Husband been in agony with bulging disc and sciatica for 10 days now. Had two chiropractor sessions. Been on nurofen and paracetamol plus without relief. Dr gave him Naproxen so taking that with paracetamol. Hasn’t slept for longer than 3 hrs over 10:days can’t sleep in bed hardly walking doing light exercises he was given when he can.
Any ideas . Normally fit healthy runs and walks exercises.
Thanks
Debbie
I have chronic sciatica and yes the pain is excruciating when it flares. Try things such as alternate hot and cold compresses. Stretching can help. They recommend keeping walking but when I am bad as your husband sounds that is nearly impossible.I find gentle stretching exercises in a swimming pool helps plus I walk around in the water when water is chest height. As improves I do gentle swimming-breast stroke. It can be worse before eases so need to keep going. BUT only spend max 20 mins in pool otherwise can hurt too much afterwards.
I have tried chiropractor but after 2 sessions felt she was making it worse. I did find some relief from an osteopath.
Thank you for your reply. Yes he thinks chiro has made it worse. Doing gentle exercises they gave but now Dr said stop. He has Diazepam and codeine to add for a few days to see if it can get him walking and sleeping. Best Wishes to you.
Debbie
When my sciatica flares up, the Dr. Prescribed a course of Prednisone. Provides so much relief, I can actually walk without tears!
My private chiro uses acupuncture methods. It can be excruciating some times but that's when the needles are working. That and the regular physio has helped me so much. But I see him most weeks and have for two years to really shift the general fog of pain and leave me clear to assess, monitor and seek treatment for the specific nerve entrapment that keeps knocking the system over. NHS chiro services are pretty much useless. And if his disc is clamping a nerve sufficiently that soft tissue and anti inflammatory methods won't let it heal enough, then he needs injections of an op of some sort. It's a tough journey. I hope he finds some management techniques to help along the way
Hi, really sorry your husband is in pain and I sympathise. I have a slipped disc and a bulging disc together with severe degeneration of lumbar spine. My back isn’t suitable for any kind of surgery. I do non-weight bearing exercises in the bed and I have trained myself to sleep on my back only. It’s difficult but can be done.
He needs something for the nerve pain, which is like fire coursing through the body. Has he asked hos doctor about Gabapentin or Pregabalin? I find Gabapentin quite effective for my nerve pain. Please don't let the doctor fob your husband off. That's what happened to me and I ended up with permanent nerve damage in my leg and a dropped foot.
Hi sciatica is a nightmare. Have had 5 spinal ops. When my backache started though I went to a musculoskeletal specialist who was very good. It’s a good first port of call. He will prescribe something for the pain and recommend exercises. If his exercises etc don’t help he can send you for a MRI and take it from there.I now find most comfort in Alexander Technique, which has helped me a lot (but only a very good one on one teacher is any good in my opinion). And however painful it is walking is the best exercise.
Hi Emma,Yes think scan may be next step. Got a cocktail of meds right now.
Yes he is frustrated walks miles and runs 10 k a week normally. in fact it was putting his walking shoes on that started this when he put his foot up to do laces up and it slipped off .
Best Wishes
Debbie
Does your husband’s back flare up from time to time? If so then after initially calming the pain down with anti inflammatory meds, possibly anti spasmodic such as Baclofen or a short dose of Diazepam, if the GP thinks it is necessary and not all GPS will dispense it. Amitriptyline to aid sleep & help with nerve pain, possibly Pregabalin or Gabapentin. Long term is being referred to a pain clinic as there are numerous treatments and procedures that can help.
I can only sleep on my back now and it may help your husband no end.
Hot baths help, as do heat pads and Biofreeze (a menthol gel - I have it as a roll on - fabulous).
The muscle spasms in the lower back, buttocks and down the legs/in the feet can be extremely painful and gentle stretching will help, even when you are in lots of pain from the sciatica. If you have pain in the feet too, even bending and flexing the foot can help. Although you cannot stretch your nerves, keeping the muscles around them soft by stretching can reduce the amount of breakthrough pain you may have. I practice yoga when I can (I’ve only done a little recently, as I had a total knee replacement & patella late last year and boy, can I tell the difference with my body), as keeping the body supple helps no end. Lying/sitting down for hours only makes the pain worse.
Also having a positive mindset, concentrating on what you can achieve rather than what you cannot gives you an amazing amount of positivity. Having counselling for any mental health condition helps significantly, as the link between chronic pain and depression is so common in sufferers. If you can find a counsellor who can help you deal with your chronic pain then snap them up.
I have had numerous surgeries on my cervical & lumbar spine (4 Discectomies/3 Foraminotomies/3 Laminectomies and a Poterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion). I have damaged nerves in my neck & lower back and have had several Pulsed Radio Frequency Ablations for them and 3 out of the 4 worked (the post surgery ones). I’ve been injured for 18 years, since being 34 years old and have a wealth of experience with regards to spinal injuries. Good luck!
Hi thank you.We got Diazepan and codeine yesterday on top of Naproxen and paracetamol. Managed 1st time in 2 weeks to get in bath tonight.
Been trying to stand in shower and ended up sitting on floor. Laying down in bed been a no go, Ended up few hours sleep in the chair or laying over the breakfast bar. Having to use the furniture to walk around.
He normally exercises stretches every morning before work and walks and runs 10 k a week . This has wiped him out.
He is a positive person and helped me get through my cancer ordeal so we are in this together to get him right.
Best Wishes
Debbie
Hi Debbie,I’m so glad your husband and yourself have been helped by your GP dispensing those meds. I hope they help to settle down the sciatica. Long term he may need to take Pregabalin or Gabapentin to help prevent flare ups. A referral to a pain clinic could provide procedures that may prevent the nerve/s from flaring up - anything from an epidural to the Radiofrequency Ablation. Surgery is always a last resort, as every time the surgeon operates on the spine can cause degeneration. My second ACDF was only successful for a few weeks before osteophytes developed and compressed the nerve again.
I hope everything goes well, you sound like a good team.
Mitc
Chiropractic alignments or treatments could cause more harm than good. Possibly rupturing the disc.
As someone who's been going through chronic sciatic pain for around 10 years which started with started with a herniated disc lower back which was compressed on my nerve root. Causing hip joint pains, what I can only describe as a feeling down the back of my leg which feels like someone cut out a foot of nerve, stretched it back to the top and reattached it.
Even 7 years after having the disc removed and vertebrae fused; due to how long the disc was compressed against my nerve root its permanently damaged meaning even though the disc has been removed the damage caused, has left me feeling no different, in fact worse than pre op, as I have nerve issues in my legs...
Acupuncture helped me with pain... I'm on the highest set of pain meds and highest dose of every medication I take, which still doesn't stop my pain however my body is addicted to the opioids..
I do suggest your husband asks to come off Naproxyn as it can cause heart issues. I only found out after a trip to A&E and the Dr told me to make an appointment ASAP to change to Gabapentin or Pregabalin..
I heavily advise asking to be seen by a neurologist, leading to a discectomy depending upon MRI results
Your Dr should prescribe a muscle relaxer ie Diazepam to help reduce muscle spasms, which he possibly has In the area where the slipped disc is. Also some liquid breakthrough medication for when sudden onsets of extreme pain, alongside a strong slow release painkiller
Such sympathy as I know exactly what it feels like
Hi there,Oh wow didn’t know that about Naproxen. Going to try get Gabapentin on Monday.
He will not got back for anymore chiro sessions as it has made him worse he feels.
Got Diazepam yesterday and helping today.
Yes will try push for a scan difficult times still with covid around and things not normal.
Thank you
Best Wishes
Debbie
Don’t be too quick to start on gabapentin or pregabalin. After the first op I was put on gabapentin which caused me eye problems so I was switched to the more expensive sister drug pregabalin. (These drugs were originally used for anxiety and depression and by chance they found it helped with referred nerve pain some 15 or so years ago). I have been taking it for nearly five years and was on the maximum dose for a long time. For most of us It makes you put on weight and gives you mood swings. It helped me but at the same time I wished I had never taken it. It only takes the edge off. It’s like a class A drug trying to come of it too. I have been slowly reducing the dosage and now after some 8 months am down to the lowest dosage (yeah) and have lost nearly the 2 stone I had put on. I was on Naproxen a bit but it did nothing and was put on dihydrocodeine which did help. Am still taking that now. Diazepam is a Valium drug and can help with muscle relaxing but it’s the nerve pain with sciatica that’s the problem so cannot see that your dr will prescribe that.
Thank you Emma. On Codeine phosphate, Naproxen and Diazepam for a few days. Pain started to calm but then last night he was in Excruciating pain again. Dr supposed to call today. Still unable to lay in bed. Sleeping upright on sofa with leg elevated on footstool. Trying to walk unaided and alternating between trying to stand and sit with. Few stretches.
Frustrating for him.
Best Wishes
Debbie
Acupuncture can really help back pain, give it a go. When Chiropractor couldn't treat my back pain an acupuncture session x 2 got rid of all pain
Hi thank you. Will speak with Dr first about MRI but yes possibility he will try anything.Best Wishes
Debbie
Hello Kiddy, I have had sciatica for 18 years and to cut a very long story short....I use Ice packs, and recommend Amitriptyline with Co-Codamol that you would get from the GP. A decent Temper mattress which are incredibly expensive but a really good investment for back pain long term. Lying semi-flat and using a TENS now and then. (Watching Star Wars or the Harry Potter series of films optional ) You must move about every so often so you don't become bed ridden, when you can manage it. Honestly, I did not see any real improvement by an osteopath, Chiropractor or Physio, maybe just sciatic nerve stretches, and there was a very large hole in my bank account from trying them. I also use a neoprene back support when up and about if its painful, but don't poke the bear if the pain is increasing. Naproxen is mega harsh on the gut, you should have been given a gastro protecting med to help ease this too be honest. I have had a hiatus hernia caused by meds that I have been on since 2004 so be aware. This is all my personal opinion and how I've dealt with it however, cheers, Marty...
Herniated Disc - Sciatica Pain - guidance please 
Prolapsed disc, need help for sciatica and back pain!
Just joined. Have had awful pain with slipped disc and sciatica, anyone had an op for that?
Sciatica 