help - will the dr give me stronger pain killers?

[Katymac]

I have sciatica & I'm takig co-codamol & ibuprofen

Oh I hope so

katymac I feel for you, he may give you a stronger type of anti inflammatory like diclofenac/voltarol just make sure you make it very clear just how much pain you are inxx

poor Katymac, I feel for you, back pain/sciatica is awfulr

Hope your gp will help. Diclofenac is great stuff

hope it gets better soon

I feel so queasy as I'm in such pain

the ibufrofenh hasn;'t touched it so I've taken somw co-codamol

Message withdrawn

ask for voltoral, it a muscle relaxant if I remember rightly, would that help do you think?
not totally sure what sciatica is but if it's muscular then voltorol is strong

My dad is wondering if I have slipped a disc - the pain is worse than when I had the ectopic

I take syndol for migraine and dp has sciatica and a neck problem and I think he has found them really good when he has tried them.It might be the muscle relaxant They also are paracetomol and codeine so you can tale nurofen too.Sounds terrible Definitely go back to the GP My dp was signed off work for 1 week with his and they gave him valium!Did help although he was quite sleepy

I have valium - I wonder if I can take them?

Valium is good at night as apparently you sleep really deep and the muscle gets deep relaxation Do you have anyone to help with your kids while yu try it for a couple of nights?

I'd take separate paracetamol 4 times a day, higher strength codeine (as someone has already said), and either high dose ibuprofen or diclofenac (they're the same type of painkiller).
You could take valium too, but it won't help to kill the pain just make you sleepy. Good if muscle pain as can help to relax muscles but sciatica pain prob not from a muscle.

DH always gets up for DD - poor man - he has really been put upon these last few days

See my thread about sciatica

Katymac - I don't know your history but the pattern of taking stronger and stronger meds for sciatica is just a sign that you're not being treated properly for it. I had it for years along with lower back pain and other stuff and ended up addicted to my prescription - can you get your doctor to refer youfor physiotherapy? Failing that see an osteopath privately (this is what eventually got me on track)? Sorry if you've already been down that road but don't want to see anyone else get into the situation I was in. Hope you feel better soon.

I have acupressure & reflexology
I have had acupuncture

This is the 3rd or 4th time I've had it

But my dad has akolising spondilitus and just (earlier this year) had back surgery

One of the main causes of sciatic pain is a malalignement of the bone structures surrounding the sciatic nerve (boes in the wrong postion) - when you injure yourself even slightly this can cause swelling hich puts pressure on the area and cause the episodic pain you describe - I'd strongly advise you to see an osteopath (because they're private they're quick and I believe best type of professional for this job) but if you can't definitely get a referral today fo physio. acupressure and reflexology may help relax your muscles after the structure has been put right but will do no good if te root of the problem is still there. Also osteopathy has been shown to work best fro back/sciatica type problems when combined with regular excercise (nothing major, just 20-30mins walking/swimming per day would do). Hope this is of help - couldn't find your other thread to see a history.

Re the ankylosing spondylitis, while it's not thought to run in families (anecdotal evidence I've come into contact with would dispute that) and you're at less risk because you're a woman, it would be worth mentioning to your GP about the history of rheumatic illness in your family so it can be thouroughly checked out.

So Osteopath or chiropracter.....OK

I walk lots - unfortunatley I also crawl on the floor lots and lift lots (I'm a childminder)

My Physio appt is 27th

Katymac- I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondilitis in my late twenties. I was actually told it does run in families. Sufferers usually have a certain tissue type. Have you had any tests to rule it out? Sciatica was something I suffered from a lot initally when my AS was in its inflammatory stage. (Do you ever have problems with your eyes? One of my first symptoms was iritis, which is closely associated with AS).

My back has always ached (for over 15yrs) but Drs have never really wanted to do anything

I had disloccting hips as a baby and was in a frmae - they are still quite unstable - which according to various proffessionals is the cause of my probelms

No tests - 1 xray in March....."everything is fine"

I would ask to be referred to a rheumatologist. My problems went undiagnosed for some years-it was really only when I got the iritis that they did the tests and discovered what had been causing my back pain. I had a full body scan and tissue typing, which established I had the tissue type associated with AS.

The dr hasn't rung yet - I guess he will ring after surgery

My painkillers have worn off - but I can't take any more

Katymac - sorry you're doctor hasn't rung yet. With what you've just said about your history I would also urge you to ask for a referral to a rheumatologist. I also agree with tiggiwinkle, despite the lack of 'evidence' I think a family history is concerning (I work as an OT in rheumatolgy btw, most of my patients have one or more family members affected too). Obviously I'd really hope that it's nothing like that but if it is the earlier it's caught the better the treatment outcomes and there are many different forms of rheumatic illness as wellas AS - the medications we use now are also much better than the ones your dad had access to.

Your job doesn't sound like it helps either - hope you're having a day off.

I'm having a day supervising rather than off

He phoned & I am having the stronger co-codamol (DH has been to collect them) but I took the weaker co-codamol at 12....so I can't have any until 4......

Dad's AS was diagnosed in the early 80's but he had no sympotoms until the last few years and no treatments at all - they have now said they aren't sure about the AS...just the spondilitus bit??

It isd amazing how his story changes when you start asking Q's 'cos you need the answers

I also have an appt with the Dr on Tuesday & if it isn't better I am having an epidural (apparently)

btw I am currently negociating to get a more supervisory job rather than hands on