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Original poster

Sciatica /slipped disc

542 replies

Allofaflutter · 14/04/2024 14:29

Posting here for volume of answers.
Yesterday I moved normally and my lower back suddenly felt like it was being compressed and the pain was awful. Since then pain down one leg. The pain is like cramp but the worst cramp ever. Leg is much worse than back.
I have been screaming all night, literally in so much pain I couldn’t help it, worse than child birth. Couldn’t sit, lay or even perch. Even standing which was when it was best, it was at 9 out of 10. Hubby called 111 and paramedics were sent as I had a pulmonary embolism in Jan and I was screaming with the leg pain and he wanted to be sure it wasn’t that again. They told me to take codiene and paracetamol but it’s not doing anything really significant. They said it was sciatica, possible slipped disc causing it. What can I do to calm the pain. Obviously I’ll call dr tomorrow. Can’t take nsaids as I’m on blood thinners for blood clots. I’ve had no sleep either. Can’t use topical creams for the same reason. Anyone had similar? Can anyone tell me what worked for you? Can’t stand for days though I can just about not cry if I stand. Can’t lay to sleep. Help please? I’m exhausted but the pain won’t let me lay or sit. How long will this go on for?

OP posts:
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9
Original poster
Allofaflutter · 21/04/2024 19:15

I can’t take naproxen, I’m on blood thinners.

OP posts:
Original poster
Allofaflutter · 21/04/2024 19:20

nervousweddingguest · 20/04/2024 22:40

oh please dont do this... thats so unfair! make an appointment with your GP...

Show quote history

Why is complaining that the smaller hospital didn’t do the mri when I was sent there by 111 to have the mri? And that they left me in pain and sent me home literally screaming. I think I was badly treated by them, i was going to complain to pals about the hospital. I wasnt going to complain to pals about the lack of painkiller refills from the gp. Pals are nothing to do with the gps.

OP posts:
Topjoe19 · 21/04/2024 20:47

Honestly with anything else they'd investigate if you were screaming in pain. If you'd turned up with a chest pain or terrible headache, or stomach pain. But you were told to go home without proper investigation. It is unacceptable and you're within your right to complain if you wish. Don't be afraid to say what you feel. I hope you are feeling a bit better today?

Flowersandforests · 21/04/2024 20:51

@Allofaflutter @Topjoe19 completely agree with you - it’s unacceptable that you were left screaming in pain and they’re withholding pain medication !!! It’s inhumane.

Feels like back pain is not taken seriously at all - I was only offered a telephone appt, how is a GP meant to diagnose a physical problem over the phone?!?

Hope you’re feeling better today x

DuesToTheDirt · 21/04/2024 21:05

Flowersandforests · 21/04/2024 20:51

@Allofaflutter @Topjoe19 completely agree with you - it’s unacceptable that you were left screaming in pain and they’re withholding pain medication !!! It’s inhumane.

Feels like back pain is not taken seriously at all - I was only offered a telephone appt, how is a GP meant to diagnose a physical problem over the phone?!?

Hope you’re feeling better today x

My first GP appointment about my sciatica was over the phone. She glanced at my X-rays (hadn't looked at them before the phone call) and told me I had osteoarthritis. Hmm When I got to see a physio, in person, he told me my X-rays looked normal for my age, and my issues with movement showed it was sciatica.

Arrestedmanevolence · 21/04/2024 21:15

If you have any symptoms of cauda equina they should do an emergency MRI (that can be a week wait though so the definition of emergency is loose IME).

Original poster
Allofaflutter · 21/04/2024 21:32

I’ve just send a desperate message to the gps asking them to put me on gabapentin, give me more painkillers, and to beg for mri. I told them all the symptoms and that 111 send me to hospital for mri and it never happened.
we can self refer and book physio and I’ve managed to get one on Thursday on a new app. So that’s good. I explained I’m unable to lift my foot far and it’s tripping me up lots. I’ve had falls in the last week from it. Which hasn’t helped the back.

OP posts:
Original poster
Allofaflutter · 21/04/2024 21:33

Arrestedmanevolence · 21/04/2024 21:15

If you have any symptoms of cauda equina they should do an emergency MRI (that can be a week wait though so the definition of emergency is loose IME).

Thanks but they said I didn’t have it. They put something up my bum and poked me with a blunt needle and then said I hadn’t got it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Allofaflutter · 21/04/2024 21:34

When I say they I mean A&E last Sunday.

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Original poster
Allofaflutter · 21/04/2024 21:37

Flowersandforests · 21/04/2024 20:51

@Allofaflutter @Topjoe19 completely agree with you - it’s unacceptable that you were left screaming in pain and they’re withholding pain medication !!! It’s inhumane.

Feels like back pain is not taken seriously at all - I was only offered a telephone appt, how is a GP meant to diagnose a physical problem over the phone?!?

Hope you’re feeling better today x

Thanks, I wish but nope.

OP posts:
Topjoe19 · 21/04/2024 21:43

@Allofaflutter Physio can refer you for an MRI. Fight your corner with them on Thurs, but with the foot drop I can't see that they will refuse. And I cannot fathom why a GP would refuse you more meds. Hopefully they give you more tomorrow. Try some ice on the back & heat on the leg. Is the Tens any use?

Original poster
Allofaflutter · 21/04/2024 21:49

I’m still trying to find a place where the tens works, no luck yet. Is that what my foot is called? Foot drop? The pain/ numbness on the bottom of the foot is so painful too. Gp kept saying it was for a very short term use. And that it wouldn’t be refilled. More than one Gp too. I’ve been doing ice and heat but on the back not the foot. Should it be on the foot?

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 21/04/2024 22:05

Tens - you want the pads in a square round the outside of the back pain… if that makes sense? And not on bones at all.

I find it does nothing for the nerve pain in legs btw, just the back pain.

Original poster
Allofaflutter · 21/04/2024 22:57

tabulahrasa · 21/04/2024 22:05

Tens - you want the pads in a square round the outside of the back pain… if that makes sense? And not on bones at all.

I find it does nothing for the nerve pain in legs btw, just the back pain.

Thanks,it’s the leg I can’t cope with. The back is much less pain like a 2 or 3.. It’s the leg that’s killing me. 8-10 when it’s bad.

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 21/04/2024 23:02

I’m not saying it won’t do anything for your legs, pthe first tens machine I had definitely had instructions for leg pain.

Just I haven’t found it does much for it for me.

justasking111 · 21/04/2024 23:36

Allofaflutter · 21/04/2024 22:57

Thanks,it’s the leg I can’t cope with. The back is much less pain like a 2 or 3.. It’s the leg that’s killing me. 8-10 when it’s bad.

Show quote history

Same here the back is under control with Gabapentin. It's the hip and calf plus weirdly pain in my foot. I think it's nerves being compressed by L1 and L2. I have to lie on the sofa with cushions behind and under my back placed strategically. I get back pain when walking even a short distance.

My exercises help me loosen up a bit. Leaning on a shopping trolley helps too when shopping. I'm dithering about getting a walking stick.

Triflelife · 22/04/2024 09:22

@Allofaflutter this is exactly what I had/have with foot drop and excruciating leg pain. I did get an MRI in a&e and was a very large disc herniation. At the time they said they wouldn’t operate immediately (wait list is a year anyway) and it was a wait and see. I have a really good private physio and my triage physio at Gp was also great but the mainstream nhs physio I was moved to not so much. I was told by the main bank nhs my foot wouldn’t recover and to get a special brace for my shoe which was disheartening. I’m saying all this because my private physios (my own and I continued to see triage physio privately) both said I had a good chance of recovery and it was important to work on my foot strength and nerve recognition in the first few months so I did daily exercises. Just to give you some hope my extreme pain subsided after a couple of weeks and it’s been nearly 6 months now but I can lift my foot again and walking almost normally. I know that’s a lot and you won’t even be thinking about all this with the level of pain but more just to make sure you get a physio you’re happy with and can help.

Mischance · 22/04/2024 09:28

I had the surgery - paid for it (goodbye savings) - and it worked almost immediately. I still have trouble bending and have to be careful I do not lift anything heavy, but I am walking around fine.

FreyaFromTheFens · 22/04/2024 09:38

@Allofaflutter I had this for 4 months and was in agony and in tears from lack of sleep it’s horrific!
DH recommend decompression (stretching the back vertically in essence) so I hung from a frame twice a day. At first I could barely reach above my head and could only lower my body a fraction and kept my feet on the floor but after a week all my pain was gone and I haven’t had even a twinge of discomfort since.
My physio couldn’t believe the difference 😊

Triflelife · 22/04/2024 11:31

@FreyaFromTheFens how long did you hang for at a time? I have a hanger in the door frame but can only manage ten seconds or so at a time due to my rubbish upper body strength ha. So not sure if I’m hanging for long enough

justasking111 · 22/04/2024 12:25

Good question @Triflelife I was wondering where and how I could hang. Is there help on Google, you tube. I have scoliosis and have wondered if it would help

Original poster
Allofaflutter · 22/04/2024 13:44

I’m waiting for my call from the dr. Had a bad night.

OP posts:
Original poster
Allofaflutter · 22/04/2024 14:45

Dr called he’s chasing the mri as urgent. He’s refilling all my meds. I’m sticking with amitripline not gabapentin. Thanks for the warning on that. Dr was very happy to hear my thoughts on that. He also reassured me that this pain wasn’t permanent. He was a bit worried the numbness was on my right side too now so he’s chasing the mri and pushing it as much as he can. So I’m relieved I’m not going to stick like this forever.

OP posts:
FreyaFromTheFens · 22/04/2024 14:48

Triflelife · 22/04/2024 11:31

@FreyaFromTheFens how long did you hang for at a time? I have a hanger in the door frame but can only manage ten seconds or so at a time due to my rubbish upper body strength ha. So not sure if I’m hanging for long enough

You should build up to a minute at a time but I was really only holding it and able to lower maybe a couple of inches for 10 seconds or so but over the course of a few days I felt like I could release more and drop into my knees a bit.
I never took my feet off of the floor as just couldn't but I haven't thought about it for weeks now so wanted to mention it to @Allofaflutter on the off chance it helped as I thought surgery was going to be my only option.