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 would agree with people who say - be careful about chiropractors. I think a good physio is worth their weight in gold particularly one that also does acupuncture.

I minimise sitting. Got a standing desk on Amazon (a cheap wooden thing PIMPMYDESK Portable Standing Desk... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07TSSTXT6?ref=ppxpoppmobappshare) and I'm a new woman! Sitting brings back hip pain or sciatica. They say sitting is worse than smoking (I saw a cool poster stating it some time back and felt it was powerful). The more I move, exercise, stand, the better I feel. Life over 40, eh?

Just back from chiropractor and he thinks it's a slipped disc. I just burst into tears as DH refused to go buy what I wanted at the shop and then accusing of turning on the waterworks. I'm so bloody miserable. Tempted to get an Uber to the premier inn

I've really struggled with s Vatican. Naproxen didn't work. I'm on 40mg of amytriptaline a night and paracetamol as needed.

I've had an mri which showed how my back impacts on my nerve.

The best thing I've had has been steroid injections into my back.

Def get an mri.

I wonder how long a referral takes with private healthcare ? Not done it before. Can the GP refer straight to scan ?

About a fortnight here. You see the consultant who arranges the MRI after having a chat with you,. Mine watched my gait while walking did a few tests on my range of movement. I rhen had the MRI. They write up a report send to consultant who I saw again. He'll discuss your MRI with you. I asked for a copy of the MRI report. Got that and a disc with images on. So I could take it to any physio, osteo, or chiropractor I visited.

Sorry your DH isnt helpful. Im here now with ice pack having had bad sciatica (due to herniated disc) all week..its shite and would be so much worse with an unsympathetic husband.

I went for a walk and stumbled on an uneven grate cover when picking up my dog's poop and sweet Jesus. It's gone off like a rocket. Shooting pain. I'm now lying horizontal with my ice under my leg. It sucks

When I did mine in, all I did was step off a kerb that was higher than I expected, and I landed heavily on my left foot. But the next day I couldn’t move, and was off work for a month.

seriously, you have to rest to begin with. Plus drugs.

then tens machine and careful walking. I used to use a scarf to tie an ice pack onto my back.
try lying on your front with a cushion under your stomach.

give it time.

Amitriptyline was the only medication that worked for me. I got a short course of oxycodone prescribed during the acute stage but it didn’t help the pain much and it made me feel awful (ended up vomiting multiple times a day). Hopefully you were warned that the amitriptyline can cause constipation. I had to take laxatives with mine. It was much worse than any constipation I’ve had with codeine.

I’m six months post herniation and 95% better. It was properly awful for the first few months though.

I would 100% recommend acupuncture. Expensive but worth it. Ice on your lower back in the meantime to numb it

Dog walking and anything involving bending or lifting needs to be your husband’s job until you’re feeling better. Even loading the dishwasher is too much bedding for you right now.

Saw a new physio today. So much better than the other one. He's got patients who say saunas, jacuzzis helped them. Also water therapy. He went through a series of movements to assess my movement issues. Conclusion my legs have weakened because of my back issues. I was shocked how a few movements left me in so much pain. He's e mailed me a list of simple movements with pictures to do. I can do them at the kitchen worktop while waiting for the kettle to boil, washing up, peeling vegetables.

He's also recommended a bike pedal exerciser which I can use sitting down or lying on the sofa. Said they're £30 well spent on my butt, thighs, knees.

My biggest problem is I'm over working my hips to spare my back which is affecting my leg strength and is not good for my hips.

Gabapentin and naproxen helped me. Amyltriptoline made me feel very low and very tired but I kept taking it in case it was helping. Tens machine was good.
Moving and yoga helped a lot. Staying still made it worse. Sitting was agony and I couldn’t drive.
IDD therapy (like a medieval rack) helped hugely but very expensive.

I've taken my dog out for a VERY slow sniffy walk on pavement but it's like a snuggle. Now lying down having taken some co codamol. I feel so stressed like I can't face work / driving / my desk even though I have another day off yet. It's crap
I really appreciate these messages thank you

I'm not quite sure how else to put this but you need to not be doing this. Can someone else take the dog out? You need to rest. Every time you stand gravity puts the pressure back down on your bulging disc. You need to stay more-or-less horizontal to let the initial inflammation subside, then you can start moving again.

You may need a lot longer than a day or two off work. Has the GP given you a sick note? When I knackered my discs initially, I was off for a month, I'm afraid.

I have degenerative disc disease and sciatica in my left leg. I use an electric heat pad and ibuprofen gel. I was amazed at how effective the gel was - I wouldn't've thought something you put on the skin would be helpful, but it is. I also take co-codamol and amitriptyline.

I'm another who would avoid chiropractic - so many horror stories. I'm afraid physio did nothing for me.

Gabapentin and cocodamol helped my husband - he was housebound for three months with sciatica from a herniated disc about 4 or so years ago now, but the only thing that provided real relief was a laser guided steroid injection so it may be worth enquiring with your GP about the possibility of being referred for one. After he had one of these, and with twice weekly visits to his osteopath, he’s 95% back to normal now, thank god. His withdrawal from the Gabapentin was hell on earth, but his sciatica was so bad he was on the maximum daily dose for a very long time, so this may be why. Good luck - I hope you find relief quickly.

I'm reluctantly accepting I need to lie down more. I really don't want to take time off work but am struggling. This is so not me. I'm tough and keep going but this is so debilitating. I hate being miserable too.
I back at chiro tomorrow but if it doesn't improve in the next week I'll try physio instead or an osteopath

Look after yourself - don't try and struggle through pain as it will ultimately make things worse!

Id be so wary of a chiropractor too as they can really make disc issues so much worse - I don't see how they can diagnose a trapped nerve in 3 places with no imaging? I had a herniated disc about a month ago and even with very clear symptoms of pain/weakness/numbness in specific areas they still had to do an MRI to diagnose.

Do you have any weakness in the leg or foot or loss of sensation?

I always think about chiropractic - if it works, who l why is it not available on the nhs? It's because there is not an evidence base to support commissioning of it as a service. You would be better spending your money on a private pelvic health physio.

I think they went off where it's sore I have a heavy feeling leg and pain in bum, thigh and outer shin and a tingling foot with occasional sunburn type stinging pain in my foot.
I'm due my amitriptiline soon but know it's night time once that's taken as half an hour later and I feel spaced and my husband says I look stoned 😥

I can literally feel your pain. I went through absolute hell with sciatica about 4 years ago. People don’t believe me, but I was taking 26 tablets a day. I honestly have never experienced pain like it. I could not stand up and got to the toilet on my hands and knees. I could not sit up in bed and had to eat lying flat on my stomach, hanging over the bed with my food on the floor.

I ended up in A&E twice and they had to give me 2 x injections of diamorphone. On one occasion they sent me off the ward with a pair of crutches and I had to get myself to the collection area to meet my son. I was so spaced out I lay down on a bench in the hospital grounds and my son found me asleep.

I was on crutches for two months snd could not drive. No one in the medical profession seems to take sciatica seriously. It’s actual hell!

You really need to rest and leave the chiropractor and osteopath until it has settled. The only thing that helped me was ice and tens machine. It will get better but it needs time @tattoonewbie

Completely agree with you @rickyrickygrimes I agree that if you have a bad back then movement is best but when sciatica strikes rest is the solution

z I have two worn disks and definitely would not go to a chiropractor. Massage has been good and I do need to start some core strengthening as my back has got much worse the last year.

When I had it I found the chiropractor a complete waste of money. Got the doctor to refer me to a physio and that worked a treat - a bit painful, but a few visits and doing the recommended exercise fixed the problem. The rub on gel was surprisingly good too. I used one called Traxam, but I think it may not be available any more.
I used a shoulder bag for years which I think may have caused the problem, now if I really need to carry a handbag (which is rarely) I use a cross-body bag and haven't had sciatica for ages.