Would you go on holiday with sciatica?

[Sameold23]

First family holiday abroad. Desperate for it. Kids never been on a plane or abroad. I got sciatica for the first time yesterday. I cannot describe the pain. I was in A&E so all checked out. It seems like a big improvement today, but still numb leg. Flying on Thursday. Would you go??

I'm still wondering if my osteopath caused it.

I’ve suffered sciatica since my youngest was born so 12 years!
some days my leg gives out! Lost count of the amount of times I’ve tumbled out the shower!
I went to Spain in may, I dont let it stop me. Was quite happy on my sun lounger whilst kids were in the pool!
I have started going to the gym and aqua fit which does ease it slightly.

Yes and that is great if it works for you but tbh it may just be luck and manipulation can sometimes make things worse. If the op hasn't had it before and bearing in mind she has a numb leg which would be a concern the last thing she needs is an osteopath potentially making things worse.

Acute v chronic backpain is very different. In the state the op is in she needs anti inflammatory meds, nerve meds, laxatives to keep bowels moving and rest.

she has a numb leg which would be a concern

Is it a concern? The doctor said it was OK for it to be numb.

I second this, I got the most horrendous sciatica recently, it had me in literal tears and I’m normally really good with pain! I got one for around £30 on Amazon and it helped immensely.

I wouldn't be seeing any physio/ osteo/ chiro etc etc until I knew definitively what was wrong with me

So, for me personally, I would pay for a private scan so I knew what was what.

When I had sciatica / back pain a few years ago, I rotated round a mixture of the below until it wore off after a few weeks ..

Tens machine
Ice pack
Heat pack
Hot baths
Rest
Gentle movement
Theragun
Bed of nails (not a literal one!)
Painkillers
Knee support for sleeping in bed

The above kept the pain at bay to some extent until it finally went

I ordered that TENS machine last night. I'm going to book an mri and just chill out. Just need to sort the constipation out.

You’d be unlikely to be any worse off if you currently can’t get downstairs and can’t look after yourself

Ok as in not uncommon in a flare up but a concern as you don't want to make it worse by folk prodding etc particularly if a disc is unstable.

Best thing re constipation is go overboard on fruit and veg, lots of raspberries blueberries and dark lettuce will soon have you going. Good luck.

Thank you for everyone's kindness and help. I don't think I can think clearly due to the tablets and lack of sleep. Kids have shed tears but are beyond excited.

Movicol is good for sorting constipation quickly, it’s quite expensive but definitely worth it.

I have used a chiropractor for sciatica but I trusted him as had been seeing him for issues with my neck previously. He sent me for an MRI so he knew what he was dealing with.

I have moved away from him now but see a new chiropractor in my new area and they practice a very gentle form of chiropractic treatment called McTimoney Chiropractic. I go fairly regularly and if I’ve been in a flare up she can tell as soon as I walk in that my pelvis is twisted.

Both chiropractic and osteopathic treatments can be very beneficial and safe. I would find it hard to believe the osteopath caused your sciatica but I would say you should definitely go back to them.

Yes but I'd find numbers of a local doctor and physio just incase

I'd probably book some physio out there

I really want to go!!!! How can I help myself??

Go and see the osteopath again.

Osteo fixed mine.
Exercises to help: lying on floor, bring one knee to chest and hold while breathing, other leg flat as you can on floor, then the other, then both. When both up roll side to side gently.

Oh and buy a tens machine to take with you!!!

If you really want to go pack hot pack and cold packs and use them alternately. Don't have the hot packs too hot though,just nicely warm. I'd see a physio before you go, I expect you will be given gentle stretching exercises to do, DO THEM! but don't do skmuchtheyare painful. If you are going somewhere with a pool, try floating rather than swimming. If you can, don't do much the day after you've travelled, you may feel very sore after flying. But I hope you do enjoy your holiday.
How is the sciatica today?

Something that helped me enormously with sciatica, and something I mentioned on another thread, get someone to jab their thumb in your butt/hip where it hurts. Lean over a surface (like a worktop) and have someone jab their thumb into the sore spot. It will hurt like crazy, your leg will burn and go numb, then after a minute or so it starts to get warm and then it almost feels nice. You can also wedge a tennis ball against the spot against a wall and sort of roll it around with your butt.

Disclaimer - I am in no way medical, only telling you what helped me, but I went from taking ten minutes and sobbing trying to get out of the car to being able to move with relative ease after a few goes of the above.

Also, I did go on holiday with my sciatica. The plane ride was hideous, but the hard Greek bed, the general relaxation and the swimming/gentle walking seemed to help a lot as well.

So they've all gone!! What can I watch to cheer myself up?? This is such a low point.

GP has referred me for physio which should be a few weeks.

Well, you can read rubbish on here! We’ll all hang out together.

Sorry about your situation.

😊