Severe sciatica with RA

[ATBr]

I am getting significant lower back/hip pain with pain/pins and needles down my left leg to my foot. I have been referred for an MRI (next week). Might be caused by disc problem or ra inflammation. GP has talked about adding duloxetine or gabapentin to my methotrexate and benepali ra meds. Has anyone any experience, good or bad, on either/both duloxetine and gabapentin?

[medway-lady]

I know it’s not the same but I had this pain in same area and thought I’d cracked my hip bone. But it turned out to be Shingles and I spent 3 days in hospital getting pain under control. I had Pregabalin which helped a lot but it’s addictive although I didn’t care about that as long as it worked. It did work but took a few weeks to stop taking.

[ATBr in reply to medway-lady]

Thanks for your response 👍

[Spanelmad]

It does sound like a bulging disc ,you've nearly described me,I've got 2 discs bulging in the lumber spine effecting the S1 nerve plus another disc in my neck compressing the nerve to my left hand.I take pregablin 3 times a day , celexcocib twice a day and good old paracetamol and it keeps me moving . I also find a heat pad helps.

[ATBr in reply to Spanelmad]

Thanks for your reply, I suppose I will have to wait for the MRI to be sure.

[MydearSilasDog]

Hi, I have just been through a horrific week of pain and misdiagnosis until finally my Osteo thinks it is a hip flexor bursitis…. No drugs whatsoever have touched the pain and definitely not Gabapentin which they gave me on my first visit to hospital.

[ATBr in reply to MydearSilasDog]

Thanks for your reply

[helixhelix]

it would be good to hang on until the MRI if you can. Both those drugs can cause some pretty serious side effects and be hard to get off them. Better to see what is actually wrong and try to treat it mechanically or surgically to me. And keep the drugs as last reserve.

[ATBr in reply to helixhelix]

Thanks! Think that is probably for the best if I can.

[MistyDay]

I also have sciatica and right hip pain at the moment, and have had this for about 2 weeks. I also have RA. I am trying gentle exercises for these symptoms, deep heat and rest , and I take 2 naproxen and one co codamol daily. It is easing slightly but difficult straightening up.It is so easy to twist and bend and pull a muscle or put a disc out and have a bulging disc. It can take a long time to go. I am giving it a bit longer before seeing my GP. I hope your MRI recognises the problem and you have effective treatment.

[ATBr in reply to MistyDay]

Thanks very much. I am also trying gentle excercise, heat/cold to try and get relief but struggling to be honest. But think best waiting for MRI before doing anything more drastic.

[MistyDay in reply to ATBr]

Good luck with the scan. I have Benepali for my RA and Naproxen is also on my prescription. I only order it very occasionally. I only use it for occasional use, for maybe a week or 2 if my knee or neck hurts, which happens sometimes. If I need a painkiller I do buy the lowest strength (8 mg of codeine 500 paracetomol) from the chemist. One packet does me for a year as I only use them when pain is excessive. My back pain is now easing. I do have a soft collar and a knee brace which again I use occasionally. I think my neck, knee and back pain is often a result of sleeping in an awkward position or bending and twisting badly causing muscle strain. I do not think mine are linked with my RA. RA affects my hands , elbows, and feet.

[ATBr in reply to MistyDay]

Thanks for your response 👍

[YuzuShiso]

No experience with those medications, but I was prescribed Tramadol and muscle relaxants for similar pains after a fall which injured one arm in three places. Apparently I also twisted my back as I lost my balance and bounced between large, heavy moving boxes. The arm injury was dramatic with astonishing internal bleeding, but it was the lower back, which became increasingly painful over time, that was the more serious injury. MRI revealed traumatic injuries in three places, and I underwent emergency spine surgery a few days after the imaging.

[ATBr in reply to YuzuShiso]

How difficult for you. I hope the surgery sorted it out.

[YuzuShiso]

Long and complicated recovery. Just need to be patient. Joint issues are so complex when there’s RA involved. Hope the MRI provides helpful information for you.

[ATBr in reply to YuzuShiso]

Thank-you!

[Beviej]

I've taken 100 mg of gabapenten at night for bad disc in my neck.I also have low back pain with sciatica but the gab didn't help that.I do epidural inj for that.Also found some gentle stretches that help