Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Sciatica? Back? Help!

80 replies

BitchfaceBarclay · 01/05/2017 08:55

Not unreasonable at all but need a bit of advice.
I think I have sciatica or something. It's like the worst back pain ever all in my left thigh. It really hurts. I can't stand upright or walk properly. Or sleep.

I have a tens somewhere from a previous evil pained back. I'll dig it out shortly. Ibuprofen and paracetamol isn't touching it. Nor naproxen. I need something bigger (but allergic to opioids).

OP posts:
Astro55 · 01/05/2017 09:34

Do you have walk in clinic -

Original poster
BitchfaceBarclay · 01/05/2017 09:37

That's all I want to know. Which walk in. Both are in next big town over (30mminutes drive)_ sometimes they are nurse led, sometimes dr. I can't work out which one to go to so want to find out from 111. But 111 wants to know if I am having abnormal vaginal bleeding or a stroke (which of course is important if I were but I know I'm not) and they can't just tell me where to go. I now have to waste their time waiting for a callback which I don't really need. I just want to know where to go to be seen.

OP posts:
Fluffyears · 01/05/2017 09:51

Lie flat on the floor with an ice pack under your back (heat can make it worse) 20 minutes at least. It's the thing that helps me best. Aw I feel your pain it's so awful.

Supersoaryflappypigeon · 01/05/2017 10:05

Can you ring the wall in and find out whether they're doctor/nurse led? Nurses can prescribe but I don't know whether only doctors can prescribe stronger pain relief. Where in the U.K. are you?

Original poster
BitchfaceBarclay · 01/05/2017 10:11

Nope. Walkin number goes to central place.

111 has called back. She told me to take paracetamol and walk around.
Now waiting (up to 6 hours) for Dr callback.

It's a shit system. You simply cannot effectively or adequately assess someone over the phone.
It feels like it isn't even screening. It's just putting up barriers to anyone accessing healthcare.

OP posts:
Supersoaryflappypigeon · 01/05/2017 10:13

Paracetamol?!? Ffs does she even know what sciatica is?

I hope the dr rings you soon.

Original poster
BitchfaceBarclay · 01/05/2017 10:15

Exactly. I would walk around if I could. Without crying and yelping.

OP posts:
Astro55 · 01/05/2017 10:19

Why don't you just go and see?

The nurse may well beable to get you a prescription or send you to the doctor -

Original poster
BitchfaceBarclay · 01/05/2017 10:23

It's a complicated system. Various sites. Not all manned by a dr. I love nurses (have been one) and would happily see one if I needed antibiotics or something. But I know I need something hefty. Also I can't imaging working this week so will need Dr proof.
Why do these things always happen over a bank holiday?

OP posts:
tissuesosoft · 01/05/2017 10:24

If it has been 3 days with no improvement- pain the same or worse, nothing provides relief etc. Maybe go to a and e? I know the NHS is under so much pressure but 3 days of back pain with no relief needs to be seen to rule out anything else? Maybe too much info but do you have numbness in between your thighs, around your vagina or rectum? Trouble urinating or pooing? Id you do- that needs urgent medical attention

Patchouli666 · 01/05/2017 10:27

You need Amytryphilline. It's a tricyclic anti epdepressant but one of its other fantastic uses is as a calmer of ends of nerves. I've taken it in the past when even morphine didn't help and within a day or so pain was gone. Unlike painrelief it actually works on the cause of the pain, the trapped nerve and allows it to shrink and then slip back into place hence removing the pain. I had to ask for it after the first time - the first time I was given it was by a physio. But my GP was happy to represcribe.

Original poster
BitchfaceBarclay · 01/05/2017 10:32

I've changed my mind. I actually love the NHS and think I want to marry the nicest Dr I have ever spoken to.

Prescription for good drugs winging its way to nearest pharmacy. Will check up later how I am. Actual tears of relief

OP posts:
AwaywiththePixies27 · 01/05/2017 10:41

No advice I'm afraid unless you can get into a warm bath whilst sorting something out for today, especially if naproxen isn't touching it.

I put my back out decorating the DCs room the other month and it was the worst pain ever, any slight jolt had me clawing the ceiling, right down to the point I was finding all the dropped down kerbs to cross the roads with when with my friends.

Hope they manage to get your pain under control today OP Flowers

AwaywiththePixies27 · 01/05/2017 10:42

When you say Nurse led is it like ours? Ours is nurse led but they have doctors on site and you get seen by them if they think you need it.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 01/05/2017 10:43

She told you to take paracetamol. If naproxen isn't touching it what does she think taking bloody paracetamol will do exactly? Confused

PeaFaceMcgee · 01/05/2017 10:44

Call an Osteopath first thing x

wowfudge · 01/05/2017 10:45

Sounds as though you have got somewhere OP. When you were advised to ring the GP, does your surgery not have an out of hours service that the phones automatically divert to? Every doctor I've ever been registered with has had that set up precisely so you aren't left in the lurch.

laurzj82 · 01/05/2017 10:51

Can I ask what they prescribed you Bitchface? Am in agony with my back at the moment but I keep getting told paracetemol and ibruprofen Angry

Original poster
BitchfaceBarclay · 01/05/2017 11:24

Diazepam and naproxen. I'm allergic to opiates sadly

OP posts:
Crankycunt · 01/05/2017 20:27

Noice I like a bit of diazipam, but my surgery is very stingy with it now, no problem giving me tonnes of tramadol, but shit the bed if I need a muscle relaxer.

Methocarbomol is good, but I'm not allowed it now because I had a fit, baclofen is good, but I don't tolerate it well.

I hope you're feeling better.

Tinseleverywhere · 01/05/2017 20:35

Keep taking the naproxen regularly as the effects build up and help to reduce inflammation that could be pressing on your nerves. Also take paracetamol alongside your naproxen as that will give an additional boost to the pain killing effect even though its not doing much on its own.

crazyspaniellady · 01/05/2017 20:37

Haven't read the whole thread, so may have been mentioned, but DM has similar issues and found that lying on two tennis balls in a sock helped. Place them at the base of your back and a pillow under your feet

Casschops · 01/05/2017 21:29

Freeze rather than heat as your siatica is caused by pressure on your S1 nerve. This is in the lowest (lumbar) region of your spine. If you need to lie on your back, place a pillow under your knees so that they are flexed. This reduces the pressure on the nerve. If you are on your side, pillows between the knees so that your femurs are parallel with each other. Light exercise such as walking. See a Chiropractor, they are magic xx

Esspee · 01/05/2017 22:17

I do hope the Diazepan/Naproxen combo works for you but if it doesn't Amitriptyline might help or Gabapentin as it is nerve pain you are suffering from. There are exercises which can help relieve the pressure on the sciatic nerve, you can google these. The best one in my experience involves lying flat on your back, bringing one foot up to the height of the other knee then gently pulling the bent leg across the other and holding the position. Do it to both sides. Ten minutes with a physiotherapist to check you are exercising properly is worth spending money on. Good luck.

Supersoaryflappypigeon · 01/05/2017 22:31

Diazepam-I'd have hugged my dr if he'd offered me that-brilliant stuff for pain. Hope you feel better soon.