I was told today that my MRI of the nerves show sciatic neuropathy right lower extremety. The doctor asked me to find out if they did a nerve block and at what level with a tendon rupture repair I had done 12/13. The right lower leg pain started when the block wore off and intermittently became worse till about 2 week post surgery. I was treated for lumbar radiculapthy with epidural injections. Here I am 7 months later and finally I sought help in New York by a well know peripheral neurologist. I have significant pain right lower leg and numbness on right lateral leg, and entire foot. Big toe cannot extend upward since February. Has anyone else experienced such a thing. If so, was their treatment and did it ever get any better. Currently I have not been able to work for about 7 months. I'm not sure there is going to be a happy ending here.
If anyone else has any input, it would be greatly appreciated. I see the New York neurologist next Monday.

Is your all over weakness improving? Have you started the carnitine, yet?

Tendon rupture? Which tendon? A tendon rupture is not a common event. However, it can be a symptom of a reaction to certain antibiotics in the fluoroquinolone family. (Levaquin, Cipro and Avelox). These drugs disturb the metabolism in tendons somehow ...it is thought by DNA damage... and cause delayed tendon ruptures several months to a year or more after they have been discontinued. They also cause nerve damage as well. Tendon ruptures also happen in falls, and extreme sports activities. Tendon injuries are very painful because there are nerves in tendons and they can get compressed by scar tissue during healing.

Do you have a history of using those drugs for infections? They can often be given for urinary tract infections, bronchitis,pneumonia or sinus infections.

Thank you so much for responding to my post. You are right on the money. I went back in my insurance log and I had bronchitis 6/11. On 8/11 I had severe anterior upper thigh pain and they did an MRI which was normal. On 11/11 I saw a doctor for foot pain which was the beginning of my neuropathy which noone diagnosed until I ruptred the right peroneal tendon walking down the halWhen it wore off the next day I was screaming at the top of my lungs with pain. I just assumed this was surgical pain. 2 weeks later things escalated in terms of pain in the let only (never had back pain), an mri of the spine showed 4 herniated discs and I was given 3 epidurals, Somewhere in the middle of the epidurals, my foot went numb and I couldn't entend the big toe. These symptoms have gotten progressively worse so I went to New York and had a MRI neurography done which showed sciatic right lower extremity. I meet with the neurologist next Monday to discuss all his findings. Thank you so much I didn't realize Cipro was in the quinolone family. Several months later I took Macrodantin for recurrent UTI's and got a fever of 104 with each dose. It took me almost a week to figure out-went to dr 2x; labs done on 2nd visit showed increased liver enzymes and increased eosinophile count. I guess my nerves got a double whammy. I sure hope they get better. Thanks again.

I took Levaquin 2 years ago and was never told that it could possibly cause tendon rupture. Later I learned that it was because this usually only occurred in individuals over 60-I didn't fit that description, so I wasn't warned.

I didn't rupture my tendon, but I sprained it--it still hurts. My other tendons are still tight--I injured the one in my right elbow a year later, and it aches daily. In addition, the levaquin worsened the existing neuropathy in my feet.

They really need to issue severe warnings on this class of antibiotics when they are prescribed. Patients have a right to know the danger they face when they ingest a medication.

I hope you are able to find relief.

Now I have one more diagnosis--brain lesions. Going to another neurologist in a different city tomorrow. Went online and his reviews were scathing. Multiple I mean at least 20 saying things like...he made fun of me and my mother, He said I was faking and referred me 2 a psychiatrist, he was condescending, arrogant and a bully. I am lucky to get even this appt. worse yet, to be told you r faking! I will not be abused but will go to the appt. I just hate using what little energy I have on some abusive doctor. He is very accomplished and chief of this division at an Ivy League kind of hospital. How sad.

I'm not certain that I am in the right place to get answers to my questions related to Sciatica and Neuropathy...hopefully, I am. Just recently, I was diagnosed with Neuropathy although the symptoms have been present for quite a long time...ignored by my internist for almost 2 years...told if my problem was neuropathy, there wasn't anything that could be done about it. That was my "clue"to move on to a new internist who sent me for blood work to confirm her opinion that it is neuropathy. In the meantime, I have also seen a neurologist who examined me and also sent me for specific blood work to confirm that I do have neuropathy. He posed the question to me: "Would you consider it just a "nuisance"or is it painful enough that I'd want a medication to help with that pain?" I would put myself somewhere in between...sometimes, a "nuisance", but often very painful. At any rate I opted not to take medication for now. Both the neurologist and my internist mentioned Gabapentin for the neuropathy. My neurologist seemed to lean toward me NOT taking that if, in fact, I consider my neuropathy just a "nuisance". We discussed the possibility of unwanted side affects with any medication that is prescribed; thus, my choice NOT to take the Gabapentin right now. I guess I could just have asked any of you who have taken...are taking Gabapentin what your experience has been while taking that medication...sorry to have been so long-winded about this. As for the Sciatica, I would also appreciate any information that anyone might have that could help with alleviating the pain. It just seems that the combination of the Neuropathy and the Sciatica makes my "case"difficult...which one is causing me the most pain...or, is it the combination?

Thank you for "wading through"this post...would appreciated anything anyone might suggest to help me with these medical issues.

Virginia Therese

[I was srarted @100mg/3 times daily. Might as well been M&M's. Was increased to a total of 900mg/day now with same effect. But I fear stopping the medication now. Norco 10 is my mainstay but I am going to try the Morton Epsom Salt creme, heard some good reviews about it. I tried some pain cream from Walmart(Equate pain relieving cream, non-greasy) it was so greasy that soap would not wash it off.
Sorry I don,t have a glorious review of the Gaba but at least I didn,t experience any downside either. Good Luck Ken in Texas.

I have 2 herniated discs in lumbar, multi level degenerated discs in lumbar, lumbar spinal stenosis, all causing the same symptoms you have. the numbness is in both legs , i have degenereative arthritis in both knees, the pain and numbness in the legs is terrible , is'nt it? I am not getting better, even after the shots. good luck.