The Search for Relief

This morning I have a doctor’s appointment to figure out what’s going on with my back. Over the past several days, the pain has become much worse and nearly impossible to ignore.

It started as lower right back pain, but now it spirals downward in a strange, radiating pattern — wrapping around my thigh, then shooting straight down my leg all the way to my foot. Walking is tricky at best. I can take maybe two to four steps upright before the intense pain kicks in, or I can shuffle around stooped over at almost a 90-degree angle, which oddly makes the pain more manageable.

Sitting is out of the question. After just a few minutes in a chair, the pain flares and forces me to stand. The only position that gives me any real relief is lying on my couch with my lower legs slightly elevated. When the pain is at its worst, I’ve found a couple of stretches that help — either pulling my knee up to my chest or resting my ankle and gently stretching my bent leg downward.

Even getting dressed has become a bit of a challenge. Every waistband, seam, and bit of fabric seems to press exactly where it hurts most, making clothes feel more like punishment than comfort. So you can imagine how I’m “dressed” while lying here on the couch, trying to find the most comfortable position — let’s just say modesty has taken a back seat to relief.

I’m hoping the doctor can figure out what’s causing this and how to treat it. At this point, I just want to walk upright again without feeling like someone’s driving a hot poker into my back and leg.

I’ll update you all later when I know more.

Have any of you ever experienced something like this? How did you cope while waiting for answers?

UPDATE: After three weeks of worsening right-sided lower back pain and sciatica, I followed up with my doctor this morning. The pain radiates from my lower back through my glute and spirals down my leg to the top of my foot, sometimes feeling like fire in the lower leg. It gets worse when I try to walk upright or wear anything that puts pressure on my waist. There have also been some odd sensory issues, like feeling a blanket over me when there’s nothing there. My physical exam results point to likely nerve root involvement—probably L5, maybe L3 or L4—but thankfully, no red flags like weakness or foot drop. Dexamethasone (a steroid) hasn’t made much of a difference, but oxycodone gives me a few hours of relief.

The current treatment plan includes continuing with the steroid and anti-inflammatory meds, switching to a new muscle relaxer (Flexeril), and increasing my oxycodone for better pain control. I’m also staying on gabapentin and Tylenol. My doctor has ordered X-rays of my lumbar spine, which are required before the spine specialist will see me. We discussed the possibility of combining that with my upcoming liver MRI at UVM, but unfortunately that’s not possible. The liver MRI is highly specialized to measure the extent of scarring in my liver and uses different specifications than a spinal MRI. On top of that, the hospital intends to bill insurance for two separate MRIs, not one. Most MRIs for back pain aren’t done unless the problem lasts more than six weeks, and I’m currently at week three. So for now, we’re proceeding with the X-ray and spine referral, and I have a work note excusing me through next Monday. If things don’t improve, an MRI and physical therapy may be next.