When did sciatica pain start? The beginnings.
Just as a background, I’ve had pain since 2005 and even a bit before that. Having a, what I call, “weak back” doesn’t help at all. After the accident in 2005, I was told I’d have pain for the rest of my life. So I dealt with it as best I could.
Year after year I did just that. I thought I was being careful but inevitably about every 4-6 months or so something I would do would trigger lower back pain. A weird gesture, zap twist to get something in the back seat. Picking up a toddler. A ride at Disney World. Getting out of bed too quickly, moving, cooking, anything!!
The bunion surgery and sciatica connection story that started it all.
In 2016 my husband and I decided to start a business and that would involve him leaving his job so any medical issues had to be resolved before he left work so we could take full advantage of the Insurance coverage before we had a lapse.
So on I went to the ever needed bunion surgery. I’ve avoided the bunion surgery for long enough and this was the best time to do it. Out of surgery they gave me a boot, not thinking anything would come of being off level with a giant air cast boot I never thought to level my walking by using a sneaker or other show that would help me walk evenly. This failure to think ahead would snowball into years of pain.
It started with a mild hip pain then butt cheek pain and down the leg, it went after months of constant gnawing pain that grew to be an unbearable pain as you well know sciatica can be and was for me
The Wedding Night that finally killed my sciatic nerve.
In 2016 my husband and I decided to start a business and that would involve him leaving his job so any medical issues had to be resolved before he left work so we could take full advantage of the Insurance coverage before we had a lapse.
So on I went to the ever needed bunion surgery. I’ve avoided the bunion surgery for long enough and this was the best time to do it. Out of surgery they gave me a boot, not thinking anything would come of being off level with a giant air cast boot I never thought to level my walking by using a sneaker or other show that would help me walk evenly. This failure to think ahead would snowball into years of pain.
It started with a mild hip pain then butt cheek pain and down the leg, it went after months of constant gnawing pain that grew to be an unbearable pain as you well know sciatica can be and was for me
In 2017 during the preparations for my brother’s wedding, something was just not right. I had a feeling that this was somehow “different” then other times. But with life being hectic as it was with starting a business, homeschooling two kids, and a “big deal to me” wedding coming up I had no time to think or speculate what ticking time bomb was coming. Much less did I have the notion that something was about to take over my life in a bad way.
Sleeping arrangements after the wedding with sciatica
After the champagne, dancing and our final goodbyes to the bride and groom, we were off to stay at my mother’s house. I chose the stay on the couch just because I know myself and sleeping in places other than my own bed. I just don’t sleep, no matter what position I get into it won’t work out. I’ll toss and turn and wake my husband up. He says I don’t but I feel better knowing at least someone is getting sleep. So off to the couch.
Adrenaline and sciatica nerve pain
I didn’t know the pain I experienced that night was sciatica. All I know the shooting pain down my leg was unbearable. I wanted to scream. I tossed and turned so many times. Finally at 4 am I scuffled to the kitchen where I know my parents keep the meds to see what I can find. I took 1 Aleve. Didn’t even touch the pain. Out of pure exhaustion, I fell asleep till 7 am. Still feeling pain we packed our stuff and left. What in the world is this pain? I have felt back pain before, tailbone pain, muscle spasm, and soreness. This was clearly different. I believe adrenaline from all the wedding prep and partying didn’t let me feel what I was going through. What unleashed after that night was nothing to party about. This was truly serious.
Researching my symptoms and what I thought I had
Like I said I had no idea what was going on. The pain behind my thigh was a burning gnawing pain that would come when I walked for too long or just did “too much” that day. After some research I thought maybe I had pulled my hamstring muscle and left at that. I researched what yoga posses I can do, along with stretches.
My first doctors visit for leg pain
I ended up at my first chiropractor which I paid out of pocket. I’ve been there before so the charge was around $40. He said I had a tight hamstring. He worked on that for a while and off I went. Hoping for the best and the best never came or even better. Only worst then ever. This was the first of many doctors, therapists, specialists visits to come. Not to mention all the different gadgets, tools and devices I bought. Amazon loved me.
Was it a sudden onset of sciatic nerve pain?
As I have discussed my sciatica pain was more of a gradual onset, it actually sneaked up on me. Slowly starting in the hip then on to the right butt cheek and it actually stayed there for a bit and slowly down the leg it went later on. With a busy life and kids to worry about, later I’ll get into my 8-year-old daughter’s medical diagnosis that made us all forget about us and what pains and issues WE were going through to focus on her.
You will have a different trigger.
We are not all the same, I think I know what started it for me but could be different for others. Walking I evenly started for me I believe for you could be an office job where you sit for extended periods of time. Even truckers have it bad when they have to go over the road and drive very long distances with no breaks being that they are timed and need to get to their destination or could mean a pay cut and even their jobs.
Whatever it is for you my dear sciatic friends it’s a pain in the butt no matter how you got it!
Can emotions trigger or make sciatica worse? I will work on explaining my experience regarding this to you soon my friends. Stay healthy!
Photo credits:
main hhoto by Anthony Tran on Unsplash, wedding photo; Alvaro CvG on Unsplash, man sleeping on cart by Mika on Unsplash, researching: Andrew Neel on Unsplash