Sciatica down both legs

[11hairylegs]

Hi lovely mn peeps, I’ve had a bad back for years (mostly from dealing with a child with sn, not sure how relevant that is!) but the sciatica has got so much worse in the past few months and spread down both legs. it’s just not improving though. I’m already on tramadol but I hate taking it every day.
At what point do I seek help or do you know of anything that might help please?
Thank you!

My DH had this. It took a good nine months to get better with Physio. The thing that eased it for him was exercise.

Ah yes a physio, forgot about them! I used to see one in pain management. I’ll ask to get re-referred. Thank you.

Are you sure that it's sciatica and not sacroiliac (SI) joint issues which are common for women after childbirth. Pain down the back of your legs similar to sciatica is a common symptom for sacroiliac joint issues. PT exercises are slightly different for sacroiliac and sciatica.

I always found swimming, acupuncture and TENS machine helped mine.

@SofiaAmes I’m pretty sure. My dc is 17 apart from anything else, unless you can get it later on?
I have pain in my low back, particularly is your press on it. I also have pain radiating across my bum and the worst is down the thighs. I also have pins and needles.
Great suggestions, thank you.

You definitely get it later on as you head into perimenopause. The symptoms you are describing are classic SI. When I first got it my gp diagnosed hip issues and sent me to a specialist who said, not hip and not sciatica, but rather SI. Here's an American website with some information. I'm sure there are good NICE guidelines too.
I found that hormone replacement helped a lot (more than the PT).

That’s really interesting and certainly it sounds plausible. I had no idea anyone more than a year post birth could have it.
I’ll get it checked out, thank you.

@11hairylegs did your sciatica go