Sciatica - any helpful advice please

Try the back stretcher/ massager I mentioned earlier.

I do the hamstring exercises while I’m cleaning my teeth.

These are the exercises my chiropractor showed me.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxIeqiyYZkQ

I've tried lying on a rolled up towel which I suppose is a spin-off from the Back Stretcher Avalon recommends, but found it very uncomfortable. Thats why I wondered if an elderly, not very flexible, 80 year old might find it unhelpful.
May I be cheeky and ask Avalon if you're fairly young and still flexible?
(ps I've also tried acupuncture which did work but only temporarily - for about 3 - 4 weeks)

I was given Zapain and Ibrupofen pills by the doctor to help my sciatica. I had to stop the zapain after 4 days as my bowels stopped working(!) but carried on with ibuprofen. 4 weeks later I’m ok again. I hope your pain passes soon, it’s terrible isn’t it?

I had a terrible bout of sciatica at the start of lockdown. The best instant relief that worked was to lie on the floor with one's lower legs supported on a low table or chair. This gives respite as there's no weight on the lower back or thighs, and even lasts a bit longer than for while you're doing it. Otherwise, alternate heat and cold pads, heat and cold ointments, and painkillers especially ibuprofen to relieve inflamation and paracetamol because you can. Walking is good but I found some stretches that should work didn't.

I had an excellent physio I paid initially as tge wait for NHS was horrendous, I also bought a tens machine from Amazon in desperation and it really helped. I’d certainly advise getting to see a doctor though.

Have you had xrays of your spine? I'm only 63, but have arthritis in hips and knees and just recently also in my lower spine - which is triggering my sciatic nerve just like a prolapsed disc would do.

Please see your GP. This could be hardening of the arteries - you might need statins or aspirin to reduce cholestrol

Acupuncture took my pain away in 3 sessions. It must be the original Chinese method.

I do the exercises online from NHS website to release the nerve, it works, it takes 3-5 to ease from the soreness. Didn’t go to Dr as it was clear what it was.

I had sciatica for months. I couldn't stand, sit or walk without pain. A cooling mat on the chair gave some relief sitting but the best thing I got was a gel seat cushion. I saw the physio and had gentle stretching exercises. Hope you aren't plagued for too long.

I have found that taking magnesium tablets and using a magnesium spray helps a lot. Holland and Barratt stock the spray.

This happened to me a few of years ago. I will start by saying this was in my early 60's. I was decorating a bedroom and emulsioning above a fitted wardrobe and was sort of having to twist sideways. I came down off the ladder and tried to pull the ladder towards me and that was when the pain started! I went to the GP who said it would probably last about 6 weeks and gave me painkillers that didn't touch the pain. I couldn't weight bear on my right leg so in desperation went to a Chiropractor. I spent a small fortune there and the relief only lasted about 30 minutes! I used heat pads on my back too. Nothing seemed to work. Then one day I had eaten something which made me nauseous. I sort of staggered to the bathroom and lurched towards the basin and heaved to be sick. This action released the pinched nerve and gave instant relief! I swear that if it ever happens again I will swallow salt water and make myself sick. Sorry if this is a bit graphic but I swear it is the truth!

Try the yoga exercise PIGEON. Find it on Google
I have found this very helpful
If unable to do it on the floor try leaning on a wall and move the affected leg across your body supporting it from below
Good luck

I have sciatica a lot, two things help me a lot. Sports massage and using a hard tennis ball to massage top of buttocks, sounds weird, you position it behind your buttock right on the nerve and then sort of wriggle around so the ball presses and massages your nerve. Also there are some great stretching exercises on the internet.

I had sciatica this time last year, for more than three months, after falling down the stains on my bottom. I couldn't put my shoes and socks on, any bending was very painful and I had trouble sleeping as I couldn't get comfortable at night.
My GP wasn't much use so I went to see a physio who recommended that I try osteopathy. The first session did help a little, though I was still in pain most of the time. The exercises were similar to those in the message from 62Granny but also included lying on my back, pulling my knees up and hugging them. I did them every day.
Around Christmas I had flu and spend a week taking it easy, lolling on the sofa. This actually did more for me than any of the exercises or painkillers and I suggest that you try taking the weight off your back with your feel up.

sorry, mistyped, "fell down the stairs".

Sciatica pain is hideous to put it mildly. When I had it a few years ago I persuaded my doctor (in the good old days when you could actually get to see your doctor) to send me to see someone who specialised in sciatica and he gave me some injections (now can't remember what they were called) but they worked and about 6 months later I had more injections - and, touch wood, have had no more trouble since. The injections altered the neural pathways or something like that.....!

For FRanbern, you 99.99% have sciatica. And yes it's a bl**dy nuisance, in my case a buggered disc (I believe the correct term is herniated) with what should be the middle bit pressing on the sciatic nerve. My case sounds very similar to Omaoma57. There's a body diagram somewhere on the i'net where you can link the pain to the actual disc?

Exercises should help, try a physio, or these days investigate via Google? I'd suggest a chiropractor, not an osteopath, who might be able to get you realigned if needed?

As several have said, painkillers and/or anti-inflammatory can help, BUT -- DO BEWARE using anything with Codeine in it, as the side-effects can have dramatic consequences for your toileting arrangements?!

Some people have had major benefits from a TENS machine, quite cheap and sends pulses into your back to ease the muscles which have seized up.

Going through this myself at the moment. Started in mid August and then just got worse. Never felt pain like it.
Now on paracetemol and codeine phosphate. A week or two ago the visiting physiotherapist prescribed weekly patches of morphine and I feel as though I am getting somewhere and some sleep at last.

Hope you soon get some relief Franbern.

Franbern, I am very sorry to hear of the pain you are going through with sciatica. I went through a terrible time with it. It started first on my right leg then moved after a few weeks to my left leg and then back to my right leg. I could not stand or walk on leg without shooting pains up my leg, thigh and buttocks. I was in daily agony. I had physiotherapy, and acupuncture and my GP put me on very strong dosage of co-codamol which helped ease the pain but caused many stomach problems & mental fog. Eventually, I was referred to the hospital's neurology department and had a CT scan with a steroid injection. The steroid injection helped enormously with the intense pain. I was told by the consultant to have one every six months but thankfully I did not need to do that. Although I still have spasms and twitches every now and then in my lower spine, right buttock & leg it the pain is certainly not as bad as before the steroid injection. Having the steroid injection was a lifesaver for me. I do recommend it.

I have had good results from McTimony chiropractor for sciatic pain.... also given exercises to do. For knee trouble and later achilles tendon, I attended a physiotherapist who also does acupuncture. Sorted both instances and exercises to do. If you are going to a therapist, Franbern, it might be good to get a copy of xray to show where you had a fracture?

When I had sciatica years ago, acupuncture was the only thing that worked at all, I was surprised because I wasn't expecting it to work. It didn't last a long time, but it provided some much needed relief from the pain. It cleared up eventually.

Thanks to eveeryone who has replied. I am doing the exercises from the NHS sheet and I am sure they are helping me,

INterestingly, I had an emergency appointment with my GP yesterday afernoon with regard to a totally different, more serious problem. Before I left her, I did mention that I had sciatica and was there anything other than the exercises that she wuld advice me. No, she told me, nothing she could do, just do the exercises,

Do not think she even noted it down in my notes.

Franbern there is an article in The Telegraph about the 10 best things to do for lower back pain. It also mentions the NHS are making available exercise sheets which you have and also video tutorials. Once again I do suggest the back stretcher and massager which has really helped me.