Mortgage free in Forever Home :-)

WelshmansDaughter

Perhaps the drinking a lot over Christmas is linked to the pain increase? Offering this as a potential cause in a totally non judgmental way 

Suffolksue

ring if he’s howling on his knees then ting 999 now 

KajiKita

WelshmansDaughter said:

Perhaps the drinking a lot over Christmas is linked to the pain increase? Offering this as a potential cause in a totally non judgmental way 

I don’t see how this could be linked. 

Suffolksue said:

ring if he’s howling on his knees then ting 999 now 

I did all this yesterday. Without ‘red flag’ symptoms (I’m well versed in these now), they are not interested. Just prescribe (ineffective) pain relief and leave you to it. 

KK

Less_Talk_and_More_Action

Hi @KajiKita. I havnt posted for a good while but still following along.  So sorry to hear about Mr KK and his sciatic pain.  I thought I would share what helped me.  

I had terrible sciatica from a herniated disc a few years ago.  Similar to Me KK nothing really touched the pain - I could be doubled up with it some days and hit the floor a few times when I stood up and the pain was so unbearable.  As you say, A&E didn’t want to know unless you had symptoms of CES when bowel/bladder function impacted.  It got so bad that I took a month off work, unpaid, as I couldn’t cope with it all.  I’d been to physio, chiropractor etc and nothing made any difference.  

I genuinely thought I wouldn’t be able to carry on working at that point and the pain was constant. My GP referred me to a consultant but suggested that, whilst waiting, I looked at the exercises by Robin MacKenzie (awell known NZ physiotherapist- now retired).  He has a book called Heal your own Back, but the exercises will come up in google. 

After doing the exercises a couple of times (had to get on the floor which wasn’t easy) I had some relief with the searing pain in my leg easing and over a few weeks all symptoms were relieved.  I get an occasional episode now but the exercises help.  I don’t do them every day but just time to time.  

I see you’ve had a lot of advice so feel free to ignore.  I just couldn’t read this and not share what effectively saved me as I can relate to your very accurate description of Mr KK’s pain. There are lots of reviews on Amazon in relation to the book - but really about the exercises and that gives a fair idea of symptoms vs effectiveness of exercises. 

I hope this helps and sending all my thoughts to Mr KK for an improvement in his pain and to you because my husband felt totally helpless when I was in such pain and that’s horrible as well.  

L x 

KajiKita

Thank you so much @Less_Talk_and_More_Action, that’s exactly what is going on with him. 

I will have a look and see if I can get him doing these exercises.

KK

Less_Talk_and_More_Action

They are quite simple @KajiKita and although I found it difficult to get on the floor they were worth the effort.  Basically they work on the principle that sciatica occurs because an issue with the disc flares up and displaces or traps a nerve so the key is to relieve that.  

I can only go on my own experience but I couldn’t read about Mr KK’s terrible pain and not at least give you the info because I can honestly say I know how he feels and it is just unbearable.  It is going to sound extreme but I just was at the end of my ability to cope with the pain when I did the exercises.  

Sending warmest wishes for an improvement. 

L x 

greenbee

I second the suggestion of McKenzie exercises. They're very different to what most physios recommend, and the ones where you lie on your front and lift your chest provide me with almost immediate relief. https://www.spine-health.com/wellness/exercise/7-mckenzie-method-exercises-back-pain-and-sciatica

I'm also fond of both hot water bottles and ice - often alternating. Eating spicy foods is also helpful. Particularly if they are so spicy they distract you from the pain. Although not recommended if you have a sensitive tummy and struggle to get to the loo... Chilli creams for arthritis are also interesting - I think they increase blood flow to the area. Or just make something different hurt and distract you... Just don't get confused and give him a chilli-infused epsom-salt bath. Mind you, that might just work... 

Less_Talk_and_More_Action

Totally agree @greenbee.  I had almost immediate relief from those exercises although it took a few weeks for a complete resolution. They just took away the acute aspect, the worst of the pain and enabled me to function.  I kept them up and saw a consistent improvement.  Funnily enough neither the chiropractor or the specialist back physio I saw several times or my best friend (a physio) mentioned them to me and my GP told me he had only mentioned them to me because another patient had told him they were helpful…yet they are a really well known approach to sciatica (I later found out). 

L x 

KajiKita

I tried to get him to do the first Mackenzie exercise but he just couldn’t. It ended up with him screaming and writhing around. 

It’s been a looooong day …

KK

debtfreewannabe321

Aw I completely sympathise with Mr KK. I hope it eases off soon ☹️. The worst I ever had it I had full body spasms. I ended up at the chiropractor which left me in tears for days but it did help me a lot. It was my chiro that showed me the exercises to do and also the pressure points in your buttocks to press on (they hurt but they work very quickly!) I really hope he manages to sleep tonight with it (and you too as there is nothing worse than feeling helpless).