New Injury- Advice on Pain meds
 

On Sunday I was feeling pretty good and went hiking with my family. After about 15 minutes in, I stepped on a Rock funny and sprained my left calf. It was very painful and started using crutches the next dat. Went to the dr who confirmed that it was just muscle tears and wrapped it and said rest it and it could take 2-4 weeks to heal.

Meanwhile my right hip was starting to hurt because I was favoring the right leg and as I bent down to get some things out of some low drawers,it was painful to get back up. It proceeded to get excruciatingly painful to sit or walk, lay down or basically move at all.Went to an Orhopedist yesterday who x-rayed it but didt show told me that is probably a disc bulge on my sciatic nerve. I am HOPING he is wrong because I cant deal with another permanent disc/nerve problem. I am hoping it just got pinched because I was limping strangely

Thanks for any input
jkl

I would start with Advil and ice. You want to keep inflammation in check.

The sciatica could just be temporary and something that can be dealt with through therapy.

Doesn't using crutches aggravate your TOS also? I had a heck of a time with my knee injury , I mostly hopped around instead of using the crutches.

[x-rayed it but didt show told me that is probably a disc bulge on my sciatic nerve]
So he is basically guessing at this point?:confused:

If the sciatic keeps bothering , some PT or Chiro??
someone that might use LLLT (low level laser - aka cold or soft laser) might do wonders for you.

For both, now that it is some days later you could even alternate heat/cold to stimulate healing. Which is what laser, ultra sound, E stim or LED light therapy would do some of.

yes I believe he is guessing based on past experience. It is getting slightly better each day. I did some research and it could also be the piriformis muscle pressing on the nerve. As soon as I can drive and walk I will be going to my pt and my acupunturist who uses the laser, hopefully monday or tuesday.The crutches didnt really hurt my TOS once I was shown the right way to use them but may have caused the sciatica. Ironically (and gratefully)my TOS pain has been minimal and I am wondering if it is because I have been laying around and also NOT doing my streches and strengthening exercises. When I go back to them I am going to try them one at a time to see if they are actually exacerbating my symptoms.