Sciatica, who's had/got it and how did you get rid of it?

[RetroTed]

So I have sciatica in my left leg and the pain is immense
I have seen my gp and I am awaiting to see a physiotherapist in a few weeks but I am wondering if anyone on here has had it and what if anything you did to get rid

There are a few excersises on youtube but nothing has worked

[andym1603]

Had it for years. Done the physio, exercises, traction and accupuncture. None of these worked.
The worst case I had, resulted in me being off work for 3 months. Unable to put any weight on
my legs. When I feel my back tighteningI just take it easy for a few days and all is well again.
Luckily this works for me and have not been off work for some time now.
Co-codemol and Solpadine is a good combination painkiller when needed.
Have you tried a chiropracter?
Andy..

[RetroTed]

andym1603 said:

Had it for years. Done the physio, exercises, traction and accupuncture. None of these worked.
The worst case I had, resulted in me being off work for 3 months. Unable to put any weight on
my legs. When I feel my back tighteningI just take it easy for a few days and all is well again.
Luckily this works for me and have not been off work for some time now.
Co-codemol and Solpadine is a good combination painkiller when needed.
Have you tried a chiropracter?
Andy..

Yes and no joy. I am seeing a physio on monday so hopefully things might be on the up.

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

Ibuprofen and osteopathy, in that order.

[996c2]

andym1603 said:

Co-codemol and Solpadine is a good combination painkiller when needed.

No they are not!

Co-codamol and Solpadeine both contain paracetamol so you're likely to inadvertently overdose on paracetamol and fry your liver!

Take advice from your doctor or the pharmacist. Not random people on the 'net.

[andym1603]

996c2 said:

No they are not!

Co-codamol and Solpadeine both contain paracetamol so you're likely to inadvertently overdose on paracetamol and fry your liver!

Take advice from your doctor or the pharmacist. Not random people on the 'net.

Obvisouly the OP should seek medical advice. These worked for me and were suggested by the local chemist, as over the counter replacements for DF's and another but I cannot remember the name. I was also prescribed Amitriptalyne (sp) and Meptid without much success.

[Condieboy]

My mum's had this a couple times, and I'm afraid she just had to dose herself up on painkillers and ride it out.

The second time she had it for a couple of months, think the doc ended up prescribing diazepam which has pretty much wiped that time from her memory.

[AlVal]

996c2 said:

No they are not!

Co-codamol and Solpadeine both contain paracetamol so you're likely to inadvertently overdose on paracetamol and fry your liver!

Take advice from your doctor or the pharmacist. Not random people on the 'net.

yeah it's very typical that codeine phosphate gets retailed as just one part of an analgesic compound - usually with paracetamol in there too. be aware that there are different ratios of codeine to paracetamol available, I think there's 6 or 7 different ratios of codeine/paracetamol available -if you need strength in the codeine, you want at least 30 codeine to 500 paracetamol. Abusers of these tablets often grind the tablets and dissolve them, then pass them through a coffee filter to filter out the paracetamol (the codeine dissolves much easier than the paracetamol)

I'd never use codeine for anything other than short term relief personally, as the body develops tolerance to it quite quickly

[Zad]

I had a much lesser version of it than you did. A different seating position, moderate exercise and stretching, and heat pack all helped.

[mickk]

Co-Codamol, Diclofenic Sodium and Diazepam. Yes i am in pain.

[wainy]

Micro disectomy, never looked back. Extreme option but it had gone too far and wasn't getting any better.

[Fume troll]

I read this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Treat-Your-Back-Robin-McKe...

I didn't have lower back pain, but that was where the pain in my legs was coming from. Some relatively simple exercises sorted it out. Thank goodness; it's an incredibly unpleasant sort of pain. Like dental pain in the legs.

Cheers,

FT.

[MentalSarcasm]

My Mum had it, along with the exercises she also got a new memory-foam matress which helped a lot, and this weird machine that basically moves your legs in a way that helps untense the muscles around that area of the back which helps with the pain. Can't for the life of me remember what it's called though DX

[mickk]

MentalSarcasm said:

My Mum had it, along with the exercises she also got a new memory-foam matress which helped a lot, and this weird machine that basically moves your legs in a way that helps untense the muscles around that area of the back which helps with the pain. Can't for the life of me remember what it's called though DX

Was it a Tens machine?

[RobM77]

I've had sciatica in my left leg since helping a fat woman who had fallen over last June. It's extremely annoying and just won't go away. I've had a course of physio and am currently trying Osteopathy, neither of which seem to work. I'm on a waiting list to see the pain management team at the local hospital, who are probably going to inject my back with painkillers.

[The Restorer]

Had it last year. Was fortunate enough to have a BUPA checkup who said I had a bulging disk that was then touching a nerve.

Arching my back backwards like so ( , 5 reps 6 times a day over a few weeks helped.

Swimming a couple of times a week helped even more.

[Teixe]

I have it, a little better know after a nerve block injection.
I got an MRI done (suppested by the physiotherapist not the GP) that showed a protrusion of the disc, currently waiting for my next appointment, surgery.

If you can get an MRI done it will show how bad you are, it did for me.

[MentalSarcasm]

mickk said:

MentalSarcasm said:

My Mum had it, along with the exercises she also got a new memory-foam matress which helped a lot, and this weird machine that basically moves your legs in a way that helps untense the muscles around that area of the back which helps with the pain. Can't for the life of me remember what it's called though DX

Was it a Tens machine?

No, managed to find it, it's called "Backlife". Worked really well, now if she can feel it starting again she digs it out and uses it for a few days and it stops it it in it's tracks.

[Ranger 6]

wainy said:

Micro disectomy, never looked back. Extreme option but it had gone too far and wasn't getting any better.

Had a discectomy and a Wallis ligament - extreme, but life changing.

[RobM77]

MentalSarcasm said:

mickk said:

MentalSarcasm said:

My Mum had it, along with the exercises she also got a new memory-foam matress which helped a lot, and this weird machine that basically moves your legs in a way that helps untense the muscles around that area of the back which helps with the pain. Can't for the life of me remember what it's called though DX

Was it a Tens machine?

No, managed to find it, it's called "Backlife". Worked really well, now if she can feel it starting again she digs it out and uses it for a few days and it stops it it in it's tracks.

That's this device I presume:

http://www.backlife.com/

Any other info on how effective it was? I don't really trust online reviews, as there's no way of knowing whether the company themselves have written them!

Inicidentally, I've tried a TENS machine and it did nothing; for me at least.