Sciatica

Very painful but I know they advise you to keep moving rather than sit around. Have you looked into something like accupuncture/pressure or maybe a Tens machine?
 
Yes. It started as a pain in the bum and then travelled right down the back of one leg, where it remained very painfully and inconveniently for two years. My doctor put me onto a heavy-duty painkiller which did the job, but this was a long time ago and there are very much better ones these days. The brand name was INDOCID, but there's a medical name behind it - one pill saw me okay for around ten hours, which was great. Your doc should be able to recommend one that acts like it, but is more up-to-date. Moving around or sitting around - didn't make a jot of difference to me. I still rode and went swimming once the painkiller kicked in - but without it, all waking hours were just pain. Don't forget it's a nerve which is being nasty, not muscles or tendons. Thus, hot baths, massages, etc., were a waste of time, and the one session of acupuncture I tried didn't make any diff - although it might to you. The good bit is that it got bored and eventually faded away. Good luck.
 
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You need anti inflammatory drugs, rest , lie on a hard surface helps, but will need physio. You need to see a doctor. Been there, done that etc. talking from painful experience. Normal pain killers will hardly help it if it is really bad - again doctor's prescription needed.
 
I have got a tens machine, I bought it a couple of years back when I did my back in, forgotten all about it so will have to dig it out from its hiding place,

Made an appointment at Dr's but as usual you have to give them a weeks notice of being ill! can't see anyone until next tuesday,

I had some accupuncture a few years back on my neck & it did feel like it worked at the time so if it hasn't eased off after a week or so i will book myself in for a session,

I find it odd that the pain goes away when I lean forward, its agony to stand up straight! If I walk around much longer bent forward I can see that playing my back up again
 
Is it not quicker to make an appointment with a nurse at the surgery? It is at ours and the nurse will call a doctor to see you if it is severe.
 
Don't think that will work at my surgery, they ask you whats wrong when you ring up, then give you an appointment with whoever they think you should see so if I told them I had sciatica they wouldn't give me an appointment with the nurse, they are a pain in the backside, you should see the list of "Patient Info" on the wall of the waiting room

One person only to see the doctor no family/friend

An appointment is for one illness if you have more you need to make a double appointment (double appointment yeah right waiting time two months!)

No prams/pushchairs in waiting room (leave them out in the rain!)

Keep children sat on chairs

No Mobiles

No laptops

Please arrive early (so you can sit for an hour waiting for the Doc to see you)
 
I can understand "one appointment one illness rule" if you are seeing a Hospital consultant because you are seeing them for their speciality, but not for a GP. Sounds like they are trying to keep waiting times down in case they get fined by the PCT.

It is still all about targets, I'm afraid. Although the new government has scrapped them, the PCT's and Hospital Trusts have actually signed contracts to say that they will comply with the targets until the end of 2011.

Sciatica is very painful and I sympathise wholeheartedly, Helen. Hope it settles down soon.

Maybe Ibuleve or Neurofen gel might help, if you apply it along the length of the nerve.

(Not wishing to embarrass the chaps too much, but it's great for girly cramps if you apply it over your lower tummy and over the hip bones).
 
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Seems to go against some advice but I find sleeping with a higher pillow under my head and especially with a pillow under my knees helps.

Sorry to hear, I know what it feels like, passes with time - MR2
 
Slightly out of context,I am going to try the Neurofen gel on my knee.Been to the Docs today for results of X-rays-no bone damage or arthritic signs-good times,but she reckons its the tendon-bad times!!
 
Really hope you get to see a doctor, could be a trapped nerve and you may need some kind of physio to loosen it. I had this after some stomach surgery, and it was agony. I eventually got physio which hurt but after two session no pain! And it has not come back either.

Best to have a diagnosis, there are all kind of referred pain that acts like sciatica.

Wishing you all the best and relief soon!
 
Aldaniti said:
Don't think that will work at my surgery, they ask you whats wrong when you ring up, then give you an appointment with whoever they think you should see so if I told them I had sciatica they wouldn't give me an appointment with the nurse, they are a pain in the backside, you should see the list of "Patient Info" on the wall of the waiting room

One person only to see the doctor no family/friend

An appointment is for one illness if you have more you need to make a double appointment (double appointment yeah right waiting time two months!)

No prams/pushchairs in waiting room (leave them out in the rain!)

Keep children sat on chairs

No Mobiles

No laptops

Please arrive early (so you can sit for an hour waiting for the Doc to see you)
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It says a lot that they have to put up notices for most of these as it should be taken as read as good manners. Personally I do not care if I have to wait, as long as the doctors treat every one the same, I would rather be late than not have something addressed.
 
I agree about using a pillow; between your knees if you sleep on your side, under your knees when on your back, or under your tummy if lying face down. I fell backwards off a stile whilst walking in the Peak District and had sciatica for ages. Still get twinges if I don't bother with the pillow. A good chiropractor or osteopath is worth every penny as well. I hurt my knee a couple of years ago, and by the time I got to see anyone that helped in the NHS I'd pretty much sorted myself out with the help of the internet and a course of treatment with a chiropractor [a recommended one, I hasten to add]. Of course, the consultant that I eventually saw poo pooed everything that I'd done. If all else fails, Voltarol gel is the best stuff in the world for easing the pain.
 
Absolute Voltarol fanatic here! I'm using it at present on my left knee, which is flaring up at long last, having been fairly numb after bearing most of the brunt of a 2-point (don't ask!) crash onto hard ground last summer. Voltarol sorts the back out, too, whenever it decides to have a bit of sport and go into spasm. Brilliant stuff.
 
I cant function at work without volterol gel - my achilles injury from two summers ago is still playing silly buggers, and its the only thing that gets me through work with just a constant ache, rather than proper pain...

we used to use it on the racehorses too - its really good stuff !!
 
Suffered from it for many years. Have a box of prescribed diclofenac in the cupboard for use when it strikes.

So get along to the quack and don't let him prescribe ibuprofen.

It's a nerve getting trapped in the socket between leg and hip - which explains why it feels better when you lean forward (gap being enlarged and not nipping the nerve anymore). Stretching exercises may also help.
 
Diclofenac being the key ingredient in Voltarol, of course.

If you can get it in tablet form, all the better but don't take it with ibuprofen. Just had a bout of sciatica too but luckily, it has cleared up pretty quickly.

The other recommended course of action would be a good chiroo, as the reason the nerve has become trapped is probable pelvic displacement, together with deep sports massage. Which can be fecking painful, so will at least divert your attention from the pain of the sciatica for an hour or so..!!
 
It always surprises me when people say how wonderful Voltarol is - it doesn't do a damn thing for me and never has. Diclofenac tablets do help however.
 
Voltarol has been brilliant in the past for my back but it hasn't done anything for the sciatica but that could be due to it being a nerve issue rather than muscle/tendon problems, had diclofenac before & I suspect that is what i will come home with tomorrow
 
I guess it's a question of nerve vs muscle pain, Shadow, and I imagine you've had both - possibly both at the same time? No type of rub helped the sciatica for me - it had to be internal treatment with a high-power painkiller. But for general creaks and squeaks, Voltarol's brilliant.
 
I guess trying to treat bones rotting away with arthritis using Voltarol doesn't work either! I've always had better results with tiger balm or A N other similar Asian liniments - tiger balm liniment (as opposed to the balm) is good, along with Salonpas liquid or patches (only available on the net from abroad although I guess you can probably buy them in specialist Chinese medicine shops or the likes as well).
 
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I've bought a couple of bits from the chinese herbal inn thats in most towns, the liquid is called something like woodruff thats very good & if the area isn't too large they sell these plasters with holes in them that contain things that increase the circulation, you can buy both on evilbay, they both work well on lower back pain,

off to docs shortly!
 
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