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.

Back from physio. Still can't get squats right. I'm using my knees still. So reverse squats it is. Which means using a dining chair, stand up unaided, sit down slowly unaided. Which will bring my hips into play.

Try not to give up on the naproxen. It can take a few days for it to really stick in your system. I’m on it now and starting to feel a change. I also have been given omeprazole to take with it.

I might get the cushion. Was office today and honestly in so much pain now. Back is aching a little as well as the leg. Marvellous.
I'll keep at the naproxen if they take time as I did think they helped a bit at first.

So I've resorted to amitriptyline tonight and feel like I've had three incredibly strong cocktails
Woo! But argh 😩

Hope you sleep 😴

I feel like if I weee in a bar I'd do karaoke, then tell people o love them, then cry, then fall over. So hopefully as I'm in my house with my slightly bonkers terrier, I'll sleep. Soon.

You'll laugh when you read this in the morning 🤣🤣

See a physio...dont be messing with chiropractors etc
Avoid sitting. Be upright and gently mobilising, or horizontal and trying to rest, with supportive pillows
Take max pain relief.....paracetamol, codeine, ibuprofen.....in the right combination
It's horrible but it will pass...

I haven’t read all the replies but I had horrific sciatica from a prolapsed disc. I had an MRI which confirmed the disc bulge was causing the sciatica. Chiropractor and physio made no difference at all. I was taking amitryptaline, tramadol and gabapentin and none of it made any difference. Steroid injection also didn’t help. The only thing that sorted it was surgery to cut away the disc bulge. The relief was instant. Not sure if you have private healthcare but push push push for an MRI and if it confirms a disc bulge then try a steroid injection initially and if that doesn’t work then push for surgery. It’s life-changing. I used to be suicidal with the pain and waking up from surgery with no sciatica was wonderful. Good luck.

im tempted with a massage gun… will this help?

I wish I were laughing this morning. I'm in so much pain. I w got a private referral at end of April but that seems forever away.
I've been awake in the night and couldn't get comfy to sleep at all until the amitriptyline worked. I'm so so fed up
Physio said he wouldn't even scan me if he were the consultant because of my ability to leg lift and twist but certain movement like leaning set it off like an electric shock and it's so so sore.
Just about to have a coffee in bed then tackle bed
I'm also going to call docs as have nearly run out of naproxen which if I take it regularly (scared as I am of tummy issues), that does help a bit.
I'm so so fed up

Four weeks private referral, guess Easter has caused that. I'd phone them explaining the severity of the pain saying you'll take a cancellation if one becomes available.

Have you been resting (lying down)? Have you avoided bending, twisting, lifting and sitting as much as possible?

@AnxiousRose my job is desk based so it's hard. No lifting though and only twisting in terms of every day movement. I did some of the yoga suggested up thread. Kassandra? That helped free me enough to shower but it's miserable. I rest after work as much as I can after making food for kids. DH away. Have got extra dog walks booked and DC are helping more at home. It's hard though. I don't want to be off sick if I can help it as work is so so busy .

@justasking111 this is the plan

Get your physio to get you exercises. Save them and do them as soon as the pain starts. Do them gently through the pain at least a couple of times a day. It really helps, the pain starts easing right away! I avoid painkillers in general as not sure they are that healthy.
And try not to sit, it is the worse. Even walking a bit is better than sitting when you have pain.

It is really tough. Try to avoid sitting, bending, twisting, lifting etc during this acute phase. Even everyday movements. I know its easier said than done. Check your posture when sitting at your desk, avoid slouching or hunching over, check your monitor is positioned correctly and take breaks frequently to walk around.

My chiropractor says not to use heat as it makes the tissues swell. Ice the area for 20 minutes every hour, do the stretches and naproxen. I’ve just got over a flare up.

I'm so sorry OP you sound so fed up. Don't blame you, 4 weeks is a long wait. Have you tried icing as pp suggested? Tens machine? Sorry if you've already tried them. Perhaps you should take some time off work & rest.

I managed to get a cancellation appointment at physio for today.

@sciaticafanatica let us know how you get on.
I've been prescribed a new cocktail of meds

Cold water swimming or dipping really helped my sciatica. Sitting in a bath of cold water before bed really helps me to sleep (even though it’s pretty hellish while I’m doing it.)

@tattoonewbieso i apparently have a disc pressing on the sciatic nerve.
ive been given a exercise program to do twice a day.
i must walk at least 20 minutes a day.
and I’m not allowed anymore heat patches or heat on my back as I’ve managed to burn it with excessive heat.
im back in two weeks to see him again

@sciaticafanatica how do you find walking? I'm ok for 5 mins then it's like o lose power and get the shooting pains

Walking is awful but I’m going to try and follow what he’s said( if I can).
he said the more I do, the better it will become because my disc is trapping my sciatic nerve