What does this sound like to you? UPDATE!!!

I have a dr appointment on Friday morning.....but am looking for opinions or ppl that may have experienced this before....

I have pain that starts just above my buttock (right side) and travels down the BACK of my back thigh to the back of my knee.  It is the absolute worst while walking, bad when i'm sitting or standing and relieved when lying down.

I've taken advil with no avail.  Any ideas?  Does this sound like sciatica to anyone?

~H~

Sounds a lot like Sciatica.  Could be other things, of course.  Your doctor will have some more ideas.

Yeah, sounds like sciatica.     The pain can even sometimes even travel around to the front of the knee.  Severe cases can make you feel like your toes are numb too.  

What sciatica is, is that you have either a muscle swelling or disc bulge that is pressing on the sciatic nerve.  That's what makes it feel like it's hurting in area other than where the actual problem is. 

Just be sure to go to your Dr, don't take our word for it.  The muscle swelling can be easily relieved with NSAIDs.  A bulging/herniated disc can be much more serious.

Third to it sounding like sciatica. My mum has trouble with it, but it is easily treatable. But yes, there could be a good few other causes so do make sure you chat about it thoroughly with your doc.

Thanks for the replies!!!  I have NEVER had problems with back/neck etc so I guess it's just good ol' old age LOL

You know what really sucks is, I started my very first semester of University last week and I find it really tough to sit thru lecture and even harder to concentrate on school work when I have pain radiating down my leg!  Yep, sucks to get old.

I'm sure my dr will just give me some muscle relaxers or anti-inflamms that will mess up my tummy....***sigh***

~H~

Do you have IBS/GI problems diagnosed? If you mention all this to your doctor they may be able to find you a medication that doesn't upset your stomach.

My mum helped to alleiviate her sciatica not only through anti-inflammatories but through physical therapy and losing weight - she has gone from a UK 22-24 to a UK 10-12 and is presently maintaining 5'2 and 136ish, with a lot less pain! So don't be discouraged. :]

One would think that I would have this problem when I was 250 lbs...... not after losing so much weight!

I had thought about physical therapy...I have to look into my husband's benefits to see how many sessions I can get!

Most of my mum's PT was made up of walks around the neighbourhood suggested by our doctor! No cost required (though we are in a free healthcare country, but the point stands. D;) She does yoga/pilates now, too. Still, do look into it. :D

It does sound like sciatica. I have it. It acts up if I lay around all day or if I move boxes or things. Best thing to do to relieve it is to do the opposite of the irritation. Like Id go running if it acts up from me laying around or Id lay down if its from moving around too much.

Sounds like sciatica--I have had it off and on for about 20 years. Yoga is my salvation for it! Walking too.

classic signs and symptoms of sciatica 

I've been wondering if I have sciatica too, but it's a bit different for me. I have pain in my lower back like right between my butt cheeks... and in my hips. It doesn't really radiate down my legs, maybe a bit into my thighs. When I have been lieing down or sitting for a while sometimes it is quite difficult to walk! I have asked my doctor about it before but havent mentioned the word sciatica because only recently have I heard about that term... and I don't think I've ever explained the pain to her very well so she has never diagnosed it as anything. Does it sound like sciatica to you guys?

Doogloose: It does, yes. I'd raise it with your doc.

I agree with the Sciatica diagnosis and I am a "street doctor" . If you were a guy I'd suggest moving your wallet to the other side and take some NSAIDs for a few weeks.

The other thing is that your spine could be out of alignment (which could also cause sciatica).

You can also try to stretch it out but it may cause you more pain until the inflammation is relieved.

Keeping a pillow tucked up under your knees seems to lessen the pain during the night, along with the Aleve.  I to agree with Sciatica.  The pillow straightens the spine....I feel your pain.  In the morning before getting out of bed it seems to help me to draw my knees up to my chest and stretch for a dozen seconds or so.  

I went to Dr. This morning and she definitely said Sciatica. 

She gave me Rx for Oxycodone.  Said to also take some anti-inflam's with the Oxy.  I have to admit that I'm extremely surprised she gave me those strong pain meds.  I'm scared to take them.  I guess I've watched too many episodes of Intervention. 

~H~

Oxycodone!?!?   Wow - I used to be a W/C claims adjusters, and I've handled literally hundreds of back injury claims - usually they'll start w/rx strength ibuprofen or naproxyn (Aleve), if that doesn't work then Vicodin, THEN Oxycodone if the vicodin doesn't work.    Why would he/she put you on such a strong narcotic without even seeing if anti-inflamatories and some physical therapy helps first?     Personally, I wouldn't take them except maybe at night if you are really having trouble sleeping. 

I told her that I have been taking extra strength advil for pain but it wasn't even touching the pain...which is very true.  When I'm sitting in class, I feel like I could strangle someone, the pain is that bad.

She did suggest going to chiropractor to get back adjusted to "SEE" if that helps.  I do have a recquisition for a lumbarsacral xray which I'm going for on Monday.  She said that the one only true fix for sciatia is TIME!  In the meanwhile you have to treat the symptoms...which is swelling and pain control...

UGH

You are both thinking Oxycontin for a particular method of delivering oxycodone-- what she likely got was percocet or a generic thereof (oxycodone plus tylenol).  There isnt an issue with taking it, just like you would any narcotic-- sparingly, and not before you drive or use heavy machinery.