temporarily unable to walk after sitting
 

Hi all, I'm new to the board. This seems like a wonderfully supportive place so I thought I might find some answers. If anyone has a suggestion or comment I would love to hear it. Thank you for reading!

The short version of the problem: After I sit down for any length of time I am temporarily unable to walk. The pain is extreme when I am taking those first steps. I feel completely unstable. The pain is sharp and centered in my lower back. My back feels out of alignment and I look like it is by the way I'm forced to move for about 5-10 minutes(Looooooong minutes!). After walking for a while the pain goes away and I feel normal until the next time I have to rise from sitting. I have no pain lying down. I feel better in the morning when I'm rested ....until I sit down. I also get a sharp jab of pain if I suddenly lean back a little far...ex. while swimming. I have no pain at all while I am sitting.

As you can probably imagine this is ruining my life. I go to less and less places because of the pain I have getting out of the car. I would be unable to get up from a meeting at a table for business or fun. Basically, it's turning me into a hermit. I can't park my car and walk across the street. I can't go to the movies or out to eat.

The problem started last summer and has been getting progressively worse. I did months of physical therapy with no lasting effect. The longest amount of relief was for a few hours following an adjustment with myofacial release.

History:
A year ago I had a blood clot in my leg and multiple pulmonary emboli. As a result I was laid up for a couple of months and walked oddly for a while. I was put on Warfarin and just stopped that this week. Because of this I was not able to take most anti-inflamitory meds. I tried muscle relaxants for a couple of months but they did nothing.

I've had X-rays and an MRI. They were all taken with me lying on my back. No segmental instability is shown. The conclusions from the MRI are: Degenerative Disk Disease. Severe billateral foraminal narrowing.

I have seen a neurologist who said that I had "discogenic pain and that the feeling of instability sounded like SI dysfunction" he said "no one really knows
what to do with that...why don't you go to a chiropractor"

I went to a chiropractor. I would feel good walking out of his office and then bad again when I got out of my car.

I am extremely frustrated that I have this disabling pain and I can't find a solution. In talking about it with a doctor recently I cried. She told me that the pain could be from depression and offered to put me on a drug for that! She hadn't even physically examined me herself before making that diagnosis.
I don't have pain because of depression ....I AM depressed that I have this major pain situation going on and can't find a solution. By the way I did read Dr. Sarno's book on the mind body connection... because I am open to anything that might help...it didn't

Sadly, I'm limited in the doctors and therapies I can seek by my HMO.

If any of you have experienced anything similar or no of any suggestions I would GREATLY appreciate it !

Thanks again - mae:confused:

http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/r.../Welcome-1.gif

Hi, and welcome to NeuroTalk! This is a great place to hang out with many forums and lots of nice and helpful people.

I'm sorry for your pain. I've posted a link to the Spinal Disorders and Back Pain forum.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum22.html

Hi Maryann, thanks for the welcome
 

:)
I will check out the link. I like the Jimmy Buffet quote! - Mae

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Great to see you have come to be with us. You will find a great number of caring, supporting members here willing to help each other as they can.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around.

Darlene :hug:

welcome to neurotalk ... there are lots of friendly and supportive people here so jump right in and start posting ... should you need help, don't hesitate to ask someone ... we are here to help ... again
http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/o...iryWelcome.gif

Thanks for the welcome. I like your angels.

Sorry you're having these problems. It is frustrating. you sound like you really know what's going on with you and yes you just haven't come across the right path to healing, and asking is the right thing to do. It always helped me when I figured something out. Understanding is major positive. You can do something about it then.

It could take a mirad of things, or a cocktail nowadays. ... without alcohol :wink: just a mixture of positive things that help you.

Just because your MRI don't shake the doctor's chart doesn't mean it can't be debilitating to you. Sounds like a lot of instability, which would have an underlying cause. "Narrowing" can cause it too. So don't sell you findings short of being a pain producer.

I had instability of my spine after MVA in 2000 until I had my cervical epidurals X 3 for me, in Feb and March 2006. Loooooonnnnngg wobblie struggle. my entire spine.... especially after traveling, driving or riding. I would set in my driveway and I swear my muscle spasms would vibrate and radiate like a... don't know how to describe that rippling effect of radiating muscle spasms after a trip. After my third epidural I got relief... and I slept and slept and slept... the month of April away.

Dr. Atasoy, in June 06, figured out it was the Zanaflex making me drowsy after the epidurals had gave me relief. I could not get comfortable enough since 2000 to get a good 2 hour's sleep until I had the epidurals. know what I mean, Vern?

So since Dec of 2001 I had been prescribed Zanaflex... well actually the 1st pain management doc demanded I get it filled, in Nov 2001... Zanaflex 4mg X3a day. Couldn't do the third. Made rubber bands out of my knees. Dangerous trying to walk :eek:

I did make it up to Yoga and that helped... I hurt and struggled at first, but I took pain pills and patches anyway, and I was doing it for the rest of my body. Still in PT, still trying anything that came my way.

I will say now it was worth it and I look forward to and will have to endure more to get stronger. so look around and see if you can pick up on things that are within your reach to start with. Maybe together we all can put Humpty Dumpty back together again :D:D:D

so, the point being was, after the much needed epidurals X3 gave some relief -- even in my lower back too :D -- (have lower back bulges X4) -- I was in a bad shape physically from all that hard suffering and not very much sleep for years. I wasn't cured. Just relief. A major leap for me.

Dr. Atasoy prescribed Bacloflen for daytime and... oh something else...forgot-it was generic all the time - for night time 1 and 1/2. It was functional but not strong enough. Lidoderm X 90 a month. I used two on my back on some days, or back and hip. Darvon 65, which helped. Dr. Atasoy would not prescribe me Neurontin. He said it was "Rotten Neurontin" :D My neurologist won't prescribe it either. Pain management gave me Neurontin and offered me everything.

Stayed with PT, the good and bad that I had to have, apparently. Tried many things.... but you have to find a good provider to work with you, to guide and adjust that path for you. May take more than one provider.

Hope you find relief. See you around the forum :hug:

Thanks for writing "broken wings"
 

Wow!

"I had instability of my spine after MVA in 2000" -sorry for asking a lame question but what is "MVA"?

"Dr. Atasoy, in June 06, figured out it was the Zanaflex making me drowsy after the epidurals had gave me relief. I could not get comfortable enough since 2000 to get a good 2 hour's sleep until I had the epidurals. know what I mean, Vern?":) I'm glad you are finally getting sleep!

"so, the point being was, after the much needed epidurals X3 gave some relief -- even in my lower back too -- (have lower back bulges X4) -- I was in a bad shape physically from all that hard suffering and not very much sleep for years. I wasn't cured. Just relief. A major leap for me."
Glad to hear it!

"Stayed with PT, the good and bad that I had to have, apparently. Tried many things.... but you have to find a good provider to work with you, to guide and adjust that path for you. May take more than one provider."

It's definitely looking like more than one provider at this point. I am in the middle of finding a new primary care physician(loooooong story)

Thanks so much for writing and sharing your story. I really appreciate it. This has been such an isolating thing that it's good to some people to connect with ...even if it's virtual:hug:

I hope you have a good night- Mae

MVA = motor vehicle accident --

Thanks for the clarification on MVA. Sorry to hear about that. I'm glad that you lived through it and are finding some relief.

Have a good day- Mae

I think you should try Lidoderm patches. (a doctor has to order them)

These are pain patches that work locally to numb nerves that are firing too much.

I think it is puzzling to have pain only when you move to stand.
And then no pain when standing? Same with lying down.
Back issues would hurt all the time standing.

I'd apply one patch over the sacral area daily and see if after a couple or 3 weeks you see improvement.

We have another poster on PN who was on Coumadin for a clot and after ending the drug developed hip pain (his clot was in the leg).

His ID is Ivpound. If you come to PN you can search him.
He also has no pain lying down. They cannot find a cause for him either.

The Lidoderm Patches worked for me. I guess I kept them on my back so long it has numbed it pretty good. numb is good.

I hear they have Flector Patches now. a nonnarcotic pain reliever with an anti-inflammatory if your doc thinks you need an anti-inflammatory.

It's not the typical back pain I'm familier with, on and off with positioning. That could be a good thing on down the road. Hard for you and providers to deal with when you don't understand and it's not in the book.

I believe you. :hug:

Thanks for the suggestions
 

I will remember the suggestion for the patches when I go to the doctor. At this point I'm on hold for everything. I have an appointment with a spine specialist on March 19th and the neurologist told my primary that I should wait to go to the pain clinic until after that appointment.

The only pain I get in my back from standing is fatigue after a long time in one place.

I will look up that posters name who was on Coumidin. While I was on the drug I had this theory that maybe it was responsible for my problems. I've only been off of it for about a week. I still have the hope in the back of my mind that my pain will just spontaneously disappear one day. My theory was based on the fact that Coumidin lists joint,back, and muscle pain as rare side effects.... and that vitamin K (which coumidin suppresses) is partly responsible for bone and muscle health.

The whole situation is mind boggling. I appreciate the belief!:hug:
I've been feeling like I need to film my every day life like a lame reality show
to share with doctors. Maybe if they could see me struggling to walk from my car or from my desk to answer the door they would understand why I can't just accept their "backs are tricky" statements.:mad:
The people who do see me always look like they are trying to decide whether to call 911 or not LOL :D It's laugh or cry really.

Thanks again - Mae

sitting isnt a "natural" position for the human body, avoid it when possible.
strengthen "core" muscles to improve posture...good luck

Unfortunately I can't avoid sitting...although I fantasize about ways. Maybe a suspension system that hangs me above my keyboard? :)

I work on the computer. I don't have options. But thank you for the well wishes

have you looked into erognocics for workstations. They're pretty creative sometimes.:hug:

Hey there!

I have neuropathy which is similar, but different. The similarity is in the constant pain and the issues of sitting for too long. When I sit too long, it's difficult for me to walk at first because of the pain and stiffness in my feet. There are two things that have helped me and that is not sitting for too long (the obvious) and exercise (helps blood flow, helps pain).

Of course, check with your doc first that it's ok, but I would recommend looking into exercises that increase you abdominal strength and walking. The walking is the cure-all for blood flow and increasing abdominal strength will help strengthen your back when getting up and down from sitting. The theory is, the stronger your muscles, the less your joints have to do. I'm not a doctor, so I could be wrong about this, but I've worked through a lot of pain issues and I'm just brainstorming what might help you.

The other thing is, you have to understand that you probably won't be cured. That's not giving up, but it does help you make choices. A little over a year ago I decided that if I was going to be in pain, it would be "pain with a purpose", and so I started with kempo, weight training and running. The aches I got from sports is nothing compared to neuropathy and migraines, and there's a strange camaraderie among athletes because they're ALWAYS getting injured and in pain. They're a lot more fun to talk to than patients in waiting rooms, and it helps to be around people who are fully functioning even with fractured ribs, knee injuries, etc. I know, it sounds weird, but it really does help.

My suggestion is what you can do physically, DO do. Because if you start to live like a hermit, the degeneration just gets worse and worse. So far I've reduced my insulin needs by 70% and rid myself of osteopenia, just by changing into an lifestyle. Think positive and active, as much as you can, and it will start helping both physically and mentally.

Many Blessings,
Janet

Hi Janet, thanks so much for writing! I appreciate the good advice. I am walking when I can. It's challenging in Massachusetts at this time of year with the ice and snow.
I can't wait for spring!
My sciatic nerve has been flaring up when I walk lately. I'm guessing it might be irritated from all the weird moves I make to avoid pain. I am trying to be better with the "what you can do" thing. Tough with my all or nothing personality!

I hope you have a great day!
Mae

If you feel the pain, more in your thighs in the outer sides
you may have bursitis in the trochanertic bursas.

This article has diagrams.
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000401/2109.html

Typically only one side is affected at a time, but you could have it bilaterally.

Going to a sports medicine specialist may get you a more
detailed examination and evaluation.

LOL - I completely understand the all or nothing mentality. When I started running, the first race I wanted to run was not a little 5K, it was a marathon! If you invest in anything, though, I highly recommend a treadmill. You can get the kind that fold up, but honestly, leave it down. Walking 5 minutes here, 5 minutes there is how I started. It slowly builds up endurance, helps blood flow (which helps nervous system pain) and if the pain is too much, you can just step off and get an ibuprofen instead of having to walk all the way back home. I LOVE my little treadmill!

I wish you the best of fortunes, living with pain is not for the faint of heart! Keep that in mind when you feel down, you're enduring every day what other people go through for only short periods of time when they're recovering from injuries. The fact that you live with that pain, means that you are an incredibly strong person even if you feel weak. Your endurance becomes outstanding and if you learn to really live in the midst of it, you'll be an inspiration to others!

Many Blessings,
Lilyth

Hi 40ish,

I have the same issue.
Basically I do not have pain.
If I lay down, all good.
If my leg is straight, all good.
If I sit...more than 10 min, I have a problem when I stand up. I need to walk like 5 min ( warm up?) to get to normal.
It is only my left leg that hurts, my right leg is all good!
It is horrible! I am avoiding cinema, restaurant and yes when in a meeting the worst part is when it ends.
If I sit for like two hours...I need at lest 10 min to be able to walk.
the doctor so far gave me lot of gymnastic to do and anti-inflammatory drugs.
with anti-inflammatory I am ok, but as soon as I stop it, the problem is back.
When properly warmed up I can run also 10km, no problem, no pain.
I just cannot sit for more than 10 min...no issues sitting. The problem is when I stand up.

40ish, did you find what is the issue ?
How did you fix it?

thanks for any help.
Don

Hello & welcome, this thread is from 2009, so you may not get a reply from the original poster..

Have you had any Xray or MRI to see if the spine or nerves are a cause?
That would be the next step to ask about with ongoing problems happening...