New pain location with sciatica - anyone else experience this?
I’ve been dealing with sciatica for roughly 3 years now. It usually flares up around this time of year when I start getting more active again after the winter.
Last summer, I started a new job where I’m sitting at a desk for long periods of time. At first, I was having pretty regular back pain from the chair I was using, so I ended up buying a Steelcase chair, which actually helped quite a bit through the winter.
Over the last couple of weeks though, I’ve started having a “new” pain in a different location. I still have my normal sciatica symptoms in my very lower back and down my leg, sometimes all the way into my foot when it’s at its worst. But this new pain is higher up and more off to the side — almost around the “love handle” area of my back, roughly parallel with my elbows. Kind of near where I imagine the kidneys would be, but I’m not totally sure.
This pain usually shows its face after work, and it feels like a sharp/shooting pain that happens with certain twists or turns. The frustrating part is that the movements that trigger it seem kind of random. It does feel more muscle-related, but at this point, with all the different pain areas going on, who knows lol.
I haven’t seen a doctor yet. I haven’t had the best luck with doctors in the past, or maybe I just haven’t found the right one yet. I know that’s probably the smart next step, but I was curious if anyone here has experienced pain in this kind of location with sciatica.
Does this sound like it could still be related to sciatica, or does it seem more like a separate muscle/posture issue from sitting for long periods of time?
Not looking for a diagnosis — just wondering if anyone has dealt with something similar.