to go to A&E for Sciatica?

[doyouseeme1]

I'm one of those people who don't like making a fuss, I hate going to the gp or health services as I always feel like theres someone worse than me.
I hurt my back a few months ago at work, a few days later I got sciatica. It wasn't bad and I was managing well with exercising and pain killers. Two weeks ago it started to get worse and really intense, I ended up going to the gp and he gave me stronger tablets and advised to keep moving which I had. Yesterday the pain got horrendous, I cant stand up, walk or put my foot down. I've had to get my dp to help me to the toilet and I've cried 5 times in the last 15 hours when I'm never one to cry, especially in front of others. I can't keep active as I feel my leg just isn't working properly and the pain is too much, I'm sobbing with every step.
I know it's not an accident or emergency but I can't move without being in agony

It's one of the worst pains I've had and I had to ring an ambulance as I was physically stuck on the floor, needed gas and air to get up
Take the painkillers really regularly and be aware of how you are moving, don't twist etc or stay in one position for too long
Physio really helped mine, he spotted my weak core and said I needed to think of my core muscles as a corset to support my back. Got some exercises to do which really helped

Relieved for tou that it wasn't also cauda equina. However it sounds as though you have some real recovery ahead. I couldn't manage without a telescopic walking stick for the first couple of weeks...cheap enough in Boots. I also got a grabber stick which I still use all the time to safe bending so much. Please request an mri scan. My physio told me there was nothing wrong with my spine and he thought i had piriformis syndrome. He turned out to be wrong and I'd slipped 2 discs and am waiting for surgery.Physio is still important for slipped disc but you need the right diagnosis so you are doing the correct physio. If your pain persists past two weeks, you might want to consider getting an epidural done. These can also help. I wish you the very best

I've been told to try a chiropractor and see if i can get an urgent appointment but I'm too scared, I'm just in so much pain that I don't want moved around or even touched.
I've just got out of bed and ended up crying and screaming the whole time, I can't get into the position to use the toilet as the pain goes through the roof so I've just had to wee in the shower, feeling like I have 0 dignity. I just want it magically fixed

Epidurals definitely help! My procedure was at 2pm yesterday and I'm feeling so happy that for the first time in 4 months I have no pain in my leg.

I didn't appreciate coming off the painkillers as I was on 30mg codeine and it was too strong for me and caused constipation so switched to tramodol and amnitriptine at night.... and ibuprofen and 8mg codiene (co-codamol )during the day.

Worst bit was after my op as I'd been off all drugs for nearly 24 hours - I was literally having a come down... sweating, headaches, vomiting, no one ever warned me about that! Coming off long term codine isn't pleasant at all.

I had an MRI Scan and tried to managed with just tablets and Physio but sadly the pain didn't go away. I'm typing this on my phone in bed... lying on my back... first time I've been able to lie on my back in 4 months

Im glad it's nothing more serious.

Have you had an mri scan for it?

OP.. have you had an MRI? Sounds quite severe. I wonder if the disc has herniated?

Get an emergency chiropractor appointment.. they are excellent and mat be able to relieve the pain somewhat.

I wish you lots of luck. I herniated a 2 discs and lost 2 stone in 3 weeks as a result of pain / inability to eat... surgery was the cure but you need ab MRI first.

Do you have private health?

Sending my sincere sympathies to posters who are or who have suffered with this.

Like others have said, the pain at its worst waa much worse than labour (not least because of no definite end).

7

I haven't had an mri yet, they mentioned it yesterday but only if i had the cauda equina which I didn't. I don't think they'll give me one until I've had it for a while, I'm tempted to get a private one even though I can't really afford it.
I don't have private health, I have pre-existing medical things so thought it would cost too much.

And also, yes you need to move, but you need to give the muscle relaxers and painkillers a chance to work first. I'm not saying lie on your back for two weeks, but a couple of days to get the drugs working should help.

I've got a busted disk in my lower back, when it 'went' the pain was indescribable, I was screaming in agony and if I had a gun I probably would have shot myself it was so bad.

I was in such a state an ambulance had to be called who gave me a hefty dose of codeine. Then a Dr came out who prescribed codeine, naproxin, diazapam and something else.

It's hell op, and nearly two years later it's under control.

I can't stress this enough, if you lose control of your bladder or bowls you need to go straight to A&E. No messing. Straight to A&E.

I've got private health but as my back pain is a pre existing condition (16 years) it wasn't covered.

My first GP appointment was to discuss having an MRI which I had within a month which showed I had 3 slipped discs - one if them was pressing on my S1 nerve at L5.

After the MRI, the consultant suggested a caudal epidural but as I'm so phobic of needles opted for just physio and tablets - Sadly this didn't work so had to go with the epidural.

Saw Consultant first time within 2 weeks
MRI within 3 weeks
Saw Consultant again a week after

The only thing that took time was the physiotherapy appointment which took 7 weeks to come through and 9 weeks before I saw anyone - All this was through NHS and I'm so grateful and happy with the timescales. I'm surprised that you haven't been referred for an MRI - I'd most certainly push for one or if you can't get one on the NHS , look to pay if you can to expedite things.

MASSIVE SYMPATHIES

I have just cracked my back pain, and it took almost a year. I don't think A&E can help you, its a time and lifestyle thing. however you might need some strong drugs to tide you over? So if the GP cannot help....then maybe you do need a walk in

try:
do the exercises. twice daily. do NOT stop them
get a TENS machine, this is a LIFE-saver, Lloyds pharmacy do a good one
look your exercise, shoes, bags and heavy lifting. NEVER EVER HEAVY LIFT
also pay fort Physio, if you can.

that said, if Naproxen and Codeine are not helping, you need urgent help

good luck XX

doyouseeme1 I don't want to scare you but you basically describing what happened to me. I went to A&E a Dr stuck his finger in my anus and told me I still had control and therefore didn't have cauda equina and sent me home telling me to continue with the painkillers. Because I had had a previous disc collapse my GP knew from the MRI that I had one ready to go and had written to the consultant on day 1 when I went back in 2 years later with much worse pain than the first time so I had an MRI set up for a few days after my A&E visit. They tried to put it back but I refused and complained until it was reinstated and done on the Friday, after the weekend I got a phone call saying an alert had been put on the scan results and I needed to come in immediately. I went in to be told that my disc was completely cutting off my spinal fluid and that I was not allowed to leave the hospital, not even to arrange childcare for my 5 month old baby! I was operated on first thing the next morning as an emergency as they were worried about me possibly being incontinent for the rest of my life if the spinal fluid was trapped for too long.

Do not accept no, get a scan, through the hospital or privately but get it done ASAP

I'm surprised they didn't bother doing any scans, we would have! How bloody annoying for you :(

and why are they recommending a chiropractor (quack quack) when they haven't even ascertained if something is wrong, because they haven't bothered to do the scans?

I second the use of a TENS machine. I advise you to contact your doctor, see if he will give you some diazepam - it will help relax the muscles. Also ask for crutches. If he won't give them to you, order some online from Lloys Pharmacy Online - they're about £15
If you do get any incontinence problems, then straight to A&E.
I didn't get an MRI for 6 weeks - the senior GPs in the practice wouldn't allow it, even tho my own GP advised it. When the results came in the surgery called me on my mobile to see if I was able to get in for a consultation. The senior GP was then on the phone to the hospital, telling them I had walked in unaided, and they could hardly believe that, as the herniation was so bad. Nearly 3 years down the line, things have eased a great deal.
I will say this, tho. You need to lie still and flat for an MRI, so it would be very useful to release the spasms in the muscles around your butt first, as this is what is causing the majority of the pain, rather than the injury itself. I know this sounds daft, but it's how it was for me. Paracetamol, codeine, prunes, a TENS machine and diazepam are your friends!

Thanks for all your advice, I've been to see a private physio to see what they say. She couldn't believe how bad I was and said that theres no point in trying physio until I get the pain under control but I've been given crutches to help me walk a bit more. I've also rung the doctors to try and get some more pain relief as the physio said I should have amitriptyline which would help with nerve pain better than my current medication.
I've got 3 days worth of diazepam off a&e which has helped a little.
I've had a few mri's before and they were terrifying as I hate closed spaces but I'd do anything to have one right now I just need it sorted.
Ahh prunes will definitely be on my shopping list now, I forgot how much codiene bunged you up

How are you feeling? Have the painkillers and muscle relaxers started working yet?

I can't believe they didn't do an MRI at hospital?!
How on earth did they decide you didn't have cauda equina without an MRI?
I'm so sorry you're in so much pain, I've suffered from back pain for over two years now after a fall and it took a year for an MRI (coincidently when I was in A&E with suspected cauda equina) and another 6 months for a diagnosis of Coccydynia.
I'm now recovering from having my coccyx removed.

They don't always
After I was scraped off the floor and taken to hospital I sat with no pain relief for 4hrs, had my back prodded and sent home. That's it. I got stuck in bed the next morning and it took me an hour to get up and I only managed to do it by pulling myself with the sheet. The GP did a home visit and gave me diazepam and dihydrocodeine

They can't be sure about cauda equina without an MRI though

I know I had numbness in my foot etc. Had two lots of back pain that's landed me in a&e and nobody has ever suggested a scan

I suffer from sciatica, bad episode last year

I would go back to GP and insist on referral to an orthopaedic surgeon or neurosurgeon

They will scan you and if its disc issues will either recommend surgery or if you are not a candidate for surgery then refer you on to pain management. This might mean injections but at the least they will also prescribe more appropriate meds eg gabapentin which was what allowed me to recover to the point of being able to do physio.

I manage mine now with exercise and adjustments (eg I have a kneeling chair at work) but you have to get the pain under control first.

oh sweetheart, you need to ask them to refer you for an MRI scan, if they won't, then get them to refer you to the Musculoskeletal specialist.

i have issues with my back and sciatica and the GP did fuck all other than hand me naproxen (Which i had to stop taking because of my asthma) and codeine (which does fuck all)

I've been in pain like you are a few times, but then it eases off, and its been going on since June 2015. my back hurts, my right hip hurts and i get pain right down to my toes. (gp told me that meant it wasn't sciatica as it apparently terminates at the knee) and i can't walk for long without serious pain.

I did the physio and it didn't help, and they did x-rays which they said were clear. and eventually they referred me to the Musculoskeletal team and i spent 10 minutes with the specialist and he told me to stop taking the codeine as its useless for nerve pain and some people just get nothing from it... he also diagnosed Sciatica resulting from a problem in my lumbar spine and noticed some issues with the bones in my pelvis/hips on the x-rays.

I'm getting an MRI scan next wednesday to try to get to the bottom of the problem and he said me might try me on something like amitriptyline or gabapentin but only after the MRI results are back.

I seen my gp yesterday and got amitriptyline but I'm still in so much pain. The mix of tablets has just been making me feel sleepy and like my heads all foggy and barely touching the pain. I feel so useless, I've had to try find peole to look after my toddler as I can't do anything I feel so guilty.
My gp seems to want to wait a little longer as most cases of sciatica clear within 6-8 weeks, I've had this roughly for 6 weeks and its just got worse so I don't think I'll be in that group of people. I'm going back at the start of next week so I'm gonna try and put my foot down - I struggle to stand up for myself in these situations though.
maddy I'm surprised they're waiting for mri results before trying amitriptyline, it was the physio who told me to ask for it which I did and got given it straight away, it targets nerve pain which is obviously better than the typical hand out of codeine but my gp said I probably need to build up to a high dose for it to help.

The hospital decided I didn't have cauda equina as they did a bladder scan and I emptied it enough. I was praying for an mri but no luck.

In my NHS trust you need to have the symptoms for 3 months before they refer you.

I had this on and off for 12 years, it was only when the disk 'went' and I was in pain for 3 months straight that I was referred to the spinal unit. The Dr laid me on my front and started to press on the disks in my spine, when he got to the problem one, he barely touched it and my reflex made me kick him in the face .

He told me to stop physiotherapy, and be really careful about what I do. At this point I had been put on gabapentin which has been a godsend. I had my scan, and the technician didn't tell me the results but she also told me to be extremely careful.

I'm now waiting for a nerve block to see if that helps.

That was very long winded but what I'm trying to say is hang in there, and keep going back to your gp.

Between the gabapentin, antidepressants, tramadol, ibuprofen and sometimes paracetamol, I take about 30 tablets a day. I'm surprised I don't rattle.

There's a fantastic thread on the health board and it's full of people who can give you advice and support, a hand hold and somewhere to vent.

Sciatica is awful, and I hope you find some relief soon.

(Dear lord that was a fucking essay).