Sciatic pain, pain in legs, butt and hips

Lilja · Post by **Lilja** » Fri Oct 03, 2014 5:31 am

Hello

I have earlier mentioned my awful pain in the lower back area, in the butt and in the legs. My chiropractic also has an acupuncturist in his office, and said that she could do wonders.

Well, nothing should be left untried, is my attitude. After 3 acupuncture treatments, I did have some improvement, and the pain did not come back until 1-2 days after treatment.

"The chiropractic can't help me, nor can you. I'm falling apart from pain", I said to her a week ago, I was so desperate.

She then took a phone call to somebody and explained both my GI problems and my sciatic and leg pain. She had until then only put needles in my butt, in my hips, thighs and in my legs.

She hung up, and said she would try something new. She then put needles on both sides of my stomach, and in my arm/elbow. She called it the "Lung 5 point", a Tan method.

I have had two treatments with needles in my stomach and arm. After the first I had some pain, but after yesterday's
needles I have no pain! I can't dare to believe this is going to last, but I can sit for a long time, walk, stand up for a long time, I can lie down, I can bend, I can go down on my knees - and no pain! This has not happened for the last 1,5-2 years...

Fingers crossed that this is permanent. For now I just enjoy being painfree

Lilja

Lilja · Post by **Lilja** » Fri Oct 03, 2014 12:43 pm

Hi,

I owe you an explanation as to why I have made a post about my sciatic pain in a forum for people with MC:

Tex and I have discussed earlier if there might be a link between MC and lower back/sciatic pain, since quite a few of us experience trouble with our lower back.

When the acupuncturist decided - after having asked for advice with colleagues - to «attack» my back pain from the front, i.e. the stomach area (and arm/elbow), and this gave huge relief to my pain, I am even more inclined to believe that there is a connection.

Remains to be seen if it gives permanent relief

Summer S · Post by **Summer S** » Fri Oct 03, 2014 1:27 pm

VERY interesting! I am so glad that you have found relief, Lilja. That is great news, sciatica can be so debilitating.

I got sciatica bad after gall bladder surgery, it lasted a couple of weeks. Since then I have had numb outer right lower leg and foot. Then in the last few months I have been having very sharp, kind of electrical pain in both of my lower feet/toes. I went to PCP, did scan of lower back, only mild degeneration, nothing to cause what I describe. Did x-rays of hips, again only mild degeneration, nothing to cause what I describe. Full blood panel ordered to see if I have diabetes hence peripheral neuropathy, I don't, I knew that.

In exchanging a few PMs with Tex, he said that gluten sensitivity can cause PN, and he takes Metanx to combat it. I am seeing a neurologist next week, they should know about Metanx, hopefully I can try that. I Googled Metanx and it has a chart to do with Folic Acid vs. Metanx. I take Folic Acid with B12 I think it is. I shall take that along to the neurologist to make sure it doesn't clash with Metanx.

If that fails I shall try acupuncture. We have a clinic that charges only $25 a session, tis in an open room with other patients, I might fall asleep and snore which could be annoying to others. That will be worth a try for anything.

Summer

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Fri Oct 03, 2014 7:32 pm

Summer
acupuncture has helped me immensely over the years, it helps to reduce the inflammation, support the liver, support the immune system and adrenals. It cant cure MC but it can definately help your body cope and heal from the inflammation etc.

Quite a few people here have used it to help with Nausea and various other issues.

Lilja,
if you google "meridians in the body" as used by chinese acupuncture and look where the Liver, Spleen, Stomach, Intestine Meridians traverse over the body the location of aches and pains will start to make sense!

Hence the importance to get onto the right eating plan to minimise all inflammation. Our bodies dont like constant inflammation! (and soon tell us when the levels are too high)

Lilja · Post by **Lilja** » Sat Oct 04, 2014 1:53 am

Summer S wrote:
If that fails I shall try acupuncture. We have a clinic that charges only $25 a session, tis in an open room with other patients, I might fall asleep and snore which could be annoying to others. That will be worth a try for anything.

Summer

Wow, I pay $76 for 20 min, but that's ok as long as it helps

Lilja

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Mon Oct 06, 2014 11:09 am

I love acupuncture, although it never fixed my autoimmune disease.

I used to have persistent sciatica, low back pain and deep hip/hip flexor pain. I happen to also have joint hypermobility and had pelvic separation with my pregnancies which didn't help. However, when I went gluten and dairy free a year after my MC diagnosis, all the hip and back pains went away. Strangely they would return the day after being accidentally glutened. This went on for a couple of years. Thankfully, all my aches and pains are gone now.

twirlitgirl · Post by **twirlitgirl** » Mon Oct 06, 2014 1:59 pm

Wow, I am floored that MC is associated with lower back pain, I have been going to a chiropractor for years with low back pain but now wear orthotics and a heel lift to equalize my legs and to straighten my hips, I thought that was the reason the pain has disappeared, maybe that tells me I have had MC much longer than I thought. Once I took control and stopped eating what was causing my body so much inflammation with this disease, things improved in my low back as well. Our bodies have so many stories to tell if we would only listen. I am so thankful for hearing that today, it helps me understand myself better and that my low back pain was accumulating over the years, with this disease slowly growing and trying to give me signals, amazing. I continue to be inspired by all the information here. thank-you , thank-you. Of course , I will not go and abuse my back, I will treat it kindly and do the proper body lifting and movements to keep it aligned and working well for enjoying my physical activities and walking which I enjoy very much. I just gained even more respect for this body and how it takes care of me.

nerdhume · Post by **nerdhume** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 4:31 am

I am one that had lower back pain, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia. I was one several meds for all these problems. After getting my diet right all those problems and a few others went away. I am now off all my pain meds, and I had been on one or another pain med for about 10 years.

CathyMe. · Post by **CathyMe.** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 4:45 am

Accupuncture has worked for me two times in the past, first when I was struggling with insomnia and then most recently with my stomach troubles. I love it and plan to go back and get re-tuned every 6 months or so. I literally fall asleep on the table after she puts the needles in.

Hopeful · Post by **Hopeful** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 7:21 am

Responding to Zizzle, I have Joint Hypermobility Sydrome too. In fact, it seems to run in my family.

When I asked my Rheumy and my GI if there could be a connection between this genetic connective tissue disorder (we make collagen differently than normal people) and my Collagenous Colitis, they both scoffed.

Makes you wonder, though. Maybe we were genetically predisposed to develop MC??

Post by **tex** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 9:02 am

Hopeful,

Your Rheumy and your GI doc are either comedians or they are simply ignorant. Collagenous Colitis is a connective tissue disorder. What do they think the "collagenous" part of the name refers to?

Tex

Lilja · Post by **Lilja** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 12:45 am

twirlitgirl wrote:I have been going to a chiropractor for years with low back pain but now wear orthotics and a heel lift to equalize my legs and to straighten my hips, I thought that was the reason the pain has disappeared, maybe that tells me I have had MC much longer than I thought.

I have the same experience, this is how my CC stated itself at the beginning; starting with pain in my feet and lower back, and I was offered orthopedic heels to lift my hips... It didn't work.

If anyone of you are considering acupuncture help for sciatic pain because of colitis, make sure that you see an acupuncturist who is familiar with Dr Tan's method.

Lilja · Post by **Lilja** » Tue Mar 17, 2015 5:26 am

tex wrote:Hopeful,

Your Rheumy and your GI doc are either comedians or they are simply ignorant. Collagenous Colitis is a connective tissue disorder. What do they think the "collagenous" part of the name refers to?

Tex

That is a good point, Tex. But, if the connective tissue disorder attacks our lower back and legs, it might as well do so in other parts of our body, besides the gut and the lower back?

I had to quit the chiropractic & acupuncturist in December. It didn't help in the long run. I have had tolerable pain since December, but, what is curious: Now I'm tapering off Entocort, (Down to 1 capsule of 3 mg every 5th day), my back and leg pains have increased severely. Also, it feels like icecold water is running or dripping down my legs. This latter one scares me.

I guess Entocort suppresses inflammation in my whole body, not just the MC.

Lilia

Post by **tex** » Tue Mar 17, 2015 9:18 am

Lilia,

You really need to have your thyroid function checked. Neuropathy symptoms such as that can be due to thyroid problems. Didn't we also discuss pernicious anemia a few months ago, or am I thinking of someone else? The severe B-12 deficiency that can be caused by pernicious anemia might be causing those neurological symptoms (such as pain and feeling sensations that are not actually happening).

Yes, only up to 19 % of the budesonide in Entocort is absorbed into the bloodstream, but after more than about 5 or 6 months of use, it begins to have systemic effects.

Are you taking a good daily dose of methylcobalamin (the active form of B-12)?

Tex

Lilja · Post by **Lilja** » Tue Mar 17, 2015 10:11 am

tex wrote:Lilia,

You really need to have your thyroid function checked. Neuropathy symptoms such as that can be due to thyroid problems. Didn't we also discuss pernicious anemia a few months ago, or am I thinking of someone else? The severe B-12 deficiency that can be caused by pernicious anemia might be causing those neurological symptoms (such as pain and feeling sensations that are not actually happening).

Yes, only up to 19 % of the budesonide in Entocort is absorbed into the bloodstream, but after more than about 5 or 6 months of use, it begins to have systemic effects.

Are you taking a good daily dose of methylcobalamin (the active form of B-12)?

Tex

Thank you, Tex,
I did test my thyroid function in October, 2014. My GP said everything was fine, but I didn't receive a copy of the test.

I will ask him to re-check it, but what kind of test should I ask for? The ordinary TSH is not fully reliable, from what I've understood. Should I ask for free T3 and free T4 and also TRAS? (I don't know if you use these names for the different thyroid tests in the U.S.).

I take the three B-vitamins you described for me daily, and also in the ratio you suggested.

I haven't tested for pernicious anemia, but I will do so at my next appointment in April.

Thank you for all your help!
Lilia