Sciatica and prednisolone

[Koalajane]

This is probably a strange question but will upping my prednisolone help my sciatica please

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Not necessarily - it depends what is causing it. If it is something like myofascial pain syndrome that is irritating the sciatic nerve where it passes through the piriformis muscle, then more pred might help relax that muscles and reduce the pressure on the sciatic nerve. But the sciatic nerve might be compressed by a displaced disc and then the pred is less likely to help. If inflammation and swelling is involved then pred might help.

my.clevelandclinic.org/heal....

[Koalajane in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. Hopefully it will start to improve soon.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Koalajane]

Have you seen the GP about it? To have a better idea what is causing it? (And yes, I know how likely that is!!)

[Koalajane]

No, I haven’t, if it doesn’t start to improve I will

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Koalajane]

Is it new or do you get it a lot? Does it reach all down your leg?

[Koalajane in reply to PMRpro]

No, I had it very mildly a few months back but that was the first time and didn’t last for long. I felt as if I had walked it off. This goes to my knee, so I suppose it could be worse

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Koalajane]

It was an early sign of my PMR I think - but I didn't recognise it as sciatica, maybe wasn't too bad. Once the muscles were more relaxed with pred over months it improved. Pain in the arse though

[Koalajane in reply to PMRpro]

Strange you say that as I thought I had it before my PMR diagnosis

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Koalajane]

It didn't seem logical originally but thinking about it later it did make some sense.

[piglette]

In my case a definite NO!

[HeronNS]

Possibly a physiotherapist will be more use than a doctor, although maybe you need a doctor to refer you, or have imaging done if that seems like a good idea.

[Koalajane in reply to HeronNS]

Been doing some of the exercises on NHS site so let us hope they will help

[Koalajane]

Thanks all, I will give it over the weekend and then if no better contact my doctor (or the receptionist)

[Pixix]

I’ve had it for 9 weeks now. It’s been diagnosed & I seem to suffer every winter! I had to increase my pred for other reasons & it didn’t help the sciatica at all. I don’t think it’s a recommended treatment for it, tbh. If you search on sciatica there have been quite a few recent posts on it, & I wrote all the things you can do to help. It’s not connected to PMR, I don’t think, I suffered with it beforehand. If you Google sciatica exercises & stretches, you will see some recommended help there. But if it’s not yet diagnosed,I’d see your doctor first.

[Koalajane]

Spoke to doctor today. She is sending me for physio and seeing a doctor face to face at end of the month. I believe she asked the right questions and she said to keep walking as much as I can. I was concerned that trying to do my 10,000 steps might be making it worse. I only managed 8,000 yesterday. She said to take cocodamol.