Sounds like you have pinched your sciatic nerve. Pick up an ice pack if you can to sit on for a bit, and I have also been told to sit on a tennis ball for as long as you can stand it, which might only be a few seconds. It allows the area pinching the nerve to open up and releases pressure on the nerve. It works. I've done it. In fact, I had trouble for years with sciatica until I learned about the tennis ball! Now I only have it once in a while, and get the tennis ball out right away. Hope you feel better soon, and have a painless drive home.

Tami

Be careful of blood clots. They can occur if you sit for prolonged periods of time. If you can, try to walk around every hour.

I'd also suggest finding out (by phone--advise nurse?) whether it could be a blood clot. I've done several of those trips and don't recall that kind of pain. Better safe than sorry!

When I used to get leg pain, I would put something hard under my butt on the side of the pain. Sometimes it happened in meetings when the chairs didn't have much support. I would put my portfolio under my leg and it helped. I think it's a matter of relieving the pressure.

Good luck. Maybe it would help to do the driving.

I already have an appt on January 6, so I'll ask then. If I was in Canada, I would call telehealth, but I'm down in the U.S. visiting my brother. I just hope to make it home comfortably. I will stop and walk from time to time- it's the only thing that helps. Thanks for your responses.

If it gets worse, I would get it checked out ASAP to make sure it's not a clot. If they dislodge they can be very dangerous.

Hope you feel better!

More than likely it's sciatica but you should be checked to rule out a blood clot.

Are you sure you can't call telehealth from outside of Canada?

I recently took a long trip and the same thing happened to me. I had to walk it off often, but after getting home I haven't had any more problems. Hope the same for you.

Susan... I have 4 herniated disks in my back, two down low that cause extreme sciatica pain. On several recent trips, 800 to 1000 miles each way, my spine doc recommended stopping the car every two hours and walking around. It did help. But, like the others say, please do follow up with your doctor.

Tami.... i am going to try the tennis ball trick for sure. Thanks

Jennava, my niece is a massage therapist. She told me I have one leg 1/4" shorter than the other, to put a lift in that shoe, and to sit on a tennis ball. Oh the pain! I can only stand it for a few seconds, but that is enough to help. And that was, oh, maybe 15 years ago. What a difference! I only get it occasoinally now. And I keep that tennis ball handy. We had a conversion van that the seats were terrible to sit in. I kept one in there for long drives (some only an hour!) because those seats caused it a lot. I still keep one in the house and in the RV.

Susan, see if your brother has access to a health help line here in the states. Or try calling the number you would call if you were home.

Happy New Year!

Tami

Susan, you may want to look into compression socks before getting into your car for the long drive back. People who are prone to have blood clots use them when they travel, especially on airplanes since it sometimes tough to get up and walk around. You can buy them at a number of places and a $25 pair of socks may just save your life.

Jodi-

Here is a link that might be useful: compression socks

Oh, that's a good idea, Jodi. Thanks!

Look for compressions stockings that are thigh high. I flew to Ireland in October and bought a pair of T.E.D.s at my local pharmacy. They're also available at Walmart.

Do I understand that you put the tennis ball in the middle of
side of your rear that hurts? I'd definitely like to pass this info on to a few family members with back and leg pain.