[Misc] Sciatica

[LamieRobertson]

As a man of science I ought to sneer at acupuncture, but I have had it and rather enjoyed it. Here are my three golden rules for alternative medicines:

1. First use the NHS - see you doctor and follow the standard pathway. BUT you have to tell the doc it is imperative you get better, that you hate your condition, and will do what is necessary to get well. Tell the bugger what you think 'success' would look like. The GPs love a team effort. But GPs fob off people who don't seem to care. A little known fact, perhaps.

2. Alternative intervention is supplementary. It may cure you but it should never be the first port of call. And, blow me down, you can get acupuncture and other alternative stuff on the NHS as supplementary intervention add-ons to the standard care. I did. However the provision is almost certainly haphazard. I work in a hospital and physio just said 'do you fancy a bit of the old Chinese needles?' and when I said 'give it a go' they sent me to their pals downstairs. Your typical GP practice may be less keen. Would I go private and pay for alternative? Nay, no and thrice no.

3. Under no circumstances order alternative therapy off the internet. And never make an alternative pathway your first choice. There have been some horrendous cases of people dying because their alternative practitioner could do nothing, in the end, for the cancer, and by the time they rocked up at the GP surgery it was too late.

There has been no charge for this personal opinion

I’ve got a rule when having acupuncture don’t try and move the area where the needles are inserted…had them in a calf muscle recently…forgot about them being there and tried to get up (ye I was told to keep still)

Best of luck to the OP suffered with that at the tender age of 14 …can only remember being told to sleep on the floor ..,hmm

 

[vegster]

Many years back I slowly developed a very bad case of sciatica.. it was really bad, constant pain shooting down my right leg while walking, so bad that one day "walking " to work I moved to the kerb to pass someone walking in the opposite direction and saw a bus coming and seriously considered stepping off the kerb into its path and ending all the pain. I tried the NHS and was prescribed painkillers that worked for two days and then gave me worse pain as they destroyed my stomach lining, then got put on a physiotherapy programme that was pointless then decided to try a Chiropractor.

First time out I was manipulated and rubbed and it eased the pain... next morning I walked 2 paces before the pain hit which was an improvement of two paces... The chiropractor cost quite a bit but slowly and surely he cured me, must have cost about £3,500 over the next few years but, it worked.. The money spent is meaningless given the fact that I can lead an active pain free life now.

 

[dazzer6666]

Right pain in the leg. Been intermittent for a few months now.

Any tips on relieving it?

Neural/nerve flossing……..worked like a miracle for me. Loads of videos on youtube, and very simple to do…….

 

[Recidivist]

Had real problems twice over the past twenty years and both times was only cured eventually by cortisone injections in the back.

Good idea to supplement this with exercises as recommended by a good osteopath but they weren’t enough without the surgery too.

Depends on its severity of course but if you have a prolapsed disc pressing on the nerve, as I did, you need to kick start the healing process too. Need an MRI to diagnose it properly though…..

 

[doogie004]

Very similar.

15 years. One op, micro discectomy, and whilst it solved one problem, currently I am contemplating my next move. I am under the Osteopath, but nothing is working….. The pain is incredibly wearing…..

Good luck to the opening post.

Can highly recommend Pilates it really does help
Weight loss tough but good
Maintain Movement its crucial
Treading water swimming pool also excellent as weight bearing
Keep positive hear if you need a chat
I own and drive my own taxi business for last 15 years so it is doable


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Mellotron]

Where is the pain ?
On a scale, one being lowest 10 highest
How painful would you say it is ?

From reading this thread, I’d say I’ve been quite fortunate - no more than around 2/3 out of 10 pain usually, occasionally rising to 4/5.

I’m pretty sure it’s linked to my kidney stones and how I’ve barely been able to exercise for the last year or two. That is now being put right as my kidney stones pain is far better now and I think there is only fragments left (waiting on another scan).

In terms of pain location, it’s a mild twinge up at the nerve area in the back, and then an ache right down the back of the leg, mostly upper leg. Walking actually helps relief it, it’s sitting that can really make it worse, particularly long drives.

 

[Mellotron]

Many, many thanks to everyone for the thoughtful and informative responses. I’ll get round to a couple of you via PM as well.

NSC at its best.

 

[maresfield seagull]

From reading this thread, I’d say I’ve been quite fortunate - no more than around 2/3 out of 10 pain usually, occasionally rising to 4/5.

I’m pretty sure it’s linked to my kidney stones and how I’ve barely been able to exercise for the last year or two. That is now being put right as my kidney stones pain is far better now and I think there is only fragments left (waiting on another scan).

In terms of pain location, it’s a mild twinge up at the nerve area in the back, and then an ache right down the back of the leg, mostly upper leg. Walking actually helps relief it, it’s sitting that can really make it worse, particularly long drives.

Try heavy pressure knuckles / finger tips to the top of the side of the thigh area
About a hands length down from your waistband
Likewise knuckles or finger tips in the middle of your back at waistband height
May give you some pain relief

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Book in to see a Neurologist.

They can perform the most in depth tests to identify the issue.

 

[Notters]

Whoah, hundreds of posts and not a mention of possible TMS, look up Dr Sarno and see if it's relevant to you.

 

[tronnogull]

The trouble with low back pain is that so many different things can be the cause and a doctor will often ( usually ? ) not be able to say exactly what is the problem, even with an MRI. MRI's can show potential problems which are actually not an issue and can miss lots of things.

As this thread demonstrates, there are lots of treatments which work in particular, but not all, cases. When we are in pain and desperate to get back to our normal life and sports we will try anything. Eventually the pain eases and we credit the last thing we did as the saviour. But it is sometimes hard to tell whether the treatment worked or if it was actually just our own body repairing itself with rest over time.

Strengthening the core muscles, however, is probably a help for warding off low back pain from most causes. But it is mainly a long term benefit rather than a miracle cure.

 

[dadams2k11]

good chiropractor

Seconded

I swear by an osteopath as a sufferer of bad back for 20 odd years.

I have literally spent thousands on different chiropractors and never could releieve my back pain. I went to an osteopath a few years back and spent £100 and only had one episode a few months back so spent £50 and put me right again.

That's my experience anyway. Every one is different.

 

[Finch]

I would go to standard pathway. Physio and then referral into specialist if they think its required.

MRI is helpful, but just be aware everyone starts degrading in their teens so you will find a number of issues most likely on an MRI that are not a big deal. However specialists will determine the cause via matching the pathology to your symptoms and clinical tests, then usually confirming it with injection into the problem area identified on MRI to see if it relieves the pain (and rule out red herring's). Once your problem is confirmed it's either back to physio for manipulation, stretching and strengthening - or its surgery. Always get a second opinion if surgery is strongly suggested.

I would never go see a chiropractor personally. There will be some decent ones out there that are really quasi-physios using manipulation, but chiropractors believe in seriously crazy shit that they have not been able to prove in over a hundred years. Some of it outright impossible and dangerous (see manipulating babies spines to cure asthma etc). A good chiropractor will never manipulate someone with referred leg pain and refer them to a specialist.

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

I had sciatica 20plus years ago where I stayed in bed, but had to pluck up courage to turn over because I knew how much it was going to hurt. To get up and go to the loo - which is about 5 yards away - took half an hour.

At that time it was sorted out by a chiropractor. I had recurrences which were dealt with by the chiropractor and, when she moved away, a good physiotherapist……. All of which was private. Regular doses of ibuprofen were used as well.

I’ve kept it at bay for years with regular (daily) stretching exercises and just keeping going.

 

[Notters]

The trouble with low back pain is that so many different things can be the cause and a doctor will often ( usually ? ) not be able to say exactly what is the problem, even with an MRI. MRI's can show potential problems which are actually not an issue and can miss lots of things.

As this thread demonstrates, there are lots of treatments which work in particular, but not all, cases. When we are in pain and desperate to get back to our normal life and sports we will try anything. Eventually the pain eases and we credit the last thing we did as the saviour. But it is sometimes hard to tell whether the treatment worked or if it was actually just our own body repairing itself with rest over time.

Strengthening the core muscles, however, is probably a help for warding off low back pain from most causes. But it is mainly a long term benefit rather than a miracle cure.

I strongly believe that this is because most back pain, along with many other ailments such as IBS and migraines, are caused primarily by repressed stress/anxiety.

Would recommend to anyone to have a look at the info here: https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/

I have posted it before, but I went from being unable to walk due to crippling back pain, which had lasted five years, to pain free, in a few days, after realising this.

 

[pasty]

Love NSC sometimes. Was about to start a thread on this subject but searched first and up pops this thread.

Got sciatica pretty bad right now where even walking is an issue. Never had anything like it before. GP has put me on amitriptyline and co-codamol and physio booked in for next week.

Not known pain quite like it. Doubly pissed off with the palace game coming up next week as the chances of me making it up to my seat in WSU are less than zero right now

Only up side is it’s saving me a fortune in London train fares as I’ve told work I can only WFH at the moment.

 

[maresfield seagull]

Love NSC sometimes. Was about to start a thread on this subject but searched first and up pops this thread.

Got sciatica pretty bad right now where even walking is an issue. Never had anything like it before. GP has put me on amitriptyline and co-codamol and physio booked in for next week.

Not known pain quite like it. Doubly pissed off with the palace game coming up next week as the chances of me making it up to my seat in WSU are less than zero right now

Only up side is it’s saving me a fortune in London train fares as I’ve told work I can only WFH at the moment.

Amitriptyline of a night time To help you sleep ?

 

[pasty]

Amitriptyline of a night time To help you sleep ?

Yeah, and according to the blurb in the leaflet it also helps neuropathic pain

 

[AlbionBro]

Love NSC sometimes. Was about to start a thread on this subject but searched first and up pops this thread.

Got sciatica pretty bad right now where even walking is an issue. Never had anything like it before. GP has put me on amitriptyline and co-codamol and physio booked in for next week.

Not known pain quite like it. Doubly pissed off with the palace game coming up next week as the chances of me making it up to my seat in WSU are less than zero right now

Only up side is it’s saving me a fortune in London train fares as I’ve told work I can only WFH at the moment.

If you can find one of those chin up bars the kids have in parks or a strong beam, try hanging from it, by gripping it and letting your body weight stretch you out, it has often sorted me, as it's like a rack. Good luck, I feel your pain.

 

[edna krabappel]

Thankfully I've only had mild cases in the past, but I've found piriformis stretches to be helpful. From what I understand the piriformis muscle can sometimes impinge on the sciatic nerve, causing problems. The vid shows the basic one I've used, but an internet search will show many other piriformis exercises.

I echo this. Works for me. As does getting off my arse and going for a walk or to the gym.