Help me reduce my Sciatica pain

[MrGRT]

Anyone has figured out how to reduce Sciatica?
I have it in both legs and I am taking the maximum Lyrica (pregabalin) dosis, 600 mg per day. MRI shows just irritation of the nerve, won't see the pain management specialist until January.

[Kinkell]

Paracetamol took the edge off my sciatica. I was on diclofenac for a long term back problem when I developed sciatica down my right hip and leg. It lasted for 6 weeks and paracetamol made the pain bearable.

[FiF]

I had various exercises to strengthen and assist recovery and flexibility after I broke my right knee last year. Like always had let things slip, as you do, and I suffered a bout of sciatica which to be fair wasn't sufficiently severe to need strong painkiller. Normal paracetamol is sufficient. I then discovered by chance that some of my exercises for the knee and general flexibility are also ones recommended for sciatica. So I started them up again, pushed through the pain and the sciatica went much more rapidly. Not been back since.

Edited for typos and Android auto (in)correct

Edited by FiF on Sunday 17th December 05:32

[Sheets Tabuer]

I used:

Tramadol (as infrequent as I can manage)
Naproxen
Ibuprofen
Valium
amitriptyline
Paracetamol

All at once and it it really brought the pain down, dunno if you can function on it though

The best thing for it was exercise, it was bloody amazing, I joined a gym and don't take a single pill now.

[sas62]

Ibuprofen and Zapain.

[MrGRT]

I take diclofenac, and I will give Paracetamol a go.
I got valium too but haven't tried it because it can't be taken with omeprazol

I am afraid that with exercise it will get worse. Normally that has been the case. I was doing
soft sit ups before it got to this point

Thanks for the directions so far.
Naproxen and ibuprofen are antiflamatories (spelling) same as diclofenac which is supposed to be better and can't be taken together

[s p a c e m a n]

Dicolfenac/naproxen are the only ones that dont make me feel weird, takes a couple of days to work and zapain and baclofen do the job quicker but I'm like a zombie on them. Tried acupuncture? I have to take a much, much lower dosage to manage my problems after someone has been stabbing me with needles.

Just read your last post, get some zapain or baclofen, after 3 days you'll feel like jelly if you take enough but will be feeling proper fuzzy in the head. I can't do more than a few days on it without feeling too weird, but that's more than enough time to get through my bad moments

Edited by s p a c e m a n on Sunday 17th December 07:43

[condor]

I did very gentle exercise - swimming then into the hydro pool where the water jets massage your lower back while you try bicycle pedalling movements with your legs. I was emailed a load of exercises by the NHS physiotherapist, but found swimming to be the best exercise for me.

[FiF]

Hear what you say about exercise OP, but the only one of these not on my knee program was the back extension, but suspect the bridge stretch and arabesque from my routine were doing similar things. The one which helped me most was the knee to chest and hamstring extensions. Take care though.

https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Backpain/Pages/sciatic...

[OctyScout]

Mine was fairly mild so i dont lnow if this will help but:

I tried a few different things including chiropractic, massage and acupuncture. Didnt really help much.

The thing that worked for me was getting a really good foam roller and using it.

[APOLO1]

MrGRT said:

Anyone has figured out how to reduce Sciatica?
I have it in both legs and I am taking the maximum Lyrica (pregabalin) dosis, 600 mg per day. MRI shows just irritation of the nerve, won't see the pain management specialist until January.

Hi
I know how you feel. Back end of 16 I put out L5/S1 in lower back, took an age to heal. When it did it left me with massive Sciatic pain, could not walk for me than 50 Mtrs without in firing off. Like you had the MRIs, showed irritation of the nerve. Was about to try an injection in to lower Spine, But bottled it at last minute due to risks. Then a Sports Dr that I know recommended to try Acupuncture this was back in late April this year. But one that knows what they are doing.

After the first treatment 90% of pain was gone. Have one a month now just to top up. 100% pain free for about 3 Months....

[bearman68]

For me it was Diazipan (muscle relaxant), Ibroprofan, and cocodimal, and good stretching. I was in agony for 6 weeks or more,but this lot killed the pain in a few days.

[DuncsGTi]

I had a partial discectomy and decompression L4/L5 back in 2005, it was absolutely brilliant. No pain whatsoever after the op.

Fast forward 12 years and all of a sudden, I had a huge flare up while skiing 5 days ago. The pain is in the same place as last time (right arsecheek, right ankle and numb right calf) The only thing that even comes close to offering any relief right now is Tramadol. Unfortunately that has left me wandering around like a zombie!!!!
Acupuncture worked for me last time so I might have to try that again.

[Piginapoke]

I had it in my left arm 2 years ago. Agony. Only a major dose of amitriptalyne let me sleep, but I was like a zombie I the daytime.

[Dover Nige]

Zapain and a short spell on diazepam. Alternate heat / cold on the part of the spine that’s doing the pain referral. I opted for the jab which helped me get started on the pilates. Find yourself a well qualified clinical pilates teacher. I did and I’ve not had any issues for ages.

[bucksmanuk]

condor said:

I did very gentle exercise - swimming then into the hydro pool where the water jets massage your lower back while you try bicycle pedalling movements with your legs. I was emailed a load of exercises by the NHS physiotherapist, but found swimming to be the best exercise for me.

Getting in the pool helped me no end, although i must state i didn't have it as bad as some do..

[Coxey]

I too am struggling with sciatica, came on after my hernia operation. I have it down the right side from buttock to ankle bone. I've had it before but not this bad, taking ibroprufen and codiene at the moment, walking helps but driving a Cayman is a nightmare beginning to piss me off now.

[The Ferret]

Coxey said:

I too am struggling with sciatica, came on after my hernia operation. I have it down the right side from buttock to ankle bone. I've had it before but not this bad, taking ibroprufen and codiene at the moment, walking helps but driving a Cayman is a nightmare beginning to piss me off now.

Sounds just like mine a few years ago. Started with a pin prick pain in the side of my thigh, which in hindsight was a warning sign over a few weeks that something wasn't right. Pain then developed in the right arse cheek and just above in the lower back, and extended right down the thigh/calf to the ankle.

An exercise bike at medium-high resistance did the trick for me, and 3 years later it's still fine. I get the odd early warning that it might strike again if I let the exercise regime slip, but it's quickly resolved by getting back into it.

Don't expect or try to do too much too soon. I started off with 15 mins at a fair pace, then gradually kept increasing until I was at 45 mins every other day. If I had the time, I would say 20-25 mins a day is the ideal routine, and land you nicely on the recommended 150 mins a week to keep you healthy.

[Coxey]

The Ferret said:

Coxey said:

I too am struggling with sciatica, came on after my hernia operation. I have it down the right side from buttock to ankle bone. I've had it before but not this bad, taking ibroprufen and codiene at the moment, walking helps but driving a Cayman is a nightmare beginning to piss me off now.

Sounds just like mine a few years ago. Started with a pin prick pain in the side of my thigh, which in hindsight was a warning sign over a few weeks that something wasn't right. Pain then developed in the right arse cheek and just above in the lower back, and extended right down the thigh/calf to the ankle.

An exercise bike at medium-high resistance did the trick for me, and 3 years later it's still fine. I get the odd early warning that it might strike again if I let the exercise regime slip, but it's quickly resolved by getting back into it.

Don't expect or try to do too much too soon. I started off with 15 mins at a fair pace, then gradually kept increasing until I was at 45 mins every other day. If I had the time, I would say 20-25 mins a day is the ideal routine, and land you nicely on the recommended 150 mins a week to keep you healthy.

Nice one, going for some physio this week, but I'll get an exercise bike

[MrGRT]

Thanks all so far. I started with the suggested NHS exercises, just the two. Had an acupuncture session yesterday and felt initially better but again struggling tonight. The knee is also not helping but that is for another thread