A new problem - help needed please

[AJLang]

I couldn’t sleep in the early hours of the morning because of an awfully acute pain in my lower back which I’ve never had before. It was awful and left dull pain in the tops of both legs. The pain resolved within 30 minutes of getting up but I subsequently realised that there is a new problem with my already dodgy left leg as if the shin is moving over the foot at the ankle with each step I take.
Any thoughts please. This has really upset me as I am meant to be going a really holiday to London next week.
i do already have facet joint arthropathy and stiffness in my left leg but nothing like this.
i have a telephone appointment booked with the locum GP this evening and I’m trying to get a physio appointment so someone can actually examine me.

 

[Inka]

Could it be sciatica or a trapped nerve? That can be a bad pain and travel down your legs as well. When I get sciatica my knees and ankles hurt too.

I’m not sure what you mean about the shin moving over the foot at the ankle but I hope you can get some help whatever it is, and I hope you get a better night’s sleep tonight.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi Amanda. Sorry to hear you are having more health issues.
I would agree that the back pain and then leg ache sounds very much like sciatica, but like @Inka I am struggling to understand your description of the ankle problem. Does it feel like a mechanical click or clunk and is it a forwards and backwards movement or a side to side shift and do you get pain with the sensation and if so, is it acute? Have you tried sitting or lying and doing the same movement as walking to see if you get the same sensation or if it is only when weight bearing?
Hope you are able to get a physio or osteopath appointment because with things like this, hands on examination is so important.

 

[Cherrelle DUK]

Sorry to hear this. It's really hard to judge as it could be a number of things. Hopefully the physio will be able to see you and do a proper examination.

I've experienced sciatica before and what you describe in your back does sound similar but it seems you've taken the right approach by getting things checked out.

Do let us know how you get on.

 

[AJLang]

Thanks everyone, that's really helpful about my back.
The pain disappeared once I started walking about - well with my limited walking.
Hard to describe the leg situation, there's no pain or clicking but when I walk the leg goes more forward than it should for the foot, but I guess that doesn't describe it very well. Mark said that it looks very stiff in comparison than the other leg - more than is "normal" for me.

 

[rebrascora]

Sometimes when I have had sciatica moving was incredibly painful and other times, moving eased it but sitting was unbearable. I guess it depends on how the nerve is trapped. I usually find Ibuprofen and back exercises help with sciatica but it can take days or weeks for it to fully settle down. I get flare ups maybe once or twice a year but I do quite physical work so my back takes a bit of strain and I am sure if I continued to do the back exercises when I was not having a flare up, I would have less problems but like most people, once the pain eases, I get lazy and discontinue the exercises.
It almost sounds like a tendon has got stretched causing your ankle to over extend. Were you by any chance doing some kneeling and bending yesterday (perhaps gardening?) as that might account for both issues.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear about your back pain @AJLang

Hope you can get it checked out and get your mind put at rest.

If it’s sciatica it can help to stand sideways on a stair and hang your spare leg over the edge of the tread - this can take the pressure off the nerve. Not sure if that’s something you’d be confident doing?

But of course - it may not be sciatica at all!

 

[AJLang]

Thank you Rebrascora and Mike. I had a telephone consultation with the GP and he said that it could be back sprain - the most physical thing I’ve done in days is load the dishwasher but my body is in a decrepit state. But he does want to keep an open mind and said to call back on Friday if the Back pain is still waking me up in the early hours.

 

[Bloden]

Poor you @AJLang - I hope you get some relief asap.

 

[PhoebeC]

Thank you Rebrascora and Mike. I had a telephone consultation with the GP and he said that it could be back sprain - the most physical thing I’ve done in days is load the dishwasher but my body is in a decrepit state. But he does want to keep an open mind and said to call back on Friday if the Back pain is still waking me up in the early hours.

How are you getting on now?
Hopefully it has improved x