Sciatica experiences

[SabrinaTheMiddleAgedBitch]

At least I think sciatica. Had one day of pain down my leg then mainly numbness/pins and needles with very sore, bruised feeling buttock. Visited gp due to weakness and numbness in legs who didn't seem especially interested just said it was probably a trapped nerve that would resolve with time. Was put on amitriptyline.

Three weeks on things are improving massively but the pins and needles are still lingering. Is it normal with a trapped nerve for these things to hang around for a long time?

As well as exercises online to stretch and tone glutes and core, order a small spiky massage ball and lie over it massaging glutes/lower back. Can really get into the pressure points. I use it for stiff upper back neck too. They are very cheap online or TKmaxx.

@110APiccadilly what did Pain Management advise? I have seen a Pain Management person privately and he wants to do diagnostic nerve block injections into my back, in fact he says thats the only option :-(

I am still convinced its my hip joint as it feels so local to that area but have had a x-ray & MRI and they says its fine.

I'm really sporty, not overweight and flexible. Haven't been able to exercise for 3 months and it's really doing my head in. Honestly feel close to having a breakdown at times because the pain is so constant and relentless.

I can get lower back pain, but not always. I get pain in my buttock and calf.

Stormdenis, don't discount the nerve block. If it's an irritated nerve, it might well settle after just one nerve block. I had a spinal for a gynae op, and it totally got rid of really bad sciatica.

@picklemewalnuts thanks. I expect it's what I will have to do as I have no other options and as you say it might reset things. My doubt just comes from the fact my symptoms aren't classic sciatica alone. I have the classic throbbing in my glute and around my thigh but also hip and groin…it moves about but nevertheless less it's constant. I wish it was more definitive. It does feel like nerve pain though.

@Stormdennis They mostly gave me painkillers so I ended up on cocodamol (sp?) and Gabapentin to manage the pain short term while I went through physio treatment (plus various things to manage the side effects of the painkillers). I also had oral morphine which I was told I could take before/ during physio sessions if I needed it but I always managed without it - wasn't overly keen to start taking it if I'm honest.

I've not been offered a nerve block so can't comment on that at all. I would really advise speaking to a physio though - I've had more long-term help from them than anyone else.

@110APiccadilly I've had gabapentin but it made me feel so out of it & didn't help the pain so came off it. I may not have been on a strong enough dosage (do you mind me asking if it worked for you and what dosage you were on?). I've been to the physio quite a few times but they say my back feels strong and I am not showing any obvious signs of sciatica etc. as I am flexible and manipulation doesn't cause any reaction at the time. Walking and stretching kills me afterwards. I fear the Pain Consultant is just reverting to what they know best … nerve blocks.