Sciatica

[Oysterbabe]

I think I have sciatica. For about 6 weeks I've had severe pain in my hip that wakes me up at 4am every day and I'm tossing and turning from then, impossible to find a position which isn't agony. Once I get up, walk around and take painkillers it eases but I have a dull pain all day and pins and needles in my whole leg virtually all the time. It's driving me insane and I'm exhausted. I haven't made a GP appointment until now as I thought there wasn't much they could do and the recorded message when you call pretty much says
Unless you are nearly dead, get lost.
I have now made an appointment for Friday as I think my husband is about to banish me to the sofa. Will they actually be able to do anything? Are they likely to offer me any decent drugs? I need to do something as I don't seem to be able to function at work anymore because of pain and exhaustion.

You need to stretch it out. The nerves being nipped somewhere in your back. That's better than just taking painkillers and putting up with it. You would be better with a physio showing you how to do it.

I use Davina's 7 minute fit stretching routine for mine. Hurts a lot but it does the job usually.

How old is your mattress? Might be something as simple as needing a new one.

I take pregabalin for sciatica, it's the only thing that's ever helped. I get it down my legs.

Deep freeze gel from the chemist is really good for this I'd defnitely recommend. It doesn't stop the pain but it does relieve it abit. It's in the blue tube.

I hope you feel better 💐

I thought I had sciatica, doctor sent me straight to physio via phone call and they've diagnosed bursitis in my hip.
Got exercises and they've said steroid injection if no better.

Yes drs will help first port of call will be naproxen and physio. Physio said if it. Its not better within 6-8 weeks it's unlikely to be self limiting.

Then it might be amitriptyline /mri but I had to wait 8 months for this.

Take ibuprofen and co codamol in the meantime. Heat works so try a curaheat pack or a hot water bottle . Or ice pack instead.

Thanks everyone. I'll look at some stretches.

In desperation I took some Zapain last night that we had lying around from when DH had a back problem and I did manage to get some sleep at least. I know taking someone else's prescribed medicine is not a great idea but desperate times.

Voltarol gel has some relief for me and hot/cold treatment so ice packs & hot water bottles or heated pads are good.
Hope you're get some relief soon

i've had a sore hip for at least 18 months, tried physio, sports massages, acupuncture, stretching, not stretching, resorted to taking post-surgical pain killers i had left over one day......but the thing that's made the most difference has been sleeping with a pillow between my knees!

Maybe also try yoga?

The GP was very understanding and sympathetic today. She suggested yoga and recommended a knee pillow for sleeping.
She's also prescribed amitriptyline and will refer me to their musculoskeletal clinic if there's no improvement in a month.

I'm posting this link from another Mumsnet thread: www.spine-health.com/wellness/exercise/stretches-and-exercise-sciatic-pain-piriformis-syndrome

Hope it helps!

A TENS machine works really well. I have been using on for my sciatica for the last 10 months.

@Oysterbabe, sorry to bring the tone of the thread down, but if you're prone to constipation, make sure you are taking some form of laxative as codeine is known for causing problems in that department!
Amytriptyline is good for helping me with hip pain, so I hope it helps you too. I started off with 10mg but now take 50mg as I have other issues causing pain too.