[rainbow8]

I had severe cramps in my thighs a couple of months ago and went to the ER. They said I was dehydrated. The cramps didn't return for a while but I then had aching pain from my foot up, mostly on one side. My doctor gave me a muscle relaxant and short term Prednisone. Tylenol and Advil help but I'm not supposed to take too much and all meds make me very tired during the day.

Finally, in January I got into PT. I had x-rays of my spine that showed a lot of DDD and disc narrowing, pretty severe. My leg and foot cramps are sporadic, but wake me up at night. Sitting and driving hurt too. I am lucky if I have gotten 5 or 6 hours of sleep a night since November!

I'm supposed to get an MRI but am afraid I'll get cramps on the table so I haven't made an appointment yet. The PT is helping a little but yesterday was awful! I do exercises while lying on an ice pack but they seem to irritate my hamstrings though the stretching is supposed to help! The PT is very good and experienced. She said it takes time. I'm beyond miserable and depressed about this new medical problem. Can anyone relate? Oh, the PT says the muscle cramps may or may not be related to the sciatica. My blood tests are normal. No low magnesium or anything.

[Skeezyks]

I have a ruptured disc in my lumbosacral spine that impinges on the sciatic nerve. So I have sciatica primarily down my left leg, but also in my right to some extent. The toes on my right foot also tend to be somewhat numb. I've had physical therapy for this too. Plus I've done some yoga as well. But I'd have to say the best thing for my situation has always been walking. We've always had a dog. And we've always walked our dog a couple of times a day at least.

The important thing, as I've come to understand it, is to develop the muscles that support the spine. It's also important, of course, to learn & practice proper bending & lifting techniques. Plus, one other tip I picked up while reading Jon Kabat-Zinn's book Full Catastrophe Living, was to breathe out when you stoop down & breathe in when you straighten back up. Over time, my low back & leg problems have improved quite a bit. So there is hope. Your PT is right though. It does take time.

[unaluna]

Ive never heard of doing stretches on an ice pack. I always thought you wanted your muscles warm when you stretch.

[rainbow8]

Originally Posted by Skeezyks

I have a ruptured disc in my lumbosacral spine that impinges on the sciatic nerve. So I have sciatica primarily down my left leg, but also in my right to some extent. The toes on my right foot also tend to be somewhat numb. I've had physical therapy for this too. Plus I've done some yoga as well. But I'd have to say the best thing for my situation has always been walking. We've always had a dog. And we've always walked our dog a couple of times a day at least.

The important thing, as I've come to understand it, is to develop the muscles that support the spine. It's also important, of course, to learn & practice proper bending & lifting techniques. Plus, one other tip I picked up while reading Jon Kabat-Zinn's book Full Catastrophe Living, was to breathe out when you stoop down & breathe in when you straighten back up. Over time, my low back & leg problems have improved quite a bit. So there is hope. Your PT is right though. It does take time.

Thank you! I am SO miserable! My foot hurt when I got up today and it was hard to sit and drive too. I think the exercises are making me worse. I took 1 1/2 mg. of melatonin last night and I'm still groggy today at 1p.m. I own the Catastrophe book. I will try walking more Thanks.

Originally Posted by unaluna

Ive never heard of doing stretches on an ice pack. I always thought you wanted your muscles warm when you stretch.

The ice pack is to put under my back while the exercises are for legs. I'm going to schedule the MRI but I'm scared!

[unaluna]

Originally Posted by rainbow8

The ice pack is to put under my back while the exercises are for legs.

I would still check with your PT or double check your instructions. Its like when you run cold water on a jar to loosen the top - the cold makes everything shrink. Thats not what you want when youre stretching. You want it soft and warm and pliable.

I find the area around the outer hips very confusing, but i know the back of my leg runs pretty much from my waist or just above / around my buttcrack, to my ankle!

[rainbow8]

Nope. I do the exercises with her when I go. I lie on the ice pack on the table and do my exercises, pull legs up to my chest. The ice is for my spine.

[rainbow8]

I was getting better but did too much sitting, I guess, because I went to a play, and the PT says I'm back at square one! I had the MRI, and just scheduled an epidural cortisone shot for next week. This sucks! I can hardly walk. I'm supposed to use my ice pack on my back often, and do the first exercises I did a month ago.

[rainbow8]

I had the epidural cortisone shot last Tuesday and so far it only helped a tiny bit. The doctor said it could take 7 to 14 days to be effective. This sucks!!!!

[*Laurie*]

I'm so sorry. That sounds miserable. I sure hope the shot kicks in soon.