Question
Dear Dr George Tsatsos,

2.5 weeks ago I was sitting in a car for approx. 3.5 hours.
My left thigh/left buttocks started bothering me.
After our destination and walking around for 2 hours, I than
was back in a car for another 3 hours.
The next day I had some left leg discomfort but did not pay attention.  A week later after sitting in a car for 1 hour, that night I awoke with sever pain from my left thigh to my foot.
It felt like my leg was being cut off by a rubber-band. Leg throbbing pain in thigh with tingles and burning sensation in my calf and foot.  The pain lasted 4 hours and was not as bad if I walked. I figured out if I did not lay on my left side the pain was not as sever.  (pressure on the left side and slight stretching makes it worse.)  After 3 days of pain I went to the Dr. and she gave me a D-Dimer test which came out negative and than said I probably had A hip Bursa and gave me an steroid injection n my left hip and put me on ibuprofen for pain.  I do not have back pain but was told I needed to rest the sciatic nerve.  
I can not sit in my car for more than 5 minutes and any pressure on my left side causes a low tingling burning pain in my calf and throbbing in my thigh. I just started getting periodically a sharp pain in my groin area and back of left thigh.
Do you have any suggestions to speed up my recover and what in your opinion is causing this pain?  I am 57 female and do not exercise much.  I am not overweight.
Also Does the D-Dimmer test rule out a vein problem.
Thank u so much for you time.
Kay

Answer
Dear Kay,

This Orthopedic Chicago Podiatrist located in West Loop 60661,Roscoe Village 60618, Elmhurst 60126 & Bartlett 60103 says...
Sciatica can take several weeks to improve-sometimes physical therapy can help. The D-dimmer test may show lack of a vein clot-but a physical exam can give additional information.You may need to see a local orthopedist for a second opinion if your symptoms persist or get worse.
Good Luck!
The Chicago Podiatrists of AnkleNFootCenters.com are specialists in orthopedics and sports medicine.
We are located in Chicago & Elmhurst

Dr George Tsatsos & Svetlana Zats
Podiatrist Chicago 60618 & Elmhurst 60126 Podiatrists
Board Certified in Foot and Ankle Surgery & Orthopedics
New South Loop Location-Chicago 60661


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