Back pain/Sciatica

[Fizzwhizz2020]

I would really recommend an osteopath if you can afford it as they work wonders. I’ve suffered with back pain where it spasms and I can barely walk for weeks and that is usually followed by 3 months or so of siatica. It’s so excruciating. I went to a brilliant neuromuscular skeletal therapist and the back pain has never come back and never had siatica since. It turns out it wasn’t my back, but my hips and the fact that I used to lick my knees when standing. I tired every pain medication, heat patches, cold patches everything and it all just masked the issue x

Lock my knees . No wonder if have had back trouble trying to lick them

 

[swimming]

I’m pregnant and currently suffering badly with sciatica. I’ve been to my chiropractor today who did some trigger point pressure on the area near my bum cheek and oh my god it hurt so so bad but he said he could feel the blockage in the fibres releasing under the trigger point so my sciatica should ease up with a couple of treatments.

Ive nothing against taking pain meds but in my experience they just mask the underlying issue. Go see a chiropractor or at the very least, bother your GP if this is an ongoing issue

 

[HitchhikingGhost]

I had sciatica and turned out it was a slipped disc.

Docs kept fobbing me off and said they could put me on a wait list for physio. Eventually they gave me an MRI where the disc had herniated so much I had to have it operated on. Just to say keep going back to your docs if you're still suffering as the constant pain made me miserable

 

[koko1234]

I have had sciatica pain every day for 6 years after a decompression op. I have what they call referred pain now and am under Pain Management on the NHS. I take cocodemol when I really need them otherwise I go to the gym have a hot sauna then a cold dip in the pool a hot/cold treatment works for me it's still there in my bum and down my leg but I just live with it now ....also a hot water bottle helps me. Has all sorts over the years some made it worse some eased it for a day but it always comes back.....

I found the bio freeze gel from boots helped , its awful tho I’ve finally been referred to a neurologist so hoping they make help, im currently on morphine patches as I am very sensitive to a lot of medication, doing yoga stretches , tried a physio , i just want to go back to normal

 

[JLXRD]

I have put an ice pack on this morning after a big struggle getting out of bed so hoping it does some good! Felt a bit painful to start with but now just numb so fingers crossed it is doing me some good

 

[swimming]

I’m suffering really bad with sciatica at the moment , has a mri done , slipped disk , waiting months for referrals , had one session with a physio , told me run up and down the stairs ,can any one suggest anything to help me thanks in a lot of pain

Get to a chiropractor! If you live in Essex I can recommend a fabulous one. I had a prolapsed disk that just went one day when I bent down to pull my jeans up.

Chiropractor will just put you back into place and your body heals itself. I despise physio as 9 times out of 10 they don’t know what they are talking about

 

[PunkRocker]

I've been suffering with what is apparently sciatica for a couple of months now. Never had anything like it before, I think it's another joyous postpartum problem. I've just been plodding on and hoping it will go away by itself but no such luck. I went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago and was pretty much fobbed off. He told me to avoid bending and lifting and to sit on a high-backed dining room chair Pretty useless advice as I was literally sat there with an almost 7 month old, how do I avoid bending and lifting with him?!
I've been doing stretches and keeping moving as much as possible but I'm in pain when I sit to feed the baby or try get up while I'm holding him. I think I'll have to go back and hopefully see a different doctor.

 

[GetOffMyLawn]

Ugh I feel your pain, in fact... I’ve been suffering with sciatica on and off for the last ten years and Currently suffering with a flare right now. The hot and cold method is really effective, as is regular pain medication - the key is consistency though; space out the tablets at regular intervals and try not to eek them out. I also take amitriptyline but have other co-mornidities/underlying health issues. The idea is to get maximum pain relief. I can’t comment on TENS as I have epilepsy so please read the section for pre-existing medical conditions carefully!

and please... even though your body will protest, keep moving. If after a week it hasn’t improved, I’d think about seeing your gp just to confirm it is sciatica and not something else (slipped disc etc). Hang in there

 

[Joon]

I have had sciatica pain every day for 6 years after a decompression op. I have what they call referred pain now and am under Pain Management on the NHS. I take cocodemol when I really need them otherwise I go to the gym have a hot sauna then a cold dip in the pool a hot/cold treatment works for me it's still there in my bum and down my leg but I just live with it now ....also a hot water bottle helps me. Has all sorts over the years some made it worse some eased it for a day but it always comes back.....

 

[Notworthy]

Difference between an Osteopath and a Chiropractor (healthcentre.org.uk)
I personally always use a Osteopath as I don't like the cracking plus 90% of back pain actually comes from the muscles, particularly the bum muscles

 

[Zulkraa]

Difference between an Osteopath and a Chiropractor (healthcentre.org.uk)
I personally always use a Osteopath as I don't like the cracking plus 90% of back pain actually comes from the muscles, particularly the bum muscles

My glutes cause me so many problems including back and knee pain. I’ve not had sciatica for a while, but it’s decided to make an appearance. I wouldn’t wish back pain/sciatica on my worse enemy. Everyone on this thread has my sympathy ‍🩹

 

[Base2019]

Chiropractor recommended a tennis ball in back jeans pocket and roll it around whilst lying/sitting down. Said it hits the right place to loosen the area when not able to get to see her (she was quite a distance away and was worried about undoing her good work on the drive home in the car) used this tip many times since and it’s great

 

[noseypitch]

I hv suffered with lower back pain for 2 years, I suspect its sciatica but never had it diagnosed as such. I flare up from doin the least little thing and when it comes my mobility is gone and the pain is awful. I usually go to a chiropractor when it is really bad and the relief comes after a few days. He tells me to do specific exercises in between that helps but it's hard to keep up with it chasing round after children all day. After reading this thread I'll be stretchin for the next 2 hours .

 

[Jxtina]

I suffer with sciatica too - it flared up just before Christmas. I got some extra strong ibuprofen from the chemist and I also use the deep freeze cream/spray. Heat does nothing for me but cold works wonders.

 

[LennyBriscoe]

I hate to be a scaremonger but my husband had had bouts of sciatica over the years and thought it had happened again in 2015 but it got worse quickly and it turned out he had Cauda Equina Syndrome. He spent 5 months in hospital and is lucky to be walking again, albeit he is disabled.

I think that is fairly rare and you obviously know your own body best so please don’t hesitate to speak to your Doctor if it gets worse.

 

[Definitelyme]

I used to make my husband go at my thigh with a tennis ball sounds like some weird foreplay, but it helped the pain so so much.

He actually used to do it with his knuckles but my physio almost had heart failure and said he would wreck me and use a tennis ball instead

 

[alwayslurkin]

I do exercises every. Single. Day. For mine because if I don't sometimes it flares up so bad I can't get out of bed.

It's one of those where movement helps more than rest, but when I rest it I don't feel pain!

 

[Plasticbox]

I had sciatica and turned out it was a slipped disc.

Docs kept fobbing me off and said they could put me on a wait list for physio. Eventually they gave me an MRI where the disc had herniated so much I had to have it operated on. Just to say keep going back to your docs if you're still suffering as the constant pain made me miserable

this exact thing happened to me. I was fobbed off for years and was on the strongest pain relief you can imagine for years. Had an operation and was sadly addicted to the medication so had that to cope with too.People commented after my operation and said how different my face looked as I wasn’t in constant pain. I would 100% recommend you push for a MRI or pay privately for one.

 

[JLXRD]

When I herniated a disc years ago and had back spasms as a result I was told cold but it hurt.

Was reading when it went again a few months back and saw about alternating and I must say it really helped me.

Also if you can afford it, buy a TENS machine. I bought one for about £30 off amazon and that has also helped. Especially when you can't take any more painkillers.

I’ll pop some ice packs in the freezer I think and try it tomorrow.

I was looking at a tens machine on Amazon earlier for about £30, but wasn’t sure if it would help much so will definitely have another look! Thanks.

 

[AllSeeingEye123]

Hi all,

I have had on and off back pain and sciatica since I was 21. I’m now 27. Earlier in the year I had 6 weeks where I was really limited in my movements I could do but it resolved itself after a lot of rest.

Last weekend I pulled something some how and since then it has got progressively worse to the point where today I can’t sit up or stand up today. I can’t even sit up long enough to eat a meal. I feel completely miserable.

The doctor will just tell me to do my physio stretches and if I’m lucky may give me a muscle relaxant but obvs I can’t call til Tuesday due to the holidays.

Anyone else suffer with this and have any tips to alleviate the pain? Any over the counter medicines?

I have tried a hot bath, hot water bottles, ibuprofen and deep heat today but I’m still in so much pain, I can’t even do most of my physio at the min so gentle exercise is a no for now.

I’m so scared of the prospect that this will take weeks again

Ask for a hospital scan. Someone close to me had back pain and it went to the hip. At the start they had to push themselves up from a chair or get up more sidewards. They didn't have any symptoms of anything serious (blood at toilet, weight loss, feeling ill etc) so they wasn't worried. Gradually over a couple of weeks it got better and better but they still went for a hospital scan they were sent to when at their worst. The result came back with a bit of arthritis to put their mind at ease. Now it's around three months later and it's no pain at all helped on the way by stuff like Deep Heat and Tiger Balm. When it did hurt exercise helped such as a brisk walk rather than stiffening up stuck on a sofa.