Numbness, tingling, spasms in leg long after sciatica diagnosis

Three years ago after suffering three previous years of "on and off" sciatica to my right leg, I eventually tried a chiropractor as a last resort.

After two weeks of chiropractic adjustments (six adjustments in total), the pain began to subside and I was rescheduled by the chiropractor  for one visit per week for three additional weeks (nine visits in total). I have had no further bouts of sciatica since. I now visit the chiropractor once per month for a "tune up" adjustment to ensure everything is ok.

Last week whilst undertaking some building work at home I had a pretty hard fall resulting in extreme numbness and tingling to the left hand side of my body, the chiropractor has diagnosed a pinched sciatic nerve (again, but this time to my LH side) and has commenced remedial adjustments, two adjustments in and I can already feel a relaxing of the numbness and tingling.

I would highly recommend anybody with sciatica to visit a chiropractor.

Tipsy56, have you had any relief? My mom is going through the same thing and I'm going nuts trying to find some way to get her driving again...

Hi, came across your post as I had the same exact thing happen late August and I'm still suffering. My best advice is get to a physical therapist. She said my pelvis was misaligned and had led to my pirriformis muscle being damagged (in my buttock) and sciatica and manipulated me back into place. Hurt a lot. Pain med combinations weren't doing anything so this was me in desperation but seems to have done the trick. I've no longer got the shooting pain in my buttock and down leg, however I do have remaining numbness in the back of my calf and my little toe with some in my other three toes. I also itch on my buttock. I think the itching is the nerve in the buttock healing, but I'm a bit worried about the numbness (which is why I was googling!). Hope this helps, I really feel for anyone who has gone through a similar time to me in the last weeks. It's unbearable.

i just found out i got sciatica this week, im having alot of pain down my right side going down my right butt cheek down my leg into my foot where its numb & tingly.....i walk all funny cause it hurts so bad, finding out i may need a cane, i am 31 years old female never had anything like this happen to me before....i had to go to the er cause i couldnt take the pain anymore & thats what the doctor told me there i have, that was 3 days ago it hasnt let up at all, in some parts of my leg it feels like it got worse a bit up towards my butt area, feels like i am pulling all the muscles up in the area where its hard to get up or sit down...im waiting to see my doctor this coming week to see what i can do to get back on track, any ideas what i should do??? i am on the inflammatory meds naproxin or how ever u spell it & also got percetes for pain but nothing is seeming to work on me i feel nothing but pain :(

I had my first sciatica attack last summer and was in such horrible pain...I find it difficult to describe to people. Three things have helped me tremendously: first onset of pain I took 800mg Ibuprofen to reduce the inflammation which causes the pain, daily exercises for sciatica that are easy to do and don't require a lot of time (look up sciatica exercises on the net) and I purchased an inversion table which I used daily for 5-10 minutes a day for 3 weeks and I haven't had sciatica pain in over 3 months. If the pain would ever creep back into my life, I plan to use the inversion table first then Ibuprofen but only if I really, really need it. BTW, the medications that the ER doctor prescribed for me when I first had my sciatica attack did absolutely nothing to help relieve the pain. I hope anyone with sciatica finds relief because it can be very debilitating.

Thought I'd share this with the rest of the world. Over 2 years ago shovelling snow a sharp pain in my back put me on the ground. A healthy 52 year old got his first taste of sciatica. Same as many, shear pain, couldn't sit on the toilet or drive for that matter. They wouldn't subscribe anything stronger than over the counter meds so I sucked it up. Pain subsided in about a month. Now, numb toes ball of foot and back of calf. Muscle twitches at night with cramping. The odd shot of lightning down to the toes to wake me up in the middle of the night. I've seen the specialist and although he could open me up and give the sciatic nerve more room to breath, the complications seem to outweigh the operation. I've never taken pills or go to the doctor for ANYTHING but this! He said the sciatica has run it's course and this is the residual. Great. I keeping praying that over time it will heal itself but I'm running out of faith. This may even be the 3rd year. I get phantom pains at the ball of my foot that prevents me from doing the daily thing everyone does.....walk. Unless like the rest of you, if you have never experienced the joy of meeting up with your sciatic nerve, hang on, it's gonna be a b***h! God bless you all.

I'm so pleased I found this. I've been suffering with sciatica for 4 weeks now. It was only a week ago that i felt the full blow of the sciatic nerves force. All I did was step out the car and boom it hit me like a ton of bricks. The searing pain all through left leg and butt cheek, the worst of it however was in my ankle. Since that moment which landed me in hospital my foot has felt frozen and 3 of my toes, little in are numb. Now every night I'm being woken with the itchiest toes you can imagine and pins an needles. Thankfully it's only down my left side. I gave birth without any pain relief and would rather that 10 times over than go through this. I'm only 29 and feel 69. I've been signed off from work and seem to be taking so many tablets I'm rattling. Most days I just have an achy feeling but every now and then I get that evil twinge remind me it's still there at the back of my left thigh. I wouldn't wish this pain on my worst enemy and can only hope that all the exercises and resting that I'm doing will repair the damage so I can get back to normal. Living like this is pure hell.

Muscle spasms, cramps or frozen ankle/ shoulder are due to magnesium deficiency. Magnesium' s job is to relax muscles (think Epsom salts for sore muscles; these salts are magnesium sulfate). Your condition will improve greatly if you take magnesium chelate before you go to bed. (Best mag is magnesium glycinate but it can be difficult to find in stores; try online). Ingesting magnesium daily will improve many things such as heart function, bowel function, irritability. Take two tablets at bedtime. If you still have muscle discomfort or pain, add one or two in the morning.

I'd like to add to this. I am a daily multi-vitamin user but my diet over the summer/fall has been less than desirable. 2 months ago I adjusted again with daily doses of fruits, veggies and yogurts. Lots of which I enjoy. Started exercising 3 - 4 times a week with a little strength training. I have not had cramping or nerve excitement during the night in a long time. I don't know the real reason but between that and feeling a bit healthier....I'll take it.

you might want to check out magnesium oil

I want to share my own sicatic issues from the last 20 years. When I was 29 I blew out L4-5 and a large bulge was pressing the sciatic nerve shown on MRI. I was in so much pain and couldn't walk for days. The ortho said I needed surgery ASAP. I said I want a second opinion. Finally I found an excellent ortho/surgeon and his answer was " You walked in here which means I will not operate. When you come in on all fours after at least 6 weeks of no relief we will talk" He prescribed Physical therapy, core exercises and chiropractor. I did all of the above for 6 weeks and as I built my core and did all the stretches for lower back my feeling started coming back in my feet. My pain eased. It did however take close to 6 months for the last of the tingling in my toes to subside.  I have seen a chiropractor for the last 20 years and I have had minor set backs but generally cleared fast with chrio and exercises for low back. Recently the last two months I have begun to have sciatic issues in both legs again and it is getting frustrating (CT scan shows new bulge L5-S1) but with a few more therapy visits and changing my routine of back exercies it is slowly improving. I have now gotten off all pain killers. The two supplements I do take are glucosamine chondroiten with MSM and recently added Life extension "Super bio curcumin" one tablet daily and it seems to help. I haven't taken any advil since being on the curcumin. One annoying thing of late tho is the itching in my butt cheeks and calves and feet.  Doc said if that comes on right after a sciatic pinch its good as it means nerve is easing and that should improve as the nerve swelling eases. I just want everyone to know to give things time. Find a good exercise routine via a good Physical therapist do it daily. Walk as much as you can. Work on proper posture and lifting and body mechanics. Try reading the book by Nathaniel L Tindel " I've got your back" it put my mind at ease. I'm confident this bout will ease over time. Just like in the past. My chiropractor tells me it could be months but not to give up and I will not. I wish all fellow sufferers the best of luck.

Ya I too read of curcumin.....my leg cramps started coming back in the middle of the night, so off I go researching again. I read about Serrapaptase so I picked up a 4 month bottle supply and will give that a go. It replaces NSAID's which I'm dead against and suppose help reduce inflammation. I'm dealing with Morton's Nueroma and hope this enzyme with reduce any scar or dead tissue to ease up on that. Also started taking B-complex vitimans to help support the nerves. I'll check back in a few months and let everyone know how it went. Take care everyone.

Jesus, I know the feeling, I have all ur symptoms plus some.... I also have no ins and now I've been outta work for 9 months.... the thing with me, is that I DO NOT have sciatica, which is what they first thought.... wtf is wrong then??? I pray I get disability and medcade, I've lost EVERYTHING, still in constant pain & numbness and still don't no what's wtong!?!?!?! Good luck to u & me too....

I am a massage therapist and I see clients with sciatic issues.  Besides all the wonderful health and wellness benefits of massage.  It feels good and relaxes the muscles.  when we work with the sciatic we work the glutes and low back.  They can do specific work or they can work full body.  You can try just 30 minutes.  I always ask my client to check with their doctor first and see if there are any special instructions.  I also give them my number and tell them I am happy to talk with the chiro or doctor if they would like.

I've just been through 7 days of sever sciatic pain - and am now off my meds.  I'm better, but can't sit still due to the aching in my lower back. And to top it off, now I'm experiencing burning down my leg. Almost to the point of not being able to touch it without hurting it. What is going on?? Can anyone relate