Sciatica or Something else?
In pain about 4 years now.
Started in upper back region: In the mid-trapezius region.
It was very specific to that point. But I was also having moderate neck discomfort.
Gradually over 4 years it has spread to:
- Neck pain on left side
- tension headaches on left side
- Eye discomfort and pressure – on left side
- Film forming on eye (maybe pterygium) – on left side
- Symptoms that mimic sinusitis & facial pain – on left side
(have had tests & xrays, no sinusitis)
- Constant back pain and muscle tension radiating from the point I described above – on left side
And now more recently
- Symptoms of sciatica, in hip/butt, starting to radiate down – on left side
Could it be sciatica since it started in upper back? Or is it something else that is also now affecting sciatic nerve.
Chiropractor has not been able to help. Dentist says it is not tooth-related.
Ice helps temporarily. Ibuprofen slightly & temporarily helps pain but not tension, tightness, burning.
I began a walking regimen, about a mile a day for a few weeks and the symptoms got worse.
Don’t know what it could be & not sure of what doctor or treatment to try next.
it sounds like a pinched nerve in the upper back, but the lower sciatica pain you are having is probably from muscle spasms. When there is an injury to the back, the back muscles tighten in an attempt to protect the injury and the spine. This is fine initially, but sometimes if the problem isn’t resolved the muscles will continue to tighten or they just refuse to relax. Try applying heat to your lower back. Get a heating pad and lay on it as hot as your skin can handle for 20 minutes about every couple of hours. See if that will help. You also need to see an orthopedic spine specialist, by going to a chiropractor all you have done is caused whatever minor injury you had to turn into a big one, cracking your back does not help pinched nerves or slipped discs, it makes them worse.
Sounds like a pinched nerve in shoulder – neck area , I have the same thing that you are describing and it can be very painful- ice does not help nor heat, the only thing that I have found that helps really is muscle relaxers, advil, anything with anti inflammatory in it.
If when you lay down to go to bed you prop up a little on pillow like a 25 degree angle up- it may relieve some of the tension that you are feeling there in the neck- shoulder area.
What u need is M R I scan. MRI scan will show….what exactley is wrong..if you have got trap nerve,then u might need key hole surgery.