sciatica

Ten days!! On the 24 July I was devastated to be struck down - after a couple of days I managed to get to a chiropractor (my legs hardly managing to function - sliding around on a slippery floor in a lot of pain is how I would describe it). I don’t think, looking back, that the treatment helped much. I had an x-ray which showed nerve damage in my back - I was wobbly enough to fall over on my patio, damaged nothing except my foot which was incredibly painful. I had ultra sound which showed two neuromas - no surgery for me because I am told even bunion surgery can make matters worse. At this date, I am hardly limping and no pain in my back or legs so I hope you will recover sufficiently too.

I'm in my early 60s and have had sciatica and back pain on and off for decades. Sometimes I'm walking bent over for days on end. But there are also long periods when I hardly notice it. I can tell you what works for me.

The main factor is posture. Don't take to your bed, don't lie on the sofa for hours on end, don't sit in a slouched position. Sit upright and allow your back muscles to get properly toned up by supporting you. Walk as much as possible. If walking is unbearable, lie on the floor in the Alexander Technique position, which means lying on your back on the hard floor with your knees bent and with a book supporting your head. See a physiotherapist and do the exercises recommended to you but there are also some online if you google for "sciatica exercises". Ibuprofen is more likely to help than paracetamol but if possible avoid both and they don't do more than take the edge off the pain for an hour anyway.

Travelsafar - I was prescribed amitriptyline 10mg 2 weeks ago to help me sleep and 3 days ago I stopped taking it as my calves and ankles have ballooned up. As it is the only new medicine I’m taking I looked online and found that amitriptyline can cause this. Will go back to the doctor next week if the swelling hasn’t gone.
I’ a new poster but a long time surfer!!

A friend of ours has suffered with back pain/sciatica for months to the point of being almost immobilised with pain. A couple of sessions with a local acupuncture clinic put him on the road to recovery. After four sessions, he is now pretty much back to his old self. He thinks he'll need just a couple of top up visits a year from now on.

Could be worth a try for you?

It's worth exploring whether Turmeric and Ginger works for you. My SIL who has chronic back pain and disc problems for years has been taking Turmeric, Ginger and Bromelain tablets and has been able to come off her heavy duty pain killers. I have fibromyalgia and recently developed carpal tunnel syndrome so seeing the improvement in her, I decided to give it a try and have had significant improvement in the carpal tunnel symptoms, I'm going to go on taking it for a few more months, along with finger and wrist exercises before I agree to surgery, It's up to you whether you want to try it or not, I'm a retired nurse, so tend to research anything before I'll take it, It's worth reading the research and even trying it, it won't do any harm and may even work for you too,

You need to stretch the sciatic nerve with exercise.
Sit on the edge of a chair or bed, tuck the opposite leg with the pain, under the chair and lift the the opposite leg up straight in front and bring back your foot towards you 30 times, if it is working you should feel the nerve stretching. Do this at least twice a day. This worked with me when I had a completely numb leg.
Also ice packs are also helpful.

I have found Chiropractors the only genuine relief...
tried physio and osteo but neither even touched the pain... chiro became evidently effective from the 2nd visit... I had 5 appointments all and continue to do the suggested exercises... (though sometimes forget!!)

Nowt a cheap option but honestly it did work and i did begin to recover/ feel relief after the 2nd appointment..

If it happened again I'd be straight back to the chiro ... no messing...

Yes i agree about the wait for NHS physio treatment which is why i am going private, my GP didnt even mention physio when i saw her on Monday.

I have fingers and toes crossed that this afternoon may bring me some relief. Willlet you know later on.

I am getting myself all stressed as i have done no shopping for xmas not even a xmas card.!!!!

I have had this in the past and truly the pain is beyond a joke. Really worse than impacted wisdom teeth and childbirth! But the only way forward is to see a physiotherapist and do the recommended exercises. Many private physios give you a first free session. Where I live you would be lucky to see an NHS physio within 6 months despite your level of pain. Good luck.

Willow 500, paracetamol won't touch pf whatever it is. You need something more like extra strength Ibuprofen. Physio really helps and can cure.

I go to a chiropractor and have also been to a physio - had to pay a lot but both she and the chiropractor highly recommended by many people in the town I live in. Find someone locally who has been recommended! Not just any one. I have waited for physio on NHS and podiatrists ditto for months. If you are in pain, you may have to bite the bullet and pay for treatment.

Good advice here. I attend a gentler form of chiropractic called McTimony.

Have you tried acupuncture? I had literally everything nhs and physios had to offer and none gave pain relief. As a last ditch effort physio offered acupuncture. What a revelation! I had shuffled into the hospital in horrific pain and, after one session virtually skipped out! I had acupuncture every day for 5 days and then once a week for 6 weeks. First time I'd been pain free for 5 months. It doesnt work for everyone but worth a try.

As with everything else, there are osteopaths and osteopaths. A few rare ones seem to have magic hands. Ask around your friends for a recommendation and pick someone who is very booked up.
Really , sciatica takes about 6 to 8 weeks to heal. Moving around gently but otherwise resting with ice or heat and the minimum of painkillers is best. Also Vit C also push for an M R I .

Homoeopathy worked for me; I've successfully treated several people with Reiki & Seichem: it usually takes two sessions, sometimes one.

Homeopathy for me; and I've successfully treated people with Reiki & Seciehm - it usually goes in one or two sessions.

Been there, done that, got to umpteen teeshirts! You have my sympathy! I find coedine gave me more problems than it solved, - drowsiness and constipation. Lyrica worked but also knocked me out so could only take it at night time but I found after a good nights sleep, I was able to cope better through the daytime. Problem was solved when it was discovered I had large fibroids which were putting pressure on the nerves, so had hysterectomy and never looked back, only the occasional twinge, nothing no like the severe pain I had before.

The trouble may lie in your spine. Mine did, and an operation was the only option. I had a painful month after the op, but I'm pleased had it as I'm now pain free. See a spinal specialist and get his opinion.

The Telegraph had an article a few weeks ago about CBD oil - a legally-available cannabis derivative for chronic pain. Apparently you put a couple of drops under the tongue a couple of times a day. It is available from Holland and Barrett by post and is classed as a food supplement. The article was about a man who had become dependent on prescription drugs because of a chronic condition, and he was able to stop them by using the CBD oil which is non-addictive.

I have a chiropractor and when DH gets it he just suffers (not silently either), he knows he should go to the chiropractor too but money is tight and he prefers me to be in good condition! (So he is quite thoughtful after all)

A short course of Diazipam works for me, as it eems to relax the spasm, as for all the ther drgs they are all 'dirty' in that they have horrible side effects.

Heat is marvellous, a heated pad from the chemist and a quick survey of your furniture, is your chair supporting you etc.

Other than that Pilates or yoga help many people.

I did find acupuncture helped. Also had for 5 nights some diazepam. Only took 2 but at last I had a nights sleep. Think it also helps relax the muscles. And a good osteopath.

My husband had a similar pain to sciatica, which is due to inflammation of the sciatic nerve. His was cruralgia, inflammation of the crural nerve, which is behind the sciatic.
He was referred to a rheumatologist who xrayed his back and found the nerve was trapped in a vertebra damaged by arthritis. Cortisone injection in his spine, and immediate relief.
I don't know if this will help, it could be that the 2 situations are completely different.

Have got an appointment for tomorrow afternoon, feeling so desperate now and worn out with the pain.

Goodness knows how people coped years ago with this sort of thing, as they didnt have any drugs or treatments to fall back on.

Tegan2 yes that's what it seems like - he's looked it up with Dr Google but a work colleague also confirmed that's what it sounds like. He needs to go to the doctors but working an hour away from home every day he can't get there. I'll mention the inserts - he has to wear safety boots at work which probably doesn't help. He's office based but up and down the factory all day long. Sadly his weight definitely isn't helping! We have some Voltorol so I'll dig it out for him.