Sciatica /slipped disc

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Had this ... the most unspeakably evil pain .. much worse than labour...sciatica burning down the middle of one leg..
called 111 got gas and air in ambulance then a desperate seven hour wait unable to sit so standing and writhing in A and E . I
think triage had ruled out equine cauda?? . At 6 am sharp pain just lifted...completely and without warning. I'd not had any meds but my own paracetamol and ibuprofen. Finally seen by Dr who gave me 6 diazepam and suggested a regular Pilates class! I was not best pleased.. but did join a weekly group and strange to say and double fingers all crossed it s never returned!

Op maybe your pain will magically disappear ... or you ll be too exhausted abd drugged to feel it . Hope you re ok .

From experience they’ll only take you in if you are incontinent more than once, as it can be suspected cauda equina which requires emergency surgery.

It is horrific. Never had pain like it. I found walking through the pain helped. Getting up in the morning and just walking. Lots of pillows propping legs, diazapam, codine. Physio gave me back bends to do.

I was told to have a positive mindset and that helped. 3 week after it happened I got on a long haul flight to Nairobi and went on a safari! By that point it was twingey and 10 days later it was fine!
I was screaming in pain and had 3 emergency calls to 111. Good luck OP. Back bends, heavy meds and keep moving. You'll be fine!

I’ve got a bulging disc that’s trapping the nerve into my leg, it went numb and I literally couldn’t use it about 2 years ago - oramorph was rubbish tbh kind of took the edge off a bit but left me really out if it, tramadol works much better on both counts.

I’ve been told lots that for 90% of people it’s back to normal within 12 weeks, it happened to someone at work 2 weeks ago, she’s still on some painkillers but almost back to normal.

So the chances are if you get some more effective drugs - you’ll probably need a separate one for nerve pain as well- and physio exercises it’ll pass fairly soon.

🤞 you’re one of the 90% 😊

I’m not, it’s quite frankly shit 😂 but obviously most people are, so the odds are pretty good, but get in touch with your GP for better drugs.