Best thing for sciatica?

[Megatron]

I'm in bloody agony tonight. Anyone got any advice on the best thing to take or exercises they found helped?

Also, I've been doing a lot more walking and cycling recently, could this have brought it? I've only ever had it a few times in the past and never this bad.

I find that laying on my back and bringing my knees to my chest feels amazing!

I had sciatica when I was pregnant with my DD. I was referred to a physio and they recommended an exercise ball which you can get cheap from Amazon. You can sit on them and roll from side to side and sit on a mat with the ball in front of you and roll it from side to side whilst you lean on it. They help ease things. Failing that, I'd try deep freeze which you can buy from any chemist. I hope this helps.

I used a TENS machine with success..

I use CBS oil when I have a flair up not for everyone I know but it really does help

Cocodamol was what got my dh back on his feet after a week of crawling around in agony.

Heat pads, hot baths, valium and codeine help me!

Apparently freezing a tennis ball then trapping it between you and the wall as a kind of massage thing helps. Never worked for me though.

Heat and drugs!

I lie slanted. So on my back than a cushion or two propped under where it hurts most. Helps me get comfy.

There are some good videos for stretches on youtube, like the pp said bring your knee up to your chest. Also stand with your legs apart rotate your hips a bit and and kind of do pelvic thrusts; if it doesn't make your sciatica better (it did mine) it'll at least give everyone else in your house a laugh and that should take your mind off it for a bit! I hope you find something that works,

You need to stretch out the sciatic nerve. That always helps me.
Some exercises here.
Remember never force a stretch, ease in to it.

I suffered terribly and couldn't sit for longer than 1/2 an hour: not good when I was at uni and working to drive. I paid to see an acupuncturist that someone recommended...it disappeared from the first session...amazing!

GP prescribed Amitryptiline. Alongside walking 20 mins a day, and 500mg naproxine x 2. Helps sleeping too.

Dp ( now ex ) had to knead my buttocks when I had this when I was pg. I vaguely remember asking him to punch my bum as well! It did help.

Acupuncture.

My friend was in agony and couldn't stand. Loads of physio didn't help.

Acupuncture did the job in 10 days, about 5 sessions.

Thank you everyone some really helpful suggestions. I've taken paracetamol and am kind of propped in a weird position but it's the only way I can get comfortable.

Hope your back is doing a bit better today Megatron

It's very painful isn't it? A PP has mentioned the thing that works best for me .... Lie on the floor on your back, feet flat on the floor, legs in a triangle shape. Then pull each leg (one at a time) towards your chest grasping below the knee, for about 30 seconds each, pulling gently.

There's also a stretch called the "piriformis stretch" which may help ... Google it and follow the instructions carefully (NHS for eg).

Those stretches are in my link RedRosie, they really help.
OP, try lying on your ‘good’ side in bed, then raise your ‘bad’ leg and put pillow/pillows between your legs, so the upper bad leg is raised and in line with your hip. This takes the ‘pull’ away and let’s the leg rest, you’ll feel relief.