hello! I’ve been suffering from sciatica for 5 months now with several very agonising acute phases along the way. It’s caused by a herniated disc L5/S1 which has caused irritation of the sciatic nerve.
I’ve had a nerve root block injection, this helped for about 3 weeks but then wore off and came back with vengeance. It’s starting to improve again so have been advised not to do anything unless it gets acute again and it should resolve itself… in time….but it seems to be taking forever, I’ve already lost 5 months to it. I find that if I do anything more then a gentle walk a few times a day it gets very irritated and I’m back to taking hardcore pain relief - tramadol, naproxen and paracetamol. But before this I was super active at gym, playing sports etc.. I’m even an ex yoga teacher!
I’m currently taking Amitriptyline for the nerve pain, went up to 30mg and it did help but started to get unpleasant side effects: moody, tired all the time, dry mouth, depressed. So im tapering it down but think my nerve pain may be getting worse.
I’ve been offered to try an alternative called Gabapentin and I’m wondering how other people have found this drug? Any insights or experiences would be good to know. I also take Citalapram for anxiety (10mg) and not sure if there is any drug interaction.
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Mid last year (2024) my GP prescribed me with Amitriptyline for pain relief. Did nothing for my pain, instead gave me quite dramatic diahorrea. She then put me on Gabapentin .... with the same side effects. At that point I gave up and wwnt back to my original pain relief medication - CoCodomol 30/500 (prescription grade).
Oh no I’m sorry to hear that. Are you any better now? I didn’t find codine particularly effective, but tramadol does help to take the edge off the pain especially when it’s the agonising pain when the muscles spasm.
Hi everyone different The mixture of drugs will be fine, it comes up on the docs computer when prescribing meds to you and their yearly reiview on the computer ,
The
gabepentin
is worth a try ,usually if that does not help they then try
Pregablin
They may help you and they are good for the nerve pain
I got gabepentin it did not really help
Then got the
Pregablin
That helps me
I'm on max dose now
As the dose got increased to max by doc
I got Tramadol halted at same time
Seemingly this is a way of tapering It was fine I did query it but doc said it will be fine along with pain nurse
The gabepentin and Pregablin
Do have side effects unfortunately
Mine was bit t ired
And weight gain
I work on that
If they help they can be good
If docs offering these meds
It is worth a try to see
You usually work the dose up the way to suitble dose to see if helps
Myself was
Gabepentin uoto 2700mg
Pregablin upto 450mg
That's ow max 600mg for me
The pregablin is being rolled out for some with anxiety as well
Everyone is different though Wot suits one may not suit another
They say
The gabepentin and pregablin only helps 1/7
id discuss with doc
Even the pregablin if it did help it may be possible to stop the citalapram
I know exactly how you feel . I had several prolapsed discs in 2013 & had to have an emergency operation as I had Caude Equina syndrome . They did a decompression & laminectomy & fusion. 12 years on despite this operation , trying both Gapapentin & Pregabalin , I still suffer from excruciating sciatica . I have had an epidural injection which made my symptoms worse. Currently I am taking Oramorph & using Buphrenorphine patches that do take the edge off the pain. I am now booked in for guided injections by xray , I'm praying these work. I am a farmer's wife & was extremely active working 12 hour days & swimming 6 days a week . I hope you find pain relief you need as I know how debilitating it is . Everyone is different & what works for one doesn't seem to help another , it's trial & error xx
I’m so sorry to hear this, I’ve been cautioned many times for the signs to look out for of Caude Equina. Fortunately I’ve not suffered them, but have had a numb/ tingling foot for all this time and for the first 2 months my leg felt like it was being crushed my a house, the pain was unrelenting and unlike anything I’ve felt before. It’s crazy to me how many people suffer from sciatica yet there doesn’t seem to be a simple way to treat it. You’re right, everyone is different, what works for might not for another. I’m weary of getting another injection as I have heard that for some people it does make the pain a lot worse.
I’m surprised that your surgery has not fully treated the issue, do you know why it’s flared up? Could it be another disc that’s herniated perhaps? I was told that disc surgery often means there in more pressure placed on the discs above and below which can eventually herniate for this reason. Really hope you can find some treatment. I will say that amitriptylene has helped me, tho it takes a couple of weeks to work, I just don’t like the side effects. But I’m starting to realise it’s likely any and all meds will give some unpleasant side effects, just got to pick your poison! Best of luck to you, let me know how you get on.
Hi , very sorry you are suffering badly , I think you might need a necular specialist scan , also maybe back manipulation ? Which is done in surgery .
I am on Gabapentin, it helps me a lot , especially with the electric shocks, I also take diclofenic . With my failed back surgery L5 and L4 I use a lidocaine patch in the evening , through the night this help a lot . Trouble is we are all different, hope it helps xx
I am suffering with L3 and L4 the hospital sent me home on Oramorph which I'm still taking, it does help but not a cure they said it could take 6 months to get better
Hi,I suffer from the same as you, and have been taking gabapentin and cocodamol for many years. It works for me but we are all different. I hope you find something that helps.
There is something called Number Needed to Treat with regards to medication. It means for every X number of people that take the drug, only 1 person will get a benefit. This is because we all have different genes, metabolisms and immune systems so we react to drugs in different ways.
Amitriptyline has the number 4. So for every four people that take it, it will only give benefit to one. If you are that lucky one person like my son is, then you found your drug. Gabapentin is 6-8, but they often start people on amitriptyline because there is a greater chance that it ill work as it works for more people. But that doesn't mean to say that Gabapentin won't work for you. Everyone is different and all you can do is try it.
And before you think wow, only works in a small number of people, the NNT for statins for people at low risk for cardiovascular disease is 217 to 313!
Wow! Thsnks for this info. One of the consultants who suggested I try Gabapentin did tell me these figures but it went over my head at the time. Very interesting, thanks for explaining. Really glad the amitriptylene is working for your son.
My acupuncturist told me that all these drugs do is change the way our brains react to the pain rather then actually helping to fix the cause of the pain. He is of course every anti this type of medication. I wish there was a drug that would be more targeted to fixing the nerves rather then treating the symptoms.
So for me stretching is definite no no. I’m actually an ex yoga teacher and I believe the poses you are taking about are pigeon and figure of 8. Both these stretches are fantastic for hitting your glutes and in particular your piriformis muscle. For some people their sciatica is caused by a tight piriformis but mine is not. Therefore stretching the nerves makes them very agitated and often ends up causes me far more pain. But if a vicious cycle as I know my hips are tight from not moving enough/ stretching, but the last time I decided to stretch I ended in hospital the day because of the sheer agony of the muscles went into spasm and squeezing my nerves even more 😣
Hi, Amitriprubish ,I was on it for ten years gave me dry mouth and throat which drives me round the bend in the end with very little benefits, when I stopped it i realised I was no longer rushing to the toilet,
Your best bet for nerve problems is a Acupoint avance work for me.
Hi, Sciaticaisevil!I whole heartily agree, Sciatica is evil!
You and I sound so similar. I have herniation at L5/S1 on the right side of nerve root. Have been in agony since September, but gradually getting worse to where I can barely walk, I cannot sit, I can't put weight on right leg/heel, I have numbness in parts of left leg. If i do try to walk, bend, sit, or cough/sneeze in anyway etc the sharp pain is electric followed by muscle spasms!! which are extreme and its absolute agony. I've been taking Tramadol, Naproxen, Amitriptyline and Paracetamol. I have also tried a medley of others to find something that would at least take the edge off. The consultant said this was the best mix. But the pain is still there all of the time.
It is getting worse by the day, I am so unsure whether gentle exercise is now harming me or doing good. Walking used to relieve the pain to an extent but now no such luck. More and more of my leg is becoming numb and the left side is starting with the pain too.
I am booked in for an injection in 12 days, I pray that it works. The consultant has promised the surgery if the injection fails. She said that physio and chiropractor adjustments cannot help.
How have you been coping with the spasms? they can last hours for me... I've tried using topical creams and balms, heat and cold pads, tbh I thikk laying completely still and trying to relax the muscle is hhe only think that works eventually but its hard when you're instinct is to shake off the pain!
Oh no you poor thing! I absolutely sympathise and it does sound so similar to my experience. Firstly, are you aware of the symptoms of Cauda Equnia? You need to google it and if you have any of them go straight the A&e.
Hopefully and assuming this isn’t what you have I think I realised the second time it happened (after the injection wore off and things flared up to just as severe as before) that trying to move during the acute phase will make it worse. My advice is stay in bed, sleep/rest on your back, be sure you’re not in a slumped posture if you’re sitting up, I used two or three hot water bottles over and around my lower back and leg and took a similar pain relief concoction. After a week or so it got to the point I could move very slowly around the house. So I think you’re possibly making it worse at the moment with movement. I know all the advice is to keep moving but in my experience don’t, at least not for a week.
I hope the injection works for you, I was just past the acute phase when I had mine and it still helped a bit, albeit for a very short period of time. I think it will be potentially even more beneficial during the acute phase.
I totally know what you’re going through, it’s awful, no one can understand this pain until they’ve lived it I don’t think. Hang in there, stay relaxed and rested. I would roll my ankle often to keep blood flow. It will improve, I promise, but it does take a frustrating amount of time.
you could ask for diazepam from your GP, I only took it twice but I think it helped on those two occasions when the spasms were unrelenting for hours and hours.
Thank you, this is really helpful. I know I'm mad but I had been tryjng to keep working to the point I was walking on a treadmill at my standing desk, just so I didnt go off sick. But I had such bad spasms in the afternoon on Monday that, I just thought enough is enough!
I'm now in bed till I got into hospital for the injection.
I have already been to A&E with symptoms of Cauda Equnia but they are only concerned if you wet/soil yourself. They don't seem at all bothered if its the other way, and you can't go.
I will try asking for some diazepam, anything is worth a try. 🙂
I had to take two to three sachets of Laxido daily when I was taking all those drugs and on bed rest, suggest you do the same. Any kind of straining, being on the loo, sneezing, coughing will make it so much worse…. I found out the hard way! 😓 let me know how you get in with the injection. I don’t know which one you’re getting but some places offer to do both epidural and nerve block…. Might be worth asking.
Thank you. My husband bought a load of prunes, dates and dried figs for the same reason yesterday but I think some of that stuff might be wise also.I will definitely be asking, since it will have been 8/9 weeks from my MRI at the injection date so plausible that these additional symptoms mean the herniation has got bigger. 😩
This is what happened to me! We really are twinning. I had my MRI 3 weeks before it got really bad and the sciatica started. Before then I had some discomfort sitting down and lower back pain but knew nothing of what was to come. I believe sneezing, picking up a cat and straining on the toilet all made it get progressively much worse. So when I received my injection I was far worse then I was at the time of my MRI, I could barely walk any more.
The doctor said it wasn’t worth doing another MRI tho to confirm this as he said all my symptoms suggested it had just indeed exacerbated and worsened.
I meant to say you could try TENs machines on your leg, I found these and still am finding these very useful. They certainly take the edge off the pain particularly if it turns into a dull ache. I had one for period pains I barely ever used and have since bought two more from Amazon (go for the remote control ones without wires) and they are a godsend first thing in morning and middle of night.
I suffer of the same as a result of an skydiving accident that compressed vertebrae L1-L4 with L2 fracture and pain was terrible to the point that forced me to sit on the sidewalk as couldn´t even remain standing up.
I had a subcutaneous raizotomy by radiofrequency in which nerve roots comming out of the vertebrae are burnt to reduce sensitibity and it worked great for me.. I´ve been pain free for 15 months now. Procedure is ambulatory
When I was in pain I took Tapentadol 50 mg slow release. Check with your pain doctor if this medication is good for you.
I live in Guadalajara, Mexico, so I don´t know if Tapentadol is available in your country. It is as strong as morphine.
Tapentadol is officially indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe acute or chronic pain that cannot be adequately controlled by non-opioid analgesics. In the USA, tapentadol is also officially approved as an alternative for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
I'm sorry to hear you're going through this and that so many treatments haven’t worked for you. I wanted to share my experience in case it might help.
I had sciatica in my left hip that got so severe I ended up in A&E. The pain was so unbearable at one point that I even asked the doctor to amputate my leg—it was that bad. Mornings were particularly awful; I had to roll out of bed on my stomach just to ease the pain.
The doctor who saw me prescribed Co-Dydramol 10/500 mg (one tablet every 4–6 hours, no more than 8 per day). These worked wonders for me from day one. After taking the tablets as prescribed for a week, the pain completely cleared up—it was such a relief!
The doctor also advised me to keep them handy and to start taking them again if I ever felt a twinge, then follow up with my GP for a prescription.
I’m unsure if you’ve tried Co-Dydramol yet, but it might be worth discussing with your GP. I really hope this helps, and that you find some relief soon.
Thank you for this! I’m going to ask my GP about it. From googling it tho it doesn’t seem like it’s any stronger then tramadol so I’m not that hopeful.
I felt exactly the same way when the pain was acute, I would have agreed to a leg amputation in the moment it was that awful. Never known pain like it.
That’s amazing that yours resolved so quickly! Do you know what caused it? And have you had a flare up since?
He may put you on these first to see how you get on, and then you can always ask him to give you a higher dosage, this is what the doctor at the hospital said to me to either come back or see my GP, hope this helps
Yep I’m in the UK. Not tried any yet, happy to give CBD a try but at the levels of pain I’m getting to I can’t imagine it offering much relief. But anything’s worth a try!
Judging from the replies you have received,this is a common condition with no simple cure.My sciatica started about two years ago and during this time I have had 4 spinal ops on my L4-L5 disc . After each op things progress well for 6-8 weeks and then the symptoms recur. I have also had epidural injections which have given variable results and a nerve ablation on my lumbar facet joints
At present I am awaiting the results of my last scan. I have tried many of the drugs mentioned and at present I am on Zomorph 50mg twice daily and 30mg Amitriptyline at night. I can also top up with Oramorph or Co Dydramol when necessary. The only down side with opioids is the constant problem with constipation.I take Laxido with some success.
As everyone varies in their response to treatment, it's a case of finding which drugs work for you.
Surgery gives variable results too. Some of my friends have had a complete remission of all the symptoms after one op and some are no better after numerous ops.
Having suffered with sciatica for the last two years I can fully sympathise with what you are going through. My advice is not to give up hope and keep trying new treatments until you find the one that works for you.
Ido hope you find the relief that you are looking for.
Hi Kemptville, it’s great to hear that you are feeling hopeful even after going through what sounds like a gruelling two years.
I will certainly speak to my GP about the drugs you mention. I feeling quite defeated already! And I’m no where near as far along this journey as you, so hats off to you. Do they have an understanding of why your pain is still there if the surgery presumably removed the disc that was irritating the nerves? Would be interested to know more. It’s crazy that even surgery sometimes can’t fix this seemingly very common problem.
The first op was for stenosis and so a hemi laminectomy was performed. About 6 weeks later the symptoms came back and the surgeon sent me for another scan. The scan showed that the laminectomy had been successful and so I was referred to a neurosurgeon. He looked at the scan and reckoned that there was a piece of ruptured disc under L4 and this was what was causing the return of the sciatica. Op number two involved removing the fragment of disc. Everything was fine for s bout 6 weeks and the the sciatic got worse. This time an X-Ray showed that I had developed arthritis of the lumbar facet joints. I was referred to a pain consultant who advis an injection of cortisone and local anaesthetic into the paired lumbar facet joints . This gave me relief and a couple of weeks later the nerve endings at the facet joints were destroyed in all the lumbar joints. This I was told may need to be repeated every 6 months -2 years.The story repeated itself and 6 weeks later we were back to square one again. Another scan showed a further herniation of the disc and due to the level of pain I opted for op number 3. Again the prolapsed part of the disc was removed and all was fine for about 6 weeks then back to square one . Another scan revealed more disc protruding and putting pressure on the sciatic nerve. We discussed the possible fusion of the L4 and L5 but my surgeon did not recommend it because he found that the extra pressure on L 3-L4 invariably caused this dic to prolapse. so op. number 4 consisted of removing the prolapsed part of the and making sure there were no adhesions limiting the movement of the sciatic nerve, The surgeon said that the normal anatomy of the area had been so changed by the previous ops that a lot of the op was done by feel and he wouldn't want to attempt further surgery because of the risk of doing more damage than good.
As you have guessed the pain came back and I went for another scan, the result of which I will find out tomorrow. I will let you know how I get on.
I try to keep positive but I must admit that there have been times when I have asked myself whether I would want to carry on like this. You only have to go to the hospital and see many people who are so much worse of than I am, to realise that the only way to survive is to stay positive.
If you have read this to the end i think you deserve a drink!!
Wow again! What a lot you’ve been through. I’m sorry it’s still causing you so much pain, after all you’ve thrown at it it’s not fair. But non of us suffering like this is really. Just bad luck.
It will be very interesting to see what scan shows, is it an MRI or X-ray?
You’re quite right, seeing other people in pain and knowing what others are up against can put things into perspective although I’m struggling with the leap of going from being super sporty and active to now 5 months of minimum movement. I did try swimming this week and tho I was terrified it would set everything off (you never really know with nerve pain until the next day or several hours later) it actually seemed fine. At first it flared up just a little but the next day I felt improved (marginally but I’ll take it!). Are you able to do any movement at the moment or is the pain to acute?
It does scare me that people do seem to have issues with sciatica that go on for years and possibly be life long.
I tried acupuncture too after the third session I finally felt some relaxation and relief in my leg, enough to sleep on my side that night! It was short lived tho, can’t wait for my next session.
I’m reluctant to try any form of massage as I worry that additional pressure on the nerve will just aggravate it. Someone suggested I try cupping as an alternative. And I’m hoping to see an osteopath next week to see what they might be able to do. Presume you’ve already gone down that route! Keep me posted with you results and best of luck.
Guess what? The scan has shown that the same disc is prolapsing again! My pain consultant is going to discuss the findings with my neuro surgeon. I f he definitely will not operate then I guess I have two choices , find a surgeon who is willing to operate or try epidural injections and see if they will work. If you are not fed up my misfortunes ,I will update you when I know what is happening.
hello, it’s good you’ve got a clear explanation of why you’re in so much pain. I really hope the epidural hope, it seems like another surgery could be risky. But definitely worth getting a second and possibly even a third opinion. Are you in UK? I might so I saw someone in Hampshire who was very knowledgeable and thorough. Can give you their details if you like.
Do keep me posted! I’m hoping for the best outcome for you.
I have been making slow but gradual progress, now swimming most days for 15-20mins if I can. But I find if I also try to do a longish walk too that same day the muscles started freaking out and I get sharpe pain. So easing off a little, hoping I’m past the acute stage risk now but not going to risk it. I’m still taking amitriptylene 20mg but plan to reduce to 10mg tonight, it’s giving me awful mood swings so I’m keen to get off it and I’m not convinced it’s doing anything extra for the pain…. But we shall see. Night time is a little better but still find it uncomfortable to sleep in my side. Hoping the osteopath I’m seeing next week can help me.
In response to your question, yes I do live in the UK. I am lucky, in that Amitriptyline works well for me . I was originally on 20mg, but increasing the dose to 30 mg made all the difference. As for mood swings , as I live alone now I feel as if I am always mad at something!! The only problem I have found is that as soon as I wake ,I get the most terrible muscle spasms which causes me to get cramp. Not ideal when you are barely able to move!!
I also have a great physio( my wife was one as well). I find that massage does help and so do the exercises, when I do them as often as I am supposed to.The other online site I find useful, is the "Back in Shape" website. This is run by an osteopath and his wife. It is not cheap but originally I found his exercises and logic were very useful.It is certainly worth looking at.
You sound as if you are on the road too recovery. Do let me know how you get on with the osteopath. Wishing you the best of luck
Hi Kemptville, just wondering how you’re getting on? Did you get anywhere with surgery options?
I’m having a tough time, I started to get better and so increased my activity but only a few days later I got a flare up. It’s not been a week and it very painful still, making sitting impossible AGAIN. I’ve upped my dose of amitriptylene to 30mg for the last 6 days but not noticing any improvement in symptoms. Hoping to speak to GP tomorrow about what to next, guessing my options are upping the dose to 40mg or trying a different drug. I’m trying to get another MRI scan because when I went for a second opinion about someone with a spine specialist he didn’t the original mri was showing the real cause of symptoms. He believes it’s gotten a lot worse or something additional has happened, and given the pain I’m in I’m inclined to agree.
Definitely struggling with keeping positive tho, it feels like it’s never going to end. I’m so sick of not getting decent sleep and not being able to live my life normally.
Have just spent half an hour typing a reply only to lose it somewhere. I have not got the energy to do it all again so I will precis what I said! At long last things are improving. I have been taking Etoricoxib 60 mg once a day plus my morphine tablets twice daily and Amitriptyline 30 mg at night. The swelling n my feet did not improve on diuretics and so it was suggested that I tried compression stockings ( I had kept some from when I had a hip replacement done ) Theses work really well.
I don't know what caused the improvement, but all i am going to have done now is the denervation of my lumbar facet joints which is probably responsible for the pain across my lumbar region when I have been increasing the length of my walks.
All I can say is don't give up as i am sure they will sort you out eventually.
I’ve not heard of denervation before (just googled it tho!) and I’m delighted to hear you’ve got a plan in place to treat you pain, even more so that you’re actually noticing improvements. Interesting that you also notice an increase in pain when increasing your walks. It’s a catch 22, I keep being told to keep active but clearly it is within very strict limits which I hadn’t figured out yet. The osteopath I saw last week mentioned I should be using ice instead of heat, so I switched but cannot notice any improvement from doing so. She also said that I need to be able to walk without thinking about it for a good 20mins-40mins before doing another activity like swimming. Sooooo lessons have been learned and I’m just praying the gp has some good advice for meditation. I’m planning to get a new MRI soon too, let’s see what’s really going on!
At long last I seem to be going in the right direction. The denervation I was talking about was the procedure I had done between my 2nd and 3rd op when they X-Rayed my back ans could see that all my lumbar facet joints were arthritic. Initially they inject each joint with local anaesthetic and if this relieves the pain , they use a small probe directed by a scan and destroy the local nerve which transmits the pain to the brain. They did this on all my lumbar vertebrae on both sides. When I said to my pain consultant that that was one thing less to worry about , she said that unfortunately the nerves regrow and the effect lasts anywhere from 6 months to 3 years. However so long as it works each time I would settle for that.
I have always been told by my physio that walking is the best way to treat a disc problem , but at the same time you must work on strengthening your core muscles as these are the ones which are going to keep your back from going back yo square one again.
My physio also says that you should use ice followed by heat repeated for about 5 mins each for about 4 times at each session. The problem is knowing how much benefit you will get fromm it straight away. My wife was a physio , so I learnt to do as I was told and not question it !!
Do et me know how you get on with your scan and also what it shows. If you can persevere with your walking etc there is a good chance that you will eventually recover without surgery , which would be great.
Noritriptyline has been better for me than Amitriptyline-fewer side effects (lower dose than for depression))
Over a few weeks a chiropractor was able to get rid of the sciatica I had. Pain went down side/front of leg. I already had leg pain (fibro) That stated the same.
I’ve had sciatica on and off for a number of years. I’ve learnt how to massage the nerve a little to relieve the tightness, also gentle walking helps me. Also the good old famous hot water bottle a great reliever. Warmth really helps. Most important of all is to avoid any lifting. Paracetamols might help but I try to avoid meds.
I’m sorry that you are in so much pain. The 5 months that you have mentioned suffering from sciatica, is that the total length of time that you have had an injury to your spine?
Baclofen is an anti spasmodic that can work towards reducing the pain from muscle spasms that you mentioned. A Tens machine is a must and can help to take the edge off of such a variety of symptoms including sciatica, muscle spasms & pins and needles. A massage gun is incredibly helpful for muscle spasms as long as you are careful & do not over use it on one or more muscles which could exacerbate your pain. Gentle stretching can help when the sciatica is calming along with hot or cold sprays or rubs. Hot baths are great too. I also use a Puresport CBD roll on.
My cervical spine was damaged in a road traffic collision nearly 21 years ago, I have had 2 x ACDF’s been diagnosed with cervical radiculopathy, cervicogenic head pain, and more recently impending cauda equina, which in my case began at least 5 years prior to emergency surgery with burning, throbbing and gnawing nerve pain in my ankles & feet, severe pins & needles in my legs along with bladder problems. A nasty fall contributed to dislodging 2 vertebrae forwards over one another (spondylolisthesis) which resulted in severe sciatica & more serious bladder problems. I had emergency surgery at L3 - L5, involving 2 x discectomies, 3 foraminotomies, 3 laminectomies and a posterior lumbar interbody fusion. I was left with bladder problems, mobility issues, a numb right foot & partially left foot, my right lower leg is numb on the outer part. I have lumbar radiculopathy, pain as well as pins & needles (& the aforementioned numbness) and lumbar myelopathy(horrible electric shock type nerve pain , the worst ever affecting both legs & both feet), I’m also prone to falls.
I use a Fentanyl patch, Oramorph, Gabapentin, Baclofen Duloxetine. I used to take Naproxen but it recently stopped working and I ceased taking Amitriptylene as it made me more prone to falling.
I’ve had numerous pain clinic treatments over the years but the best one for me is Radiofrequency Ablation. I’ve had it once on my lumbar spine & it did take the edge off of some of my painful symptoms, not giving me my life back but making my everyday pain a little more tolerable. I’ve had the same treatment on my cervical spine 6 times and it has given me the same results as my lumbar.
Excellent therapy has helped me to cope with the loss of my career due to not being able to work with severe chronic pain & the side effects of taking such a lot of strong medication. I was treated for clinical depression & complex PTSD. I cannot stress enough the link between physical & psychological conditions and the need to deal with and have treatment for both, if you are to stand any hope of dealing with the rigours of severe chronic pain and its impact on your life as well as other family members.
I hope that you find medications & further treatments that will help you improve your quality of life.
Thank you for highlighting certain symptoms that could progress to cauda equina, by all means get checked out if concerned and be reassured that all is well as the condition is so rare, but not to worry unnecessarily about it either.
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Unbearable sciatica pain
Nerve pain
Nerve ablation
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Sciatica Pain
