Hi everyone! I'm new to this site and thought I'd give it a try as I'm having a pretty rough time with my sciatica at the moment. I've suffered with symptoms for about 7 years following just a simple strech believe it or not. My MRI scan shows no nerve root compression so my understanding is that over time, my anxiety/thoughts/fear avoidance of certain movements has worked up my pain system so I now have ended up with an extremely irritable sciatic nerve as a chronic problem. My hamstrings and sciatic nerve have become so tight and were always a problem area in regards to flare ups which didn't ever encourage me to stretch them!
Looking into more rounds of treatment with a new physio and referal to pain clinic. Currently taking 300mg gabapentin a day which isn't touching it.
Any advice for hope/coping/staying positive etc. or any advice at all would be appreciated!
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petlover1989
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Sorry to hear of your plight. I have myelopathy with compressed nerves in arms and left leg, so for me it's a question of management. I have found as well as meds 'hands on physiotherapy' which includes acupuncture has helped to relax the body. I do pay for this but find it's worth it. I also do pilates twice a week, online during covid, but hopefully returning to live classes. It's a nice friendly group. You may have access to this free from the pain clinic. I try to make myself walk a bit even when in pain just to keep mobile and swimming is meant to be good though I hate getting wet. Good luck, hope you feel better soon
Swimming definately helps me and likewise I try and force myself to go even when in pain! Acupuncture is something I did try, but a long time ago so it's worth another go. I'm hoping my new physio can offer good advice as he is known to take a physical/psychological/social approach. Thanks for your advice and best of luck in managing your condition too!
I also have issues with my right sciatic nerve you might want to try a muscle relaxer but be careful with them because they're strong it should help relieve some of the pain also try ice for 10 minutes and then mild Heat that should relieve the tension in the sciatic nerve even though it hurts to try to move around as best you can do not sit idle for long periods of time it only makes it worse hope this helps
Hi there, thanks for your reply! I'm glad that you're finding the gabapentin helpful. I think I may need to up the dose (with the ok from the GP) and fingers crossed it might have more of an effect.
Mornin petlover,it's frustrating when your carrying this with you when scans are negative.I ricked my back 8.5 yrs ago and both scans came back clear.For most of the last few yrs,I moved around a lot less,but this obviously only made things worse,resulting in numerous falls and balance issues.For just over a yr,I do a 10 minute stretch of my back,upper legs to get me more movement thru my back/legs.I think online yoga would agree with you,there's so much info online now.On the topic of gabapentin,not at all convinced with it.I take over the counter paracetamol as and when.If you keep your back moving and stretch it without overdoing it,hopefully you can bin the meds.Good luck with things.
A lot comes down to what muscles you are using, if you're not using the "right muscles" then you are using the wrong muscles which puts stress and strain on the rest of the body and causes all sorts of pains and tensions. As you say, it's natural to avoid movements if you think it'll hurt - consciously and subconsciously your body adjusts to avoid pain but that increases the stress on the body over time.
For the legs - 2 muscles to focus on:
Gluteus maximus - big ass muscles. Hands on buttocks feel for these muscles contracting.
Rectus femoris - muscles that should be like strong poles down the front of each thigh, aligning the hip and knee joints when fully active. Feel for the bump at the top of your shin bone, over your knee caps and up the front of your leg to your hip bone. This is the full extent of the rectus femoris muscles. Imagine a line from shin to hip and think of pulling your knee caps up to engage this muscle.
Using these muscles will allow the other muscles that have been over burdened to start relaxing and releasing.
It takes time and focus to correct longstanding problems but keep thinking about these muscles working together to support the legs through a full range of natural movement. You may become aware of the "wrong muscles" activating - for instance I used to feel the top of my hamstrings or my abdominal muscles tensing instead of my gluteus maximus - depending on what position I was in at the time.
The gluteus maximus and rectus femoris are 2 of the "5 main muscles of movement":
I'm sorry to here about you nerve problem. I can certainly empathise as I suffer from sciatica. I have a degenerative disease of my lumbar spine being the root cause. My personal opinion is that and neuropathic pain or chronic pain there seems to be a seismic shift in how pain is managed nowadays. The fact that you are thinking about your emotions to make a connection to the causation of your nerve pain I feel can lead you to having further issues with pain. Overthinking causes anxiety and stress that will certainly exacerbate your current issue. On the other hand engaging with your pain management specialists and getting professional advice would help. The course that you are put on that being the Biopsycosocial model which teaches you how to pace/distract which all helps towards you managing your problem more effectively. Although I agree to some extent regarding psychology helping towards pain without doubt but equally agree with treating pain as pain like they have for thousands of years with the many medications they have available to help. Anyway back to my experience with Gabapentin. I have been prescribed this for many years. I have had more issues with taking it than any medication. It is now a scheduled 3 controlled drug as I believe it should be. When I first took it I was very tired and disorientated. It took weeks for my body to accept it. In a medicinal manner I feel it has not done very much to help me although my opinion maybe slightly tainted as I ended up in A&E due to being perscribed a much higher dose which restricted my breathing. Remember this is my experience with it so don't be alarmed. Even though I had a severe reaction to it I am still taking 100mg 4 times a day. My advice would be take it with caution and as perscribed until you are used to it and get your pain clinic specialist to put you forward for the Biopsycosocial model course.
Hi, petlover. I have just started on medical cannabis for multiple pains, including sciatica, which I've had for nearly 2 years. Too early to say if it's helping, but will get back to you in about a month if you remind ne!
Hi petlover, magnesium saved my life of sciatica and crippling bedridden fibromyalgia. I use a company called betteryou and some of their products can be found in Holland and Barrett . I find the lotion easiest to apply and absorb. I put it on my stomach, arms and legs and even used to get my fantastic massage therapist to massage it into my whole body. It’s literally my miracle cure and also helps considerably with migraine . Try it. You have nothing to lose. I wish you luck
Hi pet lover 1989, unfortunately I have suffered with chronic sciatica in both legs for the past 15 yrs. Like you my MRIs come back clear, my nerve conduction test (EMG) came back as normal. I have been tested for Lupus also. I have tried everything you can think of and been everywhere both privately and NHS to help with the pain. The pain clinic have tried nerve blocks, etc, but were of no benefit. I take a cocktail of drugs to get through the day, Oramorph, Gabapentin, Tramadol, Amitriptylene, etc. I truly believe that I suffer from piriformis syndrome (look it up). The piriformis is a muscle in the glute, which can affect the sciatic nerve. The most accurate diagnosis for this is what is known as an MRN scan. The MRN shows placement of nerves. In the UK there are very few of these scanners, but I live in hope that one day I can go over to the USA and get one, just to show the Consultants, see there’s the problem. What are my options to fix it? It is just exhausting living with this, and for my family who feel helpless that they cannot help except massage, fetch, carry and mop up my tears. The only way I can get through the day is the hope tomorrow I may have a better day. I use ice packs a great deal of the time, do the yoga pigeon pose to stretch the piriformis and massage. Acupuncture by one of the top British Acupuncturist at UCLH London helped for no more than a few days. I had a 10 week course, but hey everyone is different, fingers crossed that it works for you! Hypnotherapy helped me for deep relaxation. Try if you can to keep mobile. Cycling I have been told exacerbates the pain from piriformis? Good luck hope you find relief.
Hi. Pet lover 1989 so sorry to hear about your siatica l too was diagnosed with siatica also trapped nerves in the bottom of my back , so so pain full my heart goes out to you,had siatica now for 2and half years , tried living a normal life. But some days were so hard ,anyway I finally get to get my operation next week Carnot wait, So I simperthighs with you
Hi Petlover1989, like many I feel your pain . I do have mechanical probs causing mine but pain from sciatic is yuk pain no matter how caused . I am not brilliant at staying positive nor as rigorous in my regime of exercise as Id like to be ...BUT.. I do know ,for me, if I hold a pelvic tilt and engage my core as much as I can during the day ie: when washing up,brushing teeth, walking , etc , it helps . Cycling I can do , walking Im rubbish at I do walk as much as possible but it is with sticks very slow and short ,but I do it . I use online pilates/exercise/ stretch videos ..I have a great utube collection . I love a massage as for me this increases my mental wellbeing and therefore my coping . Pacing Pacing Pacing along with Strecth Stretch Stretch are probably my key words ..but like i say , i'm not always great at it, i often get 'woe is me' often think of surgery and often back out lol. Best of luck to you , all i will say is give yourself tlc
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I do walk as much as possible but it is with sticks very slow and short ,but I do it . I use online pilates/exercise/ stretch videos ..I have a great utube collection 
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