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Original poster

Sciatica - nothing works?

57 replies

NeedForSpeed · 28/05/2025 10:35

DH has sciatica. He's had 30/500 co-codamol and 500mg naproxen for days and it's not touching the sides. I dosed him up with my 20mg amitryptiline last night which knocked him out at least, but he's in agony again now.

He's refusing my TENS machine now although it helped 2 days ago. Heat and cold application makes no difference to him.

No position is comfortable - lie on side, back, front, sit, stand, squat - so he's throwing himself around all the time trying to find a way to be out of pain.

He's also an appalling patient, and even the mildest cold turns him into an absolute wailing arsehole so this level of pain means he is currently the most cantankerous thankless groaning and moaning prick you can imagine which is making nursing him even harder.

Any actual tips? Or does nothing work?

OP posts:
CuriousKangaroo · 28/05/2025 10:43

There is no real substitute for doing the exercises to stretch the piriformis muscle and doing it daily. At a pinch, a massage will help alleviate the symptoms for a couple of days, but you have to do the exercises to stop the problem recurring. Pain relief medication is not a long or even particularly short term solution.

Original poster
NeedForSpeed · 28/05/2025 10:42

Stopitbella · 28/05/2025 10:39

Has he had it properly diagnosed? I was told I had sciatica. Turns out it was something very different, which caused the same sensation, diagnosed when I saw a consultant for MRI and further CT.

Only by phone by 111 GP. Pain is mostly buttock, testicle and leg down to the knee. Tight lower back on same side. No other issues ie numbness or pins and needles, so seems fairly likely.

OP posts:
Original poster
NeedForSpeed · 28/05/2025 10:41

mugglewump · 28/05/2025 10:38

Has he tried osteopathy? I would get him to an osteopath to sort out the cause rather than treat the symptoms.

Seeing her tomorrow, only time she had availabile.

OP posts:
BlueMum16 · 28/05/2025 10:39

He's an adult. Why are you dealing with his drama. Also don't self medicate he needs to see his GP.

Get a physio referral. I found exercises and acupuncture helped.

Stopitbella · 28/05/2025 10:39

Has he had it properly diagnosed? I was told I had sciatica. Turns out it was something very different, which caused the same sensation, diagnosed when I saw a consultant for MRI and further CT.

mugglewump · 28/05/2025 10:38

Has he tried osteopathy? I would get him to an osteopath to sort out the cause rather than treat the symptoms.

Icedcaramelfrappe · 28/05/2025 10:37

TENS machine is the only thing that works for me but it sounds like he is being annoyingly dramatic tbh