Sciatica /slipped disc

I have had this twice and all I can say is you have my sympathy because the pain is unbelievable and secondly, be very pushy with the NHS on pain relief.

If you are lucky this may resolve in six weeks. But it can be brain bendingly painful so push for drugs, insist, and get the MRI. Keeping warm will also help you avoid tense muscles which can make it worse.

Bit late now for the OP as she's at A&E but for anyone else with sciatica I'd be wary of baths - I tried to have one, got in and the pain got even worse as I couldn't find a comfortable position. I also couldn't move to get out without making it worse still; for a while I thought I'd be stuck in the bath.

Oh god I’ve had this multiple times with a degenerative disc in my back. Many times I’ve just had to go into the shower to just stand there and do a wee cos physically impossible to sit on seat; worst pain ever . Hope you feel better soon

Sounds like you're in the right place and finally having the right investigations OP. Good luck with whatever comes next. I've had spinal surgery and was terrified but all went well. I've heard so many success stories too.

OP the paramedics got it wrong. The person I know had no pee or poo problems, but they had cauda equina. As a result of not having pee and poo problems, It took almost three weeks for them to get a drs appt, then go to the hospital, where they were scanned and were then sent through urgently to see a neurologist at a different hospital. All that time of waiting they were at serious risk of permanent disability.

Glad you've went to hospital, at least the MRI will give you answers and they can give you some better pain relief

Yeah I had this. After about two days the pain disappeared but I was left with permanent numbness and weakness in my right leg. Balance is also really effected, but no pain as the nerve is dead. Sorry you have this x

@Allofaflutter cross posted! Glad you're being seen!!

I had a slipped disc at 16 and was operated on at 18.

My husband had a slipped disc from his service in the military and was generally manageable, but one day he was exactly as you described you have been today. His med centre military GP pumped him full of strong prescription medication and I gave it to him like clockwork for 24 hours, as he cried and rolled around the bed, it was horrendous.

In the end he couldn't stand make it to the toilet and I called an ambulance who gave him gas and air and IV paracetamol and took him in.

After a lot of arguing between the Consultant and I we got him admitted for a few days and he was given pregabalin, tapentadol and oramorph to deal with the pain, then booked in for a root nerve block in order for him to be well enough for us to get married, then when we returned from our honeymoon he went pretty much straight into surgery.

My argument was that they initially gave him tramadol, which had no effect whatsoever and they were still going to send him home. As a health professional myself, I would be negligent if I sent a patient home in that state and I really had to advocate for him.

Sadly we experienced one cock up after another with how the military initially handled the slipped disc when he first presented to the med centre, and he was awarded a five figure sum in compensation.

If you are screaming in pain and need further medication I would urge you to go to A & E at least just to manage the pain until you can see a GP and go through the referral channels.

I feel for you though, it's absolutely shit.

Bit of a sweeping statement! Mine keeps me working, and got me pain free after two weeks, so speak for yourself.

They will probably do a finger up the bum so don't panic!

Huge sympathy, it is excruciating. Diazepam took my back out of spasm but recovery took months and normal movement years. I'm still wary as I never want to feel that again. Wish you well.

Oh bless you-I've been there with a sacroiliac joint and it was horrific. All I could do was lie across the back seat of the car and be driven - and walk with a stick until I got sorted. It took about a year to get better - Pilates was amazing. Drug wise I was on Tramadol, Codeine (I prefer Tramadol during the day as they don't make me sleepy), Codeine at night as that does sedate me mildly, and also Diazepam for the initial spasm. I also took Naproxen but obviously that's out for you. Good luck and please keep us updated.

Ahh OP you poor thing, sounds awful.

I slipped a disc end of last year. Probably not the best long term, but I found lying half slumped on the sofa was the only way I could get vaguely comfortable. I also found a
hot water bottle helped too - but it needed to be really hot.

I would strongly recommend seeing an Osteopath rather than a physio, the physio made mine worse but Osteo has honestly made the world of difference.

Don't let chiropractors near your back. A few are good, many do damage and can leave you unable to walk. Try curling up rather than laying straight .

Tens machine helped me a lot. Also ice - frozen peas. And lying in my front with pillows under my stomach, and head dangling off the bed.

i tried every painkiller mentioned here and the only one that really worked was prednisone (cortisone steroids).

The only thing that takes my pain away when like this is ice. I literally have an Ice pack on all the time, we've hit about four that I rotate.
I hope this helps, it's awful pain.