Oh boy! That was me almost 3 yrs. ago. Be careful with a chiropractor. I also had a pinched nerve (which is actually a disc herniation). I should've known better because I am a Physical Therapist Assistant. In my desperation to get better for an upcoming vacation, I thought I'd go get 'adjusted'... a quick fix maybe. I did go see a chiropractor and he worked on me for 3 days. Problem is that when you have nerve involvement, you should never get manipulated because the damage can be severe. I know when he manipulated my spine he completely blew that disc. He should've sent me in for an MRI first to see what kind of condition my spine was in BEFORE adjusting me. That was my fault. I was desperate for a quick fix and I knew better that there is no quick fix. My suggestion is to go see a great neurologist and get an MRI. Then go from there. Most issues can be resolved with therapy and exercises unless, like mine, the damage is beyond repair. Mine got so bad that I lost bladder control and even the use of my left leg for quite some time. Three years ago I had surgery. I'm 80% better because I'll never be 100% again. I'm still fairly numb from the buttocks fold on that left side all the way to my foot. Some days I still stumble on that leg a bit but nothing like it used to be. Go conservative and see a neuro first. NO Chiropractor until you know more!!! Take it from me. Good luck.

OMG orie, thank you so much. I lose bladder control too. wow. Only when I get up in the morning and can't put my leg down on the floor. I have no control. I kind of knew this. but wasn't sure. Now I am. I had spinal fusion 8 years ago. But it's just now, that this is happening. Thank You. I will make an appointment with the Doc who did the spinal fusion.

I'm glad you're going to see a specialist especially since you've already had a spinal fusion. 6 years ago I experienced 2 episodes of near paralyzing pain and thought it might be a sciatic nerve involvement. My neurosurgeon sent me for XRays and an MRI and the reports showed that I had several bulging discs, a pinched nerve and mild scoliosis. He gave me a series of three cortisone shots in the sciatic notch and I've been pain free ever since. I am starting to get little twinges in that area again so I'll probably see him again soon before it gets worse. I'm hoping your problem can be solved as easily as mine.

Maire

Please don't fall on the floor laughing but here is another (maybe not yours but mine for sure) cause and an easy solution...A nurse friend once told me that the nerve is right in a position where the bowel can press against it and the pressure can often be caused by constipation. When I was doing lots of drugs with the cancer I found mine acting up constantly and remembered what she told me ....I knew the drugs were slowing things down and started taking a softener with laxative and it has eliminated the sciatic problem.....I still take drugs from time to time and almost invariably have the nerve issue...but thankfully now I know how to fix it.

Hopefully it's just sciatica. If it is, there's a great video on You tube. there's a number of them but the one with Kristen I found very helpful. She's a physical therapist and I found that the exercises she shows you are very easy and she stresses the fact that you shouldn't be in pain while doing them.....gives modifications so you can do them without causing pain in the process. Check out sciatic pain rehab on you tube. Wish I knew how to include a link but I don't. Meanwhile, do check with your Dr.

and then post a response to the same thread, I can't post ANOTHER response?
Anyway -- orie, marie and ruthieg -- thank you guys so much for your input. I kind of knew when I got up in the morning and couldn't put my foot on the floor, and then lost all bladder control, it was a problem.
You know -- I just finished 8 weeks of radiation for breast cancer. So this problem was secondary. I'm so sick of MRI's, x-rays, this test and that test and all the doctor's bu&&sh&t.
But, we must carry on. Pick ourselves up from the boot straps and go on. There is no other way around it.
Anyway

I pinched a nerve in my back a little over a year ago. It felt like an electrical shock in my hip joints, from one side to the other. At first my leg was numb, that is 99% better. I lost some bladder control, worked at retraining it. The only problem I have now is a burning sensation in my knee and foot. Sometimes it is so bad I put my foot on an ice pack. I was lucky it could have been a lot worse. I was told by a friend, by my therapist and by my sis that a chiropractor could help the problem. I felt it was to serious a problem to go to anyone but a doctor. I didn't go to anyone and glad I didn't.

Do you have a REALLY sharp pain on the side of your hip and pain swirls around the front of your thigh? (The only sciatica I had ran down the back of my leg.)

That's what I had and it was getting more frequent. I got two diffent dx. Hip bursitis and the other was the muscle that runs from your hip, front of your leg, to the knee was in a spasm.

I got a steroid injection in my hip. The swirling pain stopped. Sometitmes I still have the sharp hip pain.

I've also had severe back pain. Dr. said it's not your back, you're constipated. I'm always constipated.

The bladder may have been you just woke up and a pain response.

I hope you find out.

My DH just had surgery in May for a pinched nerve caused by a herniated disc. The orthopedist said that if we had caught it sooner (before drop foot syndrome & numbness etc.) that he would have recommended physical therapy, but once drop foot sets in, you have no other options but to surgically relieve the pressure.

Hustle on over to the spine doctor quick. DH situation progressed very fast, within a week, so donÂt hesitate.

~Candace

You have pain on walking,concerned about nerve injury/ inflammation and also lost bladder control? And you're asking for help on a message board? You need to call your doctor! ASAP.

I just experienced the same thing, minus the bladder control issues, in May right before we left on our cruise. It was so bad I thought we'd have to cancel. Doctor took X-rays and said there was no bulging disk so I was told mine was caused by the muscles in the sciatic nerve area on my right side were tight and pressing on the nerve.

Incredible pain and mobility issues. Never felt anything like it. Completely debilitating when I stood up from a sitting position. Once I was standing straight up, I was much better.

Doc put me on prednisone and gave me stretching exercises. I was also told to take Senecote to regulate my bowels. Helped a lot. All pain was gone in about three weeks. And I hope it never returns!

Jodi-

Jodi I am so glad to see you post that about the senocot because that is what I take too and so many people think I am nuts when I tell them all this........

Oh, so funny about the constipation! I completely believe it can cause all kinds of issues including the full bowel pressing on the sciatic nerve!

Yes, once you have dropped foot, there's no way out of surgery. I guess that was mine! Neuro said I'd get back most of the use and strength on that left leg. I did get almost all of it back but that leg is pretty numb. When I shave that leg, it feels really funny, like it's novacained!

Well, don't let it get bad. You've already been through a fusion. That's bad enough but there is worse! Keep me posted on how you're doing. Sucks when you're in pain!

Please don't discount a chiropractor. DH has a pinched nerve. It got to the point of numbness in one leg and foot. Every time he saw the doctor, she would just throw another prescription at him. He is now taking 5 different meidcations and saw no relief after 6 months. Surgery, in my opinion, is always a last resort. You hear, even from th doctors, that it is only beneficial in about 50% of cases. That is not good odds. We decided to try a chiropractor. He has been seeing him 3 times a week for about a month and a half and already the numbness is gone. He still hurts, but is definitely improving. Not saying it's for everyone, but it can often help.

I had no pain at all with mine. I would see a doctor if you haven't already. About the constipation, I had a touch of that, I think it is because those muscles were numb as was my leg. Time took care of the problems. My friend's son has had that happen more than once and he had no pain and time took care of his but it took a long time.

Donna, I agree. There are circumstances when a chiro is in order! When you reach the point where bowel and bladder control is an issue or you have lost strength and feeling in your lower extremity, surgery is the only way out. That nerve has been compromised beyond help. But yes, you are right. Chiropractors can be excellent.