Sciatica

[bikeadventure]

Hi all. I could really do with some advice, if anyone has any to offer!
I've had sciatica for a year now. It's been a bit up and down in that time, but always there. It's been really awful for the last couple of months and I'm only just about managing to hang onto sanity/work/vaguely decent parenting.

I'm doing the physio that my one-seen NHS physio advised and yoga every day, morning and evening. It's not helped at all yet and I've been doing it for months. I've had an assessment with a chiropractor (and they did a scan, showing a thinner disc around L4), but I got a bit freaked out when they said I needed to come 2x a week for 9 weeks initially. I'll do it and pay it if that is needed but my research suggests that time is the only thing that really actually helps. Is that really the case?!

I'm also booked to see an acupuncturist today. I've never had any, but again it's £55 and the internet suggests you need several sessions to 'begin' to see any difference. I'm willing to invest in my health, but all of this just seems so optional, iyswim.

So, my question is, what is worth it? I'm after meaningful long term change (I'm totally willing to put in the work myself, I just need to know it's in the right direction!)

• chiropractor
• acupuncturist
• physio (I could go back through the NHS, or privately. I've seen the Mckenzie / Bowen techniques mentioned as being especially helpful)
• pilates
• should I go back to my GP?

Has any of this stuff particularly helped you? How much of it did you have to do? Was there anything that was a waste of time/money for you?

thank you so much.

Have you had a MRI? Has anyone pinpointed the cause (chiropractor aside)?

After a few months of NHS physio, my pain staying the same and my left leg getting weaker and weaker I went back to my GP and demanded an MRI. They had already fobbed me off by telling me it was 'growing pains' (I was 17 when it first presented). They were keen to tell me to have more physio until I told them that I was about to start my Midwifery training, and if my leg collapsed whilst holding a baby I would come back and hold them responsible.

Surprise surprise, an MRI showed a herniated disc, quite damaged by that point, and the surgical Reg ended up shaking his head, apologising, saying I should've been operated on months ago.

I'd tried physio, pilates, heavy painkillers, epidural injections and nothing had worked, the operation provided immediate relief. I think that if there's not an improvement with all you have tried for a decent amount of time then you need to return to the GP.

My operation worked really well, until a couple of years later when the partner of a labouring mum collapsed and pulled me to the floor. The next disc herniated slightly but another set of epidural/steroid injections solved that, which leads me to believe it was minor.

I’ve got sciatica and been having some flair ups since Christmas just gone, but it started 3/4 years ago. Did have an MRI which showed a herniated disc, and saw a consultant, but at that point it wasn’t that bad, so think thought it would ‘heal’. That was 2/3 yrs ago.

My most recent flair up has left me with some altered feeling in my foot and calf and a bit of a limp, but hoping this should settle down some more. Always a bit wary of saying what works/doesn’t - in case it’s the opposite for someone else.

I found an osteopath ‘better’ for me than a chiropractor, not sure why. More gentle?

Also I’m just about to have the last of 6 sessions I have had with a physio (limited number of sessions as arranged through an employer assistance scheme). He’s given me some daily stretches which have been helping and he did some acupuncture which has also helped, so I will be arranging some more of that. Not tried it before, not because I didn’t think it would work, just never thought of it for me.

I’ve just started swimming which is also helping. I’ve resigned myself to not really being able to do any other exercise really ☹️, however I’m enjoying it and gives me something to work towards (I’m quite competitive and like to improve my times/distance etc, so it is feeding that side of me).

I’m still taking some gabapentin which really helped me be pain free/pain reduced which in mid feb, I was so low about. On a small dose now, just to help with my leg.

I was advised caution with regards to yoga/pilates, I think due to my age and flexibility then combined with doing a move wrong etc, it could end up costly pain wise. However I would have been starting afresh, it was not something I was doing before (so bad positioning quite likely).

I’m much better at avoiding activities that don’t hurt at the time, but have left me struggling to next day - so anything that involves too much bending (or sweeping the floor type position); sitting position - can’t sit on the floor for any length of time.

Sorry for the essay! But I literally feel your pain!

A bit late to the party….
I have had sciatica since last November. MRI showed inflamed sciatic nerve but no real issues with discs other than normal wear and tear. Consultant offered nerve block or leaving well alone. I didn’t want the injection so have been muddling along with tens machine, heat pad, swimming, CBD oil and started with sports physio in March. This did provide some relief and pain went at night so I could at least sleep. I’ve been doing the exercises since March but I still have pain in the day which can be awful.

To complicate it even more my physio thinks my pelvis could be out of line and my piriformis is irritated. I just want a proper diagnosis!!

Went back to GP and had X-ray this week and awaiting results. She gave me gabapentin but I have avoided the drugs so far and feel it’s a backwards step. It’s been going on so long though and sometimes I feel it’s getting worse again and I’ve run out of steam with the endless pain.

Do I just take the drugs and be done with it?

So Sorry to hear you're in this boat. So frustrating to not have answers as to why it's like this..
I had an MRI which showed a disc protrusion. I've had the steroid jab into the nerve last week and it does seem to have taken the edge off the pain, though it had stabilised in recent months too. I now have the odd moment when I don't notice pain, which hasn't been the case for more than a year. I didn't find that acupuncture or physio helped. I didn't end up trying the chiropractor or osteopath, though I'm still toying with the idea...
I have also steered clear of meds.

It’s all so draining. I really thought I was very slowly improving but the last month it just seems to be getting worse. I’ve spent over £500 on the physio which was fine while it was getting better but I’m thinking I’m going to stop going. Sometimes I think all the damn exercises don’t help.

I really hope your injection starts to work for you and you start to heal. It’s the most awful pain and when you’ve struggled for so long it sometimes feels like you’ll never get better. I have tried some mindfulness exercises which do stop me getting anxious if the pain is really bad. I read The Way Out by Alan Gordon which is all about dealing with chronic pain. I found it useful. Anything is worth a try.

Hi guys. How are you all? I think I have this 😨