Sciatica hell

[Lunadoo]

Hi. I have been diagnosed (over phone!) either sciatica. It crept upon me over a few days, no obvious cause, I've now had it 2 weeks. Its so very painful - a gnawing deep ache across right buttock down back of leg into calf. Can't get comfortable anywhere and difficulty walking without holding on to furniture. Firstly given Co Dydramol, which made me very sick, so now have Naproxen plus paracetamol - so far after 2 doses of Naproxen no better. My GP told me it could take 6-12 weeks to improve. Any help to cope with pain very welcome please

[Madlegs1]

Check out stretches on YouTube for sciatica.They can relieve it in no time.

Good luck.

[Qr83k_-Jd]

Hi there, I can tell you it does hurt like hell. I used to suffer badly from sciatica. My doctor prescribed me gabapentin 900mg x3 300 mg tablets three times a day. Now that may seem like a helluva lot but it definitely cured my sciatica. I now take 30pmg three times per day. They are lemon capsules which are easy to swallow. They most certainly worked forme. Ask your GP if you can try those. I wish you all the best and I would love to hear how you got on. Ps. They took around a week to have any effect. Good Luck.

[Lunadoo in reply to Qr83k_-Jd]

Thanks. I did try the YouTube videos but they just made it worse!

[Hidden in reply to Lunadoo]

The only thing I found helped was walking. the first 10 minutes were agony but it slowly got better and I could walk round the block several times. of course pain came back once I was home again. There's really nothing to do except wait...I always found the exercises impossible to do and just made it all worse. It does get better eventually...doctor is right.

[Qr83k_-Jd in reply to Lunadoo]

When you see your GP ask him or her if you can have Gabapentin it really did cure my awful sciatica. I can understand how you feel the pain is constant and it really makes you feel dreadful. Help is available to you so please see your GP. I think you are incredibly brave be cause your pain is intolerable. I would love you to have a pain free life. Do you work or are you on sick leave.

[rabbits65]

I get sciatica a lot. Avoid any lifting. Try and have a hot bath. If the main is really acute then you should do 48 hrs complete rest. Then after the two days of rest then start some exercises . Very gentle exercises . I use a hot water bottle too .

[jonnylongton]

i have suffered with sciatica since 1984 since my spine started to degenerate. my first time i had it lasted 7 week and then went off, but it was agony as i had to work through it but when i had an xray it showed my sciatic nerve was trapped and it was to dangerous to operate as it could leave me paralyzed. i now have bouts of it as all of my discs have now degenerated and has been deemed as mechanical back failure to which there is no cure. I hope this is not the case for you Lunadoo , and hope its just a nerve which has become trapped and soon it will go back to normal. I would see your dr or have another phone consultation and tell him you are getting no better and ask for pain relief and also would like to be put on the list for physio. Hope you get well soon

[cyberbarn]

hot water bottles. I had three of them, one for my back, one for my hip and one for my thigh. I can't take opiates or naproxen.

If you are in the UK with our long waiting lists, make sure you either self-refer or ask for a referral to physio as soon as possible, so that by the time the pain eases you should be able to have some physio input.

[Cat33]

Oh poor you I do sympathise I had a knee replacement in December and it affected my sciatic nerve and the pain was awful I was prescribed Pregabalin and once they kicked in - about a week - they were amazing

I was on Naproxan but they weren't doing anything

Do hope you feel better soon

Take care x

[Mitch48 in reply to Cat33]

Hi there,Poor you having to deal with knee replacement pain & sciatica! How do you think your new knee affected your back? Was it due to not being as mobile?

Regards

Mitch

[Cat33 in reply to Mitch48]

Hello Mitch I'm not sure really but the pain in my knee would shoot up my thigh into my buttock and then into my lower back it was excruciating

The Pregabalin was amazing

I certainly didn't expect that on top of the pain of a knee replacment 😖

[Mitch48 in reply to Cat33]

Hi Cat33,No, I can imagine. The pain in your thigh could be from your lumbar spine anyway & the buttock pain of course, from there too. Referred pain can be confusing as to where it actually is originating from, can’t it. I hope you’re recovering well from your knee replacement, the level of pain from one is quite astounding at times.

I always advocate yoga or at least bouts of stretching for back pain, it’s very good. I haven’t read your bio, so I’m not aware what surgeries you’ve had but I hope your sciatica/it’s cause can be investigated and dealt with.

Kind Regards,

Mitch

[Cat33 in reply to Mitch48]

Yes recovering well thank you the physios said it was probably caused by the way I was walking but I do have arthritis in my lower spine too I have had both my hips replaced in the past 5 years so it's been quite a time of it for me

I have done yoga since the 1970s it's wonderful

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post

I hope you are well

[Mitch48 in reply to Cat33]

Hi Cat,When I had my knee replaced last Nov - at the tender age of 51, I was finally able to walk normally once recovering and not straight legged as I’d done for over 10 years. It impacted on my lumbar spine where I’ve had lots of surgery too, causing extra pain, particularly in the muscles. Fortunately, it all settled down pretty quickly. I managed to stop using crutches at 4 weeks, thank goodness but it was my 9th knee surgery, so I’m used to recovering quickly from those types of operations!

I wish I’d found yoga many years ago, saying that, such a lot of the poses/stretches I learnt from being a member of an athletics club from being a young child, so it wasn’t so much of a surprise when I started practising a few years ago & knew some of it already.

I wish you well and Ill looking forward to reading your updates.

Kind Regards,

Mitch

[tiredchicklet]

Hello, As another poster mentioned stretches are very helpful.

Could you see a physio via your GP ?

They will teach you the best stretches and movement for sciatica which will also not have any negative impact of your fibro in general.

I suffer from sciatica in both left and right thigh / hip and it is especially difficult trying to find a comfy position when trying to sleep.

I have been trying to deal with my fibro issues one by one on a "trial and error" basis and the best relief I have for sciatica so far is Ibuprofen 5 % Gel which is easy to administer and it seeps in nicely (not too sticky). It takes effect within 15 minutes for me. I have this on my repeat prescriptions each month.

I must say, for me personally, it has made a big difference, especially when I have an attack at night time.

I am also "testing" a Hemp Active Gel which has great reviews and is used for muscle and joint pain and weakness (tiredness). It massages in very well and smells beautiful (bit like Olbas Oil), and it has already made a noticeable difference to my (very dry) skin which now feels velvety smooth :-). I do also feel it has made a difference in my pain levels as I have not been crying (with pain) as much. I will carry on using it and post an up to date message as to its benefits and if anyone is interested I can post the details.

I really very much so wish that you get some relief soon. You will get some great advice on here too 🥰

Take Care, Mel x

[Lunadoo]

Eventually got to see a GP who thinks I have a trapped sciatic nerve. Given me Amitriptyline Co Codamol and Naproxen. The pain is almost unbearable, can't walk more than 20 steps or dress myself. I'm usually fit and well and finding the sciatica so difficult to bear. Hoping the new meds will help.