Is this sciatica?

[CrocodileFrog]

For a few months I‘ve had a stabbing pain in my left bum cheek. It comes and goes but can be very painful. It can be weeks with nothing then returns- I can’t identify a pattern as to what is causing it.

A month ago my left foot and lower leg started to feel tingly and numb. It was constant for about 10 days but now is just occasional.

And now for the past 5 nights I have woken in the early hours with agonising lower back pain. I can barely move and can’t go back to sleep. By the time I get up it has eased, and it is fine in the day time.

Writing this out, I should probably see my GP! Life has been a bit hectic and I generally avoid the GP unless I absolutely have to go. Just wondered if anyone has any tips or experience to share

Yes, it certainly sounds like sciatica. I'd go straight to an osteopath if you can afford to, or get a physio referral from the GP. Don't leave it though - there is a rare but serious complication that can occur, so please get yourself checked.

I Have a very similar.
Apart from having a cracked skin inside my bum cheeks ( see my thread) I also think I got another thing going as my left cheek hurt anytime I stand up from sitting down or laying down. I originally thought the pain is cos of the cracked skin however
I saw nurse yesterday about the skin problem and she said no way I would be in such bad pain I’m now.
To describe it anytime I sit down and then I stand up my I got this very strong shooting pain inside my bum cheeks, it’s more in the left side in the middle. I actually have to breath it through as it’s as such strong pain.
Even sitting down hurts or laying in bed, I can’t sit up, I have to roll down from the bed.
I am fit, slim, walk daily 7/8 miles but this is so sore. Ibuprofen helps for some time but it comes back after.

This sounds like me a few yrs ago! I tried absolutely everything and most things made the pain worse or about the same. However I came across Prof Stuart McGill after tons of research. He has worked with elite athletes and governments. His book Back Mechanic has a roadmap and plan for patients to heal. Also, as a side note, from my research you should avoid surgery and spinal injections at all costs unless you have a medical emergency (which is rare).

make sure to Google backfitpro.com as it has a lot of information. Just rest assured that back pain heals conservatively in the vast vast vast majority of cases, even for most patients told that surgery is their only option by doctors who don’t know any better.

feel free to reach out with any questions

I wish you the very best and good health