Newly diagnosed sciatica ... what to expect ?

zappster1966

Hi peeps,

I've been off my work the last few weeks with severe back pain in the small of my back. Can't drive, difficulty walking any great distance, awkward sitting, awkward standing ... feel like I've aged 20 years in the last 4 weeks !!

Came on suddenly when I bent over one morning to pick something off the floor - agony, passed from being fit to a cripple instantly.

Umpteen trips to the doctors since, can't help but feel their fix amounts to nothing more than painkillers & medical certificates and a hope "it'll go away". Finally sees a doctor yesterday who diagnoses Sciatica ... but still they can't diagnose the cause, he reckons it could be a slipped disc, degeneration of the disc or nerve damage ... but they can't give me a definite cause.

Given I don't know much about the back & that this sciatica diagnosis covers a whole multitude of sins, what should I expect from my GP when it comes to further tests etc ? Many folk have suggested to me getting a scan or an X ray, which sounds logical ... but it's never offered.

All I've got on my medical line is "lower back pain" ... and I'm getting grief off my work for the vagueness of the diagnosis ... "what's wrong with your back ?", "why can't they tell you ?", "go see another doctor" ...

I just feel like I'm stuck in the middle.

What should I reasonably expect from my GP in these circumstances ?

Thanks peeps.

robpw2

nothing ... i have had same problem for over two years .. my doctor did nothing for a year , hospital dianosed sciatica last month ....

and other than meds and rest and physio not much they can do

zappster1966

Is that it ? Nothing they can do ? The discomfort's bad even with painkillers, without them I simply can't function. Work just isn't an option right now even though it's an office/desk job I have.

I'm too young to stop working, well I'm "not young" but early 40's. Financially I could struggle by on benefit, but, I'm not explaining this very well ... not working and being written off at my age has never once come into my head. I'm a bit stunned if that's what sciatica means for me.

Is that it then ? Game over ?

tenacioust123

zappster1966 wrote: »

Is that it ? Nothing they can do ? The discomfort's bad even with painkillers, without them I simply can't function. Work just isn't an option right now even though it's an office/desk job I have.

I'm too young to stop working, well I'm "not young" but early 40's. Financially I could struggle by on benefit, but, I'm not explaining this very well ... not working and being written off at my age has never once come into my head. I'm a bit stunned if that's what sciatica means for me.

Is that it then ? Game over ?

Hi

Most sciatica will right it self with good medication and a good physio, so don't panic. Have you been refered for physio? If not ask your GP. They probably won't bother with an MRI just yet. My advice would be to keep moving don't just come to a full stop as this will not help the situation.

I wish you all the best.

TT

It can be very scarey when you are in intense pain and unable to work.

robpw2

zappster1966 wrote: »

Is that it ? Nothing they can do ? The discomfort's bad even with painkillers, without them I simply can't function. Work just isn't an option right now even though it's an office/desk job I have.

I'm too young to stop working, well I'm "not young" but early 40's. Financially I could struggle by on benefit, but, I'm not explaining this very well ... not working and being written off at my age has never once come into my head. I'm a bit stunned if that's what sciatica means for me.

Is that it then ? Game over ?

sciatica ..does settle and does flare up again

sorry didnt want to worry you
youll be fine , just follow the physio take pain meds and just be aware of limitations .

no-one sayin you will be written off ,, im studying law so im making the msot of my situation ..

aaroncaz

I had this again, at Christmas, the doc gave me Tramadol painkillers.which by far is the best painkiller I have ever had, but, they made me feel so ill, after a few days!! I tend to get it back, every 3 years or so.............

robpw2

aaroncaz wrote: »

I had this again, at Christmas, the doc gave me Tramadol painkillers.which by far is the best painkiller I have ever had, but, they made me feel so ill, after a few days!! I tend to get it back, every 3 years or so.............

i have tramadol they make me so sleepy and disorientated ..

I have had it for almost 2 years some days are better than others but it affects people in different ways ..

zappster1966

Thanks for your replies :-)

The docs only now referred me for physio but by all accounts the waiting list is three months ... by which point I might be past the point of no return with the work.

Meds ? Bucketloads of co-codamol and ibuprufen, no major side effects apart from constipation & occasional nausea.

If sciatica is a long lasting condition does that mean I'm protected under the disability laws from dismissal ? I'm not even at the dismissal stage yet, my employer has only "expressed concern" and I'm not even at stage one of the warning process.

I'm just so worried. I've never been laid low this length of time before, I'm missing so much at work, my poor colleagues are having to struggle on in my absence, I feel rotten for them. And just a bit down I guess ... starting to get cabin fever a little bit.

robpw2

it is a disability but not sure how laws stand regarding dismissal ..

Im sure your employer will be understanding and will be able to work out an action plan to enable you to continue working .
I know about cabin fever thats why i decided to go and study , i just have to be careful not to over do it

looby75

zappster1966 wrote: »

Thanks for your replies :-)

The docs only now referred me for physio but by all accounts the waiting list is three months ... by which point I might be past the point of no return with the work.

Meds ? Bucketloads of co-codamol and ibuprufen, no major side effects apart from constipation & occasional nausea.

If sciatica is a long lasting condition does that mean I'm protected under the disability laws from dismissal ? I'm not even at the dismissal stage yet, my employer has only "expressed concern" and I'm not even at stage one of the warning process.

I'm just so worried. I've never been laid low this length of time before, I'm missing so much at work, my poor colleagues are having to struggle on in my absence, I feel rotten for them. And just a bit down I guess ... starting to get cabin fever a little bit.

I also have sciatica so I feel your pain, quite literally

I don't know what your financial position is but if you can it may be worth paying for physio privately, I was told that the longer you wait the more likely the you are to relapse in future. I fell when I was pg and my symptoms were blamed on the baby pressing on a nerve and later my body "getting back to normal" :rolleyes: It wasn't until years later that I was finally diagnosed with sciatica, I went for a pysio session and that's when I was told it was pretty much too late to do anything to help, I should have been referred directly after my fall.

As for the meds, I am also on a mix of codeine and ibuprofen, I find taking them with fresh orange juice helps with the constipation, doesn't do much for nausea but I prefer feeling slightly acidy and sick than having pains from not being able to go to the loo

I also have tramadol, but try my very very best not to take them as they totally knock me out and as a single parent I don't like to be totally out of it in case the kids need me. (I've only needed one prescription for them in the last 12 months thats how infrequently I try to take them, the surgery keep phoning me up to see why I haven't asked for a repeat prescription yet lol) But you might want to give them a try if your GP will prescribe them for you, I know a lot of people who take them with no side affects.

Hope you feel better soon.

Poppy9

Another suffer here. Only been 30 years!:eek: :eek:

I was knocked over by a car in my teens and it has caused some unspecified damage to my spine which triggers of sciatica. Mine manifests itself as severe hip pain which is so bad I cannot lie on my side plus I get leg numbness and sometimes they give out under me.

GPs are useless when it comes to back pain and just try to manage it as diagnosing the problem through scans makes little difference to treatment and outcome according to doc.!

Anyway I have a mixture of painkillers and physio during flare ups. I too am office based and sometimes it's agony sitting in work.

I had a workstation assessment so I have a full adjustable chair with arm supports, footrest, gel wrist rests etc. as if you are not sitting properly it will aggreviate the problem.

For the last two months I've been taking Ibrofen Retard which are time/slow release pain killers that you just take 2 of at night (you can top up with other non Ibrofen painkillers if needed during the day). I find them very good but they do cause water retention. I've also been going for physio where I've been put into traction for 20-30 minutes at a time and pulled apart. Feels great afterwards though pain can be an issue the following day, though this is normal apparently.

My GP gets me urgent physio referrals so I never wait more than a week after seeing him and I can even just ring the physio if desperate as I'm on her client list.

Try to keep moving, I know easier said than done, and gentle stretching. Ask your workplace to review your working enviroment with particular emphasis on your chair, desk, filing cabinets etc. I refuse point blank to be involved in emptying filing cabinets to archive off files as it creases my back. I do get some sarky remarks but I don't care anymore.