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Original poster

Sciatica relief please!

57 replies

FreyaFromTheFens · 11/03/2022 16:06

I have an appointment booked with a chiro on Monday afternoon but the pain in my lower back, hip and now spreading down my leg is horrific.

I'm sitting on a balance ball as my desk chair was making it worse and it feels better to move it, is anything like stretches, heat treatments etc... that you've found to help?

Paracetamol and Ibuprofen don't touch it Sad

OP posts:
stayingaliveisawayoflife · 11/03/2022 18:23

Because I have back issues I was given exercises to do lying on my bed. The one that works the best for me is to pull the leg on the bad side up to your chest while lying on your back. Hold your knee in as tight as possible and hold it while you count to 20 then gently let it down. Repeat this at least 6-10 times. I do this daily now and it seems to stop it getting worse. I do have other exercises from my physio but am not sure how to put them on here.

stayingaliveisawayoflife · 11/03/2022 18:25

Another one was to pull up the leg like before then gently swing it across your body to rest on the side of the bed and hold for a count of 20.

Marblessolveeverything · 11/03/2022 18:25

I swear by foam roller under your leg gently up and down. Very gentle stretches there are a few online versions. Hot water bottles and walking, I walked miles morning, noon and night. Pain killers wise - i was given a lot of different types/shots etc - one memorably on xmas day - but they only knocked me out and didnt actually relieve the pain. It still crops up now and again Mind yourself, I hope it eases soon - it is a horrible pain.

Interested in this thread?

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General health
Mbear · 11/03/2022 18:31

TENS machine def helped me with the pain management side of things (as in I assumed it wasn’t making my back better, just distracted me from the pain).

earsup · 11/03/2022 18:36

osteopath much better than chiropracter....maybe valium off doctor to stop spasms and then do yoga....mine went away over 30 years ago with regular yoga classes and adrienne on youtube has a few for lower back issues...very good.

D0lphine · 11/03/2022 18:57

I’ll give the inserts a try as think my posture is part of the problem hence sitting on the ball.

So the osteo said to me that my arches are collapsed so I need arch support basically for ever. Honestly these tiny inserts have changed me health so much!!!

That's specific to me though, so defo ask a good osteo what they think. Best money I've ever spent!

D0lphine · 11/03/2022 19:01

Other thing is try and keep moving despite the pain. Movement improves things. Slow walking etc.

Also I tried acupuncture. In the nicest possible way it did absolutely fuck all.

user1493494961 · 11/03/2022 19:04

Ice, heat and yoga stretches.

2bazookas · 11/03/2022 19:07

My previous GP did acupuncture for my sciatica (and also, a frozen shoulder). It just instantly turned off the pain, magic.

BeaLola · 11/03/2022 19:08

I feel for you - worst pain - I was bed bound for 3 weeks - I had morphine, amtryxsline, codeine and paracetamol - it was excruciating- now 18 months later I still have numbness left in part of my lower leg and side of my foot. I had a MRI and I have bulging discs

Walking around helps, a lot . I have taken note of other helpful suggestions above.

Doseydots · 11/03/2022 19:15

I found this Pilates workout really helped as well as a tens machine. I could do the work out while I was suffering with the pain. It really helped.

Piemam · 11/03/2022 21:37

Another recommendation for acupuncture here. Had this when pregnant and small, big baby for me. Couldn't walk some days, acupuncture meant I had some normal daily function for some days.

bumpytrumpy · 11/03/2022 21:59

Osteopath

Piriformis stretches - google or you tube

Naproxen, amtryptiline

Keep moving even though it hurts

Heat and ice packs

Time, it needs time

Gilead · 11/03/2022 22:44

Am in hospital with it and have been here for a fortnight. My arthritis and degenerative disc disease have ensured the nerve is well and truly trapped. I managed at home until I got to the point where I literally couldn’t get out of bed to pee. I’m on a real cocktail of drugs:Zomorph,Oramorph. Amitripyline, Naproxen and Paracetamol. I can now move ten steps if bent double over a Zimmer frame and that’s with physio too!
I’m reading this in the hopes that something may work!
Good luck and I hope for all you sufferers things improve soon. 💐

pawpaws2022 · 11/03/2022 22:48

@anotherdaynotanotherdollar

Popping on this thread to give you red warning flags that mean you need to go to A and E immediately if any of them occur! 
•	Bladder dysfunction such as having to strain or an altered flow or altered awareness of the need to urinate also loss of bladder control

• Tingling or numbness in the saddle
area between the legs and around the

anus - or any part of you that would sit on

a saddle

•	Alteration of sexual sensation
•	Weakness in the legs and ankle reflexes
•	Alteration in bowel function including loss of control

I can not stress the importance of getting seen immediately if any of these things happen as it could be Cauda Equina which is a medical emergency!!

This ^

Been there, done that, had cauda equina
Mine was VERY subtle, I was in bed and it felt like warm water running down my legs. Had full bladder and bowel control and was able to walk still but had foot drop and lost feeling in my leg and foot

LemonDrizzles · 12/03/2022 02:08

Knee stretch worked for me. Sit on chair both feet in floor, back straight, then pull one foot on to opposite knee keeping back straight. Slightly rock back and forth. Repeat with other side. Do daily.

Same article mentioned that sitting with legs crossing legs at ankles can enflame so I now avoid that.

FrecklesMalone · 12/03/2022 02:26

Acupuncture sorted out the acute pain and now have top ups to keep it at bay. Yoga helps with loosening the hamstrings and ilibtiobial band

Original poster
FreyaFromTheFens · 12/03/2022 07:14

@anotherdaynotanotherdollar

Popping on this thread to give you red warning flags that mean you need to go to A and E immediately if any of them occur! 
•	Bladder dysfunction such as having to strain or an altered flow or altered awareness of the need to urinate also loss of bladder control

• Tingling or numbness in the saddle
area between the legs and around the

anus - or any part of you that would sit on

a saddle

•	Alteration of sexual sensation
•	Weakness in the legs and ankle reflexes
•	Alteration in bowel function including loss of control

I can not stress the importance of getting seen immediately if any of these things happen as it could be Cauda Equina which is a medical emergency!!

Thanks for taking the time to post this! I haven’t had those but am definitely aware of them now 😊
OP posts:
Original poster
FreyaFromTheFens · 12/03/2022 07:17

@Marblessolveeverything

I swear by foam roller under your leg gently up and down. Very gentle stretches there are a few online versions. Hot water bottles and walking, I walked miles morning, noon and night. Pain killers wise - i was given a lot of different types/shots etc - one memorably on xmas day - but they only knocked me out and didnt actually relieve the pain. It still crops up now and again Mind yourself, I hope it eases soon - it is a horrible pain.
Thank you, yes I find walking helps. If it stopped me walking the dogs I would be miserable so luckily I can still do that and it takes my mind off it for a while.
OP posts:
Original poster
FreyaFromTheFens · 12/03/2022 07:19

Thanks @earsup I’m going to look at yoga stretches!

OP posts:
Original poster
FreyaFromTheFens · 12/03/2022 07:22

@2bazookas

My previous GP did acupuncture for my sciatica (and also, a frozen shoulder). It just instantly turned off the pain, magic.
Wow really that quick? That must have been such a relief!
OP posts:
Original poster
FreyaFromTheFens · 12/03/2022 07:24

😔 Sorry that sounds miserable for you, I’m lucky I can walk with it still.

OP posts:
Original poster
FreyaFromTheFens · 12/03/2022 07:25

Looks good, thank you @Doseydots

OP posts:
Original poster
FreyaFromTheFens · 12/03/2022 07:27

@Gilead

Am in hospital with it and have been here for a fortnight. My arthritis and degenerative disc disease have ensured the nerve is well and truly trapped. I managed at home until I got to the point where I literally couldn’t get out of bed to pee. I’m on a real cocktail of drugs:Zomorph,Oramorph. Amitripyline, Naproxen and Paracetamol. I can now move ten steps if bent double over a Zimmer frame and that’s with physio too! I’m reading this in the hopes that something may work! Good luck and I hope for all you sufferers things improve soon. 💐
Oh @Gilead you poor thing! Flowers

Hope they can get on top of the pain for you!

OP posts:
nancy75 · 12/03/2022 07:29

@stayingaliveisawayoflife

Because I have back issues I was given exercises to do lying on my bed. The one that works the best for me is to pull the leg on the bad side up to your chest while lying on your back. Hold your knee in as tight as possible and hold it while you count to 20 then gently let it down. Repeat this at least 6-10 times. I do this daily now and it seems to stop it getting worse. I do have other exercises from my physio but am not sure how to put them on here.
This really worked for me too. Also if you sleep on your side, sleep with a pillow between your legs, I think it helps keep your hips in line - it’s made a huge difference for me