May be getting an MRI
 

Some may know I've been dealing with sciatica down the left leg. The severity has diminished, but I'm wobbly on the left leg going down steps. Yesterday, the first day back on the bike since dealing with the sciatica, I felt like I couldn't even start off.
What I posted in the "Did you Ride Today" thread:
It really was a bit worse than I made it sound. Anyway, the pharmacy couldn't refill my Vicodin because they were having trouble getting stock. I contacted the Doc's office later to see what the status was on an alternative pain med and also commiserated my wobbliness/balance issue. The nurse I talked to was a bit concerned. Today, I did 23½ miles and it seemed a tad better, but it may well have been I was learning a means of compensating. Starting was still wobbly. Anyway, the nurse left a message on my cell phone stating that they were in the process of authorizing and scheduling an MRI and to call back with any questions. I returned the call to ask about biking at this time and was told as long as I was careful and could keep my balance and bike without pain, it was fine. The nurse said the Doc definitely wanted to make sure my problem wasn't due to something more extreme than piriformis syndrome.

I've had sciatic pain in my life. Usually it's due to nerves in your spinal column being pinched for lack of a better term. Mine was a congenital thing I won't go into. But, my Chiropractor had me doing some exercises that allowed me to play in a flag football league. This was 30+ yrs ago. I'm still good.

Back in 2000, I had sciatica due to a ruptured L4/L5 disc(down my right leg) but never had any weakness or trouble going down steps. Now, I wasn't riding a bike then so I have no idea about any problem with that or balance with a bike. That bout of sciatica was taken care of, after 6 months of meds/ PT/rounds with the insurance, with surgery--a lumbar laminectomy. It's the stumbling/leg buckling on the steps and trouble mounting the bike and standing while riding that has the doc, and myself, concerned.

I too have sciatic pain that flairs up now and then. The pain starts in my lower back and runs down through one leg. Typically, muscles contract to stabilize the lower back, making it hard to walk normally. As with many people with similar problems, this occurs from "degenerative disc disease", which occurs with everyone to some degree and is a normal part of aging. Do a search on the disease, there's lots of information available.

I've actually had some lower back pain for almost 30 years. The flair ups occur with some regularity, for different lengths of time. When the pain is sever enough, I have trouble walking and walk with a limp.

Stretching, strengthening core muscles, and working to improve posture can help keep the spine stay in alignment.

I'm surprised they're recommending an MRI, which cost more then x-rays. At least I think that's right, but I'm no doctor.

Isn't getting older fun! As I get out of bed each day, I'm thankful I can actually get up, but worry about what's going to hurt, and I'm not even 60 yet.

All the best...

Very sharp, acute sciatic pain will make my leg feel weak and give out. At one point, I was laid up for almost a month, even had to crawl to get to the bathroom.

Hopefully, your issues aren't to serious...

Mike,
Get the MRI done, you may have more than just a pinched nerve. Went down this road when I fell at work in 1989 and ended up with paralysis in the Rt leg for 10 years. I was hard headed and fought surgery. turned out I had a spinal compression that ruptured at L4-L4 and L5-S1. Two laminectomies and a 2 level PLIF to get the pain abated and the rt leg back. so many complications form all of this and a general decline in my health until 2010. Get this checked, please.

Bill

I agree, get the MRI. it shows more than an x-ray. if you think you might be claustrophobic though, have the doc give you a scrip for two valiums and take them 1/2 hour before. its very common for patients to do that. I too had lower back pain in 2006, and an MRI showed a tumor in a vertebrae. found it in time, killed it, still gone. good luck.

Yeah, I want this diagnosed. I want my leg/balance back. I want the new roadie! I'm not pulling the trigger on the roadie until I find out what's going on. I talked to the nurse and she said as long as I'm careful, not in pain, symptoms aren't getting worse, I can ride. Glad to be back on the bike even if it's not the one I really want to be on right now. I'm thrilled that the doc is pushing MRI since, as already stated, X-Rays won't show any soft tissue issues(an x-ray missed my herniated disc back in 2000--it was the MRI that showed it.).

Doctor's office called. Insurance won't authorize an MRI. I'll need to go to a Orthopedist (back doc) or a Neurologist first. The person who takes care of referrals in the practice has to talk with my Doc first. Unless I win the lottery, I'll have to go through the insurance hoops. Last time I went through 6 months of h*** before I could get my herniated disc taken care of the right way. At least for now, I can still ride.