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!

my husband gets this and has been in tears with the pain.. he has been having physiotherapy which has helped, and the physio has advised ice packs, swimming and NOT lying on the sofa.. he does say that the best painkillers are voltarol

Once you've got him (hopefully) a little more comfortable try to get him to move around a bit otherwise he will sieze up and point out if he doesn't it will be much worse in the long run. A sneaky way to do this would be to make him plenty of tea or coffee (the caffein may well help the pain to a very small degree as well) so he needs to get up to go to the loo more often

BTW Voltarol = brand name for diclofenac, so cheaper to buy other brands same as generic paracetamol is cheaper than panadol. However Voltarol does come in extra strength from pharmacies only so worth paying the extra for it

What Allergictoironing said, plus wrapping a heating pad around the affected leg.
Wrap a cold pack or ice pack with some soft fabric and tell him to tuck it in the sciatic area. It really does help.
I took Tylenol 3's (paracetamol with codiene) and a muscle relaxant, but it was taking Ibprofen that helped reduce the swelling and pain. I found Tramacet helped more with the pain, but was to strong for me after a week or so and gave me a lot of heart palpitations.

Couldn't survive without the cold pack and heating pad.

I got nerve block injections which helped a lot, but I was in a lot of pain for a long time, my leg would give out without warning, and I had to use a rollator walker and have physio. I have nerve damage in my left leg now.
The doctor could try a nerve medication like Neurontin?
My leg is hurting a lot tonight too.
Hope he gets some relief.

Right he now has a hot water bottle, a cushion under his knees and he's taken some ibuprofen. I didn't leave him much choice.
What would be the best way for him to be, laid down or sitting up?

Xpost. I'll try and get him to sit up!

The Mckenzie physio method is good.

Does lying on his tummy ease the leg pain? If so, lying on his tummy for up to 5 min will help. Do this several times a day.

Avoid anything that aggravates the problem, eg, bending over, sitting for too long. When sitting, ensure good posture by putting a cushion into the small of your back, do this in car as well. You can purchase lumbar rolls which strap to the car seat.

Ask gp for physio referral. He will be prioritised as urgent, so should be seen within 2 weeks.

Best is to use positions which ease the pain, like lying on tummy, lying on back with knees bent over cushion, or lower legs on a chair which lying on the floor on your back etc.

Keep pottering around as able.

Complete bed rest is not advisable.

Keep taking pain meds.

He's had a physio referral before and the physio didn't help

Can I ask a quick question about those who get physiotherapy - are you paying privately or through the NHS?
Thank you!

my husband is seeing his privately but it is through an insurance company as he was involved in a bad road accident almost a year ago and has not fully recovered

Sorry about the delay - job agency on the phone!
Definitely sitting up, sitting straight NOT slouched over or listing to one side. Cushion supporting lower back and not leaning back too far - this should be easier for him once the ibuprofen & heat have started to work. If he starts to feel stiff, try to persuade him to bend forwards gently at the waist or hips & back again, the aim is to stretch the muscles in his lower back. All movements slow & deliberate, you're sort of warning the muscles you are going to move that way so they won't tighten more in reaction

These things tend to settle themselves in 6 weeks or so if you follow the correct advise. The physio is just working with your body to promote healing, they are not Jesus. What they will do is ensure you recover as quickly as possible and give you exercises and advise to stop it happening again.

Some patients with sciatica do go on to need spinal surgery.

A new referral to physio means he can be reassessed, and if his sciatica is failing to resolve he can be scanned and referred on to a consultant.

He needs to be assessed.

As you may have guessed, I am a physio.

my husband also finds walking upstairs helps relieve it too, the movement seems to untrap or take pressure off the nerve

I spent most of my time laying down with pillows underneath my knees. My physio was paid for by our provincial health insurance. (Canada) although my husbands work benefits also will pay for it.

Ps if he has reduced sensation around his privates or becomes a bit incontinent go to a and e.

Do not do bending forward exercises (if bending forward aggravates his pain) at this early stage. They are for when he is almost recovered.

Just seen your posts about physio. Bear in mind that physio isn't the same as osteo or chiro, it shows you ways to teach your body to sort itself out rather than actually doing the change there & then. Acute sciatica is too painful to be able to do the exercises most physios give for it.

Ideally if he's using insurance to pay for that then your doctor can refer to an osteopath or chiropractor instead, but that often depends on the views of the doctor - some think it's quackery & some are fine with it. Either way, I think your priority is to get him to a good osteo or chiro if you want him sorted out in time for the holidays whoever may end up paying for it - your doctor may even be able to recommend one.

If the condition carries on after a few treatments or recurs frequently & very painfully then your doctor should be looking at getting a scan done to see if there's major damage like a prolapsed disk or damage to the spine, as these can take a while to show after an accident.

I found lying on the sacro wedgy thing quite helpful in improving my very bad sciatica. I do still get it but nowhere near so painfully.

Has he had an MRI? I agree with him needing to be reassessed. The physio therapist just taught me resistance exercises with an stretchy band basically. The PT came to my home and taught me and I found they did help my leg regain strength.
All PT's are not the same, I had bad experience with one and great experience with another one. (not for the sciatica) The one who came to my home was pretty good.

Absolute rubbish allergictoironing. A massive sweeping statement. And completely wrong on every level.

Anyway, the bottom line is he needs an assessment.

My husband has it. He does lazy man press ups and swears this heals him. However I think his sciatica is from lower disk rupture, so not sure if it would work for him.

Ah another professional I see Nooneelseis, phew it's been a while since I practiced professionally & I'm right on the edge of my memory here so good to have your input. I certainly didn't mean to imply bending forwards a long way, just leaning a little maybe 30 degrees max, just enough to ease it a little.

I've just left him to go out for a bit and he is sat up so that is a start. He has been to see an osteopath a couple of times and that helped but our dr won't refer him on the nhs and we really can't afford to pay for it ourselves at the moment.

Fitflops healed me. Honestly - not an advert! Gods honest truth. I had such bad sciatica and bursitis (hip joint inflammation) I had to have lidocaine injections regularly. Then tried Fitflops - somehow, they make me walk better (I guess more evenly balanced?) and they cushion my joints so brilliantly. I wear a pair on the house as slippers as well as outside pairs. Worth every damn penny - have bought them as gifts for my Mum who has back pain and she was cynical to the point of scoffing - and now converted.