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Original poster

Sciatica hell. What might help?

437 replies

tattoonewbie · 25/02/2025 19:57

I saw the e chiropractor last week and he diagnosed trapped nerve in three places Pain is in my bum, spreads down my leg and currently my outer lower leg is throbbing and my foot is fizzing.
I cannot get comfy. Back at chiro on Thursday but it's worsening. I've got GP tomorrow and will ask for some pain relief as it's awful. I've done my exercises tonight and it feels even worse.
It's so horrible. Just relentless.
Has anyone any top tips ? Please. I'm so miserable and can't see me being able to drive tomorrow to work. I can WFH but even the thought of sitting is making me want to cry. Sorry to sound pathetic.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
Topjoe19 · 06/05/2025 20:18

Try not to worry (easier said than done I know!). Glad you got the cancellation though, once you know what's wrong you can make a plan to start feeling better.

Original poster
tattoonewbie · 06/05/2025 20:41

I slept all afternoon after taking my muscle relaxant and Am uncomfortable again now so need to take more meds and hope I sleep tonight. Had horrendous heartburn / chest pain last night as forgot to take my antacid thing. Omeprazole. I know it's not an antacid but you know what I mean !

OP posts:
Maggieb90 · 06/05/2025 21:50

Hope you get some sleep x just read you had your MRI, so pleased you didn't have to wait any longer, a step nearer to helping you choose the best treatment, once you know. Xx

Original poster
tattoonewbie · 07/05/2025 05:08

Awake on the sofa again. Ddog woke at 3 and head butted me by accident but it took my mind off my keg fleetingly when I was seeing stars and had a sore nose !

OP posts:
justasking111 · 07/05/2025 08:49

tattoonewbie · 07/05/2025 05:08

Awake on the sofa again. Ddog woke at 3 and head butted me by accident but it took my mind off my keg fleetingly when I was seeing stars and had a sore nose !

We've a young Labrador who bounces like Tigger in the morning on the bed she's excited for a walk. I've been hurt a few times.

Had a bad night. Husband bought out a recliner garden chair. I used it for the first time yesterday in the garden. Dozed off. OH the pain yesterday evening. My toes were clawing and twisting. Definitely trapped the nerves. Just taken my pills will be very careful today moving around.

Original poster
tattoonewbie · 07/05/2025 09:27

I'm finally off sick now but the guilt is overwhelming and I'm thinking if I can maybe do reduced hours or work from bed I slept all afternoon yesterday though! Tried to fold some small washing items (t shirts ) and it screamed at me.
Garden chair was tricksy, making you think it was comfy @justasking111 😬

OP posts:
justasking111 · 07/05/2025 10:22

Stay on the sick until you've spoken to the consultant if possible.

HollaHolla · 07/05/2025 14:34

Oh bless you. I couldn't read and run.
I've had constant sciatica for 12 years now. I have had 4 surgeries on my back (but don't take that as the norm, I've been unlucky!), but it's not the cure all, so do undertake any conservative measures first.
I would say that the best medicine - other than the screws and wire in my back to stabilise it now - has been the combination of consistent Pilates, Physio, and a good drug combo (pregabalin, oxycodone, naproxen & paracetamol, for me. Gabapentin made me mental; pregabalin is the next step for nerve painkilling, but is more expensive, so it's not their first line of prescribing.)
No matter how painful it is, doing the 10 mins Pilates every morning/evening is the game changer. I notice if I go a couple of days without it. My advice would be to find an excellent instructor, and do some 1:1 with them, and take it from there.
Both my Neurosurgeons have said DO NOT let a chiro, osteopath, or orthopedic surgeon near my back. They need to manage this quite conservatively. I won't give you my saga, as it's not the usual, but getting on top of it, and staying on top of it, has to be the approach. Good luck!

justasking111 · 07/05/2025 14:42

@HollaHolla I listened to a podcast last week. Mel Gibson who has all the money in the world and scoliosis suffers he's avoided surgery for the reasons that there's no going back and it's not a cure all.

I have scoliosis, sciatica my consultant surgeon is still anti surgery it's a last resort he says

lovegoodlovegood · 07/05/2025 15:48

HollaHolla · 07/05/2025 14:34

Oh bless you. I couldn't read and run.
I've had constant sciatica for 12 years now. I have had 4 surgeries on my back (but don't take that as the norm, I've been unlucky!), but it's not the cure all, so do undertake any conservative measures first.
I would say that the best medicine - other than the screws and wire in my back to stabilise it now - has been the combination of consistent Pilates, Physio, and a good drug combo (pregabalin, oxycodone, naproxen & paracetamol, for me. Gabapentin made me mental; pregabalin is the next step for nerve painkilling, but is more expensive, so it's not their first line of prescribing.)
No matter how painful it is, doing the 10 mins Pilates every morning/evening is the game changer. I notice if I go a couple of days without it. My advice would be to find an excellent instructor, and do some 1:1 with them, and take it from there.
Both my Neurosurgeons have said DO NOT let a chiro, osteopath, or orthopedic surgeon near my back. They need to manage this quite conservatively. I won't give you my saga, as it's not the usual, but getting on top of it, and staying on top of it, has to be the approach. Good luck!

Yep, they referred me to ortho to start who took one look at my scan and ran away thankfully! Chiro made mine much much worse. Physio spotted something was horribly wrong, refused to take any payment and sent me for an MRI
I went back with flowers after my op for her, she was incredible

AnxiousRose · 07/05/2025 18:34

How have you been today @tattoonewbie ?

Original poster
tattoonewbie · 07/05/2025 18:43

Hello all. I was hoping to sleep as had a bad night but couldn't Had a work call this afternoon to do some handover stuff - my manager nearly made me cry she was so amazing. Kindness always makes me cry !
I'm sore again and had a panic earlier when I had a weird sensation ripple down below but no wee, no numbness and must just have been a momentary thing.
I saw a chiro as per earlier posts and I really think he was too rough with me. I came away worse. I can't remember if I did any detail changing earlier on to try and keep my anonymity but I'm a bit past caring now !
I fancy a nap but got an online shop due.

OP posts:
AnxiousRose · 07/05/2025 18:50

Be careful lifting and putting away the online shop OP. Is there anybody there to help you?

justasking111 · 07/05/2025 21:13

OH the chiropractor couldn't do anything for me which is why I was referred for an MRI. Hopefully that wee sensation was just a jangling nerve.

I took my pills after lunch, went to bed and slept. Got the heating pad on tonight. So cross and fed up to be back in this state again.

Original poster
tattoonewbie · 07/05/2025 21:26

@justasking111 I'm debating another muscle relaxant to help me sleep
@AnxiousRose DH doing the shopping and I've written a menu - this week is minimal cooking by me as standing hurts so much. Oven fish that kind of thing !

OP posts:
MigGril · 07/05/2025 21:58

Hi I just spotted this thread and wanted to join you all. I've recently developed sciatica and its so painful. I'd had mild pain already but got up to get dressed last week turned around and just collapsed on the floor in pain. I could hardly walk all day 😪 it was to painful.

I even ended up in A&E yesterday as my GP was concerned that I'd developed a numb feeling foot. They where fantastic and I had an MRI there and then. They have now referred me to the closest spine unit as they spotted a bulging disk.

I'm on naproxen and they gave me gabapentin but it's still painful. I'm off sick as I would normally be on my feet most of the day at work and I just couldn't do that right now. I've also been referred for physio, I'd been doing some exercises already. So we will see what they can do.

I'm feeling rather miserable at the moment as I've only recently recovered from a different chronic pain condition after finally finding a treatment that works for me. I had been looking forward to be able to do more and then this has happened.

justasking111 · 07/05/2025 22:12

Welcome @MigGril .

It never rains but it pours. You sorted out one health issue and another pops up.

This sounds awful but the fact that you collapsed then had numbness so the GP referred and you received an MRI has accelerated your treatment which is great news. Keep taking the painkillers. And take it easy.

justasking111 · 07/05/2025 22:13

@tattoonewbie what is your muscle relaxant called?

Original poster
tattoonewbie · 08/05/2025 08:23

@MigGril it's rubbish as a club to be a member of isn't it but these folks have kept me sane over the last couple of months
@justasking111 Methocarbamole. It's loony stuff though does help me sleep so I try not to take the full dose as I feel like I'm stoned and DH said my eyes go weird on it
I'm really stiff this morning but attributing that to a day of not moving much so am going to do some v gentle yoga moves (not specifically for sciatic, just. But if breathing and seated stretch - not for long as seated = ouch and no twisting !). Just for my neck and my breath work really as I'm quite down today.

OP posts:
justasking111 · 08/05/2025 09:00

Ah I'm fed up. Waiting for pain killers to kick in. I'll go to the chemist and shops this morning. See if a bit of walking helps. If it doesn't ease up will phone GP.

Crankyaboutfood · 08/05/2025 09:02

try the mackenzie
method of physical therapy. you can do the exercises at home. it saved me when i had sciatica

AnxiousRose · 08/05/2025 09:47

The mackenzie method is recommended for sciatica. Have you tried the cobra pose? Start slowly with it.

justasking111 · 08/05/2025 09:53

AnxiousRose · 08/05/2025 09:47

The mackenzie method is recommended for sciatica. Have you tried the cobra pose? Start slowly with it.

I tried the cobra pose, my back went subsequently to this exercise. I'm sticking with the exercises that the physio gave me now.

MigGril · 08/05/2025 10:55

Has anyone bought a support cushion for sitting on in the car/office chair. I was wondering if this would help with driving. As got in the car for the first time this morning and it was painful sitting. Luckily it's my left leg and I have an electric car (they drove like an automatic) so I don't need to use my left leg when driving, but sitting was painful.

HollaHolla · 08/05/2025 11:14

MigGril · 08/05/2025 10:55

Has anyone bought a support cushion for sitting on in the car/office chair. I was wondering if this would help with driving. As got in the car for the first time this morning and it was painful sitting. Luckily it's my left leg and I have an electric car (they drove like an automatic) so I don't need to use my left leg when driving, but sitting was painful.

I would be careful with a cushion, as they need to be secured for safety. You can't have it slipping about.
I have to say I've found getting a higher, SUV style car, to replace my old Astra, has been pretty transformative for driving. It's easier to get in and out - and there's something about the driving position which works better for me. I did think it might come to me getting an automatic, and driving left footed (it's my right side where I've been left with permanent nerve and function damage), but I can manage absolutely fine with the new set up.

For the office, I've got a chair with a seat pad which adjusts a lot. For me, having a chair - at any time - without a hard front edge on it has to be the choice. The hard lip on a car bucket-style seat is hell to me, as it catches where my nerve seems to be most sensitive/exposed on the back of my thigh. Do go and sit on loads of different seats to find the style which suits. Oh, and get a height adjustable desk, so you can stand a lot too.