Sciatica /slipped disc

Currently struggling myself, so would like to know how OP is now too.

Hi OP have just found your thread after looking up slipped disc. How are you now? I hope a lot better xxx

I'll be thinking about that for sure. Although seeing easy jet left three wheel chair users on the runway the other day while their luggage and plane took off has made me somewhat leery.

Thank you. Yes, it was lovely. I was in Greece, and the warm weather, and lots of swimming, helped a bit. I am slightly broken by walking more than usual.
My friend who I travelled with, booked the assistance for the airport, to save me standing a lot, and it was amazing. 20 mins from bag drop to gate, and no waiting at security/passport control. I'd recommend it to anyone who is swithering. You can request it at any time up to 48 hours (I think) before, so you don't have to have requested it when you booked - and it's free!

I jolly well will. He thought I was being lazy nodding off during the day 🙈

Yeah, I was on 9 a day at one point. Three tablets, three times per day. I was off my face.
It's well known that gabapentin doesn't leave you sparklingly bright.... :( So, you can tell your husband that!

@HollaHolla do you feel better for the holiday?

@HollaHolla so you used your stick well done you.

I'm on Gabapentin three a day officially. Get by on two. One in the morning, one going to bed. Told husband taking a third made me sleepy. He thinks it's psychosomatic on my part. Good to know I'm not imagining it.

I've just come back from a holiday in Europe, and I took my stick with me for the first time ever. I'm only 47, but feel about 100.... I have not used the stick when I should, as I feel super self-conscious, and embarrassed about it.
I shouldn't have worried, really. It was a good indicator to people that I might be a bit slow/need a railing on stairs, etc. I'd encourage others to consider this.
I'm still in pain/numb, but it's a little bit of a help.

For those asking about paracetamol and it not working, I'd say that it's an excellent 'base' drug - but honestly, do consider pushing for a decent nerve painkiller. There are only three in use in the NHS in Scotland (not sure about elsewhere), and the amitriptyline did nothing for me, the gabapentin made me a zombie, but the pregabalin is somewhat therapeutic for me. It's the expensive one, so they do make you go through the others first....
Hoping all affected have a good week.

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Well I'll go to the foot of our stairs. It does work.

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Went down a rabbit hole last night. Watching American programme someone mentioned wintergreen. Well that set a bell ringing in my head from my childhood.

So I wiki searched, noted medicinal uses. Kept digging up popped sciatica. Found this site, read the reviews which are good. More research needed.

I've a strong feeling that it's an old remedy that my grandmother used. I remember my grandfather had awful back issues. Looking back I suspect it was osteoporosis because he became as stooped and bow legged as an old cowhand rider.

Anyway I thought it worthy of further research.

Weirdly a retired plumber in the village with wicked pain swore by horses liniment another old remedy.

@Allofaflutter

Forget the back belt what a waste of money 🙈

On the other hand my folding cane was a godsend today. Woke up all knotted up. Was panicking because I had to be at church for the school concert. I was in so much pain reversing out of the driveway trying to avoid husbands pride and joy new car and the big transit doing work next door for the neighbours I hit my wing mirror on the big gardening bin, it's fooked.

Got to church, oh joy a hardcore car park on a slope. So out came the cane on its virgin trial.

Got across the car park, up the church path, there were benches hallelujah. Because twenty minute wait until the school let us inside for the concert.

I was in good company with a wheelchair, two young mummies on crutches and an assorted bunch of grannies with back, hip issues.

The sunshine was glorious we all sat having a good natter while the queue of able parents grew.

I shall be having a quiet word with the school about Christmas concerts when we're left to queue for Forty minutes in the rain, cold at Christmas though.

swimming is the only exercise safe for me, but since i had to start using my walking stick full time, i admit i'm nervous of the walk around the pool, and if i'll have the strength to get myself back out.

I'm going on holiday, scared of the pool so thought I'd use a float and ask family to keep an eye on me just in case.

@Allofaflutter i went in the pool recently with my kids for the first time since the awful incident. It literally felt detached from my body so I know what you mean. Despite physio saying any walking in the water etc was really good for it. I constantly look around at everyone so normal lifting their kids, lounging around etc and think gosh you are so lucky

It's spinal stenosis UK I think. Tbh a lot of it is people claiming PIP for what I suspect are short term disc issues, but there is an occasional useful post. I'm 40 now and starting to get worried about the future as it's getting worse for sure.

@Allofaflutter glad you are able to drive and still have some form of normality. Totally know what you mean though it’s as if the leg is not part of your body anymore but this alien thing.

@Arrestedmanevolence would you mind sharing the name of the group? I had a herniated disc three years ago and this winter which was a whopper and has caused numbness and foot drop. My discs don’t look great with signs of DDD at the lower levels. Sad because I'm not even 40 yet.

I have life long disc issues, with ddd and it causes slipped discs everywhere 5 years or so which take about a year to recover from each time (and getting longer as I age). I'm on a Facebook group where some people go off to Germany to have discs (I assume plastic??) put in. They seem to have good outcomes.

Unfortunately not. I have been told in my case, surgery has a high failure rate because even if they sort the L1/S5, i have degeneration in the other disks, so they don't feel it's worth the attempt.

The difference between degenerative disks and a slipped disk is with time, slipped can heal (apparently) with mine, the disks are not just bulging, they're drying out 'dessicated' was the word my specialist used, so i'm losing my inbuilt suspension!

I will say as someone who has been dealing with this long term, don't be afraid to use mobility aids if you need to and they make your life easier!

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@Allofaflutter on another thread about travelling abroad airport etc I've had lots of advice. The consent is to get a walking stick to take some weight off the bad leg. I've been dithering until I realised yesterday that I hang onto chair backs, tables, the bed , the wall when moving around which helps so a stick makes sense. On the thread people of all ages said that it helps. And to get a folding one

Anyway. I thought this Amazon one was attractive, not expensive so I'd give it a go.