Sciatica??

[Hollybee21]

The last two days I have been in excruciating pain in my right buttocks and hip, and moving down to both legs. Terrible nights sleep with my husband having to help me out of bed and dress me this morning. My question is what medication can I take as I am on Pred (5 mg) and Methotrexate (20 mg by injection). I have messaged Ask My GP and they have already rung me with an appointment late this afternoon. We are supposed to be off on a River Cruise on Tuesday 😫 Can the Doctor give me anything to make the pain disappear for my cruise.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Depends what is causing it - if it is a pinched nerve, they need to find the reason, It could be a disc or it could be muscular but it sounds like the sciatic nerve is affected. Strange it is right buttock and hip but affecting both legs, Sciatica is the devil to sort out, There are stretches that might help - look online.

webmd.com/pain-management/s...

goodpath.com/learn/6-exerci...

But - have you ANY other symptoms? Any numbness anywhere? Difficulty with going to the toilet?

[Hollybee21 in reply to PMRpro]

No problem with the toilet, except the pain lowering myself. Now I’m out of bed feel a bit more mobile, but no quick moves. Do you think if I applied sick day rules it would make me feel better. I really don’t want to increase my Pred it’s taken me a year to get to 5 mg, but if it would make me feel more comfortable I will. Do you think the Doctor might give me a cortisol injection?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hollybee21]

As I said, it depends what is the root of the problem. If it were spasmed muscles relating to myofascial pain syndrome as part of PMR then maybe more pred might help. If it is a disc problem, it probably won't. You need a diagnosis.

[Hollybee21 in reply to PMRpro]

Ok. Thanks PMRPro 🤞🤞

[Hollybee21 in reply to PMRpro]

Back from Doctors with a prescription for Co- codamol and information for stretching exercises. She thinks I’ve trapped a nerve .

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hollybee21]

Hope the cocodamol does something though somehow I doubt it!! On with the stretching exercises! Hope it improves by Tuesday - what river?

[Hollybee21 in reply to PMRpro]

We are flying into Basel, Switzerland for couple of days then going to Lake Lucerne and up a mountain on a train (cannot remember the name of the mountain). Then onto the Rhine finishing in Düsseldorf. Have been looking forward to this, so hoping I won’t be in too much pain to enjoy.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hollybee21]

Up the Jungfrau maybe? The highest train station ... Or Mt Pilatus, the cogwheel railway?

That's all the way up the German Rhine - nice. Hope the weather plays fair.

Have you got insurance that would let you cancel if necessary?

[Hollybee21 in reply to PMRpro]

Just checked it’s Mount Rigi and on a cog wheel train. Next day Breisach for a trip around Lake Titisee. Next day Strasbourg, next Speyer, then the Loreiel Passage, next Bonn and Cologne then Düsseldorf and home. Yes we have got insurance.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hollybee21]

So a fair bit of days out and walking? The forecast isn't stellar!!!! Think hard about it.

The new one?

youtube.com/watch?v=5-0p9og...(Not working as expected?)

Lovely.

[Hollybee21 in reply to PMRpro]

It does look beautiful, I will keep my fingers crossed. The weathers been lovely up until now😡

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hollybee21]

It has - until yesterday!! Autumn has definitely arrived here in the eastern mountains - 10 degrees cooler today than last Friday and it has rained lightly most of the day! It was wetter in the west - one place on the Swiss border has had 8in of rain today alone! It is up a mountain to be fair. Austria has had a Foehn storm on the mountains but when they get high winds, we don't. It isn't cold considering it is towards the end of October but something of a change.

[Hollybee21 in reply to PMRpro]

Well we are certainly used to the rain in Wales. Was hoping for a lovely 8 days of golden autumn, will have to sit in the bar with my feet up and look at the views from there.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hollybee21]

On our China river cruise I did something similar - sat comfortably at the front and saw everything from there. Was fantastic, we were the first boat down the river after it had been closed for a landslide. A friend had said it terrified her looking at all the boats ahead and coming up river towards them - I couldn't understand what she had meant, there was nothing. Then I looked BEHIND us! There were only about a quarter of the usual passengers - but all the staff. SIngle sitting meals, waited on hand and foot - fantastic.

[Hollybee21 in reply to PMRpro]

The only other cruise we’ve been on was the Doura Valley back about 4/5 years ago. Just before we arrived Spain opened a reservoir in the mountains to release rain water, they flooded the Doura and we couldn’t go up the river. We always said we did a river cruise by bus.🤣 We still enjoyed and had 3:/4 of our money back. Something is telling me I shouldn’t bother river cruising.😂😂

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hollybee21]

The Rhine is almost as impressive by road for a lot of the way. often think I would like to do the boat version - driven it so many times over the years!

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

Could be the Rigi (mountain on a train near Luzern! It’s the one they tend to advertise!

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

sorry, honestly had not seen the info below!!

[piglette]

Is it down the back of the legs or the front?

[Hollybee21 in reply to piglette]

It is down the front mostly, but I do suffer badly from restless legs.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hollybee21]

Could it be this?

my.clevelandclinic.org/heal...

Sciatica is usually back/side of thigh. Have you been sitting wearing tighter than usual trousers?

[Hollybee21 in reply to PMRpro]

Yes I was the week before last, bought a new pair of skinny jeans.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hollybee21]

Try not wearing them for a bit. No sympathy from me - shouldn't have a figure that lets you wear them !!!!!!! If only ...

[Hollybee21 in reply to PMRpro]

😂😂

[Stills in reply to PMRpro]

This reply caught my eye as I stopped wearing tight jeans many years ago when I realised they were making my hip and knee movements harder.

[Hollybee21 in reply to Stills]

I think I might have to do the same. Thanks

[Stills in reply to Hollybee21]

I replaced jeans with short skirts and fashion tights or thermal tights in winter, flat ankle boots ( arthritis in knees and feet) fancy boot socks and toppers. My granddaughter says I’m bang on trend hurrah 🤣

[piglette in reply to Hollybee21]

It will not be sciatica in that case as it follows the sciatic nerve down the leg. It is incredibly painful if you ever get it though.

[sdowney717]

Back in my early 20's, in the mid 80's, I had a collapsed disc pressing on the nerve. Neurologist operated and simply removed the disc, no more pressing on the nerve. It had been pressing a while so ended up with some permanent numbness o top the left foot. There were no drugs or pain pills that coud have fixed that.

[Pixix]

I have sciatica & nothing has helped in past year except heat! Heated blanket nearly all year round. Blanket round legs like I’m 100. I know Switzerland very well…over 50 holidays there. To be honest, I’m surprised they are offering the trip this time of year, but I hope you’re lucky. It’s usually wet & chilly now, with occasional sunny, but cold days. My reason for reply was to urge you to take thick trousers (fleece lined) for the Rigi trip & walking round Luzern, unless the forecast is great!! I’ve had medics trying to sort mine, but nothing has worked except a hot August holiday to Italy, which brought relief within two days. We used to ski each year, but had to stop. If you can fit a blanket, fleecy one into suitcase? You can try stretches, PMR Pro has given you the links. Increase in pred (for other reasons) didn’t help in the slightest, but perhaps you don’t have sciatica! Good luck, hope the Dr diagnoses something else, & think about using insurance. I had to cancel for I’ll health once & it really upset me, but we rebooked & had a much better experience without me being in pain…& that was to the heat in Thailand!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pixix]

Yes - have to admit I wouldn't choose the Basel part at this time of year. The Rhine could be quite nice with the colours.

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

Yes re colours, but not keen on damp & cool, & sadly, they often go hand in hand!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pixix]

It's the time of year!!