Fucking hell! Sciatica buttock pain

[vipersnest1]

I have a muscle that keeps going into spasm. It’s been going on for weeks now and when it decides to play up, I wake up in extreme pain and it can also kick in during the day - today is a particularly bad one.
GP wouldn’t help and told me to refer myself to physio - MSK team aren’t interested and didn’t suggest anything.
Apparently they will call me at some point (!)
I want to either climb the walls or cry.
I can’t take anti-inflammatories as my gut can’t tolerate them. Paracetamol doesn’t help. I do have opioid painkillers which do take away the pain but I end up in Lala land if I take them so am holding off (plus I try not to take them unless I’m desperate).
Any suggestions?

Have you tried the cat cow stretch? That one usually reduces my pain a lot the following day (doesn’t make any difference the same day.
Also these: www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/resources/patient-resources/sciatica/rehabilitation-exercises

Thanks for the thought, @SupposesRoses, but it’s my piriformis muscle and that won’t stretch it out.
It’s the waking up in pain that is the worse thing.

TENS machine, warm bath, heat pack - other people find cold pack/ice works better for them

Yoga

Acupuncture helped my sciatica.

https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sciatica/piriformis-muscle-stretch-and-physical-therapy

I can't take NSAIDs either but back pain and toothache has forced me to recently.

Ah the relief!

Haven't noticed any adverse effects yet but will stop as soon I'm better.
Pain is no joke.

@Womblingmerrily I've tried a piriformis stretch (half pigeon pose) but it won’t fully release.
@MeatRaffleRita I have a long history of either shedding the lining of my bowel or diarrhoea so I’m not prepared to risk it!

Would heat help?? You can get heat patches that stick to your clothes, they usually last 24 hours x

Definitely try acupuncture, I had the same issue as you, had 1 session & it sorted me out.

Osteopath visit helped my sciatica and starting pilates (about once a month) seems to keep it at bay. GP no use. Painkillers no use.

When I had the worst sciatica I’d ever had in my life I went to see a chiropractor. He was bloody brilliant and it’s never come back. His advice for muscle relief was to alternate hot and cold to contract and restrict the muscle. Ten minutes heat pad, ten minutes ice pack, and repeat. It makes the muscle stretch in and out and releases the pressure on the nerve. It worked wonders for me.

I had a sciatica flare up recently and I also struggle tolerating NSAIDs. Initially I was prescribed naproxen but it made my gums bleed and gave me a queasy feeling and stomach ache. My doctor prescribed me meloxicam instead and I found it easier to tolerate and it lasts longer so I only needed to take one dose in the morning. You do still need to take it with food.

Other than that hot baths and heat pads helped too.

Hope you feel better soon, OP.

Husband has had sciatica since January. He's finding daily yoga stretches and a tens machine are eventually starting to improve things. The yoga won't be an overnight miracle cure but it is helping.

Tiger Balm Neck and Shoulder Rub works for me..

Find something tennis ball sized and put it on the sore spot, against a wall and have a wiggle about. So the ball is between you and the wall if that makes sense. You will look a bit silly but when you hit the spot, you won't know whether to cry with pain or relief. If you can handle this, try doing it on a mat on the floor but you might need to build up to the greater body weight. Spiky tumble dryer balls work really well! This is the only thing that releases my piroformis when it spasms!

I have this too and horrible neurological symptoms that go done my leg - like someone has spilled hot water on me. The only thing that has worked so far is dry needling - its the Western medicinal form of acupuncture (so not based on "energy lines" or "chi" or anything like that). But it's still only temporary. I've had it a few years and not sure if I'll ever fond something that completely resolves it. But the dry needling stops the worst of the cramping and neurological issues.

I have sciatica, and use a homedics Everybody Shiatsu Pillow. It’s not a cure but it does give me relief.

The other long term approach was to increase my walking, even on days when I was in pain.

If you are waking up in pain, is something you are doing in your sleep triggering it? I realised that I was sleeping in a position which was doing me no favours. I put some cushions in the bed so it was harder for me to sleep in that position and it really helped.

Pigeon, but for a long time just breathing into it. Also Pilates small ball in lumbar spine with legs in the air or against the wall. When it has settled, mat work Pilates as often as possible.

Long term sciatica sufferer here.

Hot water bottle, then ice pack, 5-10 min each

Yoga, cat, cow, pigeon, dfd, cobra, child pose
I like triangle and seated bend too. Miss a day , you will pay!

Shakti mat...tis agony but it numbs your back...mainly cus it's in shock all.over

Massage

Check how you sit (get a supportive chair, don't slump even though you want to), walk (supportive shoes, I can't wear anything but good trainers now)

Walk a lot, gentle walks at first, swimming good too

I’d ask your GP to refer you for an MRI scan to have a look at what’s going on. I originally thought I had piriformis syndrome but actually an MRI revealed I had 3 prolapsed discs that no amount of physio, stretching, ice packs or acupuncture was ever going to sort. I had an operation to sort it all out on the NHS. It was a long agonising wait but I’m so glad it’s been done.

I went to an amazing physio who connected areas of pain in my bum and legs and told me which nerve controlled all these zones and then suggested a zone i hadn’t mentioned which was also that nerve and yes, I’d had pain/numness there. Google spine nerve zones and you may find something interesting.

This cured mine after 13 years. Recommend watching the full video and reading the comments. Good luck, OP. It is life changing when you find something that helps.

Deep physio massage was the only thing that worked for me. Several weeks worth.

I had an issue with my piriformis. I paid £50 to see a physio and the pain reduced by about 75% when they did a move on my backside. I was laid on my front, they showed DH how to elbow my arse as well so he could do it. Best £50 I ever spent.