Sciatica - nothing works?

I posted earlier. My husbands sciatica went away in a couple of months. He was in real pain but he was prescribed Pregabalin by the consultant. This did stop the pain.

The only thing that ever helped mine was Pregabalin. It was brilliant at getting rid of the pain when everything else failed. Spraying deep freeze on the area also gave some relief in combination with the Pregabalin.

Poor man-he needs Tramadol or similar instead of codeine. I also take Diazepam 5mg for the spasms. It's worse than childbirth. After that, Pilates is his friend.

Bed of nails!

Ok not an actual bed of nails but an acupuncture mat did wonders for mine after a car crash!!

It felt odd at first then after 10 minutes it was a wave of heat and relief.

I think they're called Shakti mats or similar.

Medication will not cure sciatica. You need a mix of physio, osteopathy, and for me, a really intense shiatsu massage. If you’re not doing the exercises the physio give you at least 3 times a day, the pain could drag on for months

Naproxen is an awful drug. I will not take it. Query this with the GP

Agree with all the swimming and exercise but in the acute phase your husband needs proper medication. That means diazepam and not naproxen

Insist. This is agony and a decent GP will know that the acute prescription is co codamol and diazepam for relief. I have had crippling sciatica and a surgical referral for a disc problem. A good doctor knows it is agony. Worse than childbirth.

Btw I hope the GP has prescribed some stomach protection for naproxen use. It can seriously damage your stomach lining without (I ended up in hospital as a result).

I am lucky to live near a chiropractic clinic which made treatment more reasonable. They put me on a stretching machine which in turn released the trapped nerve and I have been fine since this a chiro would be my first port of call.

I would avoid a general Pilates class. Have a look for one run by a physiotherapist so they teach him how to protect his back

I’m just coming out of the other side of neuropathic pain in my left leg. I had 2 weeks when I couldn’t sleep or walk with the pain. I had naproxen, co-codamol and amitripyline which eventually got me through the nights but it was hot water bottles that helped until I got to a Physio. It’s been the physio and the acupuncture he does every week that’s addressed the pain. Now I am just stiff and sore and working on that with exercise and deep massage. It’s been about 2 months to get to this point.

It’s truly awful (and I have a frozen shoulder as well) and I feel for your husband. He’s got to get a plan together and stick to it.

https://backinshapeprogram.com/2023/08/exercises-for-lower-back-pain-a-back-health-masterclass/ this website has a lot of guidance on recovery

Walking in a swimming pool helped mine hugely. Just walk up and down the shallow end and can also do the stretches in the water more easily than on land.

My DH had sciatica last year and he was in agony for weeks. He never complains about pain so I knew it was bad. He could barely walk.
You should ask for stronger pain relief. There are better options for more severe sciatica pain.
Physio really helped him - we paid initially and he saw a sports physio who was amazing. Eventually the NHS caught up and he got a course of physio with them too.
Fingers crossed he is ok now although they said it can recur unfortunately.

I had spinal stenosis which had very similar symptoms and was very debilitating for me. It's where the spinal cord is being squeezed inside the spinal channel. I had an MRI to have it diagnosed. Luckily I have private healthcare through work.

Point being I wouldn't trust a 111 diagnosis for something like this. If that's what it is, it will only get worse.

I'm in the same situation as your dh, I literally can't sit or lay in any way that is not excruciatingly painful, and I'm so FRUSTRATED mith my stupid body I know I've lashed out on my kids.

It really is the most awful pain op - I likened it to the pain of a contraction whilst in labour - except it doesn't go away. My leg feels like it's on fire constantly and even a tiny move in the wrong way causes jolts of pain.

He might be being an arse but please have some sympathy - it's rotten to be constantly on edge and worrying how to sit/stand/sleep.

When my sciatica is bad I lie flat on my back with a hot water bottle under the buttock. And try to keep straight - any bending makes it worse. Kneel walk to the loo.

Red light therapy. Gentle back exercises guided by a physio who has reviewed him in person, diagnosing the cause of the sciatica and therefore appropriate treatment.

If it is sciatica the only thing that helped me was anti inflammatories and using ice and heat on rotation and resting. And see a chiropractor.

Chiropractor really helped me, plus exercise. Walking (properly, arms swinging etc) swimming and pilates to start with, then I was able to slowly get back on a bike.

Plus also, hate to mention it, and you have not mentioned weight so may not be a factor, but weight loss. I can tell my weight is creeping up if my back starts to go. Reduce weight, relieve the pain.

I acknowledge this may not be relevant if he is already 8 stone - but it is a big factor if he is overweight.

He should use the TENS machine. When I had severe sciatica my GP gave me Tramadol. Co-codamol was useless and amitryptiline made me paranoid! Also rest. Do not attempt exercise when the pain is really bad. When I started to recover I did exercises in the hospital therapy pool. When sciatica is really bad you must rest.