Sciatica - how do you cope?

mumoftwins

Morning everyone,

I have really bad sciatica and wondered how you cope with it please? I have awful trouble just trying to sit comfortably on the settee to watch tv or just read/chat - I'm always fidgeting trying to get into a position which isn't painful.

At night I start off reasonably ok with a hottie against my back/hip/buttock, but as the night wears on I am woken with the awful nagging pain in my buttock and have to get up, so only manage about 4 hours sleep per night.

I take co-dydramol during the day and a slow release version at night. I have tried various other pain relief but none seem to get rid of the awful pain even the medication I take now doesn't seem to help for than 3/4 hours.

The advice I am looking for is how to cope really rather than medication as I know this is not allowed on the forum.

Thanks for reading.

Space_donkey

mumoftwins wrote: »

Morning everyone,

I have really bad sciatica and wondered how you cope with it please? I have awful trouble just trying to sit comfortably on the settee to watch tv or just read/chat - I'm always fidgeting trying to get into a position which isn't painful.

At night I start off reasonably ok with a hottie against my back/hip/buttock, but as the night wears on I am woken with the awful nagging pain in my buttock and have to get up, so only manage about 4 hours sleep per night.

I take co-dydramol during the day and a slow release version at night. I have tried various other pain relief but none seem to get rid of the awful pain even the medication I take now doesn't seem to help for than 3/4 hours.

The advice I am looking for is how to cope really rather than medication as I know this is not allowed on the forum.

Thanks for reading.

You have my sympathy. I cant help but I have had it and it was terrible. Fortunately it went away after a while.

beedeedee

My husband laid on our sofa with sciatica for over 18 months - unable most of that time to even stand let alone walk. Eventually he ended up on morphine salts on prescription (don't want to alarm you here) but went down every possible route on the NHS - then someone recommended an osteopath. Now, we don't know if it got better because of, or in spite of the osteo....but the pain went away and (touch wood !) has never come back. It might be worth trying.

tenacioust123

Have you been referred to a physio or a pain management clinic? If not then speak to your doctor. This may sound stupid but you need to keep moving and this can be helped by good pain control, not always medication but a Tens machine or accupunture, this can all be done through a Pain management clinic.

A hot water bottle works for me too, I understand how difficult it can be to get comfortable. I use loads of pillows and lay on my side with the pillows all around me which helps.

I wish you all the best.

Tina

baccyman

you might find an orthopedic matress a bit of help because they are firm your body does not get into a curved shape in the night,
and as said before an osteopath can be a great help or a chiropractor can be of help aswell.

tattoed_bum

i also have it and my sympathies go out to you ,
i have tried accupunture that seemed to make it worse .
i am also on the morphine based pain killers these just take the edge of but dont help fully .
but what i have found helps loads is the tens machine i use this for about an hour before bedtime and it helps me get a sleep of sorts

mumoftwins

Hi,

Thanks for all the replies.

I have had sciatica before many years ago, and have also suffered from a bad back (2 degenerative discs) for many, many years and also have trochanteric bursitis, but the sciatica seems to be winning in the pain stakes at the moment.

I have used a chiropractor for 14 years but it is only in the last few months that I have had to stop due to finances and it now really shows that I am having no treatment.

I am due for an MRI scan on May 22nd and then back to see the Consultant soon after, but in the meantime I just need to be able to cope with the pain. I think a Tens machine may well be a good idea, I saw them in Boots today and believe that Lloyds Chemist do one too which is cheaper.

Where did you get yours from tenacioust123 and tattoed bum please? Is there anything in particular that it should have that makes it better than another version?

tenacioust123

mumoftwins wrote: »

Hi,

Thanks for all the replies.

I have had sciatica before many years ago, and have also suffered from a bad back (2 degenerative discs) for many, many years and also have trochanteric bursitis, but the sciatica seems to be winning in the pain stakes at the moment.

I have used a chiropractor for 14 years but it is only in the last few months that I have had to stop due to finances and it now really shows that I am having no treatment.

I am due for an MRI scan on May 22nd and then back to see the Consultant soon after, but in the meantime I just need to be able to cope with the pain. I think a Tens machine may well be a good idea, I saw them in Boots today and believe that Lloyds Chemist do one too which is cheaper.

Where did you get yours from tenacioust123 and tattoed bum please? Is there anything in particular that it should have that makes it better than another version?

I tried one from the pain clinic, sadly it didn't work for me as I have metal in my back. Thats the good thing about pain clinics you can try things out before you lay out a cost. If you know anyone that has one ask if you can try it out for a while. Or like I said earlier have a word with your Doc to get refered to a pain clinic.

Good luck

PolishBigSpender

Just a quick note to say that although I don't have any advice, you have my utmost sympathy for suffering with such a condition.

mumoftwins

tenacioust123 wrote: »

I tried one from the pain clinic, sadly it didn't work for me as I have metal in my back. Thats the good thing about pain clinics you can try things out before you lay out a cost. If you know anyone that has one ask if you can try it out for a while. Or like I said earlier have a word with your Doc to get refered to a pain clinic.

Good luck

My GP referred me to the Pain Clinic but they just referred me straight onto a back specialist at the local hospital!

Got myself some of those pain relief heat pads yesterday, so got into bed ready to put one on for the night and the instructions said 'do not use whilst sleeping' - sprayed Deep Heat on instead! Still didn't help me sleep through

I'm back at work today (p/t) so hopefully things will be a bit better as I will pottering around all morning - as tenacioust123 says it is easier when I keep moving just so damned painful when trying to rest/watch tv or suchlike.

tattoed_bum

hi , i had mine from lloyds i would say spend that little extra and get a 4 pad one i think they are about £15 .
i found the heat pads and heat rub made mine worse ,the cold one was really painful to put on but seemed to work a little better