Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

AIBU to ask for CT or MRI

55 replies

LongTallPain · 10/09/2021 09:06

Try to keep short, but if you have any advice please let me know, I'm sort of desperate.

Tuesday woke up with very slight discomfort from sciatic nerve, but not even enough to take analgesia and I went to work. I'm a student Nurse but work as relief support worker around that. Did no heavy lifting and very little P/C. Tuesday night it was worse but still manageable.

Woke up Wednesday, in agony, couldn't walk properly,pins an needles in right foot. Had to call in sick for work (which means no pay). GP prescribed tramadol, first 4 tablets were fine, but then I started being sick. Wednesday night / Thursday morning pain getting worse and worse. Sick at 10.30.

Thursday morning, in worse pain, now can't weight bare on leg, can't get dressed, son had to help me out of shower, children helped me get dressed, couldn't walk them to school, they had to take themselves. Took no more tramadol, but sickness continues, around 24 times I was sick, just bringing up water I'd sipped. Can't walk, can't sit, excruciating to sit on toilet, peed myself a little. My brother is paramedic and he called me an ambulance, even though I asked him not. Ambulance arrive thinking I'd had a stroke because of communication mix up, I was so deeply embarrassed I downplayed everything. GP spoke to paramedics and said I just need to stop being sick so analgesia can work. Took antisickness, brought up first one, but managed to stop being sick after second.

I've been given amitriptilene, codeine, Diclofenic, diazapam, omeprazole and cyclizine.

I still can't drive, can get dressed without children, can't work, couldn't walk children to school again this morning, can't clean properly. I'm meant to be back at uni next week. I'm a single Mum in agony on a concoction of drugs making me feel dizzy and sleepy.

Should I ask to see GP in person, or ask for CT to find out what's going on. GP thinks acute sciatica. I'm a very active person, although I'm a size 14 since lockdown, but walk around 5/6miles a day. That's another thing, I can't walk the dog.

OP posts:

igiveup2021 · 10/09/2021 09:07

Ask them, they may say no but it's always worth an ask. Good luck OP.

Eeiliethya · 10/09/2021 09:13

Have they ruled out Cauda Equina Syndrome?

CE is a medical emergency.

Eeiliethya · 10/09/2021 09:15

caudaequinauk.org.uk/cauda-equina-syndrome/

Eeiliethya · 10/09/2021 09:19

Just to add the only thing that made that jump in my mind was that you mentioned a slight loss of bladder control.

Aside from that it does sound like sciatica.

Anoisagusaris · 10/09/2021 09:19

I was going to mention CE too

Anoisagusaris · 10/09/2021 09:20

Have you any numbness around your bum or groin?

Original poster

LongTallPain · 10/09/2021 09:23

Thank you for your replies, I really appreciate it, I feel so alone right now.

I don't think CE, no one has mentioned it, and its only down right leg, and although I couldn't pee yesterday for until around 14.00 and It was a big struggle to pee,I would think its probably due to me not keeping fluids down.

OP posts:

Eeiliethya · 10/09/2021 09:25

The fact no one has mentioned it is worrying. Ask the GP directly that you want to rule out CE.

Did the GP ask if you're having any bladder issues?

Original poster

LongTallPain · 10/09/2021 09:25

I've got numbness in the calf and foot, my hip feels like a pounding pain, I can't straighten my leg. My thigh feels like it's in a vice.

Is this typical of other people's experiences of sciatica? GP said could last 12 weeks...how can I work, look after my children, dress myself.

OP posts:

Original poster

LongTallPain · 10/09/2021 09:26

I told her I couldn't pee but said I think its just down to not keeping fluids down. I haven't got numbness in groin

OP posts:

Eeiliethya · 10/09/2021 09:28

In the OP you mentioned that you peed yourself a little, was there a reason for this (like you couldn't get on the toilet due to pain) or did the pee just come out?

Vebrithien · 10/09/2021 09:31

Have a look at piriformis syndrome. I've had it, and the pain was equivalent to a full blown contraction. I saw an osteopath (sports based) privately (managed to hobble there with a stick), and they really helped. My symptoms were very similar to yours.
The only worrying part would be the bladder control loss, and CE.

Chiwi · 10/09/2021 09:31

I was told to go to a&e if I got numbness in my groin. Also think you need to rule out CE.

Mischance · 10/09/2021 09:31

A proper diagnosis cannot be made over the phone. Is the pain down front or back of leg? - i.e. is it sciatic or femoral nerve?

Any disturbance to urinary continence should ring an alarm bell - at the very least it needs proper examination.

radness75 · 10/09/2021 09:33

I am a mri/ct radiographer. It does sound like cauda equina syndrome and you need an urgent mri scan, not a ct. GP cannot request an mri so you need to get to A/E or your local ambulatory care centre or an extremely urgent orthopaedic appointment (seen today). I cannot stress how urgent it is that you are seen. I have scanned people with less symptoms than you and they have a large protruding disc into the spinal cord. Please let us know how you get on x

OldTinHat · 10/09/2021 09:33

Also agree that it sounds very much like sciatica. I'm on the same drugs and they don't do a thing. Don't mean you worry you but I've had it for 30yrs now. Keep on at your GP.

Chiwi · 10/09/2021 09:34

I'm dealing with awful awful PGP in pregnancy and this includes bad sciatica. It doesn't sound even remotely as severe as what you're describing although I am getting the numb foot and heal- but the physio has told me this is likely the baby on a nerve, you don't have a baby possibly sitting on nerves so I think this makes it more worrying.
If I had anywhere approaching your symptoms I would go to a&e.

Eeiliethya · 10/09/2021 09:40

@radness75

OP please take this advice, the consequences of it being CE and not being treated are too high to just hope for the best.

Please

DogFoodPie · 10/09/2021 09:48

Hi OP I had Cauda Equina about 8 weeks ago it was a massive shock to be rushed into emergency surgery, but you must get checked for it. If you have surgery right away once it's diagnosed you can make a much better recovery but if it is left you can be in a wheelchair and incontinent.

Original poster

LongTallPain · 10/09/2021 09:48

I just so conscious of causing a fuss, additional I spoke with the on call GP yesterday who happened to be the same GP that shouted at me a few years ago because she thought I'd complained to the practice about her, which I hadn't, I think I'd phoned practice asking when GP was going to call as she was hours late being able to, and I only called because I'd just had a baby.

The pee situation I think was more because its so excruciating to sit on the toilet that I couldn't go, and then just a tiny bit came out. But, for example I just went for wee, and I could feel my bladder was quite Full as I hasn't been since I got up...but I have to bare down to get it out.

Maybe I could wait for out of hours.

I'm in a real pickle, and feel a bit dizzy and my heart rate is a bit high, but I think that's the medication

OP posts:

Eeiliethya · 10/09/2021 09:51

@LongTallPain

Maybe I could wait for out of hours.

I'm in a real pickle, and feel a bit dizzy and my heart rate is a bit high, but I think that's the medication

Forget the GP, get yourself to A&E now and tell them you're worried about CE.

Don't worry about making a fuss, you've got to think of yourself and more so your kids. Get it sorted now!!!!!! Right now woman

goldierocks · 10/09/2021 09:52

Hi OP

You have my sympathies, back pain is the absolute pits.

I had an accident while I was in the early stages of my pregnancy. That's actually how I found out I was pregnant, i.e. waiting in A&E. Obviously I couldn't then have an x-ray (this was over 20 years ago).

Attacks of sciatica can absolutely be as you described, and last between hours and weeks. I eventually had surgery to stabilise my spine. To keep me sane and functioning until then, I was fitted for a specially designed medical corset. It's designed to sit under your boobs and over your hips, ending at the top of your thighs. There is room for up-to six steel rods to be inserted. They are fitted to your exact measurements, so provide a huge amount of support.

I was referred for my corset by my orthopaedic surgeon. For too many reasons I won't go into now, my surgery was delayed until my DS was 4. That corset saved both my sanity and career. The only time I took it off was to wash and to sleep.

If I were you, I'd definitely want a scan so the doctors know exactly what they are treating. I'd also recommend being fitted for a medical support corset (mine took 2 weeks to make after they took all my measurements).

Good luck

DogFoodPie · 10/09/2021 09:56

I would go to A&E and tell them about the difficulties peeing. They can test if you are retaining urine with a bladder scanner. This is one of the symptoms and its better to rule out CES than leave it.

Original poster

LongTallPain · 10/09/2021 09:57

I've phoned GP practice and they said they'd phone me back.

So sorry to hear of 0ther stories about this, it truly is awful.

If its not better I will just go to A&E. I also (sorry TMI), haven't been for a number 2 for 2 days which is very unlike me, but then that could just be meds. I was sick so much yesterday I started bring up blood clots, but they were fresh.

OP posts:

Teaandcakeordeath83 · 10/09/2021 10:11

I've recently got over a bout of sciatica that felt not to dissimilar to what you've described. It was absolute hell and by far the worst bout I've had (I herniated a disc years ago so I sporadically get these flare ups now). Like everyone has said- you need to have CE ruled out. Asap. Can't mess around with that.

If they confirm that it isn't CE the only drug that worked for me this time around and left me able to function/ have some mobility was gabapentin. Made me feel a bit fluffy in the head while I titrated the dose up but once I'd hit the right dose it made a world of difference.

I hope you get some relief soon. It's all consuming when your back goes.

Flip

1 2 3