osteopathy

[scrappy123]

ive been off work for three weeks now with a sciatica mostly on my hip and leg, does anyone no if a osteopath would help?

[squarebear]

Haven't you been to the doctors?

[boxtops]

Your GP would advise as SB says, and in some areas you can get a referral on the NHS I believe.
I've used an osteopath when I had whiplash - it was scary but it worked.

[coccinelle]

Yes. But it has to be a good one. Ask around. If it's a good one you only need one appointment (at the most two) and within 4 days the sciatica has gone.

[ladyalex]

I would agree that a good osteopath would be very helpful. The difference mine made was remarkable . I would agree with coccinelle that you should ask around and that it should take only a very few appointments...3 or 4 at the very most.

Good luck, it really is miserable.

[Sqad]

Sciatica is a symptom not a disease...........hadn´t you better get a medical diagnosis before you embark on empirical treatments?

[Jemisa]

I had sciatica a few years back & I think its one of the most painful conditions one can have, The pain in my leg was soo bad if someone had offered to chop it off I would have let them.
I went to my GP he referred me to the hospital, I had an MRI scan, it showed a slipped disc pressing on my sciatic nerve.
I had cortisone injections in my spine to reieve it. - After a few days it was fine & have had no probs since.

jem

[sandyRoe]

Your GP should be your first port of call. They'd prescribe some pain-killers and refer you to a Physio. Sciatica caused by slipped discs is not something I'd wish on my worst enemy.

[ladyalex]

I presumed that as scrappy123 had been off work for 3 weeks they had been to their GP.....most people need certificates for absences as long as that.
If you haven't been to the GP, that should be the first place to go.

[Whoever]

An osteopath might well help but longer term you need to be addressing the cause of the pain. If you're into self-help, The Back Sufferers Bible by Sarah Kay (who is a well known physiotherapist) is a very informative book which lists and describes in detailw with diagrams the causes of a lot of back pain. She also provides details of exercises, which if done regularly, will help to keep your spine in good condition.