Sciatica pain, I don’t know how much more I can bear

[Fl0weryTwats]

I’ve had sciatica a few times before, usually intermittent and manageable, with long periods in between flare-ups. I’m two weeks into the worst pain I have ever been in with it, there is no break from the pain and I cannot get comfortable no matter what I try.

I’m going upstairs on my knees and downstairs on my bum, sleeping with a complex arrangement of pillows, using a hot water bottle, taking as much paracetamol and ibuprofen as I am allowed in a day, and have been on pregabalin 50mg twice daily for a week. Nothing is touching the pain! I’m trying to stretch every day but even that is causing agonising pain. GP prescribed pregabalin after a phone consult and I’ve been referred for physio in 2 weeks, but I haven’t had a face-to-face appointment with anybody yet. I have done an online consultation with my GP asking for a call back as I’m really struggling, I can’t even get down on the floor to play with my toddler, and my poor dog is having to wait until DP finishes work so he can go out for a walk. DP is unable to take any time off work as he won’t be paid, and we can’t manage without both incomes.

I have no symptoms of cauda equina so I’m reasonably confident that my spinal cord isn’t in any danger, but I can’t cope with the pain. To make matters worse, I’m due back at work on Wednesday after 14 months on maternity/annual leave so I really don’t want to take the piss and go off sick!

What can I try that I haven’t tried? Thanks all 😩

I've had it for.. ooh.. 9 years now? Mines due to a herniated disk and arthritis in my spine, i have a completely squished S1 nerves.

You may need a higher dose of pregabalin.

Ice.

Another thing to try is a Tens Machine, you can get them off amazon.

If the exercises they have given you are stretches, and they are causing you pain, please stop. If it is a disk issue and the nerve is trapped, flossing it isn't going to help.

Sciatica pain can also be caused by an issue in the Pelvis called Piriformis syndrome, and you need to see a private physio, not an NHS one, see if you can find a Sports Massage or Rehab specialist who will do a proper, hands on assessment. NHS are about as much use as a fart in a colander quite frankly.

I’ve recently had a flare up and it was so painful. I’ve had it on and off for 20 years. Most recently I’ve taken more control of my recovery with help from a good physiotherapist. Gently at first. Regular pain relief. Hot water bottle as needed. Try not to sit for too long. When you feel able then you can try basic stretching, a little everyday but just a little, don’t push it. Walk daily for 5 or 10 minutes. It gradually gets better then you have to stretch daily. When you do eventually recover build up your core with Pilates. Don’t stop when you're better, promise yourself to keep on top of it.
I’ve been prescribed amitriptyline but didn’t need it in the end. It will help you sleep at low doses but husband may have to help out with kids at night if needed

I’ve had it twice & you have my sympathy. It’s incredibly painful. One exercise works wonders for me - sit upright on a chair, both feet flat on the ground. Bend your head forward while raising one leg (the sore side) from the knee, then back down again, 3 x 10 repetitions throughout the day. It hurt like hell to start (you might not manage 10 straight away) but a few hours later it felt like something had changed and it got less & less painful over the next few days. I assume the stretching allows the nerve to be un-pinched. I do this exercise every now & again if my back starts to feel stiff. I wished I’d tried this simple exercise (recommended by a physio) before I spent ££££ on a chiropractor. I hope you feel better soon x

OP I had terrible sciatica, dicoflenac (an anti inflammatory) saved me

I have suffered with sciatica for years (one particularly nasty fall from a dick horse), I started Pilates last year and it has genuinely changed my life- it’s very trendy now, but its goal is core strength/spinal protection and I really noticed the difference within about 2 months.

caveat here is that I knew exactly what my injury was, definitely worth having an MRI & seeing a physio to understand what the issue is.

You really have my sympathy. I had this last year - the only things that helped me manage the pain were lying on the side that wasn’t affected, icing it with an ice pad (much better than heat) and taking diazepam (cocodemol, naproxen and some pain injection at the hospital all did nothing). In the end, I had spine surgery and feel very grateful, as i feel like a new woman. I mention my experience because, whilst I feel very lucky to be where I am now, in retrospect, I shouldn’t have battled on for so long gritting my teeth as I did end up with some nerve damage because the nerve was badly compressed for a long time. One thing the surgeon said to me was that pain is not a good measure of how serious things are - keep an eye on what your body is and isnt able to do - my foot got so it couldn’t take weight when I was walking so I was limping and I didn’t realise how serious that was - the pain felt much more serious to me! I hope you find something that helps soon.

Chiropractor was only relief for me, I was in acute pain and had lost hope of ever getting better but it really worked