Help please, sciatica and amitriptyline

[Pixie1771]

Hi, hoping I can get some help...been having crippling sciatica for 6 months now . Have tried numerous pills etc and had a spinal nerve block last week (hasn't worked)
Most days I can't get out of bed, the pain is literally horrific.
Just been put on amitriptyline....started really low 5mg a night, got the usual dry mouth and sleepy etc.
Has anyone had a good response for sciatica on amitriptyline? I just need some hope as I honestly can't go on like this. Desperate.
Hoping someone can give me some reason to carry on. Thanks

It's good to rant....all I seem to do is rant, moan and cry.
I feel for you. Its the pits. I got quite a quick mri on nhs as my consultant kept eye out for referral and then pushed it through as urgent. As stated up thread when I first met him I dissolved into tears after hobbling along corridor. I would def call the consultant you saw and ask if he can help quicken your mri as you are in agony. Speak to his secretary.
I hope you have read the thread in full as there are a lot of pointers how to get things done. I chase, chase, chase and when I'm in too much agony my mum, bless her, calls the secretary.
Last couple days have been bit better but today wanted to test the brakes on an old bike we are selling. Literally 5 pedals round and wow it got worse again. Literally anything makes it worse. Waiting for second nerve block now.
If you read up thread you will see the path I have been on and the next steps etc.
Unless you have had this.....you wouldn't know what pain is. I wish people could have it fir 5 mins just to see!!!
I need to.lose a bit of weight as I am sure thst would help but what chance us there....I can barely move most days

@Pixie1771

I have read the full thread yes! I like you keep chasing and chasing as every day spent in agony is a day lost from our lives.

My daughter is 16 in two weeks. We have an amazing lodge booked in the lakes with friends, but of course it is now ruined.

Honestly it is a pain like no other that truly makes you think you are dying. It is almost like a taboo subject because as soon as you mention back pain people kind of give you a look I can't explain. It's almost as though they just do not believe you. At the first A&E they made me feel ashamed for taking up their time with my trivia.

Do not get on the bike again or do one single thing that may trigger it. Get better first.

Agreed! Everyone in the medical profession should get it at least once for five mins!

Yes you say I have sciatica and they smile as if you've got a bit of a sprained muscle. Most of my pain is the sciatica, the back pain is minimal.
I know how you feel about every day lost, its awful and then you look at all the able bodied people running about doing their daily lives and it grates. You think why me.
Sorry about your hols...its the same for me...can't plan anything , its my 50th Thursday and can't do anything. People keep asking me what I want...the truth is I just want to feel better.
The bike thing was silly , I just needed to test it before selling it, was literally 10 seconds...but no, I'm not even allowed to do that these days.
Honestly it gets you so down.
At least I'm not in bed at the moment, I'm managing to do a few things so at least grateful for that but it's no life!

I am 52 and I've developed a hatred for people I see jogging (not that I can even see those anymore as now bed bound) as it makes me so jealous. I see 60 plus year old men and women actually running!! What the hell! I have to take 5 mins to consider how I lift 6 pints of milk.

After my first A&E trip I was so 😡 I wanted to take back every clap I'd given the NHS. Two nurses looked at each other on the desk and if I could have jumped the desk I'd have banged their heads together. It was the look that said "you've come to an EMERGENCY dept with backache"???? It's not the back that hurts it's the sciatica the back has caused.

If someone knocked on my door with a syringe of heroin tonight and told me it would stop the pain I'd take it.

I now understand why they have all these "We will not tolerate abuse" in A&E departments. They just have no idea what it is really like to suffer the agony of nerve related pain. I have to be honest the staff at the second A&E were wonderful. Interestingly enough though, both the doctor and nurse had experienced it themselves. Unless you've had it, you can't get to grips with the horror!!!

Yes its truly horrific. I'm literally on the verge of giving up. Thought the amitriptyline was working a bit but the slightest thing has set it off again (the bike for all of 7 seconds) so it can't be working much. Last night I forgot to take them, I normally take the about 7, but I remembered at 10, very late and now I'm like a zombie this morning. The pain is not good at all today either so another day of hell.
My husband is supportive but I think sometimes he thinks come on put your best foot forward but you literally can't . He had it once many years ago, a one off, for a few weeks and still went to work doing a physical job.....in my view there is no way he could do that if he had it like this. No way!!
And I get fed up with people saying try physio, pilates, stretches etc.. .NO I CANT!!!!
No one fully understands and never will. This is the worst pain I have had in all my life. I'm still in bed st the moment, trying to pluck up courage to get moving.....
I haven't got a life.
Will give it anothercweek then I will start chasing my next spinal block.....I swear the consultant secretary gets bugged by my incessant emails and calls....I suspect she's never had sciatica!!!!

How you getting on OP?

I'm better, it's not gone and it's still there, but its more bearable. I can get up, go in the car(not drive), and potter about. Not sure if it's the amitriptyline working to some degree or just one of those times when it's naturally easier. Time will tell. I have.my 2nd root block on 6 August. Its terrifying to think this has been going on since Jan. Thanks for asking.

Hi, I am considering surgery due to a herniated disc at L4/L5. Would love to know your thoughts on it :-)