Sciatic pain - physio, osteopath or chiropractors?

[DisplacedManc]

I'm suffering with sciatic pain caused not by back or disc, but inflamed muscle in my buttock and the sciatica is referred pain. Its debilitating and I'm taking naproxen, paracetamol and just starting neurontin as it's so bad. Have been seeing a physio privately, but from reading stuff on here should I switch to an osteopath or chiropractioner? Any advice gladly received. Thank you x

Osteopath helped me. Also gave me exercises to (fingers crossed) prevent recurrence. For inflammation I think diclofenac works best - you need a prescription for that.

Thank you! I'm taking 250mg x 2 Naproxen plus getting started on neurontin gradually. I've seen physio - she's good - but in 3 sessions I haven't seen any improvement. If anything, it's got worse😔. Would you advise moving to an osteopath?

I’d def advise one or the other. I go to a chiropractor and really rate it. He does acupuncture too which I respond very well to. He was away last week and I saw an osteopath at the same clinic who did exactly what my chiropractor does as he was following his notes. So some osteopaths are more similar to chiropractors than you would think.

The only thing that got rid of mine was Valium.
I literally tried everything
Painkillers (many different types) nerve blockers, physio, acupuncture, Pilates, yoga and ultrasound waves.

A week of Valium and it was gone. Whenever I have a flair up I get a couple of days worth and it goes immediately.

It's a miracle. I was literally crippled with it.

I would see a physio who also does acupuncture.
That's how I got rid of my sciatica and it has never come back

Thanks all! I've had a bit of acupuncture & it helped a tad immediately, but nothing since. The physio is lovely - very holistic - but I think it's got worse since I saw her. She's stopped me walking as it might be antagonising it, but truthfully, it's the only thing that helps - a little potter round the block. How long did it take everyone to get better? It's really interfering with my daily routine 😢. And so bloody painful 😣

When I get sciatica it's usually because the glute muscle (in your buttock) has gone into spasm and is gripping the sciatic nerve which runs through it. Anti inflams, ice, massage of the glute by my chiropractor and at times a great big acupuncture needle right in the middle of the glute help. I also get a tennis ball and push it against a wall with the sore bit of the buttock. I do this repeatedly through the day. It doesn't really matter which professional you use as long as they know their stuff. Ask the physio when you should start to feel relief and what is their plan. If they can't answer that move elsewhere. Good luck

Yes walking did help loads. Bit surprised a physio said not to. My problem started in November and was really bad for several weeks. I mean rolling out of bed in the morning and literally crawling to the loo. Whole episode lasted about 4 months. Still feel a bit achy sometimes, just need to be careful about posture, so no slouching on the sofa.

I had dreadful sciatica a few months ago with referred pain right to base of foot .I tried pretty much all pain killers including the Dr giving me some antidepressent drugs ( I cant remember which one) which made me just feel so woozy and sick I stopped taking them after 3 days . I then got an appointment with a NHS physio and she showed me Mckenzie extensions.. My pain was central back bulgy disc so push ups were the thing for me, but you need to get looked at though as yours may not be..

The exercise eased my pain pretty much straight away , but you do need to be sure you are doing the correct one,,

Thanks all - lots of really useful info. I think my problem is the same as yours Soupertrooper - muscle in gluts with referred sciatic pain. On & off most of the day. I did 2 x little walks today & it did help a little. 4 months is a long time 😳 - very brave to keep going! And yes - posture in the sofa. Think that's possibly what got my here - falling asleep lay down in a stupid position on the sofa! # LessonLearnt!

Physio also made my back worse. I got an osteopath to crack it back into place (there was a lot going on!) and then I started lifting big weights. Helped a lot to get me upright again, and the lifting has made my glutes, core and back muscles much stronger so they hold the dodgy discs in place better.