Numbness, tingling, spasms in leg long after sciatica diagnosis

Great posts everyone. Here's my dilemma if anyone can help out. My father has been battling tingling, loss of leg strength, and severe lower back pain for years. In the past 2 years he has begun using a walker, and his left leg dragging on the floor, when he was even able to walk that is. 2008 has not been good. Top it off, 2 weeks ago he got shingles. The weird thing, is that his shingles don't hurt where the sores are. What they seem to have done is completely writhe him in pain and he has been in bed for 3 weeks. He has been going to Johns Hopkins for years, but they are baffled. His legs spasm all the time. He is in constant pain/discomfort and it seems to be getting worse. Doctors are baffled.

Can anyone relate to something like this or have seen this. He has an appt with the pain specialist at Johns Hopkins next week, 5/7. Thanks for any help.

I tried accupuncture and have improved my pain from sciatica in under a week, however the numbness on my small toe is now present but improving daily. I lifted a AC unit above my shoulders by myself, should have never done that. I would recommend trying accupuncture with natural herbs for the pain.

I suffered from severe Sciatica pain about 4 years ago. The pain in the buttocks was the worse pain, also down the calf. I have never felt such agonising pain in my life.
After suffering in agony I was eventually sent to a Pain Control clinic, where I had over a period of months several injections in my spine that were called Root Blocks. These definately helped the pain. But like many others I am left with numb toes. Mine is mainly the large toe and the next two. They have been numb now for three years, I also have numbness in my left foot but not so severe.
I to this day still get the pain in the buttock but not nearly so severe.
I worked all my life in the construction industry, but am no longer able to do this.

Hi, I'm 27 years old and have also suffered from severe back pain caused from 2 herniated dics that sat on my sciatic nerve. I'ts been 4 mths and I still have numbness in my leg. During the winter I tried to walk 4 blocks home from work when I lost all feeling in my leg. My foot turned almost completely around and I fell to the ground. I wasn't suffering from any pain but I couldn't feel my leg and I had to drag my leg. I fell 5 times and I even had to crawl over a snowbank. I was always a very active person and now a can't even take my daughter for a bike ride. A 1/2 an hour bike ride resulted in a weeks worth of pain and limping at work. I'm thinking about surgery because I don't want to be on pills for the rest of my life.

Like many of you, I suffer from the left leg pain, tingling and numbness most likely cuase by7 sciatica. I can deal with the pain; however, my left foot drags when I run. I am a marathon runner and just last year added biking to the mix. Before I starting biking, I had the nagging leg pain with some numbness in my leg and foot as I trained for my last marathon. Once that was over, I stopped running and started biking long distances. I had a few spills, and hurt my back more than once. Since then, I am experiencing a dragging foot when trying to run. So, now my physical therapy is swimming and pool jogging as well as yoga. However, I do not have any specific exercises I can do at home that may help the situation. If you have had this experience and are aware of specific exercises, I would appreciate you sharing them with me.

Thank you.

Clenching of left buttock down into Achilles tendon and foot. Have had physio with laser therapy and acupuncture. Now trying deep muscle/nerve massage. Have had back problems most of my life (now 43 years old) but over the past few months, different left hip/back problems now residing in the sciatic. Though I don't like to hear how long it has taken to heal, I'm comforted in knowing there are others who "get it". Like many, I work days at a computer. After 23 years at sitting at a desk, it might be time to look elsewhere. Now having right shoulder pinched nerve, so I'm getting it on both sides (great!). Get well everyone!

The pain started in Aug. 2007. A stabbing sharp pain in my left buttock radiating on the outer thigh into the back of my calf and into the smallest toe. I've tried accupuncture, staroid injections, cortisone injections, chiro., muscle relaxants, pain killers and exercise. None resolved the issue. To date as of Aug. 2008 1 year later, pretty much the same. I still exercise regularly and it does help with the recovery of the pain attacks. And, my conclusion is to exercise, meditate and live as normal as possible. Exercise and it does hurt, but, you get used to it and the next day you feel better. Meditate because at 43 yrs. old and regular exercise, it was impossible to believe that this was happening to me, but the meditation helped with accepting that this situation is here and for a time unknown. So, if life give you lemons then make lemonade. Look for that seat in the bar, get there early. Exercise, Exercise, Exercise, if you don't , knot and pain will start occuring in the upper parts of your sholders, neck and back, well at least this is what happened to me. So, don't freak out. If , I can move on with this so can you. Get Well Soon.

I have read everyones message and it all appears to have some to the same symptoms that I am having. I am pretty much fine with the pain during the day but I have I have the worst spasms the minute that I get into bed and all during the night. I cannot lie on the left side or right I have to lie on my back to ease the pain and take pain meds, I do have stiffness after sitting to long during the day my legs feel heavy after I stand. I have had all kinds of test but they were normal. So I figure maybe arthiritis because now it is in my upper arm all on the same side. So I figure maybe I need to see neurologist. Thanks for listening and if any suggestions please write back Help 53

Hi,
funny i stumbled on your post. I am having surg tommorrow to untrap the L5-S1 Nerve root. I like you pretty much have had the same symptoms you described. It starts in my butt and runs down my leg into my toes. My foot feels ice cold. i've had mri's that were inconclusive (scar tisue)but a positive EMG which indicated the L5-S1 nerve root. I had surg on that very area 13 years ago. The pain is unbelievable. taking pain killers like crazy and anti inflammatories. Medrol dose pack. Had epidurals but no relief. can you roll up to stand on your toes? can you roll back to walk on your heel? if you can't you may have very serious nerve damage. Some docters feel that the herniation of a disk will get better with time and doesnt require surg. i've already had three bouts this year that last 4-6 weeks. Physical therapy stresses stretching of the hamstring and yes those t stretches. my friend did this treatment that uses traction and she got relief. Good luck and i hope this was helpful.

JUST AN UPDATE ON MY SURG. IM DOING REALLY WELL. THE PAIN IN MY LEG WAS GONE FOLLOWING MY SURG. I HAD SOME RESIDUAL NUMBNESS IN MY TOE WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT DISAPPEAR. BUT ALL IN ALL I'M DOING FINE, MY BACK IS SORE AND I CAN ONLY LAY DOWN OR WALK AROUND THE HOUSE. THEY DON'T WANT ME SITTING FOR LONG PERIODS.