Is this Sciatica? Pain on left side only!?

Question

Ok, until tonight, I haven't been able to figure out what is wrong with me. I think I might have a clue. I have constant pains that go in stages that are only on my left side. They are in my left arm, usually lower arm and wrist, sometimes into my thumb and first couple of fingers. And I have pain that is in my left leg that is in my thigh, knee sometimes, calf, and ankle. I have some lower back pain, but not like the pain that radiates in my leg and arm. It used to freak me out, but they move. Sometimes they don't go anywhere and sometimes the pain travels to a different location. It's a shooting pain and sometimes burning. It feels like muscle pain, like it's deep down there. The pain first started after my first pregnancy. It wasn't bad. I had a c-section, therefore had a spinal, not epidural, but spinal. And then when I was pregnant a second time, it went away. But, after my second c-section with another spinal, it's worse. I think maybe it is from the pregnacy...the second one was tough on my body. I'm only 25, but I feel like my Grandma! Help me! Is this what is maybe is? I think so. And if so, what are my next steps??? What doctor, etc. Also, if it is Sciatica, is all this pain normal? And is it normal to go a few days without any pain at all? Thank you for your help!!!

Answer 1

It is not Sciatica. See a neurophysician  

Answer 2

GOOD NEWS:  SCIATICA CAUSES YOU TO NOT EVEN WANT TO PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE FLOOR TO WALK.  YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT PUT YOUR WEIGHT ON IT WITHOUT HOLLERING OR STIFLING A HOLLER.

I HAVE ALL THE SYMPTOMS YOU HAVE, BUT MINE CAME FROM SPECIFIC INJURIES TO MY BACK.  YOUR VERTEBRAE ARE OUT OF LINE AND NERVES ARE BEING PINCHED.  A GOOD CHIROPRACTOR COULD FIX YOUR PROBLEM.  THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO ONCE THE PAIN STARTS TO SUBSIDE IS BACK EXERCISES TO HELP STRENGTHEN YOUR MUSCLES TO HELP KEEP YOUR VERTEBRAE SUPPORTED.

I'M GOING TO TAKE MY OWN ADVISE, ONCE I GET FINISHED CARRYING AND MOVING ALL THESE HEAVY THINGS AND GET MOVED INTO THIS NEW PLACE.  I HAVE AN INVERSION TABLE.  I BOUGHT IT AFTER TRYING MY BROTHER'S.  YOU SLOWLY GO BACKWARDS AND UPSIDE DOWN, AS YOU CAN TAKE IT, AND THAT HELPS SEPARATE THE VERTEBRAE AND RELIEVES THE PINCHING OF THE NERVES.  THERE ARE SPECIFIC NERVES THAT GO THROUGH SPECIFIC PLACES IN YOUR BACK.  WHEN THEY GET PINCHED, YOU GET ALL THOSE SYMPTOMS YOU LISTED.  THE 'BURNING' SENSATION IS THE DIRECT RESULT OF PINCHED OR DAMAGED NERVES.  IN FACT, I HAVE TO QUIT WRITING NOW, MY SHOULDERS ARE BURNING FROM TYPING OUT THIS ANSWER!  GOOD LUCK.

OH YEAH,  S T R E T C H.  LEANING FORWARD, TOUCHING YOUR TOES, THESE LENGTHEN THE SPINE AND GIVE RELIEF ALSO.  BUT YOU DO NEED SOMEONE TO PUT YOUR BACK INTO ALIGNMENT, AND NOT AN AMATEUR. THAT COULD CRIPPLE YOU.  SEE A REAL CHIROPRACTOR.  also, sit up straight, shoulders down, neck up.  do neck stretches.  not head backwards, but upper spine with head, pressing back.  it really helps. often, when i get all that pain, that sometimes means i have been flatfooted too long and i need to wear heels for awhile to help put the curve back into my lower back.  i have had to learn the hard way, and i noticed a lot of times i was in less pain when i wore heels.  now i know, if i've been wearing tennis shoes or sandals too long.  in fact, thanks for asking this question, you just reminded me, i need t slip into my 'candies' for a few days.  they are the most comfortable, to me.

Answer 3

~ Hi~ ! I'm so sorry about the pain you're experiencing. If you're having issues with your lumbar spine (lower back), than it would be normal to have sciatica that impacts one leg. I had a herniated disc and it seemed like the main pain I experience was down my left leg. I also had pain that radiated into my left hip. It was interesting, because what initially brought me to the Doctor was the hip and LEG pain - I was convinced I had something wrong with my hip. When the X-Ray revealed nothing, I was left feeling like they thought I was a hypochondriac. Then they X-RAYED, my spine and OF course because it was a herniated disc the X-Ray looked fine. So, once again, I left crying in pain, feeling like no one believed me. It took an MRI to show a LARGE herniated disc (so large the neuro spinal specialist couldn't believe I could walk around).

So, I would DEFINITELY seek medical attention. I'm not sure about your insurance, but most insurance requires you see your GP or Internist for a referral to a specialist. You may want to see your regular Doctor rolling on tests and so forth, because most spinal specialists will not see with you WITHOUT your X-RAY or MRI films or Disc in hand.  Sciatica is generally caused from nerve compression causing somewhere in your lumbar spine, so I you really want to get to the root of what's going on.

Another important thing to remember is just because an X-Ray doesn't show much going on, doesn't mean everything OK. An X-Ray will just show disc height, structure, etc. For instance it WOULD show a COLLAPSED disc. But, an X-Ray won't show a herniated disc. So,  be sure to ask for an MRI if your X-Ray doesn't show much going on.

As far as your arm pain, I'm not sure what's going on there. Are you also experiencing neck pain issues? Generally arm pain, weakness, etc. is related to injuries to the cervical spine (neck).

I hope this helps. I hope you get answers and relief from the pain soon.