Sciatica? Back? Help!

[BitchfaceBarclay]

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).

God it hurts.

The diazepam made me not care for a while but now I care again and it really feckin hurts. Like a proper bastard.

I suffer from sciatica with the added bonus of a wrecked hip by pregnancy, but my worst triggers are:

Carrying heavy stuff- shopping, DS etc.

Hard surfaces- I need something soft to sit/ lie on.

Hope you've been knocked out by the good drugs!

Cross post- unfortunately one of the drs told me that painkillers aren't incredibly effective with sciatica as it's due to the nerve.

Hope it runs it course and you feel better.

Ice it repeatedly - I used 3 gel packs in rotation as it was the only relief I could get.

If lying down is comfortable, place pillows under your knees/feet or between your legs if side is more comfortable.

Good luck - acupuncture, osteopathy and a new sofa sorted my back out after 8 months of hell. Also, when pain eases theres a great youtube clip of getting out of be and moving from sit to stand in a way that protects and heals your back.

Ooh-I get this! Can I ask--What's the difference between a chiropractor and an osteopath?

Physio is best. Mine sent me for an MRI once it became clear that physio wasn't working
There's a stretch you can do called the Mckenzie where you lie on your front with your hands like you're going to do a push up, and push up so your back is arched, hold it and come back down and repeat
Don't sit down. Lie or stand. I spent 48hrs doing that stretch 50 times a day and not sitting and it does really help
But you need a diagnosis really, mine has niggled for years and now I'm 10 days away from spinal surgery

Dicloflenac (think that's how it's spelt, it's an anti inflammatory) is the only thing that stopped my sciatica

You need to find out why it's painful.... but that's not necessarily a quick diagnosis.
You need stuff for it now, but without opiates you're going to struggle in the short term (sorry). Ensure you take the naproxen and paracetamol on the most regular basis to get through. If you have to top up with diazepam, then keep that paced too. A nerve drug can help but it takes time to titrate into the right doze. I tried amitryptiline (sickness), and gabapentin (about 4 months of my life in a haze), before convincing the docs to give me pregabalin (expensive and considerably less side effects.)
Keep moving and don't sit. I have a standing desk at work - see if you can use something where you can stand, for work. Keep your pelvis tucked in the right position. Doing a semi 'thrust' almost should make a bit of a difference.
It's shit - but do keep going with it.
Obviously if numbness in your genital area and or urine/bowel affected then that becomes an emergency.
I'm the veteran of 2 spinal surgeries with limited success, and on a cocktail of drugs as have considerable sciatica constantly..... you have my sympathies.

Have you tried a hot water bottle, when no painkillers work this is the only thing that works for me. Nice hot water bottle placed between the thighs. Sometimes need one for the lower back and the thighs. Gets really toasty especially when it's not cold but only thing that helps. Oh and ibuprofen and paracetamol for me , paracetamol on its own doesn't even touch it. Tries naproxen and didn't have an effect on any pain for me.
My MIL can't take ibuprofen or anti inflammatory medication by mouth but I recommended 10% ibuprofen gel as I've tried it in the past and it worked but as I take it in tablet form I can't use the gel, can also get it on prescription to 10% gel not the 5%.
She said it's fantastic and she gets enough relief to have a decent sleep.

Hope your pain get a lost soon. It's horrible.

This is a random thing to say - - make sure you aren't constipated. If you are your intestines can press on your nerves which make it worse. Anti-inflammatory drugs can cause constipation which can add to the pain.

You have my full sympathy, I've got sciatica and it's horrendous. I'm on a mix of drugs but I was told off a specialist that most don't work with this type of pain as it's a nerve thing. When mine flares up badly and I can't walk I find a few days of diazapam helps so stick with it. Also try see your gp if this carrys on long term and look into trying amitriptyline and gabapentin or pregabalin (sp?). I'm on the waiting list for an operation to hopefully relieve my pain.

Apart from the Amitriptyline/naproxen, ice packs and diclofenac/ibuprofen gel I've taken a supplement called glucosamine chrondroitin msm from H&B and Vitamin b12. These all meant to be helping the healing process. I must say sciatica pain is shocking. Resting just made it worse. I've had it for 3 months now and I only felt a bit better after 4 weeks.

I've dug out my Tens. I want to marry it and have its babies.

Terrible awful pain. What do I do? Battle to see GP again? Occ health? Desperate.

I have had a few bouts of sciatica and I have found that keeping moving is important but that , for me, it doesn't get better unless I do the sciatica exercises that you can find on the internet. They seem like the worst idea in the world at the time but they are essential to getting better in my experience.
One specifically for leg pain is to sit in a chair with space underneath (I do it in my office chair) start with your leg tucked under the seat, your back straight and your chin tucked down on your chest then extend your leg and point your toe to the ceiling, at the same time tipping your head back to look at the ceiling. NB I am not a medical professional, but this has helped me. If you can see a proper physio then I would do so as soon as possible.

Can you afford to see anyone privately? A steroid injection might help.

My mum has had very bad sciatica and she says her biggest error was waiting for the NHS instead of seeing a specialist and getting an MRI scan. She was scared of the cost but in hindsight she reckons she had a year of pain by not paying.

Sciatica can go in a couple of weeks but it's going to be a long couple of weeks. I'd go and camp in your GPs and insist on seeing someone, You cannot be expected to put up with that pain.

Diazepam is crap. Gabapentin however is simply feckin amazing.

OP does Tens make any difference?

Tens is fab. Doesn't stop if but makes it less.
Gabapentin I'd bloody magic shit.
Can everyone remind me not to mskd any important decisions.

I was also prescribed Zapains which knock you for six but you do actually sleep which is heaven,

I had Amitriptyline, naproxen, zapains and diazepan and still struggled to sit or walk and a year later still have after effects. I need to go back as think one of my discs is the problem and after a year trying by myself to get right not working.

It feels like there is no out but it does ease, take the drugs sleep (with neck pillow and pillow between knees. Do not let body get cold, alternate hot and cold compresses and gentle movement and stretches just as much as you can and it does ease.

It does need physio or osteo to help you along but while in crisis its not the best time so it will need to ease a bit first.
Good Luck

Stretches are the only thing that give me relief. Google some, but swan pose works best for me. Hold each one for 30 secs, do both sides and repeat at least 3 times each. Should feel the stretch, but don't go so far that it hurts. Keep doing it, several times a day. I do it when watching tv. All my family and friends are well used to me randomly contorting.

Got osteo tomorrow and signed off work for a week so pressure to function is off.
Working my way through Netflix.

And after a couple of hours or relative comfort and floaty stuffiness the bastard pain is back. FFS. I need to be functioning by Friday. I could proper cry again.

Sorry to hear you are still in so much pain. I had sciatica and its the worse pain ever. I remember one night I couldn't lie down or stand up I was just in agony.
It slowly cleared up and the naproxen was a big help. It hasn't come back though after several years but I still have a numb place on my leg.

Fuck me. Why does it hurt so bastard much? It is extraordinary.