Question
I've spent the last two weeks recovering from a slipped disc with sciatica, I've been watching DVDs to kill time and I've noticed that when I see someone have an accident (like fall over, I've been watching Scrubs, a painful amount of slapstick in that show) my back and leg hurts momentarily. I know it's all in my head but I'm curious as to what the reasons are.

Also, while I'm here, is swelling on the top of my foot normal with sciatica? I panicked my Doctor when I asked him that but he checked and was relieved that it wasn't DVT, that was a week ago now though and the swelling is still there, the pain in my foot is my main obstacle to moving around just now.

Answer
Hello, sorry to hear of your 'slipped disc' and foot problem.

You seem to have two problems 'Why do we hurt more (when we are hurting) and we see someone else get hurt?'  and the foot/sciatica connection.

Your first Q first.  I am not sure why WE hurt worse (when hurting) when we see someone else slip, trip, fall, get punched, etc.  Probably at least partially psychological- feelings of empathy for someone else.  I know even when I am not hurting I wince and can almost feel a mild shot of pain when I see some stunts on TV or in the movies.  Some flops or mechanisms of injury LOOK horrible, and mentally we feel for the person, but we may also reflexively move, cringe, 'duck', when we see it happen to someone else. - When we are acutely inflamed and injured ourselves, even that cringe or 'duck' move can hurt us; just as any sudden movement could hurt us.  So- conjecture on my part- we hurt more (when we are hurting) when we see someone hurt because of empathy, and also because we may reflexively flinch our own body- - - and that sudden movement, the flinch, actually does hurt us.

Your 'slipped disc' is probably lower back since you also have sciatica.  Personally, I do not like the term 'slipped disc': I do not know what you mean.  Do you mean a Herniated disc?, Bulged disc?, Inflamed, irritated disc?, Something shown on MRI or from physical examination?

You and your Chiropractor know what 'Slipped Disc' means in your case, because you and your DC have discussed physical exam findings and/ or MRI findings and have had explanation of the 'slipped disc'.
'Slipped disc' does seem to mean different things to different people.

Also, 'Sciatica' is just 1/2 of a diagnosis.  When someone tells me they have 'Sciatica', and nothing else,,,, I wonder what is causing the SYMPTOM of sciatica, is it a Herniated Disc, bulged disc, muscle spasm, vertebral subluxation, infection, tumor, , , did the sciatic nerve get bruised by a blow to the buttocks/ low back, , , did the sciatic nerve get nicked by a needle with an injection of some kind?
You have sciatica due to your slipped disc, so you have  both ends of the diagnosis, but being a nerd; I still like the 'slipped disc' spelled out for me.

On to the foot.

When you 'slipped your disc', did you fall, lift something heavy, have a car crash?  Was there a trauma to your foot/ leg/ back all at once?

Did the foot swelling and the Sciatica come on at the same time?  Did one come before the other?

When we have nerve irritation, when we have a 'pinched nerve' such as sciatica, where-ever that nerve goes to does not function as well.  There may be pain, there may be numbness, tingling, even perhaps easier bruising.  Usually there is not a swelling distant from the source of the pinched nerve.  I tend to think that a swelling of the foot, even in the leg with sciatica, could be a separate problem.  With the sciatica, and the leg not functioning properly do you have 'drop foot'?, ask your Doctor of Chiropractic.  With the leg not functioning properly, could you have tripped AFTER the sciatica and injured the foot?  Could you have bruised it somehow, even sleeping in some position, and not felt it due to the sciatica?  I am assuming it is only one foot, and only on the side of the sciatica.

Your chiropractor can certainly handle this type of complaint/ condition.

Give these things some time and proper treatment, and soon you should be 'good as new'.  Good luck, thank you.

Nowadays- we doctors sign off saying:  this discussion is not meant as a specific recommendation for this specific patient, complaint, condition.  Only the treating doctor can make specific recommendation, prescription and evaluation.  For general informational/ educational purposes only.

Wishing you a speedy return to Good Health Naturally!

Victor Dolan, DC
http://DocDolan.net