Sciatica pain

[Seascapes31]

I've had unbearable sciatica pain on top of my fibro, all down left leg, I'm using an elbow crutch to help me walk but also waiting to see specialist physio could take up to 10 weeks! I've been put on amiltryptiline 20mg per night as well as already being on pregablin 300mg x 2 daily and then cocodamol to try and keep on too of it, life has become even more difficult than it already was....just wondering if anyone hlse can relate to my issues?

[Nelly1]

Hi Seascapes

Yes I get it down my right leg constantly.

I wasn’t sure if it was Fibro related or whether it was my ankylosing Spondylitis.

I feel your pain, it’s non stop.

I wake it several times during the night with severe stabbing pains, sometimes I can’t even walk on it or put any pressure on it.

Take care

[ynot68 in reply to Nelly1]

Hello Nelly when you say stabbing pain is it in your leg

[Nelly1 in reply to ynot68]

Hi, yes it’s just below my right buttock and shoots down my leg

[Seascapes31 in reply to Nelly1]

Sounds so painful and constant pain very debilitating so I really feel for you take care x

[KateMaguire]

Hi,

I really sympathise, I have just had my coccyx removed as I suffered severe coccydynia for 6 years and couldn't find anything to stop it,steroid injections, sacrial joint manipulation, nerve block, nothing worked for longer than 6 weeks so I suffered both the pain of coccydynia and sciatica in my left side and right down to my toes in my left leg. Although I have just had the surgery-2 days ago so am still in discomfort from the operation and will be for a few weeks I'm hoping for a miracle end to just one of my ailments! Sciatica is a horrible pain to cope with but touch wood and whistle- I have not got it at the minute-so far,so good. Hope you find a solution xx

[DoubleMalibu in reply to KateMaguire]

sounds like you have been through a lot of pain and done your best to cope, I wish you a good recovery after your op Kate.

[Seascapes31 in reply to KateMaguire]

Sending very best for your recovery and it resolves your pain x

[KateMaguire in reply to Seascapes31]

Thanks!

[Polly-S]

Hi Seascapes,I am in almost similar position. The symptoms started early December and by Christmas time I was loosing my mind.

Got diagnosed with Sciatica end of January and have Physio appointment for end of March.

If someone else tell me that I have to exercise I will explode...

Take Care of yourself and do whatever helps you

[Seascapes31 in reply to Polly-S]

I hear you, exercise is all well and good but it's also excruciating, everything crossed for you feeling better and getting good outcome from seeing physio x

[DoubleMalibu]

Yes I can relate to your post, I was in unbearable pain last year, from right buttock all the way down to my foot, the pain when at its worst was up there with child birth, I’ve had several serious labours so I’m not saying that lightly! It was horrendous, was housebound with it, couldn’t do anything.

At its peak it was a full line of pain from buttock to foot and I couldn’t stand still, or sit or bend my leg at all, I had to keep moving and somehow walk through the pain, in bed I struggled to get in & out or find a sleeping position, had to remb my breathing routine from when I gave birth too as I’d get to the point of lightheaded with the severity of pain, and I’m someone who has learnt to lived with M.E and fibromyalgia and carry pain daily, while raising my children, I have IBS so can’t have strong pain killers either.

My Gp was so inept, I ended up sorting everything myself, as pain was unbearable, I eventually got an Nhs physio telephone appointment! Got sent exercises via email, pain was too severe to attempt the exercises at first, but with pain killers and deepheat cream I attempted the exercises twice a day, they helped with keeping my back less stiff, but didn’t help with the sciatica pain much, I then had 6mths to wait for a scan, the pain was intense but no longer a full line of pain, but then both my parents got taken into hospital for 4mths & I was having to drive 3hrs to see them each week, as one would be critical, then the other. Only hot showers & pain relief got me through the journeys! I felt physically sick with the pain of the long drives to the hospital to see them. The 4months were a blurr of intense pain & heartache over my ill parents & long car journeys.

I eventually got my scan last Nov, I could hardly walk after 40mins being scanned laid on a hard scanner table, as I came out the clinic, my phone rang and I was told my dad had 3mths left, 3wks later I got a call from the head physio with my scan results, but I had to write them down & couldn’t take in what he told me, as only hrs before I’d been told by the palliative care nurse my dad wouldn’t survive the next few days, my mind was on how I could drive the 3hrs to get to my dad, it was less than 2wks before Christmas and i never come back to those notes of my scan results until January after Dad’s funeral, as I was visiting mum who was still in hospital.

Turns out I have a cyst compressing on the sciatic nerve, that’s probably why the physio exercises weren’t helping me.

I’ve been referred to a spine surgeon but that’s now a 6 month wait just to be seen.

The pain of it is too much at times, along with the M.E & fibromyalgia, and a few other conditions, but I’m a mum and just have to get on with it for now.

Have you seen a gp? Have they been understanding & helpful.

What is the ‘specialist physio’ you have mentioned?

[Seascapes31 in reply to DoubleMalibu]

Omg you have certainly been through it, the specialist physio is able yo refer me for mri etc which the usual physio can't, this is what my gp said, I really hope this gets sorted for you and stops your pain, pain is absolutely debilitating when it's continuous isn't it x

[DoubleMalibu in reply to Seascapes31]

thanks and hope your MRI gives you some answers, so you can get the help you need.

[Beverley1956]

yes I have it down both legs, but my right one is the worst. I can’t sleep with the pain, seen my GP yesterday and all he suggested was to get into a hot tub 😱 even GPS don’t care.

[Seascapes31 in reply to Beverley1956]

That's not going to help much, are you able to self refer to physio in your area?

[Darjeelingtea]

I had bad sciatica after a fall 20 years ago. McTimoney chiropractic (a gentle form of chiropractic) helped at the time but it recurs occasionally - the last major occurrence was 6 years ago when I could hardly walk. CBD oil helped, also yoga therapy. I'm training in yoga therapy myself now and I really think it has so much to offer people in chronic pain. You could google and see if there's a qualified yoga therapist near you. I hope you find something that works, it's such a debilitating pain.

[Seascapes31 in reply to Darjeelingtea]

Thank you so much for your reply, I'll look those up.Can I ask how to order cbd oil? X

[Darjeelingtea in reply to Seascapes31]

I bought mine over the counter after advice from a knowledgeable man who ran the health shop. It was expensive - from memory £60 for a smallish bottle but it worked almost instantly and - touch wood - I haven't had a recurrence for ages, just the occasional twinge. There are loads of brands and I can't remember the one I got but make sure it's high strength and bio available.

[Seascapes31 in reply to Darjeelingtea]

Thank you! I'll look into it

[Darjeelingtea]

Just to say yoga therapy doesn't always involve physical movement, though it probably will in a gentle way. A lot of it is breathing techniques and other ways of accessing the nervous system to help regulate our entire system in ways that promote healing.

[Seascapes31]

I used to do yoga years ago, I like the idea of being able to access the nervous system through breath👍

[Darjeelingtea in reply to Seascapes31]

It really works! And has such great benefits. Our bodies and minds are amazing.

[paula9087]

Hi Seascapes31 sorry hear you are having a rough time of it. I suffer with sciatica on times myself, I find I really have to be careful in my movements bending stretching, lifting and turning because any awkward movement can trigger it also fibro flare can also trigger it off. I do gentle exercises, stretches and aqua in the referral group that is made for people who have limited abilities, your doctor has to refer you and it’s done in the local leisure centre. I find it helps me a lot and you get to know other people who may have same condition as yourself.

[Seascapes31 in reply to paula9087]

Thank you, I will look into that and yes I try gentle stretches too, I would like try aqua, hope things go well for you x