Discussion
Agony! Started off with lower back pain. Then quickly spread down my left leg. I am now laying on the bed in agony barely able to move. Doc prescribed painkillers but they dont really help. Tried some excersises but they hurt! Any advise? Any ideas how long this will last based on your experiences etc please
I've had mild sciatica for a few years now.
Get anti-inflammatories rather than just painkillers (e.g. ibuprofen rather than paracetamol)
Do the stretching exercises, yes they hurt, but they do help once painkillers are working.
You need to keep doing the exercises even once it goes away; my sciatica seems to come back fairly quickly if I don't...
Get anti-inflammatories rather than just painkillers (e.g. ibuprofen rather than paracetamol)
Do the stretching exercises, yes they hurt, but they do help once painkillers are working.
You need to keep doing the exercises even once it goes away; my sciatica seems to come back fairly quickly if I don't...
I had similar 10 days ago - except no shooting leg pain, gp prescribed diazepam to reduce muscle spasm in addition to the solpadeine and ibuprofen I was already on, 2 days later no real change, still not able to get on my feet. I think its a sacro iliac problem.
Had to call on call service last weekend, doc came out and prescribed morphine, 12 hours later I could stand up but still sore. One week on can walk, but only for 20 mins or so. Off to physio this week with any luck
Had to call on call service last weekend, doc came out and prescribed morphine, 12 hours later I could stand up but still sore. One week on can walk, but only for 20 mins or so. Off to physio this week with any luck
I had it for a while and the doc prescribed sodium diclorfenic tablets. Within hours of taking the first one I could feel a difference and after 24hrs it was completely cleared up. Only available as a prescription so maybe worth trying some Voltarol in the meantime which is similar stuff but available over the counter.
Either way it's anti inflammatory that you want, pain killers won't do anything.
Either way it's anti inflammatory that you want, pain killers won't do anything.
Nasty!
Although not much use to you now, I would recommend getting a Back Support Belt for future use.
These can help relieve the pain by 'pinching' the muscles/joints etc where the nerve is trapped and will give some relief from the agony. They are also good for aching lower backs or for when extra support might be required.
Back exercices/core strengthening is a must from now on and never, never slouch in a chair again!
Although not much use to you now, I would recommend getting a Back Support Belt for future use.
These can help relieve the pain by 'pinching' the muscles/joints etc where the nerve is trapped and will give some relief from the agony. They are also good for aching lower backs or for when extra support might be required.
Back exercices/core strengthening is a must from now on and never, never slouch in a chair again!
I've had sciatica and was a week away from an op but it fixed itself. I've now got permanent "drop foot" which means I can't lift my big toe up on my right foot and a slight Keyser Soze drag. 
I still get spasms but compared to last time where it took ten minutes to put one sock on it's fine.
Over the years I've built my core stomach muscles up to support my spine.
Long term it's a good idea to start using your stomach muscles rather than your back when moving and lifting. Tense them up beforehand. It becomes natural after a while.
I still get spasms but compared to last time where it took ten minutes to put one sock on it's fine.
Over the years I've built my core stomach muscles up to support my spine.
Long term it's a good idea to start using your stomach muscles rather than your back when moving and lifting. Tense them up beforehand. It becomes natural after a while.
At great risk of getting the piss properly taken, this has worked for me recently.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Healing-Back-Pain-John-Sar...
It an alternative approach to how to deal with back pain. I've had a few episodes of sore back over the last 15 years or so. For the last 6 months it's been a constant niggling irritation, steadily getting worse until it starts to take over your life. I spent a few weekends trying to do a bit of DIY and had to stop because it felt like my back was going to 'go' again. Agony. Every step hurt and twinged like someone was sticking a hot blade into the base of my spine with twinges down the legs etc...
Anyways, I mentioned it at work the following week about 10 days ago and one of the guys recommended the book above and a few links about it.
I read them and the pain started to ease of straight away, and now, 10 days later, I'm back to full mobility with the twinging and pain receeding steadily. I can now go hours without even thinking about my back let alone having a twinge.
The whole premise of the book and the approach to how to relieve the pain is to understand that it's being caused by stress and not an actual physical 'defect'. I'll not go into more as reading the book or some related links would be more valuable and well thought out than my ramblings on here. But it's worked for me, it worked for the guy at work, so why not give it some research and see if it makes sense to you?
In a nutshell, ask yourself where all the stomach ulcers that used to be attributed to stress have gone, and how in the same timelines back ache has become the number 1 source of chronic pain. Even though in most cases there appears to be no clear medically identifiable reason for it.
It's interesting and worth a read, it might change how you think about back pain and how you deal with it.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Healing-Back-Pain-John-Sar...
It an alternative approach to how to deal with back pain. I've had a few episodes of sore back over the last 15 years or so. For the last 6 months it's been a constant niggling irritation, steadily getting worse until it starts to take over your life. I spent a few weekends trying to do a bit of DIY and had to stop because it felt like my back was going to 'go' again. Agony. Every step hurt and twinged like someone was sticking a hot blade into the base of my spine with twinges down the legs etc...
Anyways, I mentioned it at work the following week about 10 days ago and one of the guys recommended the book above and a few links about it.
I read them and the pain started to ease of straight away, and now, 10 days later, I'm back to full mobility with the twinging and pain receeding steadily. I can now go hours without even thinking about my back let alone having a twinge.
The whole premise of the book and the approach to how to relieve the pain is to understand that it's being caused by stress and not an actual physical 'defect'. I'll not go into more as reading the book or some related links would be more valuable and well thought out than my ramblings on here. But it's worked for me, it worked for the guy at work, so why not give it some research and see if it makes sense to you?
In a nutshell, ask yourself where all the stomach ulcers that used to be attributed to stress have gone, and how in the same timelines back ache has become the number 1 source of chronic pain. Even though in most cases there appears to be no clear medically identifiable reason for it.
It's interesting and worth a read, it might change how you think about back pain and how you deal with it.
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