Another MS Symptom: Sciatic Nerve Pain at a Whole New Level
Just when I thought I had experienced every multiple sclerosis (MS) symptom possible, another one emerges:Â sciatic nerve pain. It can happen to anyone, but it is also associated with MS.
A couple of months ago, I woke up with a sharp knife-type pain on the upper back side of my left leg. All I could wonder was “What is MS doing to me now?”
Usually doing stretches while lying on my bed alleviated any sciatic nerve pain I had. I bent my left leg up to meet my chest, then lifted it over my body. Next IÂ held my left foot with my right hand for about 20 seconds. Then I completed the move by stretching my leg out straight and flexing my foot.
I learned to live with sciatic pain. When it showed up, I did my stretches, or walked it off, but now it is moving in a whole new direction. The sciatic nerve, by the way, is the longest in the body, running from the lower back to the tops of the feet.
The other day I went to get up out of my chair, and had the worst burning pain in the same area where the sharp pain was. It felt as if someone were poking me with a red-hot poker! It attacks me every time I go to stand, and sometimes when I’m trying to sit.
A Multiple Sclerosis Society of New Zealand article, “Multiple Sclerosis and Pain,” written by Anne McAuley and by Dr. Rosemary White, explores a theory on what causes the sciatic pain in MS. The article says most pain with MS is due to immobility or poor posture instead of damaged nerves. The article says immobility, or sitting in a wheelchair for a long time, puts pressure on the nerves in the back of the legs that generates sciatic pain.
The contention that pain is related to immobility or poor posture sounds reasonable to me. In fact, I was sitting in my wheelchair for almost three hours before this week’s burning sensation appeared. Being in the wheelchair for that long was not the best scenario for me. I should have been in a regular chair, and moving around from time to time, instead of sitting that long.
The article says proper seating and elevating your legs when sitting can help prevent sciatic pain. Of course it is best to check with your doctor first to rule out other conditions that could be causing this symptom.
Perhaps by being more mobile, using correct posture and being aware of the pressure on the back of our legs, we can avert another painful symptom of multiple sclerosis.
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Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today, or its parent company, Bionews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.
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Sarah Athey
Hi Debi I have wondered for years if sciatica is anything to do with MS! I have suffered terribly on and off since I was 18 which was around the time of my first relapse, thank you for this article
Debi Wilson
Hi Sarah, I'm sorry you suffer also! You're welcome for the article and thank-you for your comments! Debi
Jimmy Grayson
Hi Sarah I am Jimmy in North Carolina and I was diagnosed with Ms at the age of 29 I didn't have any problems for years now I'm in a wheelchair and have been for the last 7 or 8 years and then I started thinking I was done with all of my symptoms suddenly started feeling this sensationly Hot burning pain damn my right leg and today finally I noticed that starts in an area that I remember from ology class is the sciatic nerve and I looked it up online and I was right but probably comes from sitting in this wheelchair I usually have to just endure the pain for several minutes and then it goes away and I still feel that hot sensation in the right side of my lower back down to my heels and still feel a little numbing in my leg and then it slowly goes away and then I keep getting terrified it's going to start up again and it's just feels like what a stroke would feel like almost if it hit me that way I'm a little more relieved now that I know what it is and what I have to do about it but holding my leg up like you said seems to work okay I just wish you would stop that you take care and I wish you only the best, Jim
Kristin Hardy
Hi Debi, yes, been battling this myself for about a year and a half. Physiatrist pointed out that atrophied glutes and hamstrings mean that sitting puts more pressure on the sciatic nerve. It's not just the wheelchair – lying in bed on your back puts pressure on these nerves, as well. I've had good results by making sure to stand up for at least 45 minutes first thing in the morning to relieve nerve compression, and then periodically throughout the day. Anything you can do to increase muscle mass is also helpful. Talk to your wheelchair folks about getting a cushion that has an air bladder in it to relieve pressure. Good luck with it – it truly sucks.
Debi Wilson
Hi Kristin, I agree with you, it can be very painful! You give great advice and thanks for sharing! Debi
Kel
Finally! I've been suffering with this for 20 years! My MS Doc kept saying it's not due to MS. I was mobile at the time, but as soon as that burning & excruciating pain started I was down. I can't walk more than 2 or 3 ft without having to sit down because of the pain. I've had MRI's, CT, X-rays, & nothing ever showed up. So once again I was looked at like there's no reason for you to be hurting. This could finally be an answer.
Marianinfa
That is me, I cant walk much at all. I started a year ago in June then I was doing prolozone therapy shots and I thought it was helping but now it's back and I can't stand the pain. I'm going to my neurologist next month but he has told me in the past MS doesnt cause pain. I beg to differ.
Katie
Omg this so sound's like me
I was diagnosed 12yrs ago with sciatica and now i feel like i have it in my arms for the past year my doctor refuses to do refer me for mri but I'm getting sick of chewing painkillers any more advice?
Linda
what pain killers do you use, I have pain all the time. Taken every pain killer imaginable but nothing seem to work. Tried exercises, but makes Sciatica worse, can't stand for 15 minutes because of leg jumping and severe pain. Any help?
THERESA T
THIS IS HAPPENING TO ME TOO I WENT TO THE PAIN CLINIC 3 DAYS AGO DR INJECTED STEROID AROUND THE NERVE IN MY BACK,HE SAID THIS SHOULD WORK. IT GAVE ME RELIEF IN MY LOWER BACK FOR 1 DAY. I HAVE A FOLLW UP IN 2 WEEKS I DONT THINK IMM GOING. I GO SEE MY PRIMARY DR TOMORROW. I THINK ILL MENTION PT OR CHIROPRACTOR. IM NOT IN A WHEELCHAIR. I WORK FT AT THE HOSP I DONT SIT DOWN FOR LNG TIMES AND I HAVE GOOD POSTURE. I MY NEURO HAS ME ON GABAPENTIN FOR MY REG SPASMS. IT DOES NTHING FOR IT.
Cindy
I have PPMS with chronic low back pain and sciatic pain & burning that runs all the way down my leg into my foot. It’s horrible and life altering as you have all described. Mine is caused by muscle spasms in the Piriformis muscle. (It’s called Piriformis Syndrome). The outside of my hip is tender to the touch, a common symptom. I take gabapentin for the pain and tizanidine (zanaflex) for the muscle spasms. It helps, but the side effects from the drugs make me groggy and unproductive. I’ve read about two surgical procedures. One is cutting the Piriformis tendon and the other is cutting to split the Piriformis muscle. Both procedures take the pressure off the sciatic nerve. I plan on talking to my neurologist about this. I’ve already had the injections and they didn’t work for me. I’ve just ordered a support for sciatica and Piriformis syndrome on Amazon, so I’m hoping it offers some relief. I can’t stand this 24 hour constant pain anymore. I can’t sleep in my bed or sit in my chair very long and there’s no position that I have found that helps. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Annetjie Niemand
Can deep massage of the sciatic nerve be harmful when you have MS?
Sindy Marinakis
Iv done everything stretches spasm pills muscle relaxers creams sprays ten unit helps a little ice heat inversion table ms runs in my dad's family but it also feels like piriformis doctors refuse to check one doctor gave me MRI of brain says it looks like I had stroke my aunt says that's sign of ms I'm very depressed and frustrated can't walk very far in pain and I have to work in pain everyday
Rick
HI, I've been dealing with MS for 25+ years but this sciatica
is enough to make me scream. I did two epidurals this spring with no improvement. has anyone had any success with Chiropractic? I have also done and do PT and acupuncture, but I am really miserable. `Any thoughts? Thanks,
Rick in NYC
Karen Manship
How can you tell if the sciatica pain is from MS or herniated discs or both? I’ve been hurting for over a year, with numbness and pain shooting down my leg. At times I can’t feel the floor! Any suggestions?
Katie
I am late to this thread but perhaps this info could still be helpful. I also thought I had sciatica. Primary care doc gave me muscle relaxers, increased ibuprofen, stretching etc. Nothing helped, then it got worse- couldn’t sit, lay down or even stand in place without pain.
Turns out I have developed some nasty MS spasticity in my back/hip/leg from new lesions in my neck. Currently trying Baclofen. Also, got a Wahl brand a sonic massager from Amazon for the especially tight/painful spots.
The best advice I can share is to watch Dr. Aaron Boster, my Neurologist’s YouTube spasticity videos. He validates that pain is very real with MS, that there are options for treating it and you aren’t in this alone.
Rob Hruska
I am newly diagnosed with ms. Have always been very active but have developed new excruciating siatic pain, the hot poker kind that fires in my right leg in sync with the ms spasms in my left leg. Numerologist says its physiological but i have had mri’s of the area and all is good and the physio therapist can not get it to fire with any movements that would normally agitate the siatica it only fire with the spasms and my nuerologist say its the physio’s job and the physio says its the nuerologists job. ?
Bryon LaRoche
Can an MRI actually detect the the opening or discovery of M.S?