Sciatica sufferers, anyone?

[boohoohoo]

Yesterday, after a week of agony, it looks as though I have sciatica, brought on by a possible slipped disc, just to make it even more agony I have been having muscle spasms in my lower back aswell [cries].

I have Diazepam and Naproxen, and although they seem to be helping (not had a spasm since taking them yesterday lunchtime) I still have a terrible burning pain in my lower back and buttock and cannot move around a lot, even sitting gives no relief.

Anyone any ideas? Is there anything else I can do to help this. feeling really miserable

Hi I have had a couple of attacks and I sit with a hot water bottle. It is really horrible, my doc said the burning pain is inflammation so I rub in diclofenac cream, although you will have to check to see whether it reacts with anything else you are taking. Also alternate with hot and cold pads, it is not what you want to hear but nothing really helps, it just eventually goes.

I have never felt pain like sciatic. I was sobbing with it. Still have it now but is just residual pain really that I can cope with, with occasional minor flare ups. Nothing worked for me, other than prescription pain killers to get me moving and walking with the right footwear on (fit flops for me). When I'm really bad, the only position I can cope with is lying flat out on my front (takes me a loooong time to get down there though!). Cold is better than heat for it but it isn't nice to put an ice pack on an area that's already giving you pain.

Sciatica is just the name for leg and buttock pain. Osteopaths would call it a symptom of other problems in the back or pelvis so will treat them and not just the symptoms like a physio or gp. They can alleviate pain resulting from slipped discs too so might be worth finding one to have a look to see if they can help. Good luck - pain like you describe is grim so i hope you get it sorted soon.