Has anyone had a sciata nerve injury, or familiar with it ?

[Fear The Spear]

I know I need to see a doctor, I'm just not sure what type of specialist.
The stuff I'm finding on the internet is recommending everything from general physician, orthopedist, neurologist, chiropractor, acupuncturist, massage therapist, etc.

For a few weeks, I've had pain, numbness, tingling, that started around my left hip-bone or buttock, then spread all the way down my leg. The primary pain is now centered in my left thigh, in the back of the thigh. It is painful to put any weight on it, whether standing, or even sitting (due to the location in the thigh), and even laying down hurts, if I lay on my back. The only positions that don't cause discomfort is laying on my right side, or on my stomach

Now I am noticing discoloration in my feet, they are beginning to turn purple, I guess from lack of circulation. But the strange thing is, both of my feet are turning purple, and in the same location on each foot, even though the injury has been isolated to the left leg up until now.

I'm hoping to at least get a recommendation on who would be the best specialist to see for this, if anyone has had this type of injury, or knowledge on it.

 

[tshile]

I'm not a doctor but if you're having a blood flow problem I wouldn't think that's a nerve issue but something else, and something you should see a doctor about immediately.

I had a sciatica nerve issue about a year ago. went to the doctor and explained it and got an MRI. Turned out I had a cyst pushing up against the nerve that was causing a ridiculous amount of pain my lower back and one of my legs, was an easy fix.

I'll ask my wife when she gets home who you should see, but it probably depends on your insurance. Some insurance (I believe HMO's) require a referral which means the first step is to see your primary care physician no matter what, and they'll refer you to someone.

In all seriousness if your feet are turning purple that's a blood flow issue (I believe) and I'd call your primary care physician and get an appointment set up immediately...

 

[Fear The Spear]

Thanks, after reading your response I'm wondering if it could be a blood clot, which I guess would mean a Hematologist - yet another possible specialist. Although, seeing a GP or PCP makes most sense, like you said. Only problem is, I don't have one, since I just moved into a new area. So it seems my only option is to look through healthgrades.com or ratemds.com for good reviews.

 

[tshile]

Oh, yeah I could see that being an issue.

It may be worth calling the local ER, running your symptoms by the nurse on call, and seeing if it's something that needs to be looked at immediately or if it's something that can wait a week while you find a doctor to visit and set up an appointment?

 

[Boone]

If you had a DVT (blood clot) that can be a life-threatening condition. I recommend you go to the ER brother. Sciatic nerve issues don't cause changes in skin color - agree it sounds circulatory. Even if its not a DVT, you could have permanent damage if its a circulatory issue and its not dealt with in a reasonable punt of time.

 

[Lanky Livingston]

Yeah, I was just gonna say if you're turning purple, that's nothing to mess around with. I'd go immediately to the ER or your primary care physician.

Could also be an S-I issue, which can lead to sciatica-like pain. That's what I had thanks to a combination of rugby and poor core strength. Still bothers me today, but no limbs turning purple.

Good luck, dude!

 

[Fear The Spear]

I guess that settles it. I'm headed to the ER. Thanks guys

 

[tshile]

Good luck. Hopefully you just drank too much cranberry juice.

 

[Fear The Spear]

Good luck. Hopefully you just drank too much cranberry juice.

Whoa. How did you know ?!? Seriously, I've been drinking a liquid pure cranberry juice supplement in large amounts lately, for a urinary issue, but I swear I never mentioned it on here !

At the ER, all they did basically was rule out a blood clot, and refer me to another Dr.

 

[tshile]

That's good. Now you can go see a doctor

Hate to be an alarmist, but feet turning purple sounds ER worthy in my book

 

[Fear The Spear]

Oh you are right... I don't regret going, at all

 

[Burgundy Burner]

Go to your family doctor right away. He/she can recommend the right specialist to see.

In the meantime...

Move your wallet from the back pocket to the front pocket.

If you have a long commute or drive a lot, be sure to walk a mile or two each day (it is good practice to do this anyway).

Pretty sure that cranberry juice has nothing to do with this nerve. You are probably aggravating it in some way without knowing exactly what that could be.

Call the doctor asap - as in right now.

 

[Special K]

I know I need to see a doctor, I'm just not sure what type of specialist.
The stuff I'm finding on the internet is recommending everything from general physician, orthopedist, neurologist, chiropractor, acupuncturist, massage therapist, etc.

For a few weeks, I've had pain, numbness, tingling, that started around my left hip-bone or buttock, then spread all the way down my leg. The primary pain is now centered in my left thigh, in the back of the thigh. It is painful to put any weight on it, whether standing, or even sitting (due to the location in the thigh), and even laying down hurts, if I lay on my back. The only positions that don't cause discomfort is laying on my right side, or on my stomach

Now I am noticing discoloration in my feet, they are beginning to turn purple, I guess from lack of circulation. But the strange thing is, both of my feet are turning purple, and in the same location on each foot, even though the injury has been isolated to the left leg up until now.

I'm hoping to at least get a recommendation on who would be the best specialist to see for this, if anyone has had this type of injury, or knowledge on it.

Get the hell off WebMD and the rest of the internet and go to Urgent Care, ER or your PCP (if s/he can get you in immediately - as in today). I'm sitting next to my sister right now who's an ER doc and read your post to her. She said get to a doctor asap b/c sciatica does not involve discoloration ir swelling. If it is a DVT (which no one is saying it is and you don't need to be scared), there are many bad outcomes that can come of those if left untreated. Again, not trying to scare you, just trying to relay the sense of urgency in which you need to seek medical advice and/or treatment.

Also, if it is a DVT, you don't need a hematologist. Any doc can order a venus ultrasound and start you on a blood thinner. Whatever is causing your pain, just get it checked out immediately. All the best

P.S. Not sure if this is the mothering instinct in me, but please report back and let us know you're ok when you get a diagnosis. I know I don't know ya, but I will be genuinely relieved when you report an all-clear.

 

[Special K]

Whoa. How did you know ?!? Seriously, I've been drinking a liquid pure cranberry juice supplement in large amounts lately, for a urinary issue, but I swear I never mentioned it on here !

At the ER, all they did basically was rule out a blood clot, and refer me to another Dr.

Just saw this. Glad to hear they ruled DVT out. . Best of luck with the referral doc...is s/he a specialist in anything btw?

 

[Fear The Spear]

Well the ER doctor just told me to see a General Physican (I'm never sure what to call them - is a general physician, a family doctor, a primary care physician, and internal medicine doc, all the same thing ??) He said the GP would either refer me to the right specialist or order vascular tests to be done.

By the way, as for my feet turning purple, I just wanted to clarify it's not my entire feet - but a small patch under each ankle about an inch and a half in diameter - that's all that's turning purple. I don't know if anyone got a different impression, or if that makes any difference in the severity ?

And I have an appointment in a couple hours with a Dr

 

[Lanky Livingston]

Well the ER doctor just told me to see a General Physican (I'm never sure what to call them - is a general physician, a family doctor, and a primary care physician, all the same thing ??) He said the GP would either refer me to the right specialist or order vascular tests to be done.

By the way, as for my feet turning purple, I just wanted to clarify it's not my entire feet - but a small patch under each ankle about an inch and a half in diameter - that's all that's turning purple. I don't know if anyone got a different impression, or if that makes any difference in the severity ?

And I have an appointment in a couple hours with a Dr

I tore my calf muscle and experienced something similar - it was the blood from the tear pooling down around my feet. But it was much more extensive than just a small area under my ankle, and also caused my lower leg and foot to swell up considerably.

 

[Fear The Spear]

I have done both of the above but with a different experience.
When I tore my calf muscle, it was just my leg that turned purple.
When I had a hernia, the only symptom I had was extreme itching. A hernia was the last thing I suspected. There was no pain initially. A friend of mine convinced me all I had was crabs, and convinced me to shave my **** and soak in a crab-killing bath.

 

[Fear The Spear]

so the doc i saw today said it was the sciatic nerve, and that the purple feet were not related to nerve issue

 

[tshile]

It's alright. As the saying goes, I don't care if you're black, white or purple.

 

[Elephant]

so the doc i saw today said it was the sciatic nerve, and that the purple feet were not related to nerve issue

The question should be...what is the cause of the sciatica?