Anyone on here also have sciatica

[Montykat]

How is everyone doing tonight. Im usually on to chat about rubbish ibs symptoms. Iv mentioned lots of times that i also suffer with chronic lower back pain and have always wondered if the two are linked. However last week out of the blue i started getting terrible pain from my left butt cheek down left leg and cramping in my left leg/calf thats worse through the night. Does anyone else suffer with this? Im trying to stay cheerful for my kids sake but the cramps are so painful i dread going to bed to be woken up by them and im so worried it will get worse. I just need someone to chat to about it. And hope for some reassurance as all the posts iv read on the internet tell me ill have sciatica forever and the cramps will only get worse. Its making me really emotional

[Kilgh]

Have you seen a doctor? You could have a slipped disc. As this was out of the blue and all. I have had IBS-C back in the old days and sometimes I would have the exact pain you are describing right before a bowel movement. Figured hard stool was pushing into the femoral nerve.

So, get a diagnosis first before freaking out that it will become chronic. And stop believing every thing you read on the internet. Most of it is skewed to worst case scenario. Obviously all those people who have had sciatic pain and are fine now don't go on the internet to discuss it. So the internet pretty much only has the sickest people posting. This is not a realistic representation.

And, if possible, have a Merry Christmas!

[Montykat in reply to Kilgh]

Hello! Yes i went to gp who said it was sciatica and gave me 5 diazepam tablets and some exercises to do. I already have the painkillers etc at home for my usual back pain so they didnt feel the need to add to that. The reason im freaking is because ibs and lower back pain already can make life difficult so to contemplate havig this on top is a huge blow. Anyway i will just take it a day at a time and hope for the best!

[Kilgh in reply to Montykat]

Yeah, but no scans? No attempt to look for a mechanical cause? Coupled with your lower back pain I would expect some quick X-rays at least? Hate when GPs just throw drugs at patients. Treat the cause, not the symptom. From all your time with lower back issues you could have muscle weakness or imbalances that could be putting tension on your spine or nerve. There could be curative treatments to try.

[marshamclean]

I suffer those same pains. Sciatica can be tamed somewhat by amitriptyline. It has worked for myself and a couple of friends. Deep-tissue massage, though painful works. However, Sciatica is always underneath waiting to surface. You can suffer long and hard, sorry!

[Montykat in reply to marshamclean]

Hi there. Thanks for your reply. Im currently on 10mg of amitryptaline for ibs d which has made a huge difference to that so heres hoping things will settle down. Trust it to blinking happen at xmas x

[Kilgh in reply to Montykat]

Tis the season to be stressful!

[Matthewr73]

I suffer from sciatica due to herniating my L5/L4 lumbar disc in November 2016. You really need to ask for an MRI as you will with out doubt have a disc problem and really need to know if it's slipped, herniated or prolapsed.

In 2017 i had sciatica in both legs and even now have it in my left buttock, leg and numbness in my left foot everyday but as i'm in the UK i just get the brush off when really if i was in another country i would probably get a fusion or surgery to sort it.

Don't think it's anything to do with ibs.

[Liz1234ty]

Hi montykat - for a LOT of people sciatica is just short term so try not to worry. Mine comes and goes a bit. The best things that really do help me is pilates - keeps the hips, hamstrings and glutes limber and mobile and strenghens lower back. And secondly i pay to see a chiropractor. These sessions much help me. My chiro says that for some people there is a link between spine health and ibs. I hope you feel better soon.

[Montykat in reply to Liz1234ty]

Thankyou very much for your positive reply. Yesterday was a good day and iv been trying to push through the pain and go for walks etc to keep mobile. Its much worse in the morning because iv been laying all night so when xmas hols are over will probably get into a routine of getting up earlier to take meds before getting ready for work. If it continues that is. Heres hoping it wont! Xx

[Liz1234ty in reply to Montykat]

Fingers crossed it will soon go but if not i would recommend seeing a good local chiropractor or nhs physio. My chiro identified that my gait is uneven which causes slight differences in leg length and extra pressure on my l4/5 lumber spine joints and SI joint which ultimately causes my sciatica. By working on these root causes my sciatica vanished months ago. I still get periods of low back pain but my special excercises targe these as i much prefer slowly getting better through exercise than an op.