Sciatica?

[putyourhatonsweetie]

Hey all,

I'm in agony. Have had what I assume is sciatica for about a month now. All down bottom and left leg, getting progressively worse over the course of the day, especially when i have been driving. have been to the chiropractor a couple of times, but not feeling much better... Though as it has been worsening over a month perhaps he has at least stalled it....

Any thoughts? Not in the uk so I have to pay a quite a bit of money for healthcare, thus resisting going to the gp though this may be necessary to trigger other referrals. All wisdom appreciated, thanks

So, you have had this for a month? It will usually clear up within 3 months. You most likely have a prolapsed (slipped) disc.

Physiotherapy can help. A chiropractor could be too rough. Lying on the floor with a pillow under your bottom can help ease the pain. Your physio can also give you stretching exercises.

You should walk as much as you can. Your doctor may be ble to give you some nerve inhibitor tablets, Pregabalin or similar, along with normal painkillers, I had codeine.

If this continues you will need an MRI and possibly surgery, but that's quite a way down the line so don't worry about that now. FWIW, I put off surgery twice and 12 months down the line my body has fixed itself. However, Iit was a long and painful process.

Oh thank you for replying, yes had it about a month, didn't deal with it at first as assumed it was a sports injury that would go away, it didn't !

Will look into physio. Thanks for the other tips too. Have just had some painkillers as am feeling a bit sorry for myself.

3 months, well I guess that's good, if these things clear up, though have a long haul flight to do in about 8 weeks, fingers crossed.

Thanks again

You feel better in the morning because your spine decompresses over night. As soon as you are up and about the pressure starts building again.

Try not to lift anything. Sitting for long periods is bad, as is driving. They did some acupuncture on me, I'm not sure that it helped but it apparently does for some. Ibuprofen is good for any inflammation, you can alternate that with paracetamol. Cold is better than heat, so a bag of frozen peas on your lower back is as good as anything.

Remember, although the pain is in your leg, the damage is in your spine. Hope it clears up before your flight as 8 hours on a plane will not be fun. Good luck!

Can I just add don't leave getting treated go to doctor right away. I put it off with my back problem and have been in bed flat on back all week. So go today if possible and don't worry about paying as it will be cheaper than taking 2 or more weeks off work as I am having to.
Also I have heard an automatic car is a big help for ppl with sciatica as you don't need to press down on the clutch pedal.

I really think you need to go to your GP to ascertain the cause of your sciatica. Sciatica can be caused by compression or irritation of the sciatica nerve anywhere along its path, so it is essential treatment is given to the correct area causing the problem.
Sciatica can be caused by disc bulges but also bony changes in the spine and muscular spasm- each of these need to be treated in a different way to relieve pressure on the nerve. Get yourself in with the GP first.

Thanks so much for taking the time to post. Will try and get in at the doctor...

Went to the gp and wanted to cry....pathetic I know but she and bedside manner were quite clearly unacquainted. Hey ho. X ray tomorrow. Thanks again

Sadly, many GPs, even in the UK, are dismissive of back pain.

I cried so many times. At the GPs, with my neurosurgeon, at my MRI scan, in physio. Hope you get some relief soon.

Thanks. I walked in and she shouted " weight? ..." It was not clear it was a question. I am not fat, but if I were.... She then asked v little, and proceeded to book the x ray /scan without asking me ( which then meant I had to hobble over to the scan place and change the appointment time.....la la la )

So sorry to hear that but at least you are getting a scan. Have you been on the long back pain support thread "the back story" that is also helpful. Even if just to hear yours is not the worst back lol somehow this made me feel better.

Thanks ... Will lurk on the thread, though rather hoping I won't qualify to join in as will be better soon! (Would cross everything but it would hurt) a related challenge is that I have a stressful job and crossfit / running were my release. Perhaps time to get in the pool?

Yes, do join us on The Back Story. We don't have a competition for who's suffering most.

Glad to hear you are having a scan. Hopefully not an X-ray since it's most unlikely to be any use.

Getting in the water is a great idea. I swim with a shaped float between my legs (front crawl) to avoid irritating my sciatic nerve. Even walking and doing gentle exercises is easier. Sorry your GP was so ungracious, are there others you could see? Sadly these things don't go away quickly and building a good 'team' is really helpful. If you are working could you take time off?

Anyway, nice to meet you, though I'm sure you'd rather not...see you on the other thread.

Yes I think you are supposed to do special exercises to strengthen back but not sure exactly what for sciatica so make sure you do right ones.

Not sure re X-ray / scan, new to this game so perhaps wasn't listening. Best check out the forms before I go! Oops. Thanks so much

Am quite sure could get a different gp... Again new to all this. And not uk, but will figure it out as I go. Yes could miss work, but don't really want to. Am already missing exercise, if I lost work as well would be bereft! (Saddo!)

A really good physio could be really useful to you. They actually understand backs a lot better than most gps. If you have a sports clinic nearby they could advise. Mine is also an advanced Pilates teacher, too and also does sports massage. She does massage for half an hour then Pilates for another half hour the level dependant on my pain that day.

I do at least my basic exercises first thing each morning plus swim/ hydro a couple of times and walk most days. Moving is actually beneficial but needs to be the right thing. That, drugs, friends and gin have kept me sane. Oh, and my husband.

Do look on the back story for the link to Imogen Ragone's constructive rest link. It's brilliant.

Hope it is a scan and you can see a more charming GP. Can you say where you are? Hope it's warmer than here!

I suffered from sciatica for 20 years. My physio gave me the best advice- exercise.
Keep the hamstrings flexible, buttocks, stomach and core toned. I do this with yoga and weight training. Haven't had a twinge for 10 years.

Where I am is most certainly warmer than most places! A sticky 38 today! Am in small town central Queensland. There seem to be a few physios around so will look into that. Had a spine lumber ct scan today, results tomorrow. Also saw the chiro but it is expensive if it doesn't work, and I have yet to see a benefit, though only had 3 sessions.

Just wanted to agree with Msmiggins post. Have also had sciatica for 20 odd years, and the only thing that has given me lasting improvement has been a daily yoga practice. It will keep your spine aligned and strengthen your core so your back is better supported. I rarely have a flare-up, and when i do it is because i've missed my practice for a few days.

If i do have a flare up then movement is better than rest, and i find heat better than cold, so will use a hot water bottle on my lower back. Massage is also brilliant for alleviating the pain in your buttocks. I've decided against surgery for now since i'm managing the pain though it has worked for a friend of mine.

If you want to give yoga a try there are teachers who are specialists in lower back pain. Probably not much use for where you are but in the uk you can find a teacher here. Of course, until you know for sure where and what the damage is there is the risk you could do more harm than good - hope the scan results are helpful.

Thanks re exercise tips. I am normally an addict, but since this started I have been terrified of making things worse, have walked a little and done some gardening, so have been active ish....with no obvious detriment. Hoping to get some useful info soon, the chiro just says be careful, what the f does that mean?!

He probably means listen to your body. One reason yoga is good as opposed to high impact exercise is because you gently ease into a stretch so that you can tell if it is ok for you or if you're meeting resistance. You should feel that you are stretching enough to be working, but not so that it is causing pain. I find i can do forward and backbends quite easily (obviously building on what you can do slowly over time), but i go very carefully on anything that involves turning my leg out to the side, as that can cause pain.

I can't emphasise enough the importance of movement, even when it is the last thing you want to do. I find i'm more likely to have pain and stiffness after i've been sat for a while, so i'm very mindful of posture and also get up and move frequently. Yoga has taught me the benefit of sitting on the floor (not necessarily a full lotus but with a straight back), and i tend to do this as much as possible rather than slouching on the sofa, and it really helps keep space in your spine instead of compacting everything.

Been sat here on mn too long this morning!

Mostlyloving- this sounds exactly like my situation. My physio urged me towards yoga and I haven't looked back. the only time I start to to get the odd twinge is if I miss a few days, but a good session stretches and eases the discomfort totally.
I have suffered terribly in the past, been unable to walk or drive on many occassions.
My back has been almost totally cured by exercise.

Hello again, so I had the results from my ct scan, the gp was foul so never seeing her again!

I have been referred to a neuro surgeon in the big smoke, which has freaked me a bit, but at least I can go shopping and leave the children for a bit

Verdict was

L45 narrowing of disc with adjacent discogenic vertebral sclerosis due to degeneration. Focal left para central and foraminal disc protrusion with peridiscal osteophyte. All this impinging on nerves. Also developmental narrowing of lumbar spine canal.

So my questions are....if anyone is still interested!

.... Is it worth the expensive trips to the chiropractor?
.... I have been told no exercise until I have seen the specialist. This made me cry, am hoping walking and swimming don't count.
.....worth a trip to the physio?
... I am not overweight, but would shifting a few pounds help?
.... Any supplements you can take?
....and heaps more but will try and save some!

Thanks

This sounds quite specialised so I can't advise you but its good you have a diagnosis and can start to improve things. I expect the specialist will advise exercise as others on here have done but be very careful until you have seen him. He may advise physio so again perhaps leave that till you have seen him. When is your appointment?

Ok you have a protruding disc at L4/5. This is pressing on your sciatic nerve.

You do need to see the neurosurgeon but it is very early to say if you will need surgery. In most cases ( 90%) this will improve sufficiently within 3 months. About 10% of cases beyond that will improve within 12 months. Many people are sent for surgery after the three month period but it is worth holding on.

My neuro told me ( after my 12 month recovery- during which timei went to hell and back) that often he gets in and the disc is already softening and would have recovered itself enough to stop causing the pain. The surgery will not fix your back, it will only remove the part of disc that is causing you pain. There are other things, including fusing, that may need to be resorted to after that. But that's not important now. The initial surgery has no guarantees and Can be a miracle, it can also fail.

So. Your best hope is to help yourself along and preferably not need surgery. Physio can help. They should be able to refer you but as you have your scan results it may be quicker to see someone privately. Gentle exerciseis good. Stretching, massage etc. swimming, walking. Nothing strenuous at all. Your core muscles are important, they help protect your back.

Taking a nerve repressant, Pregabalin, or similar, can help you keep moving enough. You may heal yourself, as I did eventually ( my back is not better, but I am not in pain, it may recur or it may not) or you could need surgery eventually. The really dangerous things to watch out for are any numbness in the saddle area, difficulty going to the loo or no control of your bowels. That is rare but requires immediate medical attention ( Cauda Equina syndrome. ) hope that all helps a bit.