Sciatica

[sazlav83]

Anyone else suffer sciatica on top of everything else? I am in agony down my left leg and can't seem to get any relief. Any tips to ease it a bit?

S xx

[Nessa28]

I feel for you I have it constantly on right leg and occasionally on left . It does calm down a bit normally after a steroid injection on the hip bursar . That's not a lot of help sorry I find a hot water bottle helps a bit and to keep walking helps it's when it starts affecting my foot is when I start moaning . I wish you well . There are sciatic stretches on YouTube that ease it a little 🤗🤗

[Gnarli]

Could you ask to be referred to physiotherapy? They would be able to give exercises to strengthen your core muscles and so support your back. A back support or a rolled up towel pinned around your waist at night can help too. My lovely daughter gave me a microwave hottie which is on a broad belt - it looks like a weightlifter's belt - and that is very comforting. I can't remember what the brand name is but was bought from Amazon. I hope this helps. Hugs

J

[Hidden]

An exercise ball helps me no end.

[AgedCrone]

I agree with Gnarli...see a physio........I got some stretching exercises & if I start them as soon as the pain starts they can head it off.

[Gigi71]

Good advice from Gnarli, I also buy heat patches to be worn under clothes, very helpful especially when you are out. X

[jkeluk]

Feel for you it's so painful. I have sciatica in both legs. Had it for a long time and then my mobility was greatly reduced. Waiting for a physio apt. and MRI scan. In the meantime I am taking Gabapentin for the nerve pain, and it has taken the pain away...….my doctor gave me a plan to increase the capsules every week. They take a little while to kick in, but to be out of that excruciating pain is a dream come true x

[Beviej in reply to jkeluk]

Gabapentin,PT,predisone dose pack helped mine a few yes ago.

[wishbone]

My mobility was also greatly reduced when I had excruciating sciatica on top of my worst ever RA flare!! No chance whatsoever of attending let alone participating in physio. Tramadol/paracetomol, Diclofenic suppositories did next to nothing for the pain. The only thing that that helped was morphine sulphate for the pain and diazepam as a muscle relaxant. As if I wasn't in enough trouble, the icing on the cake arrived shortly after when the morphine made me seriously constipated. I leave the rest to your imagination. Enuff to say it was absolute hell for several weeks and the worst prolonged pain I've ever been through!

Hope your sciatica eases soon.

[sazlav83]

Thanks so much everyone, going to try and get a physio app booked, have another week and a half before I finish up work for the summer and I can't possibly put up with this! I am a serious grump with just getting no let up or being able to find any comfort. I'm like blooming tiny tears the last few days, definitely having a pity party for one! 🙈

S xx

[terreelynn in reply to sazlav83]

I have had the same pain for 6+ months now, after seeing 3 Drs and having a MRI, I found out I have a cyst on my spine right on the sciatic nerve. Tomorrow I am going on for a procedure to drain the cyst and hoping for the next day to be able to wake without the searing pain. If you haven't had this checked, you might ask???? Good luck

[Gigi71]

I really feel for you. I am waiting for an appointment with the pain clinic, they are like gold dust, hoping for an injection, even if they are temporary, any relief !!!! Good luck x

[Suzy-P]

I get sciatica in my right leg - used to take painkillers etc but now go to a chiropractor for treatment. It’s pretty painful having the treatment but it works wonders for me - you would need a recommendation for someone in your area who knows how to treat sciatica but they should be able to give you relief almost immediately.

[Maggsie]

I was suffering with sciatica last year and got reffered to physio, she was really good and did some pressure relief massage on my bum which worked a treat. She also gave me a great tip. Go buy a ball, tennis size but a bit harder, and when you feel it start, put the ball between you bum and the wall and roll it around until you find the pressure point. ( you'll know when you do because it hurts in your bum but gives relief down your leg) press and hold this position until it stops hurting. Works a treat for me and as soon as I feel it coming back I do it straight away. Hope this helps.

[Beejay1]

I had this when on methotrexate

It was worse after every injection Stopped methotrexate and the sciatica stopped Hopefully you will get it sorted out 😊

[dbestdeb]

Yes, I have it too and the worse my RA flare, the worse the back/leg pain. For me, shoes matter a lot. I discovered the pain was worse with certain shoes, but it was tricky figuring it out because the relief wasn’t immediate. It took several days of not wearing them before the pain would start to fade. They weren’t all necessarily the shoes you would expect either, so experiment for yourself.

I also discovered that if I cross the painful leg, with the ankle resting on the other knee, and draw the foot closer to my body, I get relief. Of course I save this for a good day otherwise it just adds knee and ankle pain to the mix.

I hope you are able to find some relief soon.

[sazlav83]

Thank you all again for your replies, the advice is great, just hateful to see so many other people suffering the same! I've been taking arcoxia 90mg, although seemingly to no avail and have booked a physio app for tomorrow. It can't come quick enough. The pain is wild!!!!! Very very hard to get myself up and going when in such agony 😖

[keeta]

Hi sazlav83. I have had sciatica over the years which has lasted from a week to 6 months .this bout at the moment .i have had since last dec .the pain down my left leg is awfull.when i walk i.m ok for a shirt time then the pain starts and the limp.but the worst part is sitting and trying to stand after sitting.i can.t put any pressure on my leg and the pain is terrible. The last xray showed a big deteriation in the OA in my lower back.GP sent a letter to the back specialist last april .heard nothing since. So i do feel for you love because i.m really struggling now .gentle hugs x

[sazlav83 in reply to keeta]

Aw keeta, that's such a long time to be feeling so sore. Awful for you 😢

The physio I saw was really great. He did some ultrasound therapy and some electric wave pulses to try and calm the nerve. I've been following the exercises and advice he gave regarding sitting, standing and sleeping positions too and the pain has become a bit more bearable. I wish I could say it was gone but I'd say that's a good while off.

I really wish some ease for you. It's hugely exhausting to be in such pain.

Gentle hugs right back at you xxxxx

[keeta in reply to sazlav83]

Thanks so much love .it is a long wait for an app. And pain killers i have for RD don.t help .hope you are feeling better soon love .xx👍

[sazlav83 in reply to keeta]

The physio mentioned amitripyline to me, said it was great for nerve pain? My livers not doing great at the minute on the mtx so docs reluctant to give me anything else but have you tried it?

Xxx

[willat in reply to sazlav83]

I take amitripoline alongside opiodes and it provides a better nights sleep than without.

[keeta]

Yes i take that for my RD of a night because i was in so much pain i couldn.t sleep .maybe i could take one in morning .i will ask .thanx love xx

[Swanfull]

Try a tens machine it eases it. llyods chemist do a good one £20