daisypond I was thinking a stick might stop people bumping into me etc-
That's exactly what I thought! However, I was so, so wrong. I'm already at that "cloak of invisibility age", but adding a stick into the equation makes you even more so! I'm so worried that someone's foot's gonna get caught in it, and it kicked from under me! I was so fuming the first few times I used it outside I nearly began a thread on here about that very thing.
But your question about the stick, my physio gave it to me. He adjusted the height, but the rule of thumb is that arms by sides, the very top edge of the stick should come to your wristbone.
Bravelurker your GP sounds fucking terrible! Can you change to a different one? Mine is horrible too, I only saw him a few times and the man was appalling, so when I make an appointment now I just ask for the GP who is bloody awesome. I only make appointments with her. I think men (sorry) can be a bit dismissive of women's pain, (man flu etc.).
I felt a bit woolly headed this morning(3rd day, low dose), but after a couple of ibuprofen and coffee it's gone. I don't feel like their's any difference in pain yet, but the NHS website does say a couple of weeks. And I'll still continue with the ibuprofen and paracetomol (codeine did nothing). I might use this thread as a kind of diary to keep track of any difference in pain, because it's quite difficult to quantify as one painful day blurs into the next and trying to work out if the pain's any better than it was last week. It will probably mostly be me rambling to myself, but anyone who wishes their sciatic nerve would stfu is welcome. 
daisypond, do ask your GP about gabapentine, there seems to be too many success stories on here not to. No-one should have to live their lives in agonising pain.