Sciatica to A&E or not?

[DaffodilsAndDandelions]

mums net hive can I have your opinions please. My sciatica has flared up extremely badly. It started just before lockdown and has got worse. I lifted my 19mo out his cot on Sunday morn and something crunched. Since then I've been barely able to move and am regularly in tears with the pain. It comes on in waves so much worse than induced labour! It is much worse at night. I can no longer look after my son on my own. I'm 12+3 with my 2nd aswell.
I'm supposed to have a phone call from the gp this afternoon but that seems ages away and I'm not sure what they can do anyway. I did the 111 questionnaire last night and discovered that if I feel faint due to pain it says ring 999 and if day I'm not faint then it says call GP. All other symptoms were answered the same. When the waves come I can't honk of anything else.
Should I go to A&E or not?

Yes .go.

I would go. They may be able to give you some pregnancy-safe stronger pain killers.

I'd wait for the call, the outcome will be the same and you might get your meds delivered

No, the GP is the appropriate person for this. A&E is not the right place for sciatica - they don't have magic access to stronger pregnancy-safe pain relief like a PP is suggesting,.

You'll spend hours in A&E wearing a mask, not permitted to eat or drink, waiting to be seen. Don't waste your or their time.

Phone the Gp back and ask if you can be spoken to sooner.

Here's the NICE guidance on treating sciatica:

cks.nice.org.uk/sciatica-lumbar-radiculopathy#!scenario

It’s neither an accident nor an emergency.
GP is the right call. Pain relief delivered unless you have someone that could collect?

If you can tolerate a long wait in A&E you might be given stronger painkillers and/or muscle relaxants more quickly than waiting for the call. The main benefit might be a proper examination to rule out red flags for cauda equina which is a dangerous compression of nerves.

Ring the GP back again and stress how much pain you’re in. I have sciatica too and was prescribed Diazepam in pregnancy for it. Took one tablet before bed, slept well and woke up with no pain.

I have been to hospital with sciatica in the past. No one was doing anything aside from giving me pills that didn't work. The hospital doctor was very nice, i was crying because the pain was so bad and he looked at my meds and wrote a regimen out and I went to my gp a couple of days later and my gp gave me morphine tables and oromorph. Eventually I had an operation. This was a few years ago but my sciatica and back problems have returned and I awaiting another operation.

Cauda equina has a set of very specific symptons including saddle paraesthesia (numbness of your bottom/perineum) and incontinence of wee/poo. Your gp will ask you a specific set of questions to exclude it, first thing they will ask you about in fact. I wouldn't bother going to a/e if they are going to call you. If you need a/e he'll refer you.

they don't have magic access to stronger pregnancy-safe pain relief like a PP is suggesting,.

Yes they do - you can't get diazepam over the counter...

It’s not an accident or an emergency, and your GP really is the best person to speak to about this so no, do not go to A&E. it’ll be a waste of everyone’s time, including yours really.
Do stress how painful and debilitating this is on the phone to the gp though, and it might be worth another call to the surgery to ask if you can be moved up the list.. they may not be able to but if they can, it would be a help.
I feel for you tho, I suffer terribly with sciatica and understand how hideously painful it can be.

Sorry for you OP, it hurts like fuck. Don't know if you can have Gaberpentin if you are pregnant, but it helps a lot with the pain and getting you moving.

Severe pain IS an emergency, I say this as an ex A&E nurse. Go, OP.

Yes they do - you can't get diazepam over the counter

Which is why pp was saying go to GP

Yes, you can go to A&E. My DM has had terrible sciatica in the past, didn't go to A&E and her GP told her off for it, said she should have gone.

Yes you should go

@Choukette yes, a GP (not a pharmacist) can prescribe most things. Did you misread?

We went to A&E last night with husband having chest pains, and still waited around for hours. It's pericarditis, not a heart attack, but still.... Long waits.

@SoddingWeddings Nope - the other poster misread. It's severe pain, it needs pain relief that you cannot get without a health professional prescribing it - A and E is the quickest way to get that prescription.

Weirdly, I was seen within minutes for pericarditis - one experience of A and E does not mean all will be like that - particularly when going at different times.

Can you ring your GP surgery back and say it’s urgent as the pain is unbearable?

In the meantime try alternating ice and heat every 20 mins, and lie down rather than sit or stand when you can. I have had sciatica as the result of a prolapsed disc for 16 years and I know how horrific it can be.

As a pp said be aware of the symptoms of Cauda Equina as this is a medical emergency (loss of bladder and bowel control is a main one).

Hmm the responses are mixed. I'm leaning towards waiting for the gp call and asking them to advise what to do if I'm in the same state again tonight. Hopefully they will be able to prescribe something by safe for pregnancy that will help the pain because paracetamol is definitely not working

As someone who has a chronic health co edition that causes serious flare ups of pain that leave me in a state, I would say wait for the GP actually OP- though you are obviously free to do what you feel is best. Pain can take you to the end of your tether, nobody should judge.

A&E and getting there, the wait etc won't be any more fun than your current situation and may make it worse. It's unlikely you'll be rushed through and you'll be given some temporary pain relief (a few days worth or
wrek at best) and urged to speak to your GP to arrange a prescription, I'd assume.

Is there someone that can get you an ice pack? Google the location of the sciatic nerve and place it/them wherever the pain is focused. If you are able and haven't, I would also google for pregnancy safe physiotherapy movements for sciatica relief. Certain movements mobilise the nerve and can really reduce pain and the recurrence of it.

Do you have an urgent centre instead of A&E near you? Ours are on site with the A&E department so they can transfer you over if deemed necessary?

Argh, still no GP phone call. Need help soon or I'll have no choice but to go to A&E 😕

A&E if you can't cope with the pain. I've been before with sciatica and was given pain relief. It turned out not to be sciatica but long story!