Apart from R.A, and all the medication with it I have now got really bad sciatica cannot sit still or stand up for long only relief is lying on a hard floor has anyone gone through this and know of any suitable pain relief. My doctor has given me Valium to be taken 4 x a day and its done nothing am phoning doc in morning but would love to know if anyone has any adcice if there is medication for the sciatic nerve to calm it down it look like it is a perforated disc pressing on it I would be very gratefull for any comments.
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14penny
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Hi Penny, I really sympathise with you, sciatic pain is horrendous, and you can't get away from it . I had it really bad for quite a while a couple of years ago, I had lots of other pain, lower back , and sciatic pain Dr at pain clinic decided I needed sacrealiac joint (sort of lower back) injections, cortisone based I think, miraculously the sciatica has eased significantly, nothing like it used to be, mainly now if I sit for long especially on a hard chair. Do you attend Chrinic pain Clinic, if not it might be worth asking for a referral , the doctors there seem to understand pain more. I'm having a lot of pain with knee and connective tissue and also bottom of spine and surrounding tissue, feel like sat on a golf ball, some is also arthritis related, Had a visit from occupational Therapist and told her and she's referred me straight back to pain clinic doctor to see what he can do, which is more than my GP did There on17th July so fingers crossed .I hope you find some relief from it soon
Hi thanks for reply I do attend the pain clinic but for lower back pain but the sciatica is a new pain so I might ring them for an earlier app as sitting here now in agony. I do hope you get sorted out as well it is so good to talk to people on this site going through the same thing noebody realy understands till they get it good luck and thanks for the reply
Hi my husband has had it for about 8 weeks .he gets the normal pain right downfrom buttocks down leg .but he.s in agony with a pain he gets in his calf .he says its like a knife .and some toes on that foot are numb.wierd .but he win.t gi to doctors.otherwise healthy.
Oh you poor soul! Sciatica is truly horrible. I've had it on and off since my youngest was born (many years ago. Lord but I'm old). Part of the problem is that you can get referred pain anywhere on that nerve and those two are the longest we've got. My dad was a physio and he suggested pinning a rolled towel around the waist for support in bed and once it had settled a bit to do the back extension exercises to strengthen the muscles supporting the spine. Until then, the pain clinic, steroid shots etc. Wishing you better. Huge hugs
Exercise Ball. It helped me, when i had a prolapsed disk a couple of years ago & my sciatic nerve was being pinched by the prolasps. It was the only time i could sit comfortably.
Check your vitamin D blood levels 14Penny to rule them out. My sciatica went almost overnight once on a high, but safe dose of D3, (not saying everyone's sciatica is linked to low/deficient vitamin D levels)
Thank you coastwalker I will check when see doc next, she has put me on Gabapentin low dose and I've not noticed any difference so far will try and give D3 a go. Thanks for replying Annie
This vitamin D Information website is brilliant and also there is information on dosing, the dosing levels vary quite a bit from NHS. I take a high, but safe dose of 5,000iu D3, daily. For me the 1000iu D3 my Doctor prescribed was not enough.
Hi, Penny, I do hope it starts to settle down, people have no idea how awful the pain is with sciatica . I was also give Gabapentin for the fibro and nerve and muscle pain I had my dose raised quite high and all I got was side effects on top of the pain Lots of people swear by it especially for nerve pain, we are all different so good luck I was also given gentle stretching exercises, worth a try but don't overdo it One I was given was to stand on bottom step(shoes on) with back half of foot overhanging and just gently lower heels down and back up , if that makes sense! Must go, just setting off for Cambridge for our granddaughters graduation Looking forward to it, hope doesn't start ! Sitting is quite painful anyway, but worth it ! Regards Sandra x
I had it down both legs from the hip it was agony coudnt walk or sit i didnt know what to do with myself ended up getting an operation and they shaved a couple of discs but i am left with back pain that i just have to live with but no where near as bad as the sciatica as it is not nerve pain hope you get some relief from it soon.
Thanks for your reply I am now taking Gabapentin which is slightly helping I feel sorry for you having this awfull pain down both sides and glad your coping a bit better now after your op.
h i take 4 pregabalin 75mg a day. they help but i need to take 2 amitriptyline,for bed time to,but i am awake 4 hours later,but i do go back off in about 10 minutes,
sorry i should have said how sorry i am for and wish you well,a hot water bottle help too.and i forgot to i rub.flexseq on too,it a bit dear.but good.best wishes
Amongst other problems I have a prolapsed S7 disk and have 6 monthly Caudal Epidural of steroids, the relief is wonderful. Unfortunately it wears off just after 5 months, I have to live with the agony and total inability to move without any warning, until I get the next one.
In my case the sciatica goes all the way from my spine, down both legs and appears in my achilles tendon, I have to just stop and wait for it to subside, however long that takes.
You might want to approach your GP about this, my alternative was an operation to fuse the spine which carries the risk of permanent nerve damage and almost complete disability. Nothwithstanding the risks associated with the injections, osteopenia being the one I now have, the benefits in being able to move around rather than stuck in a chair or suffering while standing still, are from my point of view worth it.
This is something you should discuss with your GP and pain consultant, who actually performs the proceedure, as to which option is the best to go for and I am acutely aware that while the operation is immediately expensive the course of injections over the years will be more, even if they don't discuss the cost element with you it is something the practice will be aware of. It will be for you to decide which is the better option in the long term, for you, don't let the cost element influence your decision on the right treatment for your case.
Good luck and I hope you don't have to suffer it for much longer.
I have every sympathy with you, having suffered severely with this myself. Apart from the specifically medical view, for what it is worth a healthy bowel can ease the pain. Conversely, bowel problems do seem to increase the pain. Good luck.
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