Sciatica

[Milo2]

I’ve been diagnosed with this. I know that I can look online but has anyone got any personal experience of what helped them, apart from pain relief.

[rowanwitch]

A very good physiotherapist and gentle exercises in a swimming pool after it settled down.

[jourdain2]

I get it a lot (displaced vertebra). Heat helps tremendously. My doctor said 1 gram of paracetamol needed by the way, don't mess with smaller doses. Rest when it's bad. If you can find someone reasonably cheap, get a back massage ( my beautician was also a masseur) to relieve spasm. Then it's gentle stretching exercises. Swimming will help to exercise without bearing weight, but I'm told that an exercise bike is also effective. You have my sympathy.

[windywillow]

May I also ask a question please? I too have been diagnosed with Sciatica.

Was prescribed Naproxen but it didn't take the pain away. Can anyone recommend a painkiller that worked for them? (Sorry to butt in, Milo2).

[Milo2]

No problem windywillow. I’ve been given codeine but only for a week. Thank you Rowan and Jourdain for your suggestions. Until this weekend, I hadn’t realised just how painful it can be.

[windywillow]

Thank you Milo2. I too didn't realise how bad the pain would be. I could hardly walk, it was that bad. I've had it a couple of times since being diagnosed, got to say it was not as bad as the first time, thank God.

[jourdain2]

Last week (it's eased off now) I was taking Co-Codamol 30/500. I should also echo rowanwitches suggestion of a good phsio, but they are pricey and hard to find. I have found a dual qualified phsio/osteo and he's wonderful when all else fails.

[gingejbee]

The only painkiller that was effective for me was diclofenac, while waiting for spinal surgery.
In fact, I've had two spinal ops ...surgery was the only thing that actually improved the problem.

[ladybirder]

I use Zapain but it's by prescription only.

[pat2604]

I'm on the waiting list for spinal surgery to stop my constant sciatica. The surgeon isn't sure that it will work in my case. The only painkillers I'm allowed are parcetsmol

[gness]

For me it was finding a brilliant acupuncturist.....many will disagree with that but it worked so well and suited me better than painkillers.

[sunny-dave]

Massage and an exercise plan from a trained physio with access to MRI imaging helped me - worth every penny I paid for the MRI and the subsequent treatment [ often the best place to look for the right sort of person is a sports injury clinic - even if you are an unsporty person like me ].

Acupuncture helped too - referred by my GP.

[windywillow]

Thanks all, much appreciated.

[Milo2]

And a thank you from me.

[bobbie22]

For me it was a TENS. Machine. It helped a lot. Can be bought from chemists. Not too expensive.

[jourdain2]

Pat - I'm in the same boat. I've seen a spinal surgeon - but there is no guarantee that surgery will work with me either, it could make it worse, and the potential negatives are pretty awful. I've been controlling it for years, but as I get older and more arthritic - it gets more difficult and I'm back to wondering about surgery again.

[windywillow]

I've been reading some reviews about the TENS machine, I see I can get one from Argos, it's not far from where I live. Think I'll give it a go.

Thanks again all.

[alinic]

Hi let us know how you get on with the tens machine, I suffered for months with it and nothing would touch it! It's settled now, but I dread it coming back. Thankyou. Xx