Sciatica

[Poodles59]

does anyone have any advice dealing with sciatica pain, exercises/tablets etc, thanks

[rabbits65]

I have sciatica pain , so I find hot water bottles a comfort. I do stretching exercises , I make sure not to lift anything , lifting really triggers the nerve for me. You do learn to live with it, you may find it gets better within three months , I hope you do get better. I have good days and bad days, Like all back pain it’s best to try and cope with controlling it but it’s not easy and sciatica can be very bad at times. Warmth is important . See your GP if it gets too bad.

[Poodles59 in reply to rabbits65]

thanks a lot

[rickyjoe]

I ended up having a discectomy after suffering with sciatica for many years, but did find that wearing a tens machine helped me with some of the pain I was suffering.

[Poodles59 in reply to rickyjoe]

thanks a lot x

[Geripop]

I had what was thought to be sciatica for years, ended up being a spinal stenosis and needed several surgeries to repair the disc damage. I’d ask for an x-ray or MRI just to confirm it is sciatica and no disc issues.

I found an anti-inflammatory, using hot & cold therapy on the hip area & a tens machine all useful. I was put on Gabapentin for the nerve pain too. Once it’s less sharp lying on your tummy and lifting you head & shoulders up on your arms like a snake rising up can help stretch the muscles & release the nerves. Seeing a physio or acupuncture can also help. There are lots of exercises for sciatica to be found on YouTube and on different NHS Trust websites often have a pain management or MSK section with physio for back pain & sciatic as it’s so common.

[Poodles59 in reply to Geripop]

thanks a lot x

[Poodles59 in reply to Geripop]

thanks a lot 👍 c

[Hidden]

Hello Poodles59. I see a pain management doctor for my back pain. About 6 months ago, she did a procedure on me called RFA (radio frequency ablation). It uses a needle like probe that is put against the nerve and pulses of radio waves are sent and it basically deadens the nerve. It's supposed to last about 9 months. So far, it's been working for me. Before that, I was getting steroid shots that would last around 3-4 months.

[Poodles59 in reply to Hidden]

thanks for that information, I’ll ask about it 👍

[abellemed in reply to Hidden]

I had this about 2 years ago. It worked quite wellfor a couple of months, it was bilateral into L3/4 and L4/5. Now I have been waiting 2 years or more for repeat ones, in the sacroiliac area, and I am now using a stick to walk, am confined to my house and feel like a cripple. Hurry up NHS!

[Sunsetzzs]

hi, I found that sitting on my couch in the evening, kind of like the down-time at the end of the day, is the main source of my periformis and sciatica pain. Massage and stretching helps, but it continues to come back. There are some great videos on YouTube for easy to do stretches for both, but it’s been suggested to me that I need to get an ergonomic chair for evenings, because the couches, no matter how new, just don’t provide the correct angle for the sciatica area, once affected.

[Poodles59 in reply to Sunsetzzs]

thanks a lot 👍

[Acocoa]

Hi. I have sciatica which ended up being that it's spinal Stenosis after MRI scan. I take gabapentin for nerves as my left leg is weak because of nerves damage. I also do physio exercises in morning. It's so hard to sleep or stand for long. Don't lift heavy stuff and don't sit for long same with driving. Nhs website have lots of exercises for back pain and YouTube. Speak to you GP for advice or referral to physio.

Hope you feel better soon x

[Poodles59 in reply to Acocoa]

Thank you very much for your advice x

[Hidenseek]

hi I have suffered with sciatica on and off for four years I fell over but was refused an X-ray or mri scan. I’m currently on 10mg zomorph which helps with the pains shooting down the leg and muscle spasms I get in lower back. I’m also on naproxen 500mg twice daily and then top up with paracetamol. If pain gets too bad I use a heat patch on the affected area you can buy 7 patches for about 7 pound on Amazon . These help me tremendously especially with sleeping I buy the 24 hr ones you can sleep with. In a flare up make sure your movements are very small I have a trolley which I hold onto if it’s too bad and that helps me especially at night getting to the bathroom you can get them from occupational therapist. Hang in there I know it’s painful at the moment. Keep moving however slowly. Also I’ve been to see a chiropractor who found my hips were out so she put them back and aligned me more which has helped. She thinks three sessions is all il need so here’s hoping. Also a tens machine helped stimulate the nerves yes was painful but helped in the long run. Take care

[Poodles59 in reply to Hidenseek]

Great, thanks for that advice 👍

[Nick2U]

Hi…

I trained for and finished my first and only full marathon when I turned 45 and before I limped to the finish line I felt a snap. I could barely walk down stairs for a month afterwards while I tried everything from traction, chiropractic and more pain meds than you could imagine, until I tried yoga and found the perfect pose to alleviate the sciatic pain that also took about a month to diagnose. The Child’s Pose helps to stretch out the spine and relieve the pain. Ironically my parents kept photos of me as a toddler in every conceivable location sleeping in that very pose—butt up, face down. It also helps to stretch the hamstrings to relieve the lower back pain, but the Child’s Pose was the best, least expensive way to eliminate what can be something so crippling. NSAIDs, black seed (cumin) oil, ice and heat can also help to reduce inflammation but be sure to take the NSAIDs with food.

Best wishes!

[Poodles59 in reply to Nick2U]

thanks, I will look into yoga poses, I’ve booked to attend a class starting 17 April 🤞🤞 x

[Pte82]

Methylcobalamin is a natural form of B12 and has shown restorative effect on sciatic nerve. A fast melt sublingual form offers better absorption than oral supplements. Pain causes a loss of magnesium so supplementing is important.

[Poodles59 in reply to Pte82]

Thanks, I’ll ask my doctor about it 🤞