SCIATICA PAIN

[MAISIEMOO21]

Hi AllI have an on going Sciatica issue nothing seems to work.I have tried everything A friend suggested cortizone injections Has any one had this and if yes did it ease the pain

[10gingercats]

I saw an expert in sciatica at my local hospital and he arranged for me to have hydrotherapy. It worked.I had had dreadful sciatica for a few years at that point. I had approx 15 sessions. on the NHS. Some sessions were with a physio. then exercises on y own in the pool.No injections were suggested.

[MAISIEMOO21 in reply to 10gingercats]

Thanks I have not heard of hydrotherapyI have a physio appointment this Wednesday I will ask and see if it is available

I will keep you posted

[Ewloe]

I’ve got degenerate arthritis of spine with a degenerative scoliosis. Steroid injections were mentioned but as I’m on blood thinners and anti platelets the doctors won’t go there. He’s worried I’m at risk of bleeding into the joints injected.

[Mentdent]

The only thing that has ever worked for me in the long term was a set of core muscle exercises shown to me by a physiotherapist. It took a while to start working and if I don’t keep them up the sciatica comes back. I don’t think it’s any particular exercises that matter just the fact that I do them daily.

[MAISIEMOO21 in reply to Mentdent]

I have done exercises but not had a lot of successIt seems to come and go for no particular reason

I can go for a walk just a twinge then bang I have to stop and bend and twist and it will ease but then it is there for the rest of the day

I have no issues in bed or sitting

[Breesha]

Exercise is the key , local swimming pool class, stretching using door frame is good ,

[Shar28]

Hello, sciatica can be the worst pain ever in my experience! For me, the solution was the magic of a spinal neurosurgeon removing the bulging part of a disc and adhesions (sticky bits) on the nerves. And ongoing care from my fabulous chiropractor, who kept me able to work for years prior to surgery, referred me for MRI and surgery, via my GP, when I agreed to go ahead.

Best wishes in being sorted out soon.

[MAISIEMOO21 in reply to Shar28]

Thanks

[Mountwood]

I'm just recovering from my second bout of sciatica. The first was in December 2019 and was excruciating. I got no help from my surgery, but the local urgent care centre did at least give me Tramadol. Then someone suggested a chiropractor and it was the best thing I have ever done. She came out to see me at home on Christmas Eve followed by 3 more home visits, then a friend drove me to the chiropractic clinic twice, after which I was able to drive myself there. My second bout started two weeks ago and this time I didn't bother with the GP, just went straight to the chiropractor before it got any worse, and she has worked her magic again. Ibuprofen and paracetamol have been sufficient, and I haven't needed any painkillers for the last 3 days.

I know I have osteoarthritis in my lumbar spine with spinal stenosis which I suspect is the cause of my sciatica, and I now know which slight movement pinches the nerve and I shall avoid it. Looking back I realise that my real first attack was while on holiday in America many years ago for which the American doctor gave me a reducing dose of Prednisolone and I saw my own GP when I came home, but that was in the old days when you could actually get an appointment.

Many doctors don't approve of chiropractors, although some more enlightened ones will refer patients to them. I wouldn't be without mine.

Good luck, I hope you get better soon, and don't be afraid to think about consulting a chiropractor; they are professionals who take five years to train.

[MAISIEMOO21 in reply to Mountwood]

Thanks for you responseI have tried all chiropractor osteopath and physio

Nothing is reducing the pain

I am not taking any meds

Maybe that’s my problem

I am waiting for MRI scan result

[Qualipop in reply to MAISIEMOO21]

A good osteopath fixed me. He worked on the muscles rather than the joints.

[Shar28 in reply to Qualipop]

Chiropractors don’t just work on joints. A lot of the techniques they use are identical to physios and osteopaths and there’s a lot of massage! Also, they’re educated to Masters level as a basic standard whereas physios qualify with a standard Batchelor level degree.

[KBMosia]

For sciatica , you really do not need any injections. You could check with your physiotherapist To recommend excercises to do, you could check NHS choices for excercises to do at home, you could go to YouTube and find a myriad of excercises to do. Bottom line is to try natural means first before putting medicine in you.

[MAISIEMOO21 in reply to KBMosia]

Thanks Yes I agree about the meds

[Harefieldfan in reply to MAISIEMOO21]

👍

[daisy2311]

My partner saw an osteopath about his sciatica which was effective.

[Harefieldfan]

Thank you everyone for these helpful suggestions. I also suffer from sciatica and was hoping for an injection but now see why they won’t give me one. Core exercises help. Hydrotherapy sounds wonderful. How do you get that prescribed on the NHS?