to the cane and you have to walk as if you're going down the aisle in a wedding ceremony.  You can't do one foot in front of the other.  It has to be step, together, step together.  Too slow for my liking and the improper method cancelled out any benefits.  I now know better.

 Did you doctor tell you that as your pain retreats back up to the buttock area that it's a good sign?  One by one, my frozen toes defrosted and the pain down my thigh disappeared but the ankle and calf is still painful. I have stepped up the water fitness classes and the pain during the class has decreased immensely and in the pool, I feel almost normal.  After 2 weeks of the classes, 3 times a week, I can almost follow the entire class.  Quite re-assuring but still in pain when I walk.  I am stepping up the classes to 6 days a week and will let you know if that helps any. 

When I speak to people at the pool, they all say the same thing.....it takes time and you have to rest as much as possible.  I have found that the only way I can grocery shop is to go to the big stores that have the electric scooters.  That alone has made life a whole lot easier.  Most of the time, I have found that so many people go out of their way to accomodate and help me and it restores my faith in humanity.  On a few occasions.....well, let's just say the only way to know is to walk a mile in my shoes (good luck with that)

Looking forward to hearing about your experience.

 JB 

Hi JB,

I am glad to hear that the water exercise is helping you.  I am going for my first warm water hydrotherapy class on Saturday. I am looking forward to it because prior to all of this, I was very active. I don't think I will be able to go more than once a week because of my work schedule.

My pain started in the lower back down the back of the left thigh, across behind the knee and over the shin to the ankle and the top of the foot.  The pain in the back and behind my thigh has stopped.  However, the ankle and the top of the foot are still the main problem.  The ankle and foot usually don't hurt if I am sitting or prone. It is only when I stand or walk.  The ankle is very weak and I limp on the left side.  I use a cane for anything more than a short distance.  Sometimes my left leg just gives out.  I am lucky in that my husband often does the grocery shopping since I have this condition. I can make it through the smaller stores if I hold on to the cart and go very quickly. If I go to a shopping mall, I have to take breaks, even inside one store. The problem is most stores have stopped providing seating areas for customers. The top of my left foot and my ankle are so tender that I can't stand the pressure of socks or shoes with laces. I wear runner type shoes but I tie the tongue of the shoe back so that it does not touch the top of my foot.  At the beginning, I also had pain in my toes, but that has stopped. My toes were not numb, but they are stiff.. as in inflexible.

The tender part of my lower left leg seems to have a firm mass -- like a large raised bump.  Sometimes my ankle swells a lot, but it hurts whether or not it swells.  I also get very stiff when I have been sitting down for a while and am really slow to stand up.

I have tried chiropratic, massage therapy, and accupuncture.  However, I have stopped all three for now.  I stretch every morning after a hot shower. That helps me get through the day.

The doctors agree that I have had sciatica and that I have osteoarthritis in both knees. I alsohave a lot of general inflammation in my legs.  However, as with you, a solution for the ankle pain seems to be a bit of a mystery.  I am going to start physiotherapy soon and will need to get new orthotics once I have done some of the exercices.

 I am interested to hear if the physiotherapist has an ideas about the ankle.  I will keep you posted.

All the best,

Evalina

Hi Evalina,

 I'm glad you're going to hydrotherapy.  Don't be surprised if, at first, your affected leg will hurt a bit.  It took several weeks before I could do what the rest of the class was doing without pain.  The leg and ankle, as you've noticed, have become weaker.  Aquafitness has helped strengthen them but without a great deal of pain.  I also use a recumbent exercise bike which helps move my leg.  I started wih one minute and worked my way up to 10.  It's important not to hyperextend your leg when you bike....stop when your knee is slightly bent.

 It's uncanny how similar our symptoms are.  I don't bother with closed shoes but I do wear Merrells which are open at the back but are deep enough to put in an orthotic which, by the way, I need also because one hip is  higher than the other.  I also have slight curvature of the spine and osteoarthritis of both knees but worse in the right.  I am curious about the inflammation in your legs. Where does that come from?  I'm wondering what the reason is for your md to recommend orthotics.

 Did your chiropractor recommend physiotherapy?  What is the purpose?  I'd really like to know if that helps you feel better, especially your ankle.  Do you feel like you can't stand up straight and have to stoop to walk?  I tend to lean to the opposite leg for support, especially when I walk.  For cooking, I have brought up my children's play table and chair and find it easier chopping veggies and preparing foods and sandwhiches because it isn't as high as  the countertops.  Standing for any length of time is a no-no.

 I was feeling better yesterday and then for some reason, the pain came back in the leg and ankle and stayed with me day and night regardless of the position.  Sleeping was a nightmare and only after 2 muscle relaxants and some warm milk did I fall asleep. 

 It's getting more and more difficult by the day to tolerate this pain.   If I worked, I believe it would somewhat distract me from it but I'm not sure how you concentrate with the pain.

 Did your doctor tell you what the mass is on your leg?  I have a similar one near the bone at the bottom of my leg but it's really small....almost like a pimple under the skin.  I hope that your doctor is investigating that bump.

Thanks for writing.  Good luck at hydrotherapy.  Keep in touch

JB

Hi JB   I have gone for 1 aquafit session so far. It felt fabulous to be in the water.  The main thing it seemed to do was open up my lower back and hips.

I started physio but the therapist just assessed me.  I have three sessions booked in August and we'll see what those bring.  She was also stumped as to what is wrong with my ankle.

I do feel looser in walking after just one aquafit session,  but the pain and weakness in my ankle prevent me from standing or walking far.  The physiotherapist said that I stand wrong - that I lean too far foward and put too much pressure on my toes so I have to walk and stand differently and make a conscious effort to shift my balance back, but walking style is very ingrained so that will be hard.

 I will let you know if there are any developments of interest.

Evalina

Hi Evalina,

Aquafitness has a way of making you feel almost normal, at least in the pool anyway.  I decided that I would make the effort to go almost every day.  After 6 days straight, I woke up Sunday  feeling no pain in ankle or buttock area.  That lasted until about 4pm  that day and then the pain came back.  I found that totally weird especially after having a couple of really good days.  I saw Dr. Wilde on CityPulse 24 and heard him speak of foods that can cause inflammation such as alcohol, red meat, coffee, sugar, simple carbs, etc.  He was on a program the very next day and I called in with the very question you and I have and that is "could something else, such as food, be causing inflammation that in turn causes the pain?"  He agreed that it is possible but also said that it is common for people with fibromyalgia to experience pain from the sciatic nerve because of the tightening of the muscle around the nerve.

He also said that there was a natural remedy for the pain and that Mt. Sinai has a great program in place for this type of thing.  He said stretching and physio was good but my chiropractor insists that I need to deal with the pain before starting physio.  The ankle pain comes and goes but with the added sessions of aquafitness, it almost seemed to disappear.  That's why I believe that there is another component to our unusual ankle and foot pain.  I will attempt to eat a more alkaline diet which is what I did just before the ankle pain disappeared for several days.  I did go back to eating more acidic foods such as red meat and alcohol and the pain came back.  I'm willing to give it a try.

Keep up the aqua fitness.  It will improve your mood as well as your movement.  I'll look into that supplement for the pain and report back to you.

As far as walking differently, that is pretty difficult to do when you're in pain when your foot touches the floor.  You immediately compensate by leaning forward.  When I didn't have the pain for those few days, I was able to straighten up and change the way I walk but in my humble opinion, it's a case of what comes first, the chicken or the egg.  I believe you'll walk better when it doesn't hurt.

JB 

Hi Evalina

How's your ankle pain?  The supplement for the pain was called St. John's Wort.  I hope you have gone to therapy and are feeling better.  I've been told this problem can last up to a year.  I can't believe it's already 5 months and I still can't do a short walk to the corner.  Have you had the growth looked at?