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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Sciatica rant

42 replies

buddhasbelly · 16/12/2017 14:58

I'm in pain. I need to write it out because I've been dismissing it for weeks. But right now I'm struggling to walk. I've stretched in every way possible but bloody hell it's sore and dd needs seeing to without a grumpy mother.

OP posts:

Loz90333 · 16/12/2017 15:05

Have you tried a tens machine? I found that helped mine for a bit. Get yourself checked by a GP incase its a disc bulge causing it! Sciatica is horrible I really sympathise!

Original poster

buddhasbelly · 16/12/2017 15:05

Bump. I'm in a bit of a poor me mood

OP posts:

Loz90333 · 16/12/2017 15:05

Ps. You can buy them at boots!

User5trillion · 16/12/2017 15:06

Pain killers, swimming and stretching, its hell I am sorry for you but swimming really helps.

Original poster

buddhasbelly · 16/12/2017 15:08

Thanks loz. Have been to be gp time and time again with it. I'm allergic to painkillers so can't take anything but maybe a tens machine would work. Eurgh the pain gets so intense I want to be sick.

OP posts:

Original poster

buddhasbelly · 16/12/2017 15:10

Thanks both. I do every stretch possible but the pain is always either constant or shooting down my leg. I'm not even 30 so this just makes me feel like I'm living half a life sometimes

OP posts:

speakout · 16/12/2017 15:10

I am sorry- I suffered from sciatica for 15 years - it is really debilitating.

Thankfully I found the answer. My ( NHS ) physio told me I must exercise.
Keeping the core muscles strong- abdomen and back, glutes and hamstrings, combined with lots of stretching and flexibility.
I started doing yoga, Body Balance, Body Pump.
I have not had a twinge of pain for 12 years.

Of course that is no good when you are having an acute attack, but I would seriously consider exercise as a long term fix.

swingofthings · 16/12/2017 15:14

I suffered from sciatica once and the pain was unbearable. I remember screaming in pain as I had to sit down on the toilet, worse pain than contractions. Thankfully, it 'only' lasted a week or so, but it was a horrible week, especially at night when any little move triggered the electric shock.

Hope yours go away soon. Sending you huge hugs

Original poster

buddhasbelly · 16/12/2017 15:15

Thanks speakout.

I do a 20 min HIIT routine every morning as it is, yoga after. This does ease the pain but doesn't get rid of it completely. I'm a size 8 and mostly muscle so there isn't a lot of extra weight but it is just so sore!

OP posts:

iwantavuvezela · 16/12/2017 15:16

I have had this and an osteopath really sorted me out. It took 3 sessions, but the pain relief was immediate with each session. Now if I feel the twinges I am off to see him before it gets too bad.
You have my sympathy, the pain is unbearable.
I also found using a very hot water bottl directly on my buttock helped,

Original poster

buddhasbelly · 16/12/2017 15:16

swing it is like someone is hacking at my leg/bum!

OP posts:

Graphista · 16/12/2017 15:20

15 years of it here, definitely recommend swimming and yoga to help. What pain meds you allergic to? I have same issues plus I have a second spinal condition can barely stand some days.

Also warm but not hot wheat bag or hot water bottle can help a little.

Ollivander84 · 16/12/2017 15:20

Thermacare hip and lower back wraps really help. They kept me sane while waiting for surgery on it!

Original poster

buddhasbelly · 16/12/2017 15:21

I've asked for a referral but was given naproxen instead. It was a locum gp and I'm bloody allergic to it!

OP posts:

Graphista · 16/12/2017 15:21

Won't operate on me, cause is partially due to bulging disc but it's very close to main nerve cluster for spine so risk of paraplegia.

Ollivander84 · 16/12/2017 15:24

Mine herniated, stupid disc but it was compressing my nerves and crushing them and tenting around my spinal cord so did it as an emergency. TBH by that point I had no pain as I couldn't feel my leg which was a nice relief!

squaresandsquares · 16/12/2017 15:25

Try a hard ball that you can specifically for muscle pain. You lie on the ball keep stil and it stretches out the muscle.

glitterelf · 16/12/2017 15:29

Please book in with your Gp and try and source a good osteopath and lay off the stretching as you are in pain right now the stretching could be aggravating your symptoms. I say this as a wife who's husband has just received his MRI results of his disc bugling in both sides same disc that he was operated on in 2015. How long have you had sciatica on/off for and have you had an MRI ? Currently my husbands back is manageable which I find extremely worrying as we were not expecting the results he's been given but he now needs to decide if he wants to go back to the surgeon to see what options are on the table but he really doesn't want surgery again. Sciatica is one of the most awful things to ever have, I wish you a speedy recovery

TheWildOnes · 16/12/2017 15:29

I also suffer with sciatica and a prolapsed disc in my back. Its awful pain. The tens machine did help a little though.

fidgettt · 16/12/2017 15:30

I doubt you're allergic to all painkillers OP, can you be more specific about what happens with what? besides, it's still fine to take them anyway if the nuisance of the allergy is outweighed by the pain killing benefits. Depending on how mild the allergy is obviously!

user1472333009 · 16/12/2017 15:31

I suffered with sciatica for four long months. I had a mri scan which showed a herniated disc. I eventually saw was a physio who said to stop swimming as it could aggravate it but I could do any other exercises. Have you asked for a nerve block pill from your doctor? You have my sympathy, it drove me mad! It was such a relief when it did eventually got!

Ellendegeneres · 16/12/2017 15:54

I feel for you. I suffer with prolapsed discs, sciatica, arthritis in spine.
Sometimes it's individual pain, and I can relate to the poster who said sciatica pain is worse than labour. My legs often collapse from under me, other times I'm in so much pain I want to scream. I have a tens machine, the first time I used it was heavenly. I use it every so often now, it really does help.
What painkillers are you allergic to? I have diazepam, amitriptaline, naproxen to name a few. Oh or a hot water bottle, I alternate hot and cold to help.

Please go back to your doctor, they can provide more help!

Original poster

buddhasbelly · 16/12/2017 16:00

Thanks for all the replies.

Will maybe lay off the stretching for a couple of days but it does feel like it makes a difference - takes the edge off if that makes sense?

Will book another appt and will hopefully get me somewhere. Unfortunately pain killers trigger seizures with me so cant take anything.

I've had sciatica for 4 years - it started when I was pregnant and every so often I get a really bad flare up which is bloody painful: I don't drink; smoke; have too much caffeine or anything else so it is really tricky when this happens.

Thanks for the responses so far though, great advice!

OP posts:

Fluffyears · 16/12/2017 16:06

When mine twinges I lie flat on the floor for 20 minutes and somehow being stretched very straight helps. I was also told not to use heat as it causes swelling and to ice the area for 20 minutes every hour. You have my sympathies, it’s been a good 6 months since my last attack.

AwfulSomething · 16/12/2017 16:12

Only thing that worked for me.....en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E._Sarno?wprov=sfla1

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