pain relief for sciatica

[musicalJ]

I've trapped the sciatic nerve in my left hip. I have exercises which help, but still need pain relief. Paracetamol has no effect, is it safe to take ibuprofen with prednisolone? I thought I had read somewhere that it wasn't.

[Merryfield]

This is not a scientific answer but I take ibus from time to time. Am on 6 mgs methylprednisolone.

[piglette]

I found that even opiods such as tramadol had no affect on the sciatica. It used to take my breath away. I found the only thing that did help me was a TENS machine. A lot of people find exercise relieves the pain.

[musicalJ in reply to piglette]

Thanks; yes exercise is usually best, but not always possible and I need something to kill the pain early in the day.

[piglette in reply to musicalJ]

Have you tried a TENS machine?

[musicalJ in reply to piglette]

No, I don't really know what it is. I have pilates lessons and the teacher (a physiotherapist) has given me several exercises that help.

[piglette in reply to musicalJ]

A friend showed my some exercises which they then demonstrated. The only thing was we were sitting having coffee in a cafe at the time, so much to the amazement of everyone else she sat in the middle of the floor tying herself in knots!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

My rheumatologist uses NSAIDs along with pred but if it is longer term I must take a PPI or the like. The odd dose is probably OK so you could try to see if it helps - if it doesn't there isn't much point taking it.

[musicalJ in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. I am taking omeprazole, so maybe I will try ibuprofen and see if it helps

[Koalajane]

I was prescribed 10mg of amitriptyline for my sciatica but the thing that really works is walking it off

[musicalJ in reply to Koalajane]

Like you, I usually find that walking it off is best, but it doesn't always work and sometimes it's a few hours before I can get out and I'm in a lot of pain.

[Koalajane in reply to musicalJ]

No I agree and mine seems worse in the morning first thing and then improves during the day. I have had this last bout of it for nearly 6 months. I get out of bed and hobble to the bathroom, put heat on it in the shower and it seems to loosen up

[Pixix]

Not sure why I’m joining in as I have had sciatica for 3 years now & found nothing that truly takes it away! However, I find that heat helps, & don’t suffer badly in the summer. I huddle under blankets in the evenings & have an electric blanket on low-ish all night long. A soak in a bath helps get me going in the morning. There are stretching exercises…Google…which help a lot. Sadly, they cause joints to dislocate as I have hypermobility, but worth a try, I think. I do walk as much as possible, but I’ve got plantar fasciitis in my foot atm, so walking is painful. Now that I have multiple ‘diseases’…12 of them, I am on Tramadol plus pain patches…but i wasn’t put on them for sciatica! I had my first pain free night in over 15 years last week!! This subject comes up quite a bit…if you search on sciatica, you will see other relevant posts!

[AliDeJ]

Hello. Sciatic pain is dreadful. I also have it. Back in May I couldn't stand up straight and walking was so painful. I still have it, but the excruciating morning pain was greatly relieved by a) NOT annoying my back by doing exercises, just letting it calm down and, most of all b) not sleeping on my left side. I hope you find the answer to your pain.

[Miacaro45]

A good chiropractor would help you. Also, exercises especially for sciatica helps immensely.

[musicalJ]

Thank you all for your replies. It looks as if it might be worth trying ibuprofen occasionally, and safe to do so as long as it is only occasional and I am taking omeprazole, but the best thing is to persevere with the exercises.

[HeronNS in reply to musicalJ]

Although a different condition, bursitis, I found that a certain exercise was wonderfully helpful. In your case I would persist with the exercises. We need to strengthen muscles which support the bones to avoid or alleviate these conditions. Good luck!

[HeronNS in reply to musicalJ]

I just looked at the site where I found my magic bursitis exercise, and here is what they have for sciatica:

myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/....

[musicalJ in reply to HeronNS]

thank you

[Jeanjeanie23]

You will find some great exercises on Utube...look at Dr Alan Mandell and others. Really worth doing .

[musicalJ in reply to Jeanjeanie23]

thank you

[Gossiplady]

Hi musicalJ! Sciatica is vile. I tried a tens machine and did nothing for me, then I bought a PainGone, like an overgrown biro, from the usual Mr.A. Which is brilliant for me and can be used on many parts of your body.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Gossiplady]

Just a warning - not to be used if you are on anticoagulants or have a heart condition. SO that's me out ...

[Gossiplady in reply to PMRpro]

bless you! We can always rely on you. Have a pain free Christmas and New Year.

[musicalJ in reply to Gossiplady]

I've never heard of Paingone, I'll look into it; thanks.

[papadapadoo]

Two weeks after I began taking low-dose naltrexone for my PMR, my mild sciatica disappeared. I can't argue the cause, though. On the other hand a vibration plate may help you. I love mine. brandonorthopedics.com/vibr...

[musicalJ in reply to papadapadoo]

Thanks, I've never heard of either naltrexone or the brandon vibration plate - something else to investigate.