QuestionSeveral weeks ago I was suffering with slight pain in my right burrock and upper leg. The Doctor gave me a cortisone ijection on my right buttock where the sciatic nerve is located.As he was giving me this injection, the leg started jerking uncontrollable for about 3 minutes. The Doc panicked and stated that this incident has never happened in his 20 years of practice. The my right leg went totally numb. I had NO feeling in this leg for 6 hours. I had to use a walker to get home. Now I have numbness, and severe to moderate pain and discomfort at this injection site with swelling. I cannot seem to walk, bike or work out without stress, numbness and pain on my buttock and leg., Please tell me what caused this jerking motion and caused my leg to react in this way. What should I do.. My Doctor has washed his hand and has advised me to see a nerosurgeon. Please Can you advise me what to do? Thanks.
Answerback pain, sciatic pain, buttock pain, numbness, walker, severe pain, cortisone injection, iatrogenic injury,
Hello Beverly,
I am sorry to hear of your bad experience, worsened pain, current condition.
First: I do recommend seeing other Medical Doctors for opinions on this Medical condition. You may certainly return to the Medical Doctor that gave you this drug and seems to have caused this condition. ASK QUESTIONS, communicate, get answers. Whether or not you are satisfied, ask for and GET YOUR RECORDS. With all of the information you can gather, see another doctor(s).
Visit another MEDICAL doctor of the same discipline, bring information you have, ASK QUESTIONS, communicate, get answers. You state that you were in MILD pain to begin with. With MILD pain, is it worthwhile (worth the risk) of an invasive injection with medication and it's possible side- effects? With mild pain is it common for the medical doctors of that specialty to give an injection? Only an MD of the same discipline (orthopedics, physiatrist, pain management, etc.) in your same area can give you an idea if injections for mild pain is standard practice.
I am sorry to hear that the more conservative, less invasive therapies failed you. As a Doctor of Chiropractic, I am, of course, partial to Chiropractic treatment for neck and back pain, sciatica, pain radiating or referring from the spine and it's nerves. Failing that, I am also more partial to other conservative, non-invasive treatment methods such as massage and acupuncture; especially for mild pain syndromes. Heaven knows,,,, if pain is BAD enough, severe enough, even this Staten Island Chiropractor might take pills or shots to 'kill the pain'. Sorry these less invasive approaches failed and you had to resort to more invasive medical therapy with it's attendant risks.
Sciatic nerve picture:
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imag...
Perhaps the doctor gave you an injection and 'nicked' the Sciatic Nerve; did you get the shot, in your buttock, down low near the leg?
Perhaps some type of injury was done to the peripheral nerve, the sciatic nerve by the needle itself? Was the shot close to the spine?- perhaps the shot hit close to a nerve root and 'nicked', damaged, irritated the nerve at that point. This is a possibility. Given that you had mild pain and full function prior to the shot,,,, and that you had such an immediate and poor reaction to the shot, certainly consideration that THE SHOT is THE CAUSE of the problems you are now experiencing. The shot could have 'nicked' the nerve.
"Sciatica"- pain down the leg from the back- is only 1/2 of the diagnosis. The shot you were taking was handling a symptom of sciatica, Did you ascertain the CAUSE of the sciatica?
Sciatica can be a symptom of many causes- was it a misalignment in your back?, a sprain/strain that irritated the
nerve?, were Xrays (perhaps even an MRI) performed to evaluate the area?
In my Staten Island Chiropractic office I utilize information handouts- this may be helpful to you:
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揝ciatica? ( Also Known As- neuritis, neuralgia, sciatic-radiculitis )
Sometimes we can wake up with 憇ciatica? .... sometimes a slip, trip, fall, heavy lift, or even a motor vehicle accident can cause a 憇ciatica? Frequently- the true c a u s e of the 憇ciatica? = pain in the lower back, buttock(s), thigh, calf and/or foot (even to toes); is a misalignment, a 慿ink?in the spine- more properly termed a Vertebral Subluxation. 摂Sciatica敂 is only 1/2 a diagnosis ....
what is causing the sciatica?
Vertebral Subluxation Complex (a.k.a. 憇ubluxation?
The vertebral subluxation complex is often the underlying cause of sciatica and many healthcare problems. A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.
This (subluxation) is a serious condition identified by its five parts:
Spinal Kinesiopathology:
This is fancy way of saying the bones of the spine have lost their normal motion and position. It restricts your ability to turn and bend. It sets in motion the other four components.
Neuropathophysiology:
Improper spinal function can choke, stretch, or irritate delicate nerve tissue. The resulting nerve system dysfunction can cause symptoms elsewhere in the body.
Myopathology:
Muscles supporting the spine can weaken, atrophy, or become tight and go into spasm. The resulting scar tissue changes muscle tone, requiring repeated spinal adjustments.
Histopathology:
A rise in temperature from an increase in blood and lymph supplies result in swelling and inflammation. Discs can bulge, herniate, tear, or degenerate. Other soft tissues may suffer permanent damage.
Pathophysiology:
The VSC contributes to OsteoArthritic degeneration. Bone spurs and other abnormal bony growths attempt to fuse malfunctioning spinal joints. This spinal decay, scar tissue, and long-term nerve dysfunction can cause other systems of the body to malfunction.
The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position.
Automobile accidents, improper lifting, improper posture, alcohol, emotional stress, chemical imbalances, and long periods of sitting can cause the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
Vertebral Subluxation cannot be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone. Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical correction- - - a manipulation, best performed with the chiropractic adjustment. For good health- Treat the Cause, not just the Symptoms.
Dr. Victor E. Dolan, Doctor of Chiropractic; Diplomat, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomat, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST Chief of Chiropractic in a Hospital in New York State (DHSI); As Seen in PREVENTION Magazine
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Lower Back Pain (LBP):
Low Back Pain can be caused by many different things. Big, BAD, catastrophic things like a tumor or a cancer can cause low back pain (only a proper exam by a licensed doctor, like your Doctor of Chiropractic, or your family Doctor of Medicine, can evaluate your signs and symptoms, and perhaps refer for testing). Big, bad things like a Herniated Disc, sciatica, possible fracture or dislocation can cause LBP (again, best evaluated by your DC or MD, and perhaps referral).
Bad things, like - Sprains, Strains, contusion, or Vertebral Subluxation Complex (all very efficiently diagnosed and treated by your Doctor Of Chiropractic). LBP can come from a motor vehicle accident, sport injury, slip, trip, fall, arthritis, lifting improperly, or even bad posture in standing, sitting or sleeping. All of these things often have a Lumbar (Low Back) Vertebral Subluxation involved.
Vertebral Subluxation Complex (a.k.a. 憇ubluxation?
The vertebral subluxation complex is the underlying cause of many healthcare problems.
A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.
This is a serious condition identified by its five parts:
Spinal Kinesiopathology:
This is fancy way of saying the bones of the spine have lost their normal motion and position. It restricts your ability to turn and bend. It sets in motion the other four components.
Neuropathophysiology:
Improper spinal function can choke, stretch, or irritate delicate nerve tissue. The resulting nerve system dysfunction can cause symptoms elsewhere in the body.
Myopathology:
Muscles supporting the spine can weaken, atrophy, or become tight and go into spasm. The resulting scar tissue changes muscle tone, requiring repeated spinal adjustments.
Histopathology:
A rise in temperature from an increase in blood and lymph supplies result in swelling and inflammation. Discs can bulge, herniate, tear, or degenerate. Other soft tissues may suffer permanent damage.
Pathophysiology:
Bone spurs and other abnormal bony growths attempt to fuse malfunctioning spinal joints. This spinal decay, scar tissue, and long-term nerve dysfunction can cause other systems of the body to malfunction.
The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position.
Automobile accidents, improper lifting, improper posture, alcohol, emotional stress, chemical imbalances, and long periods of sitting can cause the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
Vertebral Subluxation cannot be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone. Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical correction- - - a manipulation, best performed with the chiropractic adjustment.
Dr. Victor E. Dolan, Doctor of Chiropractic; Diplomat, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomat, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST Chief of Chiropractic in a Hospital in New York State (DHSI); As Seen in PREVENTION Magazine
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PAIN Pain is a 憆ed light on the dashboard? Pain is your body telling you that something is wrong. That RED LIGHT on the dashboard of your car- -- do you ignore it until the car breaks down, or do you get it checked and correct the problem? Pain, pain in your body- -- do you ignore it until your body breaks down, or do you get it checked and correct the problem? Pain, do you cover up the pain by taking a painkiller? Take a painkiller, mask the pain, and allow a problem to progress in your body?
NOTICE ON PAIN RELIEVERS:
Label changes ORDERED by FDA; the FDA announced proposed label changes for OTC over-the-counter pain relievers to include the potential for stomach bleeding and liver damage (FDA news 206- 207; 12-9-06) ;
The American Heart Association issued a scientific statement recommending medical doctors change the way they prescribe OTC pain relievers from a first choice to an alternate of recommending non-pharmacologic treatment (AHA statement 2-26-07).
Pain can often be the result of the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
Vertebral Subluxation ( 慥SC?, 憇ubluxation? )
Vertebral Subluxation is actually a quite common condition. Doctors of Chiropractic look for pathological conditions which may require referral to other specialties, and also look for 慡ubluxation? Other disciplines look for pathology, but overlook the importance of alignment and movement in the spine which affects our nervous system (the master control system- ALL health disciplines learn this).
Only a Doctor of Chiropractic will evaluate and treat for VSC.
The course of VSC is highly variable. Some patients with VSC literally cannot walk, yet other patients with similar test findings may be able to run marathons or lift heavy weights. Some patients immediately develop symptoms related to the VSC, some patients take years to develop symptoms. Some people suffer for only a few days with pain and symptoms, some people suffer for months. Some people recover in days, some take months or years, depending upon severity of the condition.
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I hope the above information helps explain a little about 'sciatica', back pain, leg pain - at least from a chiropractic perspective.
Even though Chiropractic may not have helped your mild back pain in the past, besides seeing other MDs for their opinions on treatment alternatives and comments upon the prior injection; I recommend seeing a Doctor of Chiropractic. Even though your condition is more severe since the injection, perhaps Chiropractic or nutrition or acupuncture could be of some help to your complaints.
Website I recommend for Chiropractic recommendations: http://www.LifeChangingCare.com .
First and foremost is to regain your health, that is why I recommend seeing DOCTORS for opinions on Diagnosis and treatment. But , given what you have described, , , , , perhaps a Lawyer is a good consideration as well. You should call a lawyer familiar with malpractice. Sometimes you can find a dual-degreed person: a lawyer with a medical degree- they would be best suited to answer questions about your situation.
You say, "....My Doctor has washed his hand and has advised me to see a nerosurgeon". This does not sound fair or caring. I would see other doctors and a lawyer.
I am sorry for your predicament. Hopefully your condition is not permanent. See MDs for opinions, See a DC for an evaluation, see a lawyer. Lots of homework, but it is your body, your health, you are worth it, do the homework.
I wish you good luck, and Good Health Naturally, your Staten Island Chiropractor friend signing off,
Dr. Victor Dolan, DC
http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com (email newsletter)
