To ask for advise on Sciatica?

[Myliferocks]

I've put this in this topic as there's more traffic on here.
My non fuss making OH is nearly in tears with sciatica. He's waiting for the doctor to ring as his pain medication isn't working.
Is there anything he can do to help ease the pain as he can't move at the moment and can't get comfortable as he is constantly in pain.
Thank you in advance for any help given!

And it should be ask for advice on Sciatica!

I have had sciatica, it's awful - I used paramol which you can buy over the counter and a TENS machine. Also went to a chiropractor who popped the nerve out after two painful manipulations (but worth it)

Ice pack on the area - sciatica is usually caused by an inflammation of the nerves in the area. If that makes him stiffen up & ache more then the exact opposite, heat on the area! I know that sounds insane, opposite treatments for the same condition but it does work honest.
Get him to lie on his back woth his knees up e.g. with a beanbag or large cushion under them, as this relaxes the muscles in the lower back.
Depending on whether he has other medical conditions, Ibuprofen rather than paracetamol as you need the anti-inflammatory properties. If he's on heart meds or has blood or stomach issues try the gel rather than tablets, Ibuprofen should never be taken if there's ulcers or blood conditions as it can thin the blood.
Try to find a decent local osteopath or chiropractor - the doctor may send him to physio but not until it's gone on fpor ages, and then the wait can take weeks. If you do get an osteo or chiro, make sure they are registered with the relevant body!

I should add that I did qualify as a sports injury therapist, so talking from training rather than just personal experience

How is he sitting/lying? I suffer with Sciatica and I find a rolled up towel in the small of my back helps slightly

What pain relief is he on? I find Tramadol really helpful but it does take a good 45mins to kick in properly.

Sympathies though, it's horrible!

I had sciatica when I was pregnant and it was unbelievably painful - I literally couldn't get comfortable whatever I did - lying, sitting, standing - I was almost in tears with the pain.

I found an osteopath, who was brilliant. I saw her every week. She manipulated me, taped up my back to make me more mindful of how I was moving, and generally saved my sanity! Codeine-based meds are useful too.

When I was desperately searching for help before I found my osteo I also tried a chiropractor - BIG MISTAKE! He made my back go into spasm with whatever he did and I was in so much pain afterwards I was gripping his reception desk in tears. In short, he should be very careful who he allows to mess with his back.

My brother had this and the chiropractor twisted his leg and pressed his back down to sort it out. He still has problems but the really bad pain has finished.

I get sciatica with every pregnancy. Then it does away once I've given birth. It's a really shitty pain.

Juneau it depends very much on the individual rather than whether they are a chiro or osteo. I've had both over the years, and good and bad treatments from both types of practitioner. Used to go to one place where my own chiro was insanely brilliant, but when he moved & one of the others did my back it was definitely not good.

Learn yoga. Lie on your back with your knees bent; bend both knees to the left as far as possible whilst turning your head to the right. Repeat to the opposite side a few times stretching as much as possible.

Oh and IF he can bear it, try gently massaging the area with long strokes following the lines of the muscles. The inflammation & pain in the sciatic nerve causes the muscles in the area to spasm & that just adds to the pain, so the muscles tighten up more, and you get a vicious circle of pain, tension & inflammation.

I agree with Allergic it really does depend on the practitioner. I've used osteo, chiro and physio in the past and they've all done pretty much the same basic manipulations. I currently use a chiropractor and she's brilliant, been seeing her for the past ten years, I now go every ten weeks just to keep everything in check.

I am seconding the suggestion of ibuprofen. Without it I am almost in tears.

Thank you for all your suggestions!
I'm going through them all and making notes.
So far all the suggestions I've put to him have been met with whimpering!
I will see if I can get him to actually do some of them!

I have sciatica and last had a flare up a few weeks ago, I really feel for your dh, the pain is awful.

I found that the naproxen (anti-inflammatory) and codeine only worked for an hour or so as my back had completely tensed up due to the pain and not being able to find a comfortable position.

Eventually the dr also prescribed diazepam as a muscle relaxant and I improved massively within a day, so I may be worth your dh asking for this too.

I am also having physio and she has given me an exercise where I sit on a chair where I can't touch the floor and swing my leg backwards and forwards which is meant to loosen the nerve.

Helponeanother the dr has prescribed what the dr himself called "happy pills" but he is only to take them at night.

I suffer from sciatica. I take Voltarol and paracetamol, not ibruprofen. You can't take Voltarol and Ibruprofen together.

If your H can get to the docs, he could ask for 75mg slow release Voltarol as this together with 2 paracetamol a couple of times a day, should keep the pain down.

Mylife where & how is he currently sitting/lying? I can better advise on ways to help if I know that.....

Allergictoironing - at the moment he is laid on the sofa ignoring all the advice you wise mumsnetters are giving him!
I can feel my sympathy for him slowly draining away!

Myliferocks my dp has sciatica, he often has bad days but his job requires him to be bent over a lot which doesn't help plus the cold weather always aggravates it. Anyhow after a particularly bad episode he was advised to use a hot water bottle and to walk around, but to walk as normally (back straight etc) as leaning/ limping wasn't helping despite it easing the pain. My dp was also prescribed the anti inflammatory Diclofenac and advised to take it even when he was not experiencing any problems, he is also on Tramadol and CoDydramol.
Hot sure if any of this helps but I hope all the best for you partner as I know how hard it can be, I hate seeing my usually brave strong man in pain!

OK well get the kettle on & make a hot water bottle. Make sure it's well padded then get him to roll gently onto his side, insert the HWB where his lower back will be then roll him back. That should hopefully relax the muscle spasms at least, if he's in that much pain then ice may hurt a bit.
Remember to tell him that this is a PROFESSIONAL therapist who has advised this, who has worked at major sporting events - this way he's more likely to take notice . Try to persuade him to tuck a cushion under his knees of he's on his back, or to lie with knees bent if on his side. I hope you haven't got lovely squashy cushions on your sofa, as if you have you'll probably have to help him when he needs to get up!
Any inflammatory painkillers you have would be very good now, Ibuprofen or Voltarol. As Lemony says above you can take paracetamol with any of those, but must never mix ibuprofen/aspirin/voltarol with each other

I do apologise for all the typos!! My spelling is terrible and autocorrect hates me