Sciatica- help!

[RMC123]

Does anyone have any advice on dealing with sciatica? I have suffered on and off since having my third child over 10 years ago. Usually the episodes are short lived and manageable. This time it is agony. Pain is on left side and travels down my leg. Pain is moving much further than usual. At points over the last few days it has reached my ankle. Nurofen helps and so does heat but not for long! Usually walking around helps but at the moment this is doing nothing! Any advice?

Sympathies - it's hell.

What helped me (temporarily) was a physiotherapist gently pushing my spine & pelvis "into alignment" when I was pregnant.

In your place, I would ask for a referral & see if the problem can be treated,

Thanks Cote. Yes it is hell. Definitely going to doctors to get a referral. Bizarrely I had a riding lesson booked. Went along thinking all the while this is madness. Riding instructor (who has back issues herself) persuaded me to get on and whether it was due to the position or not I had the most comfortable half hour in days!! Making me think it is postural and likely in the pelvis. Sitting on a horse all week though is not an option!!

Can you sit & move your hips for a bit on a big medicine ball at home? Also, lie down on it and hang your head down.

Cote good call. No big ball in the house but lying over some large cushions/ bean bag type thing has eased it a bit. Also sitting in a very unflattering legs akimbo type way (!) also seems to help!! Sorry maybe almost certainly too much information!

I feel your pain! I've had it on and off for years. Do you do stretches? These may help. Also acupuncture and shiatsu or deep tissue massage. Hope you feel some relief soon, it's bloody horrid.

www.spine-health.com/wellness/exercise/stretches-and-exercise-sciatic-pain-piriformis-syndrome

My last bout was really painful - the only thing that helped was strong painkillers and anti inflammatories on prescription- I wish I'd gone to the Drs earlier.

I'm glad you feel better, RMC

Ask your Dr if a TENS machine would help. I had sciatica while pregnant and used one. . Amazing results.

Thanks for all the suggestions Tens machine definitely one to think about. The stretches are actually also what I had been doing naturally to help. Obviously need to listen to my body more.
Pain improved again today. Hopefully coming out the other side and it's Friday

I hope all goes well. It's certainly very painful. Having suffered in the past, I found that a couple of visits to a chiropractor worked for me. Mixutre of ultra sound treatment and adjustments (spinal manipulation). I haven't suffered since and honestly put that down to these visits.

But of course you'd want to discuss any treatment with a chiropractor before committing.