Siatic pain

[2Baby2019]

Hi has any suffered siatic pain? Neee tips it’s going to be a long night I can’t sit or lie down without pain

[Kata89]

Yes!

I used heat patches they really helped. Don’t use sprays or creams but heat patches (or a hot water bottle) I think was ok. It got me through it

[firsttimemumat44]

A year ago, I came out of the shower and, when I was lifting my leg to put my underwear on, I felt a sharp, burning pain on the side of my lower back and couldn’t move anymore. In that crooked position, I was helped into seating on the edge of my bed, which, unknown to me, I wouldn’t be able to leave for days to come.

My tips for the first few hours:

1. Use the full painkiller armoury available. Use full doses at regular intervals and combine different painkillers. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) and ibuprofen can be taken simultaneously and work well together (as long a you are not allergic and there are no contraindications, of course).

2. Local heat (heat pads, hot water bottles, hot bean bags) helps a lot.

3. Rest in bed with your knees supported by two pillows underneath (knees slightly bent). This position eases the pull in the back where the pain is usually worst. Although you might not feel much of a difference in this position to begin with, it truly helps in the medium-longer term.

4. Let others help you. Sciatic pain is an indication of the nerve having been pinched at some point along its trajectory and, whether you know or not the specific cause of this pinching, do not take any chances trying to play hero and potentially making it worse in intensity or duration. The nerve must have proper rest to recover and trying to resume activities when the pain is still strong is the wrong course of action.

5. If you don’t improve in terms of pain or range of activities with all the measures above after 2-3 days, seek medical advice. You may need injections or additional medication to help relax the skeletal structures surrounding the nerve. Also, you may need an X-ray to assess the lumbar spine.

6. Surround yourself with things to keep your mindset positive and healthy. Scented candles, a good book, your favourite tv show, wholesome food, plenty of fluids to drink. If you live alone, this might be the time when you have to summon your friends or family for help and good company.

My episode lasted a full two weeks of utter immobility in bed, being carefully helped up to go to the restroom, which I found excruciating. After that, my pain started to ease and lasted for a full month, only partially controlled by all the measures above. Forget about exercise or lifting any weight (boxes, leaning to pick up stuff from the floor, etc).

Bonus tip: invest in taxis/cabs. Your body will thank you for it.

[2Baby2019]

Ok thankyou pain has gone again for now. Don’t really want to take pain killers as I’m 20 weeks pregnant and also have a 3 year old to take care of. I think it must of been the baby on a nerve as I couldn’t sit or lie at all last night.

[Georgielouise]

I get it too but not too bad , I think the bigger I get the worse it will get...I find a nice hot bath works. Also a gentle walk .