Maz

iTrader: (34)

Has anyone got any suggestions for relieving sciatic pains? Does anyone have experiences of sciatica and if so was surgery the only cure? Thanks in advance.



Maz

Drunken Bungle Whore

First of all I'd make sure you're 100% certain it's sciatica. If you've just been diagnosed by your GP go back and get a referral to a specialist. In my experience Docs tend to class all back pain as Sciatica - it took best part of 10 years for me to get diagnosed properly and in the end it took an ultrasound scan to pinpoint the problem.

If it's definitely sciatica then I believe surgery is generally only recommended in very serious cases - they don't tend to operate anywhere near your spine unless the absolutely have to.

As I've not ever actually had sciatica I can't really say. I found paracetamol with codeine plus Ibuprofen do the trick for me. (Combined with healthy dose of wine on really bad days!) The doc gave me stronger pills but they either made me ill or fall asleep!

sarasquares

iTrader: (1)

i suffer from it and have a herniated disc. my pain travelled down the back of one leg and at the knee it went down to my ankle. i had physio and traction which helped a lot until the pain went away. when i had pain i found sitting with my knees up helped as it took the pressure off the disc. surgery is usually the last option.
no painkillers took my pain away apart from muscle relaxants

mine was the lower lumbar region and this does not affect the spine at all.it depnds where your pain is coming from

brihoppy

im feeling your pain mate...

i was out from oct last year to april this year...locked vertebrae irritating sciatic nerve apparantly...very, VERY painful, couldnt sleep properly for weeks...!!!

i basically went on a course of drugs (painkillers and anti-inflammatories), had physio and was advised to rest and allow it to heal, which it more or less has...i live in fear of it coming back...and i stretch off every couple of hours

hope you manage to get it sorted...

Brendan Hughes

IIRC, my mum suffered from back pain for years, and finally swears that a course in Alexander Technique almost totally cured her. I don't know if it was sciatica though.

Maz

iTrader: (34)

It is definetely sciatica DBW. I have had back ailments since my teens and succumbed to sciatic woes about three years ago. Pain radiating out from the lower back and around the side of the legs going all the way to the toes. My latest episode started about a week ago culminating in excruciating pain on Friday. The pain comes in waves and is very intense. I find sitting actually aggravates it and even when I lie down it does not abate. I have tried physiotherapy but cannot do it due to the pain. The osteopath has said it is probably inflammation and advised bed rest and anti-inflammatory drugs. If it is inflammation then I am not too worried as that should pass, however I think this is a symptom of a much worse condition. At the moment i am about as useful as a rubber hammer! Lying with knees up also helps Sara but the pain returns when I get up. Worryingly I also experienced pins and needles in my left foot. I am going to give it some rest and some light physio and hope it goes. If not I am dreading the surgeons knife!

john banks

This is the problem of referring everyone to a specialist. The specialists discourage it and we (GPs) have to batter their doors down to see the ones we really are worried about. The last one couldn't move from bed without 3 ambulance men, a morphine injection and being catheterised and I still had to fight and threaten the neurosurgeons to see them - I kid you not! Usually a specialist back pain physiotherapist is now an extra layer between your GP and your neurosurgeon/MRI scan. The waiting lists mean that most people get better spontaneously. Not ideal, but how else do you fund the mountain of demand from taxes?

john banks

john banks

http://www.clinicalevidence.com/cewe...und.jsp?btuk=1

Dazzler

My friend has been suffering with this for the last 2+ months, and has only returned to work now for 2 mornings a week.
He went through a course of physio and painkillers, plus plenty of resting on his back. He has just seen a neurosurgeon and had an MRI scan, and is getting the results tomorrow to see if surgery is required - last resort if nothing else can be done.

He went through a long period of time where he really couldn't see any light at the end of the tunnel, but the pain then started to ease off in the last couple of weeks. He's be able to go out for plenty of walks to try and strengthen his back muscles up and is seeing improvments.

To sum up, go and see a specialist if you have medical cover and hopefully surgery is not the only cure!

Maz

iTrader: (34)

The last thing I want to do is to be off work. Many times working has actually releived pain! It's just at the moment I am looking down the barrel of a gun. Forget the fact I cannot drive my car, pick my kids up or indulge in carnal activities. I am off work which is almost as bad as the pain as I enjoy my job so much. I would go private if this is a viable option John?

Maz

iTrader: (34)

That's the crux of it Dazzler! As I am immobile my back and abdominals are getting weaker thus putting more strain on my spine. Thanks for all the input guys! Maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel!

Drunken Bungle Whore

I see your point - but since I was diagnosed I've not needed to bother the doc or the NHS again. I understood the problem and have been able to manage the pain - and fully understand that there's no point in bothering the doc again when it kicks off because it's a congenital problem that can't be fixed. So now I'm not a burden on the NHS any more.

I've found all the GPs I've encountered are just not be interested and write out a prescription without educating us in any way about back pain. I've had big problems with it since I was 19 and they just didn't take me seriously because of my age.

I don't know what the answer is because I'm guessing the NHS can't afford any more specialists.

I had all the typical symptoms of sciatica - pain down my legs and into my ankles etc. but it turned out not to be that. I had years of physio but it wasn't until one nurse decided to probe a bit further that I got to the real problem. So Einstein - yes, I'd go and see a specialist privately - if only to get a more accurate diagnosis.

Maz

iTrader: (34)

Your experiences with GP's mirrors mine. Infact one GP very matter of factedly told me there was nothing they could do other than prescribe pain killers. Physiotherapy has certainly helped me in the past and I hope it will help me again, and indeed DBW I most certainly will get an osteopath to give me the once over (no pun intended ).

john banks

Einstein, yes I would also see a specialist with a view to an MRI because you have recurrent, radiating and disabling pain.

Also, take seriously the lifestyle stuff mentioned above, smoker? weight? diet? exercise? Seeing a specialist may still only leave you with these sorts of options anyway.

Maz

iTrader: (34)

I think two thing aren't helping John, the seats in the car (Impreza MY2000) , it was because of this very problem I had to sell my Evo Seven which was Tony Frazer's ex car and a complete monster! Also my job involves heavy lifting and I used to be heavily into weight training which has left a cruel legacy! Thanks for your advice.

Lee247

Poor Maz
My other half suffered back pain for years. Don't know if it was Sciatica, but he has private insurance through w*rk and ended up being referred by our GP. He was given 6 cortizone (sp) injections in his spine. Said it was the most painful thing he has ever had done. This was 3 years ago and he has had no problems since. They said it would probably only last a couple of years, but fingers crossed, so far so good

sarasquares

iTrader: (1)

when ive got the pain and try to stand up i have to walk round with my back bent and my hands on my knees to support me and walk like that. if i laid in bed i had to lay in the feotal position but i could only do it for short periods of pain. it is one of the most demoralising pains i know, i actually thought childbirth was less painfull

i was told that bend your spine it relieves the pressure and openes up the vertabra and stops the disc from being squashed. i dread mine coming back as i know it will

i feel for you

Maz

iTrader: (34)

I have heard cortisone injections are very good at combatting pain, something to bear in mind. Thanks Lesley.

Maz

iTrader: (34)

The foetal position does help Sara! As you say it is all about taking pressure off the disc. Jeez you must have been bad, but you manged to overcome it so there is hope for me too!

shooter007

sciatica ho boy when really bad i cannot walk puting my right foot on the floor is agony when you drive pushing the brake pedal is like wise (so yes i dont ) and we all know that going to the loo is torture but the pain go,es away eventually try cocodimol it may not take away all the pain but even if it just dulls it all yiu need is a break from pain good luck steve.

brihoppy

pilates is good...i had a couple of sessions, and im going to try and keep it up...strengthens the body core

Maz

iTrader: (34)

Currently on co-codamol, although the osteopath advised ibuprofen to help with the inflammation. It's surprising just how many people have been affected by sciatica. May give pilates a go been recommended by a few people.

Jaydee5

excellent way of strengthening your back. If you are lucky enough to have a good pilates teacher she/he will concentrate on specific moves designed to target your sciatic nerve and relieve the pain. You need to be able to get to the classes though Best of luck to those of you with back problems..........

Spoon

You know it makes sense.

Apparition

Well, since suffering with agony for 4+months ealry last year and taking the advice of the medics which was : keep it moving, don't rest...... it finally hit a crisis point and I was whisked into hospital. I was immediately disptched home with valium to relax for a week. But ever since, I have numb toes on the affected foot and numbness down the back of that leg, also prone to really bad cramps.
I don't really think anyone knows what to do about this. It's just pure luck if someone hits on a cure.
Yve

Neanderthal

iTrader: (6)

I've had similar symptoms to what people have described for the last few months. I used to suffer from lower back pain but a few trips to the osteopath and doing the exercises he suggested have helped sort it out.
However, 3 months ago I began to get a pain a little lower than previously on my right side. I now get pain down my right leg (front of the thigh and down to my foot). The pain comes in waves and once it's over my leg tingles.
I haven't been back to the osteopath yet but the exercises he'd given me for the previous pain don't help now.
I used to be quite overweight but have lost 1.5 stone (mainly through dietary changes) and trying to be more active but the pain is quite restrictive.

Butty

iTrader: (2)

I also had success with the Osteopath route some 20 years ago. It was an immediate cure and went away with some excerises to do if I felt it coming on again.

Nick