How long off work for sciatica?

[Gina82xx]

Looking to hear experiences of fellow sciatica sufferers. I'm in agony with it. It started after a car accident last year.
My GP has signed me off work for 4 weeks, is this normal? I love my job and hope not to be off long term.
How long are sciatica sufferers typically off when it flares up? Weeks? Months?
I know every case is different but just trying to get a feel of what to expect. As I say, sciatica is a relatively "new" visitor in my life.

Usually within a week it goes away but everyone is different. One time it was so bad I had to get an injection and I was perfect within a few days.

I usually dope myself up on naproxen and go to work. I've suffered with it for nearly 40 years - if I was off every flare up I'd be unemployable. It is miserable, but I do think that if you have a chronic bad back you get very good at figuring out how to manage it to some extent.

Was off couple of months when I had Sciatica as a symptom of cervical myelopathy I was fortunate enough to get an operation so got of codine quite quickly left hospital with a 2 week fit note and then a further note for 4 weeks. I personally think they tend to give back problems/injury potential up to 6 months recovery if needed overall.

Less fun seeing my colleagues progress after my latest unwanted and unwelcome operation at the worst time ever. I actually do not know how I’d have coped this time round if I hadn’t a remote job, what other employer would tolerate 8 weeks on these district nurses turning up and still no answers.

I’ve had two weeks off once and one week off a couple of years later. I’ve been ok since 🤞

Currently on Wk3 off work and I can see me being off another 3 possibly. Never had pain like it.

I had one bout that was 9 weeks off work. I had to crawl to bathroom it was so bad. Much better now as I make sure I do a lot of walking.

I was off for 5 or 6 weeks I think. Pain wasn't my main symptom though, I had total foot drop from a herniated disc (so my leg kept giving way and I couldn't weight bear without crutches) and no feeling in my foot or leg so couldn't really be on my feet and I have a job that can't be done from home and involves responsibility for others.

I do have another condition that causes back pain though and would agree with what another poster said - obviously everyone is different but you do get better at finding strategies to deal with it. It's a tough one though, so painful!

It depends on what is causing the sciatica. And also what your job is.

Some sciatica can be muscular and some by discs protruding, it just depends what is pressing on the sciatic nerve.

An office job may be easier to return to than a job where you are on your feet all day.