Sciatica - so worried about my DH

[BG2015]

My DH has always suffered with a bad back (he's 55) he works in construction so a manual job.

6 yrs ago he ended up with sciatica after a visit with a chiropractor (not sure if it's linked but it started after that )

It took him 10 months (didn't work at all during that time) for anyone to take him seriously- they gave him physio and drugs until eventually he went to A and E and had an MRI and they said sciatica (we had been saying this for months) they doctor referred him to a specialist and bingo!

He had a cortisone injection in his spine and for the past 5 years he's been great. No issues with the nerve in his leg, ankle, bum.

Last week he felt his back go, battled on at work but was sent home. He is now bedridden - he's struggling to get to the toilet and can't put his socks on, walking is agony. The sciatica is worse than ever.

GP won't see him, spine to a nurse on the phone who prescribed naproxen and omeprazole - neither have which have done anything. They've suggested physio which he's refused.

His referral has been rejected. He's in agony and I'm so worried.

Last year he had a kidney removed as it was cancerous. Praying it's not linked,

We just don't know what to do and it's so frustrating

If it’s a phone GP appointment write bullet points for him and put the note in front of him so he doesn’t forget to mention he has had cancer etc. You do forget things once the GP starts telling you stuff and controlling the conversation.

I’ve had my back ‘go’ twice. I’ve come to the conclusion that the hospital physios I went to use exercise to strengthen muscles round the affected one to keep it in place.

However as it’s still out of place at the start of the treatment I was in agony and it just lengthened the recovery time.

A better move I found was a private chiropractor, however in your husbands case perhaps an osteopath would be better. They can put the muscles back where they should be instantly. THEN you go to nhs physio to strengthen the muscles to keep them where they should be (core exercises etc).

I have no idea why chiros and osteos are considered inappropriate for the nhs as they make such a big improvement to pain instantly. Acupuncture is starting to be considered by the nhs for some things in Scotland where I am, and I am usually it’s biggest fan, however it didn’t help my back as the muscles were in the wrong places and that needed fixed.

Your husband may have to accept that a manual heavy lifting job is no longer the job for him. Or at the bare minimum investigate a weight lifters belt to see if that may help.

He rang 111 this morning who managed to get him a telephone consultation with a doctor.

He's now been prescribed diazepam and co-codomol.

The doctor asked him loads of questions and is referring him for another injection.

His results from a recent MRI scan show the cancer hadn't spread.

That’s good news about the MRI 👍 hopefully those meds will help him get up and start moving around a bit more, it really does help to move if he feels able.

My DH had sciatica in Feb. He was in such agony, he couldn't walk, lie down, sleep in bed or work. Could only sleep sort of half-sitting in a corner of a sofa. Pain only subsided after 5 diclofenac and 5 vit B (bilirubin) injections, done on alternate days. This was done privately, NHS did not even entertain this, although, I have asked and begged (after thorough research!).
Have been to lots of physio privately, NHS physio was only over the phone, so after 3 such 'appointments', he refused to even answer the phone.
He has been diagnosed with bulging disc and referred to specialist for bone-graft (or scrapping, sorry, not sure), but is reluctant. Will be seeing v good osteopath (recommended) next week, hoping it will be sorted.
DH does his exercises every day now. Still not back at work.

@JFCO

My DH had sciatica in Feb. He was in such agony, he couldn't walk, lie down, sleep in bed or work. Could only sleep sort of half-sitting in a corner of a sofa. Pain only subsided after 5 diclofenac and 5 vit B (bilirubin) injections, done on alternate days. This was done privately, NHS did not even entertain this, although, I have asked and begged (after thorough research!). Have been to lots of physio privately, NHS physio was only over the phone, so after 3 such 'appointments', he refused to even answer the phone. He has been diagnosed with bulging disc and referred to specialist for bone-graft (or scrapping, sorry, not sure), but is reluctant. Will be seeing v good osteopath (recommended) next week, hoping it will be sorted. DH does his exercises every day now. Still not back at work.

My DH has a bulging disc too!

Hoping the diazepam give him some relief. It took him 45 minutes last night to get into bed and get comfortable.

My son had a problem like this with his back . He paid privately to go to a sports physio and his back was much better after only 2 sessions.
He had already tried a chiropractor with no effect. Definitely try a sports physio.

@JFCO surgery is life changing. I mean mine wasn't optional due to the cauda equina but they said with the size of the herniation it wasn't healing without surgery anyway
I was walking an hour after with no leg pain and that was with a 5hr op

I had sciatica in my lower back/bum/leg when pregnant with my son. It lasted until he was about 1 then decided I needed to do something about it and I struggled to even bend down, nevermind carry him! I went to a chiropractor and saw them once a week for several months and now my back is perfect. Don't go anymore but he's nearly 8 now and have no problems anymore.

This was the only thing that helped me to get rid of the problem. Doctors, drugs, physio didn't help.