Sciatica rant

[buddhasbelly]

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.

[glitterelf]

Just wanted to check in and see how you are doing ? Any joy getting a Drs appointment?

[stopfuckingshoutingatme]

Just don’t do nothing OP

I lived with my tens machine for a very long time

In the end physio . Exercise and core exercise sorted it

Have Faith it will pass but it does entail Work and effort

[frazmum]

I agree in getting a spinal or nerve block. Had one a year ago for sciatica and booked for another in Jan. You need to get a referral to the pain management clinic.

[christmasrage]

My sciatica cleared when I had a spinal block for an operation. I was dreading the recovery because I couldn't sit or lie without pain, but after the block I didn't have any sciatica at all!

[buddhasbelly]

Thanks for all the advice. I'm so so today after getting v little sleep but such is life.

Re painkillers, when it's come to sciatica pain, my gp and a locum has taken the decision (with my agreement) that 'manageable pain' i.e. non surgical should be fine without anything that would likely induce a seizure. They are terrifying so i do want to avoid at all costs. Thankfully I've not needed surgery recently so not actually sure what the protocol would be then! I should perhaps find out!

[glitterelf]

How are you feeling today ? I agree about not going swimming, the Dr did recommend wading though.

[AFlibbertigibbet]

I would second the suggestion of seeing either an Osteopath or a Chiropractor. I suffered very badly with sciatic type pain in my most recent pregnancy, physio made it worse so I started seeing a chiropractor and it made such an enormous difference. It was really worth the expenses.

If you are dead set on the HIIT workout, then see if there is a holistic core restore coach near you, they are trained to help women who have pelvic floor or core issues, do the right exercises to heal diastasis etc. I recently did a six week holistic core restore course and have graduated onto what they called HEAT, which is a safe HIIT work out for women with core issues.

[christmasrage]

Ice and cut the HIT for a while. You may be aggravating the nerve.

[fidgettt]

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

Genuine question, but what will happen then when you need an operation or dental work? Can you not have lidocaine injections and opioids?

[HungerOfThePine]

I understand the pain and I would try anything to get rid of it. I was an emotional mess with the pain by time the gp referred me for physio, as far as I understand it your core muscles aren't limited just to your stomach, there's sides and back muscles to that are included a bit like the Scotland flag in the way the muscles are spread on the body.

My sciatica was because of the mangled feet as well as one side of my body was over compensating for the weaknesses elsewhere which caused the pain, I also was referred for mri to rule out anything there.

Can't comment on muscle separation I have a slight split but never known it to cause me issues.

Hope it improves soon!

[buddhasbelly]

Core muscle is really strong but it does have a dome shape when I e.g. do a sit up. (To a point that I am self conscious about it). I have done the finger test to check for muscle separation ( I could fit my thumb in the gap between my muscle walls?)

[buddhasbelly]

Thanks hunger and others (great song by the way )

I definitely think my walking and gait have something to do with it. My wonderful dad has a debilitating condition that affects g is walking but it was always thought I didn't inherit it (my sister did).

Somedays it's fun but others (like today) I want my legs to disappear.

There's been some great suggestions for acupuncture etc so will try that.

At this point I really am just feeling sorry for myself sorry!

[expatmigrant]

I had about 5 sessions of acupuncture, it cured my sciatica and it has never come back

[Domino20]

Is always find acupuncture very helpful for the pain although it is exhausting on the day of treatment. It needs to be in a Chinese medical centre or practitioners though, 3 or 4 needles from an nhs physiotherapist will not have the same effect. Also a private physio or oestiopath.

[HungerOfThePine]

I agree hiit might be too intense at this stage and may aggravate it.
I managed to get physio when I had chronic sciatic pain and was shown some basic excercise to do to strengthen my core muscles.
Now been pain free for 2 yrs.
Also it was found that my feet contributed to my pain, I had very low arches and walked with my feet inwards a referral and insoles were made for my shoes which corrected it and obviously took the strain away from my hips etc.

I would really push for physio but there are light excercises you can do for about 5 mins everyday.

These are some things my physio told me to do.
Go on hand and knees and lift one leg slowly up high and hold and bring knee/leg as close to your chest as possible, repeat as many times you like with each leg and build up over time...same position and raise legs side ways.

Lie on your back with knees up and feet on ground and lift your bum off the ground and hold, repeat as much as you feel you can do.
Lie on you side legs bent,knees together and then open your legs like a clam.
Try to remember to engage your stomach/core muscles through out.

That's just a couple but I started with this and YouTubed stuff after and ended up doing hiit classes etc eventually.
Focus on core muscle building excercise rather cardio for your sciatic pain.

[user1471450061]

Hiit is too intense for sciatica. Yoga and Pilates will be better for it.
I have it 2 years now since I fell when pregnant. Also my physio does dry needling when it's very bad. Highly recommend it.

[Kitsharrington]

I get sciatic pain badly when I am doing a lot of glute muscle building exercise. I basically think my gluteus get too strong and it puts some kind of pressure on the nerve. So I had to give up my booty in favour of not being in pain all the time.

[AwfulSomething]

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

[Fluffyears]

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.

[buddhasbelly]

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!

[Ellendegeneres]

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!

[user1472333009]

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!

[fidgettt]

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!

[TheWildOnes]

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

[glitterelf]

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