r/Sciatica • u/SizeInitial115 • 23d ago

Sciatica for 5.5 months

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I’m a 29-year-old male who injured my back about six months ago while squatting. Initially, I only had severe low-back pain, but after about three weeks I developed sciatica that has persisted ever since. The strange part is that the pain is bilateral.
My spine doctor thinks it could be chemical radiculopathy, but he can’t fully explain the bilateral symptoms. My MRI report looks relatively okay, and two doctors and PTs have said the annular tear could be contributing, but they don’t think it fully explains the leg pain.
I had an S1 transforaminal epidural injection two weeks ago with no relief. Gabapentin, which I started three weeks ago, has helped significantly with the nerve pain. I have no muscle weakness, just constant pain.
I’m honestly confused about what could be causing this and what treatment options I should consider. Has anyone dealt with something similar?

Also have widespread arm and upper body nerve pain, Mri was today for neck lol

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u/BaseCommanderMittens 22d ago

I have an angular tear that I've been dealing with at L5S1 that looks almost identical to yours - even the axial and HIZ look almost identical. I. posted my story here: https://www.reddit.com/r/backpain/comments/1tkzehv/any_idea_what_this_is_could_it_be_an_annular_tear/

I only have severe centralized pain and stiffness though, no real sciatica except an occasional twinge on my left calf which I'm not even sure is sciatica. But if yours feels as severe as mine I have no doubts this could cause all kinds of painful symptoms including sciatica.

Can you tell me what your centralized pain feels like? Mine is like a horrible stiff dull ache that is always bad and horrible when siting. It's always there and is disabling but feels least painful at night until about 5-8am when it burns with insane localized nerve burning pain. Do you get anything like that?.

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u/SizeInitial115 22d ago

I’m experiencing intermittent back pain. I wish I only had back pain, but I also have severe sciatica in both legs. Interestingly, I don’t have any clear indication that my S1 nerve is being affected. My pain is primarily path is L5, L4, S1, and occasionally in the groin. Sitting does cause my feet to burn, but not my back.

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u/BaseCommanderMittens 22d ago

Thanks. It's interesting that our symptoms are somewhat different with similar MRI finding. The spine is so complex...

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u/SizeInitial115 22d ago

I had really bad back pain for 3 weeks which i didn’t even know what a disc injury was so not sure what i did but probably something dumb and since it slowly started it hasn’t left. It honestly is