Sciatica cures

[sciaticaffs]

Suggestions welcome! I had cauda equina in 2017 and have been pain free since the op… until now
its not excruciating but I have pins and needles all down my leg and into my foot
I’ve been doing some very gentle yoga and stretches and wondering if it’s best to see the GP?
I can self refer for physio but they can’t guarantee me a female so I can’t go that route

If they can't guarantee a female could you take a chaperone with you instead?

I’m not comfortable with a male at all due to recent SA by a massage therapist who also assaulted women while other people were there. It’ll probably improve with time but it’s very very recent

Unfortunately GP's hands are tied when it comes to back issues, it's straight to physio who can actually refer on. It's a pain in the arse (literally), I had CES last year, having massive flare up yet again, awaiting neurosurgery consult yet again, can I get an ESI in the meantime? Nah course not. Can't wait to piss myself yet again to be taken seriously. 25 fucking years of this shit.

Sorry for the ranting, it's a delicate subject today!

I had great results using a TENS machine. You can hire them from Boots .

I’ve had it for over 20 years but I keep it at bay most of the time as long a so am careful. I had a lot of physio and medical procedures at the time, however the orthopaedic consultant said to never do yoga as it’s stretches the sciatic nerve and irritates it. He recommended Pilates and gentle glute and hamstring stretches instead. I did try and do yoga classes years ago and every time it set the sciatica off just like he said it would, but Pilates didn’t.

I also never do high impact exercise like aerobics classes and running, and use ice and heat alternatively when I have a flare up.

As you’ve had cauda equina I would go back to the GP though.

Walking helps a lot even if it's around the house
Yoga exercises are good but don't aggravate the pain or symptoms
Strengthen core muscles and glutes through exercise
Check out Will Harlow books and YouTube
Anti inflammatory meds
Good massage therapy
Ice pack on affected area

Yeah I was lucky, I saw a private physio via my old work last time who refused to treat me until I had an MRI. Put straight for surgery and developed CES just before the planned op

I can do Pilates. I have a peloton so got access to stretches, Pilates etc via there so I’ll have a look
i feel like as I’ve been exercising less my glutes are weak

I feel your pain. I experiencing a massive flare up at present. It the worst pain i have ever felt in my life.. There's so many pieces of conflicting information, it's hard to know what to do for the best. I hope you and everyone else get some relief

Were you able to use it by yourself or did you need someone to stick the pads on for you?

Walking, Tens machine, heat, cold and sleeping with a pillow between my legs

I had physio when mine as at its worst and then have managed it with Pilates, I tried yoga first and that seemed to cause a flare up but Pilates has been life changing, as my core got stronger I found that the pain got better, my posture was better and I have the stretches there for when it’s really bad. I also have a spiky ball, I stand by an all and can self massage with it, I find when my sciatica is bad that can realease it.
It’s tough though, such a horrible pain to try and live with

I went to the osteopath and that didn't help, but Pilates sorted mine out.

found a beginner Pilates programme which is 10-20 mins a day so I’ll start that tomorrow
i don't actually have much pain at all, it’s just pins and needles and increased numbness and discomfort, I can’t get comfy

Which programme are you using? 10-20 mins sounds perfect

For me yoga only made matters worse. Pilates and swimming have helped keep it at bay but when it's really bad, proper pain relief from the GP is essential.
Hope you can get on top of it.

It’s a peloton one