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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think sciatica is a total CUNT!!!!

31 replies

ScarletLady02 · 23/03/2014 20:15

I mean really. I've been having a pretty shit week and then yesterday I could feel the tell-tale signs...the stiffening, the shooting pains...It's joining up with the random frontal abdominal pain I've been having for weeks which is befuddling my doctor.

YES this is a self-indulgent moan, I'm feeling sorry for myself

OP posts:
carabos · 23/03/2014 20:28

YANBU. Don't waste your (and the Dr's time). Get thee to an osteopath and have deep tissue massage with manipulation of the sacro - iliac joint. It's the only thing that gets me walking freely when mine starts (which it will do after I've flown to Ireland and back next week).

Original poster
ScarletLady02 · 23/03/2014 20:46

Can I get one on the NHS? I'm beyond skint.

What pisses me off is that all my Dr does is ask "did you strain it?" or something...it's hard trying to explain that no, it just HAPPENS...and I'm only pretty young, they often don't believe me

OP posts:
carabos · 23/03/2014 20:55

I'm 50 and have had sciatica for 25 years -result of a riding accident. It's not age related. Do you have children? It can be caused by giving birth. It's very likely that a problem with the joint is causing a spasm of the piriformis muscle which in turn compresses the sciatic nerve. The pain in your tummy is probably related.

I don't know if you can get it on the NHS, sorry. Can you afford the £40 or so for an initial consultation which might at least point you in the direction of the cause and possible treatments?

ICanSeeTheSun · 23/03/2014 20:55

Have you got a heat pad and iburfen.

ICanSeeTheSun · 23/03/2014 21:02

ibuprofen

goodasitgets · 23/03/2014 21:05

I'm with you. Last flare up took gas and air to get me off the floor
Turns out mine was weak core muscles, my back was compensating. Sorted the core muscles and haven't had any pain since. That was an amazing NHS physio that spotted it, he worked in sports physio too

Original poster
ScarletLady02 · 23/03/2014 21:06

Yes I have Ibuprofen and heat, thanks. I have a wheat bag.

I have had it since I was 17 (now). I did see a osteopath when I was younger and he was amazing, but I can't afford it now. £40 is a week's shopping money for me so I just can't.

It's such a pain, it kicks in and lasts about 6 weeks or so, then just goes away for a while.

The pain in my front is what they're looking into now. I've had ultrasounds (it moves from liver to kidney area), blood tests etc. They thought it was my coil so I've just had that changed but it's no better, and now my sciatica has flared up I feel like my whole mid-section is on fire.

Sorry, enough moaning, I know people have things a lot worse, I'm just feeling sorry for myself Sad

OP posts:
OnIlkelyMoorBahtat · 23/03/2014 21:08

It really is a bummer isn't it? YYY to heat pads/ibuprofen - I take a cocodamol as well when it's really bad. Also big woolly socks are a must for a bit of soreness alleviation - I find my ankles get really stiff & sore when I'm even a wee bit cold and this stiffness & soreness travels up my leg (so meeting the stiffness & soreness coming down the leg!); am guessing because there's not much flesh insulating the sciatic nerve as it goes past the ankle.

Long term have you thought of doing Pilates, as stretching and light exercise is v good for it. (When you are able to move of course!)

Hope you feel better soon.

pointythings · 23/03/2014 21:10

You're allowed to moan. I get the odd flare-up because I have dodgy discs and so if I make a wrong move, I'm in trouble. Back in Holland I had therapy which basically taught me to move properly from the ground up and those good habits (learned 23 years ago now) mostly keep it at bay, but not always.

I'm fighting the effects of stepping in an unexpected rabbit hole on an archery shoot at the moment - have managed to keep it from getting full blown but even so I've moaned a bit. Full blown IMO gives you dispensation to moan as much as you bloody well want.

ICanSeeTheSun · 23/03/2014 21:10

Being in pain where you can't sit, stand, lie down, bend is hell on earth. Moan away

goodasitgets · 23/03/2014 21:11

If it carries on get proper drugs. It took codeine, ibruprofen, paracetamol and diazepam to get me out of bed last time
plus copious amounts of gas and air to stop me screaming

Original poster
ScarletLady02 · 24/03/2014 11:35

I usually get given dihydrocodeine, but they've put me on other drugs for my anxiety and they wanted to see what those did on their own, so they stopped them. I think I may need to get some more though.

Thanks for the messages, my sympathies are with all other sufferers xx

OP posts:
Sillybillybob · 24/03/2014 11:38

Oh it sucks. Mine developed after 2nd pregnancy. It's horrendous and I don't even get it that badly! Sending much pain relief.

MizTiggle · 24/03/2014 11:41

YANBU!

Tryingtobetidy · 24/03/2014 11:46

YANBU - I have had it for years Sad

Scarletohello · 24/03/2014 12:00

Oh poor you, it's a horrible thing, I had it first when I was 18, it's so dehabilitating isn't it? I've had every treatment under the sun, latest thing that did really help was back care Pilates but I live in fear of it coming back again. Take care of yourself and I hope you feel better soon

iloveny001 · 24/03/2014 13:20

Yanbu, I'm currently taking anti inflammatory drugs, having massages and using a tens machine. I have an active job, and by the end of the day am in agony.

Rissolesfortea · 24/03/2014 13:49

I'm so with you OP, day 6 into my latest flare up and its agony. No one who has never suffered can understand how terribly painful it is, I tried to compare it to constant cramp in the back, leg and ankle together with advanced labour pains.

I am taking ibuprofen (which I shouldn't reallydue to other medication I'm on) and co-codamol but its not really helping. Waking me up at night too, thats if I manage to get to sleep, its just so wearing!

I hope you soon feel better and meanwhile you have my sympathies.

AlpacaLypse · 24/03/2014 13:57

I used a Tens machine last time it flared up big time, it did help but tbh the only thing that was any good during the really awful couple of weeks was the diazepam, which is probably not allowed for you atm. Could you borrow a Tens from someone?

At the moment there's only a tiny patch in the sole of my foot... keeping everything crossed it stays that way for a while!

Hope it eases off soon and they find out what's causing your pain in your tum soon Flowers

BillyBanter · 24/03/2014 14:01

If you are in London you could go to the British School of Osteopathy. Cheaper than private.

Ask first if you can get a referral.

TheCraicDealer · 24/03/2014 14:01

I'm only 25 and was diagnosed with this last year, although the onset started when I was 22. Everyone keeps telling me how young that is to get it which does wonders for my self esteem Hmm

I found a specialist physio who has a good go at my back when it's particularly bad. She told me that tight hamstrings were contributing to it (forcing me into a bad C-shape), as well as a weak core. So I do hamstring stretches with a resistance band not as much as I should and have a back support in both my car and my work chair. Both have really, really helped; making sure my back is supported seems to be the key for me.

Pilates is often recommended; I tried this and while the exercises helped the best part of it for me was becoming more aware of my core and my posture.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 24/03/2014 14:06

Mine has flared up at the moment, it is excruciating.

Tight hamstrings and a weak core definitely don't help, I do need to work on both of these.

I have heard a lot of people say that sciatica pain seems to link to/trigger frontal abdominal pain - it does with me. My Dad is a Dr and he says it is to do with the muscles tightening and pulling at the front so you are kind of twisting.

Nocomet · 24/03/2014 14:16

Get DH/DP to massage either side of the base of your spine and get on to the GP to get your local physiotherapy dept. to do it properly.

Osteopath is wonderful for some things, but for siarica she just does what our cottage hospital does for free.

Original poster
ScarletLady02 · 24/03/2014 19:32

Thanks for all the advice. I do try and do a bit of Pilates and Yoga when I can, I'm a bit lazy when it comes to exercise

The frontal pain is weird. They thought it was a UTI at first but then it moved up and back to my kidney area so they thought it was a kidney infection. I had 3 different courses of anti-biotics which did NOTHING. An abdominal ultrasound detected an abnormality on my liver, but the Dr said they're very common so I'm having another scan next month to see what's happened to it. They thought it might be my coil (it was leaning slightly wonkily) so I had that changed on Thursday...which to be fair is slightly adding to my discomfort (only in a period pain type of way)

No idea if that pain is linked to my sciatica, they could be totally independent as this other pain is new and unfamiliar.

Anyway, enough of my rambling. Off to the Dr tomorrow to see if they can change my meds. Much love to my fellow sufferers xx

OP posts:
NoodleOodle · 24/03/2014 19:35

Sciatica is horrible. I limped for two years with it. The correct stretches can really help, and have you heard of the tennis ball therapy?