leg pain question from newbie

[Guest guest]

Good evening everyone! I had my last x-ray a few years ago, which showed the top

curve at 30 degrees and the bottom at 50 degrees. I'm turning 50 yrs old this

July and am about 5'3 " and 135lbs. I work out almost every day but am careful

not to lift any weights overhead while standing or seated so I don't compress my

spine any further. My scoliosis wasn't diagnosed until I was 30 because I was

obese when I was younger. My doctor has said nothing about my current weight, so

I'm still within a reasonable range, although it certainly wouldn't hurt if I

dropped a few pounds considering that I lost both parents to heart disease. Both

of my parents had a curvature of the spine, but it was never formally diagnosed

as scoliosis. I'm guessing that's where I got it from.

Despite feeling like a complete freak in a bathing suit or a skirt, I manage to

get on with my life and thankfully have a partner that doesn't care about my

physical imperfections.

My biggest complaint is my right calf, which hurts the most when I'm walking. It

doesn't matter whether it's uphill, flat or downhill. It feels like menstrual

cramps for lack of a better description along with some tingling in my right

foot. I also noticed that my right leg just above the ankle seems slightly

swollen, almost like water retention, but it's only 1/4 " different from my left.

I gave up on the chiropractor a few years ago, even though it made my back and

hips feel better in general. The doctor did a test to rule out a blood clot

since heart disease runs in my family. He sent me to physical therapy which made

the pain a lot worse, so I stopped.

When I'm on the elliptical machine, it doesn't bother me at all, and I'm

guessing that the endorphins kick in and block the pain. I do my best to NOT let

it interfere with the rest of my life, but the pain is there and makes normally

fun outings that involve walking a chore.

I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this and if it could be sciatica

related to my scoliosis and possibly some compression in the lumbar region disks

where the largest curve is.

Ibuprofen and Naproxen don't help and I prefer not to take too many meds.

I trained legs today and now even my butt is sore along with my calf, so

sciatica seems likely although I do not know what can be done.

Any suggestions like particular stretches, ice and/or heat would be greatly

appreciated.

Thanks in advance and have a nice weekend!

Bonnie

[Guest guest]

Bonnie,

You don't mention that you have had surgery so I'm guessing you haven't.

Your lumbar spine is of a significant and could easily be causing your leg

problems. But why ask us? You need to be seen again by a scoliosis

specialist.

Ask yourself if over the last years if it has gotten more bothersome.

Once we are out of our teens an unfused spine will gain 1 to 2 degrees yearly.

Where is your lumbar curve going to be in 10 years? How much more pain

can you tolerate? And why?

Been there.

Jolene Morell

Shop online at _www.InheritedButtons.com_

(http://www.inheritedbuttons.com/)

[Guest guest]

Thanks Jolene. I will talk to a specialist and see what non-surgical options

remain for me. I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

Thanks,

Bonnie

>

> Bonnie,

> You don't mention that you have had surgery so I'm guessing you haven't.

> Your lumbar spine is of a significant and could easily be causing your leg

> problems. But why ask us? You need to be seen again by a scoliosis

> specialist.

> Ask yourself if over the last years if it has gotten more bothersome.

> Once we are out of our teens an unfused spine will gain 1 to 2 degrees

yearly.

> Where is your lumbar curve going to be in 10 years? How much more pain

> can you tolerate? And why?

> Been there.

> Jolene Morell

> Shop online at _www.InheritedButtons.com_

> (http://www.inheritedbuttons.com/)

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Bonnie.....

I've had pretty good luck getting rid of my sciatica flare ups by

stretching when I'm in bed at night. I'm on my back and stretch the right leg

toward the bottom of the bed and then stretch the left leg, and repeat.

After 4-5 times the pain/discomfort goes away. Everyone is different, but this

has worked best for me. I avoid meds whenever possible.... and... when I

get the first feeling that the sciatica is acting up, I stop what I'm am

doing or where/how I'm sitting. If I don't, the pain/discomfort will

continue building until the butt hurts too.

I also have sciolosis and found putting a lift in my left shoe helps

relieve walking discomforts. I made them out of the 1/8 " craft foam sheets...

several layers glued together... they hold up well and last a long time.

Hope this or others suggestions will bring you relief. Barb

>I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this and if it could be

sciatica related to my scoliosis and >possibly some compression in the lumbar

region disks where the largest curve is.

>Ibuprofen and Naproxen don't help and I prefer not to take too many meds.

>I trained legs today and now even my butt is sore along with my calf, so

sciatica seems likely although I do >not know what can be done.

>Any suggestions like particular stretches, ice and/or heat would be

greatly appreciated.

>Thanks in advance and have a nice weekend!

>Bonnie

[Guest guest]

Hi barb,

Well, it's nice of you to send this reply, but I'm not the Bonnie who

asked the question and I don't have this problem. I think you're

looking for Bonnie .

Bonnie Stone

On May 2, 2010, at 12:46 AM, bclark38@... wrote:

> Hi Bonnie.....

> I've had pretty good luck getting rid of my sciatica flare ups by

> stretching when I'm in bed at night. I'm on my back and stretch the

> right leg

> toward the bottom of the bed and then stretch the left leg, and

> repeat.

> After 4-5 times the pain/discomfort goes away. Everyone is

> different, but this

> has worked best for me. I avoid meds whenever possible.... and...

> when I

> get the first feeling that the sciatica is acting up, I stop what

> I'm am

> doing or where/how I'm sitting. If I don't, the pain/discomfort will

> continue building until the butt hurts too.

>

> I also have sciolosis and found putting a lift in my left shoe helps

> relieve walking discomforts. I made them out of the 1/8 " craft foam

> sheets...

> several layers glued together... they hold up well and last a long

> time.

>

> Hope this or others suggestions will bring you relief. Barb

>

>

> >I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this and if it could be

> sciatica related to my scoliosis and >possibly some compression in

> the lumbar

> region disks where the largest curve is.

>

> >Ibuprofen and Naproxen don't help and I prefer not to take too many

> meds.

>

> >I trained legs today and now even my butt is sore along with my

> calf, so

> sciatica seems likely although I do >not know what can be done.

>

> >Any suggestions like particular stretches, ice and/or heat would be

> greatly appreciated.

>

> >Thanks in advance and have a nice weekend!

> >Bonnie

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much Barb! I will definitely concentrate more on my stretches and look

into the lifts. We went to the outlets a few weeks ago and noticed that the SAS

store sold special shoe inserts and had a machine that you step on to assist

with determining which instep is appropriate. I think that I will look into that

also. I'm even thinking of trying those Dr. Scholls or Reeboks that force you to

stand up straighter. They seem rather heavy, but if they help me with my

posture, it's worth a try.

Thanks so much for responding and have a great day!

Bonnie

>

> Hi Bonnie.....

> I've had pretty good luck getting rid of my sciatica flare ups by

> stretching when I'm in bed at night. I'm on my back and stretch the right

leg

> toward the bottom of the bed and then stretch the left leg, and repeat.

> After 4-5 times the pain/discomfort goes away. Everyone is different, but

this

> has worked best for me. I avoid meds whenever possible.... and... when I

> get the first feeling that the sciatica is acting up, I stop what I'm am

> doing or where/how I'm sitting. If I don't, the pain/discomfort will

> continue building until the butt hurts too.

>

> I also have sciolosis and found putting a lift in my left shoe helps

> relieve walking discomforts. I made them out of the 1/8 " craft foam

sheets...

> several layers glued together... they hold up well and last a long time.

>

> Hope this or others suggestions will bring you relief. Barb

>

>

> >I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this and if it could be

> sciatica related to my scoliosis and >possibly some compression in the lumbar

> region disks where the largest curve is.

>

> >Ibuprofen and Naproxen don't help and I prefer not to take too many meds.

>

> >I trained legs today and now even my butt is sore along with my calf, so

> sciatica seems likely although I do >not know what can be done.

>

> >Any suggestions like particular stretches, ice and/or heat would be

> greatly appreciated.

>

> >Thanks in advance and have a nice weekend!

> >Bonnie

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I think we have a case of several " Bonnie's " .. lol! I'm the newbie that asked

the question and I've had a couple of replies including Barbs, so once again I

thank you all for your responses and I'm really going to beef up my stretching

at the gym and at home.

Thanks again everyone and have a great day!

Bonnie Ornitz

>

> > Hi Bonnie.....

> > I've had pretty good luck getting rid of my sciatica flare ups by

> > stretching when I'm in bed at night. I'm on my back and stretch the

> > right leg

> > toward the bottom of the bed and then stretch the left leg, and

> > repeat.

> > After 4-5 times the pain/discomfort goes away. Everyone is

> > different, but this

> > has worked best for me. I avoid meds whenever possible.... and...

> > when I

> > get the first feeling that the sciatica is acting up, I stop what

> > I'm am

> > doing or where/how I'm sitting. If I don't, the pain/discomfort will

> > continue building until the butt hurts too.

> >

> > I also have sciolosis and found putting a lift in my left shoe helps

> > relieve walking discomforts. I made them out of the 1/8 " craft foam

> > sheets...

> > several layers glued together... they hold up well and last a long

> > time.

> >

> > Hope this or others suggestions will bring you relief. Barb

> >

> >

> > >I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this and if it could be

> > sciatica related to my scoliosis and >possibly some compression in

> > the lumbar

> > region disks where the largest curve is.

> >

> > >Ibuprofen and Naproxen don't help and I prefer not to take too many

> > meds.

> >

> > >I trained legs today and now even my butt is sore along with my

> > calf, so

> > sciatica seems likely although I do >not know what can be done.

> >

> > >Any suggestions like particular stretches, ice and/or heat would be

> > greatly appreciated.

> >

> > >Thanks in advance and have a nice weekend!

> > >Bonnie

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Before I had flatback surgery, I did get some relief from using the inversion

table in the morning and at night.....

regarding bracing.... I had the Milwawkee Brace at 13 and surgery at 15,

although I did have to do surgery, my curve only progressed 7 degrees in the 2

years until we decided to do surgery. The month before my surgery where I no

longer had to wear my brace... I progressed 5 degrees in that short time. My

best friend who did not wear the brace... her back now is so bad and she has no

insurance.

My daughter, who inherited my scoliosis, at 9 we braced her at 35 degrees. She

is now 19, has not worn a brace since 15, and she is holding at 31 for 3 years

now.

EVERY ONE IS DIFFERENT!!!!

[Guest guest]

I have some of the Sketcher Shape Ups and they do make me stand different and

seems that I can walk a little longer before the pain is bad enough to stop. Not

a miracle or anything, but a noticeable difference.

Re:leg pain question from newbie

Thanks so much Barb! I will definitely concentrate more on my stretches and look

into the lifts. We went to the outlets a few weeks ago and noticed that the SAS

store sold special shoe inserts and had a machine that you step on to assist

with determining which instep is appropriate. I think that I will look into that

also. I'm even thinking of trying those Dr. Scholls or Reeboks that force you to

stand up straighter. They seem rather heavy, but if they help me with my

posture, it's worth a try.

Thanks so much for responding and have a great day!

Bonnie

>

> Hi Bonnie.....

> I've had pretty good luck getting rid of my sciatica flare ups by

> stretching when I'm in bed at night. I'm on my back and stretch the right

leg

> toward the bottom of the bed and then stretch the left leg, and repeat.

> After 4-5 times the pain/discomfort goes away. Everyone is different, but

this

> has worked best for me. I avoid meds whenever possible.... and... when I

> get the first feeling that the sciatica is acting up, I stop what I'm am

> doing or where/how I'm sitting. If I don't, the pain/discomfort will

> continue building until the butt hurts too.

>

> I also have sciolosis and found putting a lift in my left shoe helps

> relieve walking discomforts. I made them out of the 1/8 " craft foam

sheets...

> several layers glued together... they hold up well and last a long time.

>

> Hope this or others suggestions will bring you relief. Barb

>

>

> >I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this and if it could be

> sciatica related to my scoliosis and >possibly some compression in the lumbar

> region disks where the largest curve is.

>

> >Ibuprofen and Naproxen don't help and I prefer not to take too many meds.

>

> >I trained legs today and now even my butt is sore along with my calf, so

> sciatica seems likely although I do >not know what can be done.

>

> >Any suggestions like particular stretches, ice and/or heat would be

> greatly appreciated.

>

> >Thanks in advance and have a nice weekend!

> >Bonnie

>

>

>