Sciatica hell. What might help?

[tattoonewbie]

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.

I'm just using a small oblong cushion I snaffled from the sofa I have two. It's a feather cushion. I just adjust when I get in.

Agree about bucket seats which my mini cooper has. Not the best manual as well. DH has an SUV VW automatic with big heated seats which is much more comfortable.

Oh to sit with a heated seat sounds lush
I'm feeling really queasy and unable to sleep today. Was hoping for a snooze. Might go for a wander round the house but earlier, even getting up to make packed lunches for the kids was sore inducing

I got my first full nights sleep in over a week last night. I think the gabapentin the hospital gave me is helping a bit. They only gave me 3 days worth though.

Get it from GP asap. if it's working.

Got grumbling DH to come with me to Lidl Shopping because I'd lost confidence again. I did manage it with trolley and stick.

@MigGril I've got shed loads but it's frowned on to deal in pharmaceuticals ☺️. I I bet the GP will give you some.

Yoga and Pilates - a few members of the classes I attend swear by it and haven’t had sciatica since starting both after years of painkillers, physio, chiropractic sessions, etc.

@Ladyymuck I shall not let yoga slip away again. I used to go religiously to both and let it slide and now too sore to do it other than a short session of each specifically for sciatica

How awful that you’re still in terrible pain OP. It’s great that you got the MRI and hopefully it’s the first step to getting fixed.

What dose of amitriptyline are you on? I had to up mine a bit (all okayed with the GP) before it worked for me.

I understand how debilitating the pain can be. Mine was so bad I could barely tie my shoelaces and could only drive for 5 minutes before the pain was too much. My mistake was not taking more time off work sick. I thought because it’s ‘only’ an office job that I should be able to tough it out. Big mistake. I live alone so being ‘disabled’ was extra scary for me.

Five months after my disc herniation I was able to sit in a 7 hour flight and go skiing for a week although I still had the occasional twinge.

Now I’m pretty much back to normal apart from the occasional twinge but even those are getting less and less. The pins and needles were like a knee high sock on my left leg and they’re completely gone too. I’ll always need to be careful though, especially with lifting anything heavy. This was my second bad herniation at the same level.

@bluetongue did you have surgery? I can't now find the amitriptyline but think it was lowest dose but really helped my sleep until the packet went awol.
I took 5 pills one after the other today and thought "is this it?"
I just want to know what the MRI shows !

@bluetongue and yes to the "only an office job. I feel so so guilty and am not enjoying my time off lying around waiting for the next dose of drugs. I'd rather be working

I. Had a steroid injection and it has been wonderful.

Lidocaine patches really help me

Did you get your mri report back yet @tattoonewbie ?

I didn’t have surgery but spent lots of money on physio. Growing up my parents had the ‘you go to school / work unless you’re on your death bed’ attitude and it’s hard to shake that mindset.

@AnxiousRose no results yet but I may call and ask for a copy next week. I'm sure you lot can read it and diagnose ☺️
@bluetongue I've only reluctantly taken time off work now and feel so bad about it

You can probably get them cheaper elsewhere but these kept me sane before my operation
I had one on every day and I’m sure they did more than the morphine did! It didn’t obviously resolve the leg pain but they helped massively

https://amzn.eu/d/90uyJpi

My heat pad does help a lot. Others swear by Ice packs.

My hip is playing up at the moment, like I need that too 🙄

@lovegoodlovegood @justasking111
I'm using ice nearly constantly and it does help but will investigate heat patches / heat belt too.
I'm signed off but more because my boss didn't want me in and I told her that I'd really gone down hill last weekend. It's no better but no worse. I've not been out since Tuesday and going a bit mad. I really really want to be at work (I can WFH ) even if reduced hours / lying down to work.
I'm going to try ringing consultant secretary today as not seeing him until mid June , feel totally in limbo and unsure how to treat myself until then- just take all the drugs and ice / heat ? Should I physio or not ? I just want a bit of guidance and it's killing me knowing my report is probably ready but I can't know what's wrong and what the plan is for weeks. Sorry to sound so pathetic but I'm really down and been alone much of weekend as DH and kids had sport stuff on. My boss is just amazing as is my next level up boss but I feel terrible being off. Not sure what I want anyone to say. Just needed to vent a bit as life goes on around me

From what I've read the consensus is during the acute phase physiotherapy should be very gentle, basic. If you can't leave the house I'd say you qualify for acute.

How's your walking?

If you can get a copy of your report that would be helpful as you can see what is wrong and what might help. There is a Facebook group ~ the UK sciatica pain support group ~ there is a physio on that group who will go through the report and offers online exercise classes (using a Swiss ball). He recommends constant icing which you are doing.
I know its so hard but you will get better.

@justasking111 I can't walk much further than 2 minutes eg walked to three houses down the road of regular semis and it started twanging.
@AnxiousRose I think I'm getting the opposite of Sundayitits knowing everyone is working and I'm here feeling in pain, anxious and useless and wondering I I should even be off or push through.
This is why I want to know what is on the report so I can have some idea of what to do over next few weeks. Physio and osteo want to know what's on report before treating further and GP just gives pain relief which is fine but doesn't change anything.
Am doing very simple and light Pilates and yoga (short sessions of basic stretching )

You're in limbo until you get the report. Chase secretary say you'll take a cancellation.

I wouldn’t do anything TBH until you know the problem. Keep pottering about gently, avoid sitting down/bending and try to stand or lie
small amounts of walking and don’t stay still for long
if I had physio or did yoga or anything it would have made things a lot worse so just be really cautious

I second this, it's helped me more than anything

I've been told I'll have my report on the NHS app once a doctor has reviewed it and may get a call Thursday from the consultant if I need to do anything. Also got a GP call Saturday so hoping illl find something out soon. Am really nervous and not sure why.