What do you think is wrong with my back/hip?!
Question: What do you think is wrong with my back/hip.?
My lower right hip hurts on the back side and down my leg. My doctor prescribed muscle relaxers and anti-inflamitories. But I don't think it's getting better. When I rub that spot in my back it's very sore and almost feels like there's knot but the other side feels knotty too but doesn't hurt. I would venture to say it's sciatica. What can I do for it.?
I've been icing it but it doesn't seem to help either.Health Question & Answer
I've been icing it but it doesn't seem to help either.Health Question & Answer
Answers:
I agree with the physical therapist. Don't jump off the deep end yet with epidurals or MRI's.
However, in addition to muscle imbalance, Your Sacro-iliac joints (part of your pelvis) being misaligned can cause this problem. Remember the sciatic nerve runs through a ligament that is attached to the pelvis. If the pelvis is misaligned, it puts additional pressure on the sciatic nerve and can easily cause sciatica.
In addition, if your problem is a joint being out of place, the muscle exercises that the physical therapist recommended, while good exercises, will not help this condition very quickly (think 4-6 months).
My recommendation is to see a chiropractor in your local area. Make sure they are one who takes X-rays. This way they will look and see if there is any decreased disc spaces or degeneration. If they sees anything serious, they will refer you out. They will also look for muscle imbalances and if they exist, will more than likely give you the exercises recommended by the PT.
All in all, a chiropractor is the best place to start. This condition is their specialty.
Good luck with this. Health Question & Answer
However, in addition to muscle imbalance, Your Sacro-iliac joints (part of your pelvis) being misaligned can cause this problem. Remember the sciatic nerve runs through a ligament that is attached to the pelvis. If the pelvis is misaligned, it puts additional pressure on the sciatic nerve and can easily cause sciatica.
In addition, if your problem is a joint being out of place, the muscle exercises that the physical therapist recommended, while good exercises, will not help this condition very quickly (think 4-6 months).
My recommendation is to see a chiropractor in your local area. Make sure they are one who takes X-rays. This way they will look and see if there is any decreased disc spaces or degeneration. If they sees anything serious, they will refer you out. They will also look for muscle imbalances and if they exist, will more than likely give you the exercises recommended by the PT.
All in all, a chiropractor is the best place to start. This condition is their specialty.
Good luck with this. Health Question & Answer
Before you jump to the conclusion that you have sciatica have the hip checked out by either an orthopedist or a physical therapist. What they will be looking for is if there is any weakness in the hip muscles. Weakness there can cause a clamping down on the sciatic nerve but can easily be corrected with exercises. There might be one leg that is longer than the other one thereby placing extra stress on the hip muscles on both sides. You could also have weakness of the ilio-tibial band that would also cause symptoms as you state. Interestingly enough your feet could also be causing the problems. Have someone do an evaluation of your posture and muscular balance to determine if that is the cause of the problem.Health Question & Answer
You are describing the classic case OF sciatica ,,, and, more than likely this has been brought about by an injury to the spinal cord that has caused nerves to be pressed by inflamed tissue within the disk(s) there. This does not heal quickly. As a matter of fact, it is one of the slowest injuries to heal from. So, you are more than likely in for a somewhat lengthy struggle with this one.
Try taking a regiment of Alieve, it will give you something more than the 'relaxers' and anti-inflammatory agents.
BUT, you are going to have to grit a good deal of this one out on shear drive and will. It is not pleasant, nor easy, but it can be overcome.
Some people see great relief from the pain of this malady in acupuncture, so, you might check the availability of this procedure in your area.
The best of luck to you in this
? //// Health Question & Answer
Try taking a regiment of Alieve, it will give you something more than the 'relaxers' and anti-inflammatory agents.
BUT, you are going to have to grit a good deal of this one out on shear drive and will. It is not pleasant, nor easy, but it can be overcome.
Some people see great relief from the pain of this malady in acupuncture, so, you might check the availability of this procedure in your area.
The best of luck to you in this
? //// Health Question & Answer
Sounds like sciatica all right. If the muscle relaxers and anti-inflamitories don't help think about getting epidural injections at a spine clinic. First you'll need an MRI to see if you have a slipped disc. Don't think about surgery unless all else fails and you've tried for at least a year.Health Question & Answer
Try to get out and walk :)
Healthy and fun^^Health Question & Answer
Healthy and fun^^Health Question & Answer
You are describing sciatica. Sometimes tense muscles can squeeze the nerves and irritate the "nerve root", but I went 4 months with a ruptured disc that caused mine. 4 months because the docs didn't want to do any diagnostics. GET AN MRI as soon as you can. Going 4 months caused permanant scarring of this nerve in my case. Now I am a chronic pain patient and am disabled to a large degree. Better than the pain I had with the ruptured (herniated) disc, but still...it's every day, all day long, no matter what. It can be very distressing sometimes.
Taking a hot bath with epsom salts (magnesium) helps. Wearing a good back brace is a lifesaver! also I keep a cane handy for really bad days. Having your friends and family understand is extremely important. I can't stress this enough, how disheartening it is to be in horrible pain, and have someone simply not believe you because "you look just fine". I wound up divorcing due to this, I kid you not!
I take a narcotic pain reliever and muscle relaxer three times a day. Sometimes four. Occasionally I go off the meds completely to reassess where my pain is and just how much I really do hurt without them. That way I can tell if the nerve is healing or the same or worse. It is getting a bit better, after 5 years, but nerve tissue heals very slowly, and I am not that young.
Get that MRI. And I wish you well!Health Question & Answer
Taking a hot bath with epsom salts (magnesium) helps. Wearing a good back brace is a lifesaver! also I keep a cane handy for really bad days. Having your friends and family understand is extremely important. I can't stress this enough, how disheartening it is to be in horrible pain, and have someone simply not believe you because "you look just fine". I wound up divorcing due to this, I kid you not!
I take a narcotic pain reliever and muscle relaxer three times a day. Sometimes four. Occasionally I go off the meds completely to reassess where my pain is and just how much I really do hurt without them. That way I can tell if the nerve is healing or the same or worse. It is getting a bit better, after 5 years, but nerve tissue heals very slowly, and I am not that young.
Get that MRI. And I wish you well!Health Question & Answer