Sciatic back pain and osteoarthritis in knees

Ladywriter1968

Hi there

I get bouts of sciatica back pain which can last several weeks at a time, before I only got it once a year but now am getting it 3-4 times a year for long periods of time, it brings me down and just take pain killers. and do exercise.

I have seen a physiotherapist and the problem is degeneration of spine and arthritis of the knees. I try my best to live a normal life but when I get a flare up its hard at times to stay positive.

I was told that the older I get the more pain will develop. So not having much to look forward to then. Last resort the operation. Which scares me as known people who had it and its made then worse and not worked.

Its worse when I get up and am limping about and feel like 100 years old when it strikes.

I am trying really hard to lose weight but everything takes its time.

Before you wonder do I claim any benefits no I dont because my husband works full time and I cant work in this pain. I used to before it got worse. Private treatments are too expensive and nhs only offer certain treatments.

I really do try to stay positive and live my life but at times its hard when in agony with this sciatic pain. I get pain in back and down my legs down to my foot and had to go to emergency the other week at hospital as the pain was to much.

They dont have many answers with spinal problems and lots of us just suffer in agony making our life a misery. or end up addicted to pain killers.

I put up this thread as wondered if anyone else is going through the same as me...

I just want my life back again, I am also in my late 40's so getting older does not help degeneration and weakness.

I cant sit for long and cant stand in one spot for long, when I walk I find it starts to ease off but then my arthritic knees start to hurt. It seems to ease one problem and then put pressure on the other. I get pins n needles as well in my leg and foot and slight loss of feeling.

I guess at the moment I am just generally fed up.

[Deleted User]

Two suggestions, claim PIP its not income related and ask your GP to refer you to the pain clinic.

micky2phones

Ladywriter1968 wrote: »

Hi there

I get bouts of sciatica back pain which can last several weeks at a time, before I only got it once a year but now am getting it 3-4 times a year for long periods of time, it brings me down and just take pain killers. and do exercise.

I have seen a physiotherapist and the problem is degeneration of spine and arthritis of the knees. I try my best to live a normal life but when I get a flare up its hard at times to stay positive.

I was told that the older I get the more pain will develop. So not having much to look forward to then. Last resort the operation. Which scares me as known people who had it and its made then worse and not worked.

Its worse when I get up and am limping about and feel like 100 years old when it strikes.

I am trying really hard to lose weight but everything takes its time.

Before you wonder do I claim any benefits no I dont because my husband works full time and I cant work in this pain. I used to before it got worse. Private treatments are too expensive and nhs only offer certain treatments.

I really do try to stay positive and live my life but at times its hard when in agony with this sciatic pain. I get pain in back and down my legs down to my foot and had to go to emergency the other week at hospital as the pain was to much.

They dont have many answers with spinal problems and lots of us just suffer in agony making our life a misery. or end up addicted to pain killers.

I put up this thread as wondered if anyone else is going through the same as me...

I just want my life back again, I am also in my late 40's so getting older does not help degeneration and weakness.

I cant sit for long and cant stand in one spot for long, when I walk I find it starts to ease off but then my arthritic knees start to hurt. It seems to ease one problem and then put pressure on the other. I get pins n needles as well in my leg and foot and slight loss of feeling.

I guess at the moment I am just generally fed up.

Hi, i am the same as yourself but alot worse, you do need to pace yourself, try not to give in, there are lots of people the same as you and me.

I use to go to a group meeting at the hospital for people with Arthritis which helps as they all knew what i was going though and vice versa.

Yes being fed up at times is part of it but even if you were in top health you would still be fed up at times, its just the fact we dont/cant remeber them times.

I have had all kinds of creams, tablets , physio, acupunture, C.B.T and been to pain clinics. If i can help in anyway just ask

teddysmum

I've had several herniated discs for at least 7 years and these cause various coming and going symptoms like pain (almost anywhere and moving as one is relieved),numbness, myoclonus (involuntary spasms),loss of balance and they are getting worse, as at least one is now touching my spinal cord (not helped by a car accident last week; not my fault),but you can't give in or your life becomes pointless.


I walk the dogs (not far) most days and if up to it , exercise using my Wii, so if I feel unbalanced or pain, I can sit down instead of being marooned away from home.


I have to exercise, as I have diabetes, (among other things),meaning I can't eat what I please.


It's not fair, but life isn't fair, so you have to make the best of it.

Ladywriter1968

venison wrote: »

Two suggestions, claim PIP its not income related and ask your GP to refer you to the pain clinic.

Hi, thank you, I will find out more about these as I didnt even know pip existed or what it was to be honest. but I just looked it up.

Ladywriter1968

Hi

Thanks everyone for replies..

Tiddlywinks

micky2phones wrote: »

Hi, i am the same as yourself but alot worse, ......

This type of comment really gets my blood boiling. How the heck do you know that your condition is 'a lot worse' than the OP's?

It's not a competition you know!

Anyway, back to the original post... I have sciatica and arthritis (as well as a few other related rheumatic conditions) so I know how it impacts on my life.

Here's a website with info on types of pain and possible management regimes.

http://painconcern.org.uk/

Have a look at some of the research into the use of amitriptyline for helping nerve pain and maybe discuss this with your GP.

On a daily basis, I find that my mind can only deal with so many senses at once and that occupying my consciousness with other things lessens my perception of pain.

If I'm sitting and doing nothing then my brain is screaming 'ouch, ouch, it hurts sooooo much' and I start dwelling on how unfair it is.... but then if I put on some upbeat music to sing along to and also read a good book or go out and meet some friends then my mind is forced to spread itself over a number of tasks and so can't dwell as much on the pain.

I look at it like this... I'm in pain and it will hurt regardless so I can either sit and do nothing or get up and do something that I might enjoy (despite the pain).

Part of managing pain is about accepting it. It's an unlucky roll of the dice, just like any other condition and we just have to find a way of living with it as, currently, there is nothing that can take it away.

Ask your GP for some pain management counselling.

DomRavioli

Hi OP,

I'm a little younger than you (30) and have had spinal surgery in the last year, and have had a few ops on the knees (and am awaiting a new knee when one becomes available). I have other disabilities as well.

I know how challenging nerve pain can be - perhaps speak with your GP about some of the newer drugs, perhaps research Pregabalin (makes you fat but less painful in some instances) and others of a similar nature. Having been on morphine for some time, not all pain killers work for all types of pain. Maybe a referral to the pain clinic might be an idea when you next see your GP too.

Pain is partly in your head, as in the more you think about it, the more it hurts. Doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt, you just have to find ways to cope, be that meds, distraction, hobbies, exercise, anything.

I think your GP will be the first port of call - write it all down and give them the letter as I struggle to get my words out sometimes!

Ladywriter1968

DomRavioli wrote: »

Hi OP,

I'm a little younger than you (30) and have had spinal surgery in the last year, and have had a few ops on the knees (and am awaiting a new knee when one becomes available). I have other disabilities as well.

I know how challenging nerve pain can be - perhaps speak with your GP about some of the newer drugs, perhaps research Pregabalin (makes you fat but less painful in some instances) and others of a similar nature. Having been on morphine for some time, not all pain killers work for all types of pain. Maybe a referral to the pain clinic might be an idea when you next see your GP too.

Pain is partly in your head, as in the more you think about it, the more it hurts. Doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt, you just have to find ways to cope, be that meds, distraction, hobbies, exercise, anything.

I think your GP will be the first port of call - write it all down and give them the letter as I struggle to get my words out sometimes!

How was you after the surgery on your back?
Has it helped you?
How long was the recovery process after surgery?

Thanks.

Tiddlywinks

Ladywriter1968 wrote: »

How was you after the surgery on your back?
Has it helped you?
How long was the recovery process after surgery?

Thanks.

Other people's experiences aren't relevant to you though - everyone is an individual and every condition will require its own treatment plan and have its own recovery process.

You need to discuss your issues with your GP.

micky2phones

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

This type of comment really gets my blood boiling. How the heck do you know that your condition is 'a lot worse' than the OP's?

It's not a competition you know!

Anyway, back to the original post... I have sciatica and arthritis (as well as a few other related rheumatic conditions) so I know how it impacts on my life.

Here's a website with info on types of pain and possible management regimes.

http://painconcern.org.uk/

Have a look at some of the research into the use of amitriptyline for helping nerve pain and maybe discuss this with your GP.

On a daily basis, I find that my mind can only deal with so many senses at once and that occupying my consciousness with other things lessens my perception of pain.

If I'm sitting and doing nothing then my brain is screaming 'ouch, ouch, it hurts sooooo much' and I start dwelling on how unfair it is.... but then if I put on some upbeat music to sing along to and also read a good book or go out and meet some friends then my mind is forced to spread itself over a number of tasks and so can't dwell as much on the pain.

I look at it like this... I'm in pain and it will hurt regardless so I can either sit and do nothing or get up and do something that I might enjoy (despite the pain).

Part of managing pain is about accepting it. It's an unlucky roll of the dice, just like any other condition and we just have to find a way of living with it as, currently, there is nothing that can take it away.

Ask your GP for some pain management counselling.

Answers like yours makes me smile the OP was/is suffering a lot, so yes you are right i dont know their condition. But do you know mind ? NO

I was hoping me saying that may put the OP in a more positive mindset knowing that many others out there with similar conditions and not reminding them about how bad their condition was