Sciatica getting me down.

In my forties I could barely walk from sciatica. One private visit to an osteopath meant I was pain free. Not all osteopaths are excellent though.

It is misery I know. I had surgery in the end.

I put a microwave heat pad down the back of my trousers; and I also make sure that when I am sitting my back is arched backwards - any hint of a slump will make it worse.

PurplePixie As you've had the Sciatica for a long time now, and it's no better, I'd be inclined to ask your doctor about a steroid injection.

I've had a similar pain, only at the front of hip/groin, for 3 months. A Physio at the surgery insisted it's Osteoarthritis, and I was given exercises (which made it worse) and various painkillers, which had no effect. It now transpires that I've got a labral tear (of the cartilage around the hip) and am waiting to see someone at a Musculoskeletal clinic - have you been seen at one of those clinics?

Yup me too. Bit late to the thread but I'm trying to accept that at 60 and post-menopause, I might have to put up with the aches and pains for the rest of my life now...or should I?

I've been fit and healthy all my adult life - regular runner and walk/run with my dog. Been doing pilates until recently but since I turned 60 in November it all seems to be going downhill.

I have awful hip pain that makes my legs spasm and I don't sleep at night due to the spasms and constant need to get up and pee. I sprained my ankle over 4 weeks ago and it still isn't painfree.

Sex is becoming uncomfortable as I can't 'open my hips', and the skin down there is constantly sore.

I was going to the gym until I injured the skin where I've had a total mastectomy 20yy ago.

My parents are still going and in their late 80s. My fear now is that the aches and pains will be with me for the next 20yy, despite stretching and regular physio.

Is this it?

I think it's starting to go now. I'm much better this morning and able to stand and walk about. The pain is still there but less sharp and more numb so I can tolerate it.

Wish I know what it was I did to bring on this episode and I'd make sure not to do it again.

My sciatica is aggravated because I have a desktop PC and although my desk chair is comfortable and well-padded, I suffer! I bought one of those "special cushions" and carry it around the house when I change seats. This has really helped me.

I’ve had sciatica too and def sympathise. In the end I saw an osteopath for a few sessions which sorted mine and he gave me exercises and suggestions to avoid it coming back. So far, so good!

I have sciatica. I do two things, one is I visit a sports masseur and two, for immediate relief, grab a hard tennis ball or hard rubber ball, stand with your back to the wall and position the ball right over the sciatic nerve in your buttock and push back against the wall making very small circular moments, then immediately afterwards hot pad for 10 mins.

I feel for you!

I still have sciatica which is worse if I do manage to sleep for a few hours (am a poor sleeper). In other words, if I have been still in one position, this is what sets me off, so can't win (sciatica or sleep!).

Twenty plus years ago my sciatica came on relatively quickly and soon I couldn't stand the nerve pain which pulsed every second, so had surgery (but even that took three weeks to arrange as all the surgeons were away on holiday - school holiday season!).

Then, relatively pain free it has returned on the other side but not nearly as badly (my spine is disintegrating and pressing on the spinal cord - with also a tumour - but that's another story). When I feel a twinge I immediately do the stretching exercises first given to me and they really do help.

Back to you: please speak to your doctor and see if he will prescribe Pregabalin or Amitriptyline. Both are for nerve pain and really can help.

Keep up gentle walking but I was advised to stop as soon as the pain worsened. Sit somewhere (a garden wall, for example) for five - 10 minutes, then carry on and repeat if necessary. My physiotherapist told me not to walk and 'push through' the pain, as this would only make things worse.

Try not to carry anything heavy as you could feel an immediate uptick of your pain. Make several journeys if necessary but don't carry heavy weights.

I hope your doctor can prescribe some pain relief for you and oh, if it is of any use, I was told that many sciatica problems are self-limiting but can take a few years to completely dissipate..... It depends how much pain is too much for you.

I wish you the very best and when fully recovered from your surgery, can take painkillers directed at nerve pain, do the exercises to keep moving and slowly, hopefully, you will recover.

I already do a myriad of exercises both off the internet and from the GP.

I'm starting to feel a bit more mobile yesterday and today. I finally managed to get an Osteo appointment but not until the end of the week.

It was only a few days ago, I'm sure? I saw something on SM probably Insta about some exercises for Sciatica to relive the pain, I read it as I had it few years back.
Do a quick Google look, to see if it pops up, might be worth a go?

I've been trying to get in with an osteo but the availability of goods ones is very long.
I do all the exercise and tips and tricks that people recommend. Today my new firm bed arrived so I hope that will help.
A friend of mine recommended rubbing my painful areas with Voltarol and while it doesn't get rid of the pain it does seem to take the edge off. I've been more mobile today.

My only option was surgery.

You have my sympathy.
I've had it in the past after I'd been lifting heavy stuff.
Luckily after a few days and taking painkillers it went.
My son however has had excruciating pain with sciatica.
Couldn't walk, couldn't sit down. He had to stand even to eat his meals. He had to have a month off work.
He was given co-codamol which helped a bit but caused constipation. Not good if you have to strain to go to the toilet.
He was advised to get a heat pad. He got one from Amazon I think. you wrap it around the bottom of the back. I think you put it over thin clothing, in his case over his t-shirt. Different heat settings and gradually increase the amount of time you use it for. There's instructions with it.
He found it helped.
After having either a scan or x-ray, can't remember which now, they found that the gel in between his lower discs had worn away and grinding together.
You might be able to get steroid injections these days?
just copied and pasted this for you from google

What is the NHS injection for sciatica nerve pain?
Nerve root block injections can be used to diagnose and treat sciatica

I hope you get some relief very soon

Do try acupuncture. I found it very helpful

DH had sciatica for months, he saw a private physio at our NHS Dr's surgery who advised him to try amitriptyline, our Dr prescribed it and he hasn't had any pain since.

I'm going through a second bout of sciatica and it is so much worse than last time. I can't even stand for 30 seconds this time without it rushing to destroy my leg with pain.
I do the exercises but they don't seem to do anything.
I'm on Pregablin and Codeine but they only help so much. Of course the codeine has bunged me up so have to cope with that too.

I blame myself by trying to get fit and going back to classes at the gym. Pretty sure I over did it and woke it up.

All I want to do is go to bed and stay there but you have to move about. It's excruciating. Makes me cry. I'm feeling very sorry for myself.

Don't get to see the specialist doctor for the proper diagnosis for 3 weeks.

I have searched through the information pack after the hysterectomy but no exercises were given. I’m going to phone my drs on monday. Thank you everyone for you sound and kind advice.

Were you given a few exercises to do after your hysterectomy? Maybe in an information pack? Do you have telephone numbers of support nurses?

if you can do it then roll a golf ball up and down on the spot. stand against a wall if it is your back/thigh

Chronic pain is absolutely miserable. Sympathies. It seems as if you have been through a lot and sometimes the body shouts out a bit.
Acupunture is well worth a try in my humble opinion.

I get sciatica now an again but the first time I had it, it lasted nearly 6 months. The only thing that helped me was acupuncture. The first time I went I was in so much pain I struggled to get on the therapists couch. The second time she suggested I brought a friend and she inserted the needles with my friend supporting me to stand. By the third session I felt great.

purplepixie I am sorry for you I know the pain of sciatica well. I was prescribed Progabalin for my persistent pain- couldn't sit couldn't lie at one point. Its been really helpful. I do have to be careful about sitting for long periods and sitting on hard benches or chairs. Exercise does help if you keep it up. I hope you get some relief.

How are your feet? Good and strong or do you have dropped arches? Might you need orthotics insoles or a lift in one shoe?

Sciatica is horrible and I find it comes and goes. Do be careful what exercises you're doing after your hysterectomy, cautious and gentle as recommended by the physiotherapist. I'm not sure about walking, yoga might be good though.

Sorry to hear about your sciatic problems ....... I have no advice but wanted to send you these and hope it goes away as soon as possible x