Following up to say I feel SO MUCH BETTER!!! Amazing what drugs can do :). Monday I started taking the meds my GP prescribed-a muscle relaxant and oral steroid. Yesterday I woke up feeling far less pain, so that I could sit and move normally again. Today, I have mobility back without any discomfort. Am going to quit the muscle relaxant, finish the steroids and hope this doesn't happen again ever, or at least for a long, long time. But if it does at least I have some inkling of what causes the pain and how to treat it. What a huge relief to be feeling better. Although, a week of that left me pondering how on earth people manage with severe chronic pain. I had to stay functional but it was so terribly difficult to keep going when every single moment my body was hurting so badly. A bit scary too because nature is reminding me I'm no spring chicken....sciatica, sounds like something a grumpy old lady would have. Oh wait, I guess that's me :). Thanks again to everyone who provided such helpful advice and empathy. Ann

I'm late to this discussion and I don't post too often, but what you described in your original post is how I was feeling for the longest time. From what you said, I'd say the nurse was very likely right. I had my first hip replaced on 2009 (at 54) and the other one this year (6 months ago). Here's what I was experiencing - does any of it sound familiar to you? * Pain in my thighs, especially towards the end of the day. The muscles were so sore and I could feel them twitching. * Sleeping was difficult, since I could not find a comfortable position. I even bought a new mattress, since I thought that was the problem. * There was occasional pain in my groin, best described as a knife twisted in there. :( * I lurched when I walked, and for someone who used to gracefully manage modern gymnastics, that was embarrassing. I had a physio consult and the physiotherapist told me what is so very logical, but what had not occurred to me, that a lot of the pain was due to muscles tired of trying to hold my body in a position where the pain was less. I've linked to the booklet I was given. There are some good exercises in there to do. And as for aches and pains in general. Yup, I have them. The worst is the arthritis in the base of my thumbs. Really aggravating! Rub A535 and Ben Gay are my best friends. :) Here is a link that might be useful: Exercises are on pages 7-12

After our surgeon retired, he had a hemorrhoidectomy. Later, he told my DH that he'd never shown enough sympathy to his patients....LOL! It's a pain that has to be experienced to be understood, he said. I agree with Annette...see if someone can get you some Nupercainal. It's a lot better that Preparation H for the pain. We keep it on hand at all times because it's a good topical ointment for other things, as well. In fact, DH had to rush our unused tube over to a friend's one night because he was in such pain from hemorrhoids that he couldn't get comfortable for sleep. The friend was impressed with the pain relief. We get it at a local drugstore because our closest Walmart doesn't have it. Oh, and remember that some pain pills can cause constipation...something you want to avoid right now, for sure ;-) Hope your pain is subsiding by now. You really will feel better soon! Leslie/KS

I stumbled on this topic and was so glad to see that I am not the only one who has struggled with this. I have been having issues for the past 3 years. My periods stopped almost exactly 2 years ago. I had gotten so bad in the past 6 months that I could not walk when I got out of bed in the morning and could barely walk after sitting for longer than 10 minutes. I finally found a combination of things that have been working for me. I hope it may help somebody else! I admit that my diet has been terrible. I've had a bad case of the "busys" and I have relied heavily on the "bag and box" convenience approach. I read that people who eat a lot of fast/convenience food have magnesium and potassium deficiencies--which affect muscles. I began eating a banana--sometimes with peanut butter for breakfast. I eat baked potatoes (with all the good stuff; even then it 's better for me than fast food!). I concentrated on getting food with real nutrients; particularly potassium. You can google and find lots of options. I began taking a magnesium supplement. I only take about 1/2 the therapeutic dose. Do some research and find out which formulations are best absorbed to avoid diarrhea. I found out that artificial sweeteners can have an affect on nerves over time. (I recalled working with a client in my past job who turned to drinking Listerine as a source of alcohol. It permanently damaged the muscles in his legs.) I have been a HEAVY diet coke drinker for decades. I limit the diet soda to one or two small bottles per week and I began drinking water. Lots of it. I bought a compact fold-up exercise bike so that I could get in non-weight bearing exercise. The treadmill just seemed to aggravate things, especially my foot that had begun swelling. The bike allows me to work my legs--releasing lactic acid build-up that can lead to tightness--without causing new problems. A rowing machine might work too. I do at least 30 minutes a day, sometimes breaking it up into two or three sessions. I like the bike because it is totally silent and I can stop for brief breaks. I watch TV while riding. (I've read that deep tissue massage is also excellent in releasing lactic acid build-up, but I haven't tried it.) I began taking vitamin D3 for muscles and bones. I began taking Krill oil to help with inflammation--and it's just plain good for the human body. On mornings when I am still feeling pretty tight by 9:00am or so, I take 600mg ibuprofen. Previously, this did nothing to help. Now, it makes all the difference. I can feel it within an hour and one dose is all I need for all day. It took about 6 weeks, but the difference has been amazing. My stiffness is not totally gone, but it is remarkably lower!!! I can stand up and loosen up in a few seconds.