Sciatica & low back pain

[Horseshoebeach]

I was hoping all this would be gone by now or at least easing a bit. But several weeks on the low right back pain, buttock (rump area), sciatica in leg down to the ankle, is quite literally making life hell. First off I thought it was down to a fall I had. The x-ray I had confirmed there was no fracture with a little additional info re osteophytes lower down in the spine. Sitting for longer than 10 minutes is difficult to say the least. Then there's getting up from sitting with muscle type spasm, then finding a comfortable position to sleep. It's always there. Had an MRI (don't know results yet) & I'm so embarrassed to admit I barely made it through (felt panicky). Then at the end when it was over I asked the radiographer if he had all he needed and to take longer if he wanted (had calmed down by then) but he said he had all he needed. Now I'm worried in case he felt the need to rush it because of my anxiety. Many people have it so much worse with pain and illness and I know that. I just feel in such a mess with this and want this thing to start feeling just a little bit better. Has anyone been through something similar that seemed to go on? This is my first time posting so apologies if I'm on the wrong thread (& so sorry for the moody rant) X

Absolutely, we should be each other's support! Can lean (gently!) on each other haha. I'm still not fully healed. Still have very bad fleeting pain now but still sharp and horrible but thank god the relentless gnawing, all consuming agony is pretty much gone. For now at least, I have a terrible fear of it returning. Every twinge I start to panic and doubt my recovery. It has been totally life changing pain and I think the mental side of it takes just as long to recover from!

Thank you I will definitely lean on you if I can, been up hours as the pain lying down is unbearable tried every position possible, I will try some music localhero it wouldn’t help in bed because I have to get up but might help relax me in day. I know what you mean about the drugs I’m taking them back to back can’t manage 4 doses I 24 hours I would be screaming with pain. I mentioned to my physio about my wee coming out slowly he didn’t seem bothered also keep getting numbness on that side of my face so will mention it to the consultant when I see him at end of month . Acupuncturist got back to me last night as she had a cancellation so going 9 today just wondering though how she’s going to do it as can’t lie on tummy and only on side for few mins didn’t think to mention that so I’m hoping to have it done thank you so much really helps to know that you are both supporting me.

I think you are right princess the pain is so bad that it messes with your head, and it’s almost like ptsd I suppose once you are out the other side the thought of ever being there again is going to take a long time to shake of.

Yes! I feel like such a drama queen when I say this because I know ptsd is a real thing and I'm not trivialising when I compare this to that but it is like I've been through a trauma. My head is still adjusting. I feel shaken by it. I didn't know pain like this existed and the sheer length of time I was in that horrendous situation has definitely left me scared it will return. I almost don't trust my body. I will never ever stop being grateful that I don't live in pain every single moment. Just weeks ago I was in the same place you are and I was so scared that it was just never going to end. If anything I seemed to be getting worse. Terrifying to live with that every day. You are strong though, you will get through this.

How was the acupuncture? I felt nothing at all after my first session so don't panic if it doesn't seem to have done anything. It takes a while. Also i couldn't lay on my tummy at all, i had to lie on my side for a bit, then sat up gently which was agony but I could not stay in any position for more than a few minutes. Now after a few sessions I just lay on my side while he does it. Ask for a pillow or cushion between your legs if it helps. Just don't give up hope. Eventually your body will fix this... or there is surgery if desperate. This isn't forever.

Oh also my pee was really slow too! I mentioned it but they said as long as I wasn't peeing myself of didn't have numbness down there then it was ok but do keep your eye on it cos it can quickly progress to cauda equina which does need urgent surgery.

Hi, I did post a little at the beginning but lost the thread.

I had a discectomy on Wednesday, and apart from a sore spot where the back was cut open, the pain has gone! No leg pain at all. It's that much improved that I'm toying with the idea of going on a march on Sunday but know that's a silly idea really

I'm glad you're so much improved Princess without the need for surgical intervention, yay!

User I'm so sorry your partner's making life harder for you. My husband died a few years ago, and during my worst times when my leg would just give way I'd just sob into the dog's fur until I could get up off the floor. I'd prefer to be alone though than somebody there being awful to me, as your partner is to you.

Gabapentin can encourage suicidal thoughts (I spent quite a lot of time thinking about it and idly planning) so do be aware of that. Remember it's a side effect of the meds, not your true thoughts. Your partner needs to back off being awful to you, especially during this time.

Hi spam hope you continue with a good recovery what made you opt for surgery? How long have you been suffering? It is truly awful as princess says I definitely think I will be left with some sort of lasting trauma for a while when I’m recovered because it really is the worst pain I have ever experienced. Princess had my acupuncture 9 this morning then tried to walk around Sainsbury got 30 mins to get birthday card and cake for my little one i couldn’t walk leg was so numb so thankfully that was all we had to do. The acupuncturist was surprised how bad I was, I payed on my back with knees supported for one bit then I sat while she did my back she couldn’t insert a needle near the really painful bit in my back but went above and below it she then attached the needles to a tens machine which she controlled by what I could tolerate in certain areas one bit I nearly shot through ceiling So she turned it to the lowest,it was on the whole ok I’m seeing her again on Wednesday she said no way should I have been doing physio as area is much to tender and would definitely make the pain worse, I don’t feel any different yet but not expecting a miracle like you said have to be patient. Interesting that you had the wee thing too I’ve been worrying about that, I think all I have been through before and I have just picked myself up and carried on, but this seems to have changed me I feel like a total hypercondriac, think you just get so used to being in pain it’s like your body’s on ted alert, hope you are still feeling good princess and have a good weekend with your boys

Fantastic that your surgery was a success spam! Please take it steady and maybe rethink the plan to go on a march! I know keeping active is important but take time to recover. Brilliant that the leg pain is gone. I still have pain in the bum cheek every so often, it sort of tugs when I walk and if i sit for a while and go to stand up the shooting pain in my leg flares up for just a few seconds. Not sure if that's normal but it's so much better than when I first joined this thread. It was just constant and horrific (same as user is now :( ) So whilst my improvement isn't as dramatic as yours, I'm still making steady progress. It's a relief to hear a successful surgery story. It may still be on the cards for me if I relapse. I couldn't go through this again.

User, sounds very similar to my acupuncture sessions and the tens machine. My first session I was in such spasm I could only tolerate the lowest setting. He too said that a lot of the physio would just be too rough for me to do. He also said to avoid chiropractor or any manual adjustments that could destabilise the disc further and cause more harm. When I stopped doing physio and started just listening to my body, went to acupuncture once a week for 3 weeks and that's when the healing began. So he said only need to go every two weeks after that. The difference between my 3rd session (2 weeks ago) and my 4th session this week has been huge. No longer on crutches which is amazing. So will continue sessions every 2 weeks for a while until I feel (hopefully) fully better.

And you are definitely not a hypercondriac! Please don't think that. I have fallen 7 feet head first off a slide when I was younger onto solid concrete and fractured my skull, I fell off a bed and broke my arm as a teenager, I gave birth twice without pain relief in my 20s.... yet I would do any one of those things a hundred times over rather than go through what you are going through again. I've never ever known anything like this level of pain before. So debilitating and the fact that it just goes on and on. It's traumatic, it really is. I have been changed by it. Never think you are over exaggerating this. It's hell. I still can't explain to you the relief you will feel when it eventually eases. I literally feel like I have an appreciation for everything now. Earlier I was stood in a shop waiting in a queue. I had two items in my hand. A woman in front of me had an enormous trolley full of stuff, looked at me and ignored me and carried on loading her shopping. Ordinarily I'd be thinking how rude not to offer to let me go in front if her (i always let people go in front of me!!) But today I just smiled to myself because I didn't care. I didn't care that I had to wait. Because I wasn't in pain waiting. I could have stood there for an hour and still been grateful for not being in pain! So whilst I'm terrified the pain might come back, it's definitely made me more patient with people and appreciate even shitty things like standing in a queue! 😂

Morning

User I opted for surgery because it's been roughly one year since the sciatic pain came on (very suddenly) and nothing had worked. Even though I was on a ridiculous amount of gabapentin and other painkillers, the pain was going nowhere. It did move around a lot before it settled, in the first few months, and that time was the most painful. Also I'm nearly 50, and my back had a fair bit of degeneration, spurs etc.

Post op pain is an absolute breeze compared to the horrific
nerve pain and all I've taken is a couple of ibuprofen for the muscle trauma. I guess one becomes quite stoic to pain after experiencing chronic sciatica.
I did start a thread last year about just the same thing (sciatica) and several posters got better without the need for surgical intervention. Acupuncture seemed to yield good results. I can't find it to link to though.

I know what you mean about seeing the world again Princess, I went for a short walk with my dog yesterday, and I left my stick at home - I carried that stick every day for a year and would not have been able to walk without it. It was a very sweet moment. Next stop pilates to get my core stronger so this never happens again.

My god a year of sciatica 😱 You're amazing haha. I honestly would have had surgery on 30th December if things hadn't improved so dramatically. It was just agony and I couldn't have stood it for any longer, 5 months of non stop indescribable pain was more than enough!

I'm so happy you have had such good results! You must feel amazing after a year of it. Good luck with the recovery. It sounds like it is all going smoothly. I agree with the being stoic about pain after this. No matter what aches and pains I may feel nothing compares to sciatica.

Take it steady with pilates when you do feel ready. I still feel a bit tender for anything like that but each day brings improvements.

Omg spam a year no wonder you went for surgery hope you are still doing well. I just never knew this level of pain existed, got through my little ones birthday and party yesterday, so lots going on I took everything I could and managed to get through it, just not the same as enjoying the day with them but hopefully soon this will be easier and the trauma of this time will fade, yes princess it certainly is trauma, thank you for the support I really need to hear from you and localhero makes me feel more positive, so pleased spam is out the other side of all that pain for year don’t want an op though so I’m really hoping I can see some improvement soon have more acupuncture on Wednesday. I’m hoping I’m going to get to that stage princess that you did were you started to have some easing of the pain I’m definitely walking better so maybe there is some improvement but because I am so wrapped up in the pain cycle I haven’t noticed. Wow princess fractured skull, makes this seem minor doesn’t it, but unless you have experienced it you would never believe this could be so consuming

Exactly User, the level of pain is absolutely the worst. I honestly thought I had a decent pain threshold being able to give birth naturally and go through broken bones, fractured skull etc... but this has been like nothing I can describe. It's beyond just regular pain.

I too am keen to avoid surgery but I wouldn't rule it out. I honestly would do anything to have got out of the agony. It's just good luck that the improvements started to happen so rapidly. I am now scared to come off the gabapentin and stop going to accupuncture because I don't know if I still need them or whether the improvements are mine to keep!

Anyway, just to give you more hope User, today I took the boys swimming. Last time I went swimming it did nothing at all to relieve the pain and in fact seemed to make the leg spasms worse. Today was great. I managed to swim (slowly!) A few laps and play ball with the kids etc. Just resting now as a precaution but not in any pain. Only pain I really felt was sitting in the changing room leaning forward to fasten my shoes. That really hurt and in hindsight I maybe should have stood up and lifted my leg on to bench to put shoes on instead of leaning forwards. Live and learn!

That’s so brilliant taking them swimming I’m soooo jealous haha, hope your ok today though especially the bending down putting your shoes on god that made me cringe, can lean far enough forward to see my toes not the whole of my feet 😅 had the worst night last night couldn’t sleep for more than two hours, it’s so disheartening when you have a couple of nights that your more comfortable, then that’s gone again and your back to walking around in middle of night because you can’t lay back down. Did you have nights like that princess? Really hoping you have come out of the worst, but yes I would be nervous about stopping the drugs have to admit last night I thought next consultant appointment I’m going to go ahead with the spinal injections as he suggested them before anything else but I wanted to try the physio acupuncture route, just hate having anything done but this pain has toughened me up in that sense as I just can’t imaging this going on for many more weeks without me cracking. Don’t know how spam lasted a year with this pain, hope your still doing ok spam let us know and by yourself as well thank goodness for the dog bless you. Localhero how are you feeling any tips for a position to sleep in I would give a go think I have tried all but if anyone’s got any suggestions greatly appreciate them haven’t tried lying down my little ones slide yet but have thought about it as looks a good angle thought head first someone holding my feet at top desperate thoughts when your looking out of your bedroom window at 1am 🙃

Yes I was often like that User. I'd have an evening where I was (somewhat) comfortable though still in pain, then I'd go to bed and it would suddenly flare up and I couldn't get it comfy no matter what. I'd end up on all fours or pacing about with an icepack. Then the next day i would have a really horrendous evening but manage to get in comfy-ish for a couple of hours. There was no rhyme or reason to it. I'd have a week or so of managing ok ish at night on the sofa, then back to pacing aroind. I have to say I never managed to sleep for more than 2 hours in one stretch for the whole 5 months. Sometimes i would wake after 2 hours and be able to go back to sleep for another couple of hours, other nights I'd be pacing or on all fours crying on the floor!

Eventually it got so I'd have 2 or 3 decent nights then a really bad one, then gradually the bad ones got less bad, til the bad ones were only as bad as the 'good' ones if that makes sense? There was no brilliant nights and no magic fix or miracle advice I can give you. Just time I'm afraid.

How is everyone else doing? How you feeling spam? I would be really interested to hear about your recovery after surgery.

I am still feeling ok today. Bit of tightness along the bottom of my back but I did the weekly shopping earlier and probably lifting the grocery bags was a bit much. Hard to know sometimes where the line is. Recovery is up and down I guess and got to learn what I can and can't do for now. But each day I seem to be getting a bit less nerve pain. It sometimes shoots into my leg and foot but doesn't seem to stay for more than a few seconds. Then I feel fine again. Sitting here in no pain at all is amazing!

Hello All
Sorry been quiet for a few days. I saw my consultant last week and just been mulling things over. Basically he was a bit concerned that I still can't lift my toes up on my left foot and explained that the nerve root is like an onion with muscles being controlled by the inner rings. So it still means that the herniation is bad (no shit!). He suggested a few things 1) up gabapentin to 1800mg/day and wait and see 2) 1 + different type of epidural - a nerve block and 3) a referral to a neurosurgeon. I was and still am keen to avoid surgery so thought I'd wait to see my physio today and talk with her. She too is worried about the muscle problems although she said the strength isn't bad but my whole body is still shifted over to the right (away from the pain) and that's not gradually straightening as it should. So she recommended seeing a Surgeon. We are lucky enough to have BUPA through DH's work so I know I can see someone quickly. But it's a lot to process. I am in a lot of pain most days with some days being better than others but today feels quite bad. Anyways I have called someone and left a message so hopefully will see them soon. They may well say wait and see or want to do the nerve block so not necessarily going straight to surgery.
The lack of sleep really is debilitating - it saps all your mental and physical energy. I too have a decent pain threshold but this just doesn't stop. My calf feels like a cramped up wooden leg with a screwdriver being screwed into the outside of my calf. Thank God I've found a comfy position on the sofa so I can at least observe family life going on around me. In terms of sleeping my fave position is on my side with the full body pillow between my ankles, knees and cuddling it in front of me. An alternative is on my back with a double height pillow under my thighs/knees.
So pleased you went swimming Princess. I love swimming and really miss it. We also have a big trip to Australia for my nieces wedding this summer so I must get better for that!
Good luck User - can you remind me why your GP said no to gabapentin as you might find it really helps!!
Spam - hope your recuperation is going well. I may need to pick your brains about it!

User - this is my pillow but you can get much better ones!!

Body Pillow 19x60+ Free Pillow Case by Softouch https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007A4AJVE/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_zJxhEb4A6X6F7

Localhero Doctor said no to Gabapentin because I have had very serious pneumonia plus’s I have on going bowel problems that I’m under specialist for so it makes taking lots of drugs difficult, he did prescribe it for me have it already but had to talk to him on phone, they are Terrible at my doctors now there’s only 4 left for thousands of patients so phone calls are the norm. He said he would rather I didn’t but if I get desperate to call and he will do another phone consultation so as you can imagine I have been trying not to go down that route but not sure how much longer I can manage on ibuprofen paracetamol and diazepam I think that’s why I don’t get a break from the pain because they just area strong enough 😩 yours sounds complicated at the moment I hope your physio has some advice have you tried acupuncture princess told me about it have my 2nd one tomorrow it’s worth a try I’m definitely walking better even if pain is the same, it’s shattering though isn’t it.
Princess your nights are were exactly like mine are now, phew giving me so much hope, I used to hate the food shop, can’t wait now to do all of my boring everyday jobs again, will never take it for granted again I do know that can imagine the freedom I miss so much, I had a better night last night only up once with the spasms for an hour, like you say there is no rhyme or reason. Hope spam is doing ok

Interesting hearing the nerve compared to the rings if an onion LocalHer0, never heard that before but it makes sense.

I couldn't stand on my tip toes on my right foot, muscle weakness in feet and toes, I had numbness in side of foot, then pins and needles all up calf, raging pain all the time in butt and thigh down into foot sometimes. Now as time has gone on I can stand on my tip toes and no numbness or tingling, gradually receded up my leg til i just had the pain in butt and thigh... then pain gradually reduced, very slowly. Even now if I move wrong or when I go from sitting to standing is horrible. Thankfully it lasts less than a minute and I can just about limp around to walk it off... then I'm fine . I have no idea why that is. I will mention all of it to my consultant at the end of the month. It's weird, I can sit here perfectly fine, I can walk around fine, I can lay and be comfy, but trying to get up is horrible! Compared to how my life was I am trying to not dwell on it too much but I am curious as to what is going on inside. I still can't bend forwards and touch my toes without horrific pain down my leg. I'm assuming the herniation is still there but hopefully it has just shrank away from pressing on the nerve all the time...but without another MRI I don't really know. All I know is after 5 months I am so happy to be functioning again.

User it's good that you had a better night's sleep. Isn't it sad that a 'good' night to us is only awake with spasms for an hour. I thought the same thing. A couple of 2 hour naps and that was a 'good' night. I'm so glad it's not like that now. I can sleep for about 4 or 5 hour stretches now before I wake up because I've moved wrong or the pillow I put between my legs has dropped on to the floor, i still need that pillow! So my nights are not exactly brilliant but soooo much better than they were!

Localher0, are you bent forward at all or just shifted to the side? Are you managing to walk much at all? It is shit isn't it? I got told same thing by physio and doctor that surgery was next option and it still might be in the future but I'm hoping to avoid it if i can. Gosh I still can't imagine a flight to Australia right now! Let's hope we are all better by summer and can get on with our lives!

How are you doing localhero? And spam. Princess sounds like you are really on the mend I really hope it continues and you don’t have any setbacks, it must feel so good to get your independence back. I have just had my second acupuncture and I have to say I’m in bloody agony felt really numb after the first one with some discomfort but seems to have gone up a notch this time 😩 can’t bare the thought of bed, but had such a bad night last night I’m knackered feels like a constant rollercoaster of emotions just can’t imagine being without this pain, so really hope everyone’s doing better than me tonight.

Oh User you sound in a really bad way. I honestly would give the gabapentin a go. Tell your GP you're absolutely fucking desperate. Because you ARE!! I was given 100mg tablets to begin with so I started on just x3 a day then after about 3 days started upping the dose - but really slowly and always starting at night. Now I am on 1600 mg per day and have tolerated it really well. My GP & consultant think this is because I did it so slowly. And of course you have to be on the dosage floor a week or two before you feel the full benefit.
I am seeing neurosurgeon tomorrow so will update you all when I more news.......
Until then hugs to all. Xx

Localhero I’m feeling pretty desperate just hoping maybe because of the stimulation this is a normal reaction only my second one so maybe it’s to be expected I just didn’t expect to be that bad feels easier today though thank god. Yes I’m seriously considering the Gabapentin just doctor said not keen for me to have it so trying to hold of. Let us know how you get on tomorrow

LocalHer0 please let us know what the neurosurgeon says. Good luck.

Oh User, how are you doing tonight? Honestly I agree with Local that Gabapentin has to be worth a go. I was exactly the same, just a rollercoaster of emotions, mainly sadness and desperation mixed with a hell of a lot of fear and just trying to find a miracle. I started gabapentin more or less same as Localher0 just 100mg three times a day for a week which did absolutely nothing, was monitored after a week to check for side effects but everything was fine, then gradually told to up my dose til I was on 600mg 3 times a day (they only make the tablets in 100 or 300mg apparently but basically i got up to taking two 300mg tablets 3 times a day pluss 1000mg of naproxen) and that is when the pain became bearable...then I started acupuncture and it started to ease more rapidly after the 2nd or 3rd session. I am now down to taking 400mg of gabapentin 3 times a day and no naproxen at all. As I've said I have no idea if it was just the gabapentin, just the acupuncture or just time and general healing but it seemed to all come together and my life slowly started to come back. So please, please don't give up.

The past 2 days I have been more or less pain free. I have had a hand full of twinges down my leg and in my foot but nothing at all to complain about. I've been able to get out and about as normal. It's been amazing and I am not bragging at all when I am telling you this, just trying to give you hope that your life isn't over!

Forgot to say as i am now on 400mg of gabapentin 3 times a day (300mg tablet and 100mg tablet) I am from tomorrow cutting out the 100mg tablets so will be down to 300mg 3 times a day with a view to phasing it put altogether over the next few weeks. Eeeek. That's a bit scary to me but hoping it'll not make too much difference to pain now... we will see!

Hi, my partner has the same problem as you and has been the same for 10 years. He had a mri back in August 2019 and was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in his spine. He also has sciatica in his legs and his legs give way(although this hasn't been confirmed by doctor but doctor is referring him for scans)

I recommended you go and get this checked again. Hope this helps