Sciatica

[bad company]

OK it’s not likely to kill me but f**k me I’ve never been in so much pain. Apparently the problem is with L5, S1. All I know is that I can hardly stand up straight and walking is very difficult. I have an appointment for an epidural on 24 July but in the meantime I’ll continue to suffer but not in silence.

Any tips for pain relief?

[Rich135]

I had it really bad when driving, and only in the morning on a long drive to work.

After months and months of pain, I decided to put a towel under my mattress to stop my back arching when I sleep on my front (put the towel, rolled up a bit, around stomach level). It cured it within a week! Got a firmer mattress and never had a repeat of it.

Worth a try! I feel for you.

[Mr_J]

There's lots of discussion here :

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

One thing that used to provide me some relief was lying flat on my back but with a pillow placed under my knees.

[bad company]

Rich135 said:

I had it really bad when driving, and only in the morning on a long drive to work.

After months and months of pain, I decided to put a towel under my mattress to stop my back arching when I sleep on my front (put the towel, rolled up a bit, around stomach level). It cured it within a week! Got a firmer mattress and never had a repeat of it.

Worth a try! I feel for you.

Thanks, I’ll try that.

It’s Mrs BC who needs the sympathy. I’m like a bear with a very sore head. I wouldn’t want to be around me right now.

[Nezquick]

I've had it a few times, apparently caused by degeneration at L5/S1 and having one leg shorter than the other (which I didn't know until I was x-rayed).

Mine kicked off when I bent down to put something in the dishwasher and resulted in severe pain for weeks/months. The only thing that seems to have worked for me is 12 sessions with a chiropractor and since I had those, it's not bothered me since. If it kicks off again, that will be my first port of call. Nothing else even touched it - physio, codeine etc, did absolutely nothing.

Good luck - it does get better but it takes a while. I tend to find that the more sedentary I am, the more likely it is to flare up. If you keep moving, it keeps it at bay (once you've recovered that is).

[Panamax]

bad company said:

Any tips for pain relief?

Personal experience. Broadly speaking the pills don't work and I'm deeply sceptical about chiropractors and other back-crackers.

Physiotherapy and self-help. See a good sports physio and follow this book,
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Treat-Your-Back-Robin-McK...

[75Black]

I had sciatica back in early 2020, from around end of Jan to end of March and yeah it was a similar experience. Was prescribed Co-dydramol by my GP after a painful and sleepless night and it was the only thing that touched it pain-relief wise. Right now I'm dealing with a herniated disc after deadlifting in the gym 3 weeks ago and I think this has been near or worse than the sciatica.

Edited by 75Black on Friday 11th July 19:21

[tr7v8]

I did mine L5 S1 in a hotel bending over to my shoe laces. A week later rolling around the floor in agony. Wife phoned 111 and they sent an ambulance out. I exhausted their Entonox bottle. Got dragged into hospital in said ambulance where the SHO & Mrs TR7V8 had a chat. (Wife is an SRN) Ended up on nuclear amounts of Co-Codromol, Amitritiline & Bruphen. All taken together every 4 hours. Was so bad that I'd wake up at 3hours 59 minutes & have to take another set. 6 week after doing it I was MRI'd and there was a big chunk of bone shadowing the sciatic nerve. Got operated on the week later.
My surgeons comment "I have been doing this for 35 years & teaching for 15" You are in my top 10 of worse cases!"
Recovery was quick, relief from pain immediate. I am careful now & I do get grumbles from it occasionally which a trip to an Osteo fixes.

[bad company]

I’ve got some Codeine which seems to help a bit, also some heat pads. I’d been using ibuprofen which didn’t touch the pain.

[Silvanus]

tr7v8 said:

I did mine L5 S1 in a hotel bending over to my shoe laces. A week later rolling around the floor in agony. Wife phoned 111 and they sent an ambulance out. I exhausted their Entonox bottle. Got dragged into hospital in said ambulance where the SHO & Mrs TR7V8 had a chat. (Wife is an SRN) Ended up on nuclear amounts of Co-Codromol, Amitritiline & Bruphen. All taken together every 4 hours. Was so bad that I'd wake up at 3hours 59 minutes & have to take another set. 6 week after doing it I was MRI'd and there was a big chunk of bone shadowing the sciatic nerve. Got operated on the week later.
My surgeons comment "I have been doing this for 35 years & teaching for 15" You are in my top 10 of worse cases!"
Recovery was quick, relief from pain immediate. I am careful now & I do get grumbles from it occasionally which a trip to an Osteo fixes.

I was similar to you, ended up a right state. I had 3 operations over 9 months, twice ending up in A&E with Cauda equina syndrome. I still suffer some pain and have been told it's only a matter of time until the disc below goes (when not if), then it's the dreaded fusion. After the final surgery I had very little feeling from the top of my leg down, which is permanent.

Thankfully it's improved a bit, but I have no feeling in my foot most of the time unless it's pain. Learning to walk different was a challenge, imagine trying to walk when your leg goes dead gone over a few times, especially on uneven surfaces, but getting used to knowing where my foot is.

I found the best remedy is keeping mobile and walking when possible.

[Peterpetrole]

Dr Eric Goodman, foundation training.
12 minutes hard work:

https://youtu.be/4BOTvaRaDjI?si=StuSq6PYIpGmNViA

I personally guarantee this will help enormously.

[Panamax]

Silvanus said:

I found the best remedy is keeping mobile and walking when possible.

^^^This. Walking. Not sitting, not standing, not strolling - proper walking at speed and in good shoes.

Movement is good, however counter-intuitive it may seem at first encounter.

[bad company]

Panamax said:

Silvanus said:

I found the best remedy is keeping mobile and walking when possible.

^^^This. Walking. Not sitting, not standing, not strolling - proper walking at speed and in good shoes.

Movement is good, however counter-intuitive it may seem at first encounter.

I’m finding walking very painful and I can’t stand up properly. I did manage a few miles on my bike this afternoon though. Much more comfortable than walking.

[Panamax]

bad company said:

I m finding walking very painful and I can t stand up properly. I did manage a few miles on my bike this afternoon though. Much more comfortable than walking.

Yup, bike is good. Also swimming. As regards walking, make sure you have good quality shoes with soft/flexible but supportive soles.

It ain't easy. Keep your eyes on the prize.

This won't cheer you up but I'll recount the tale in any event. One of the several surgeons I saw (I never actually underwent surgery) said, "I know which patients need an operation, they're the ones who can't walk into the room. The great thing about the NHS and back surgery is that if you make the waiting list long enough most people get better on their own". It was difficult to hear but turned out right, for me.

You're probably looking at three months, with attention paid to movement and lifestyle. Good luck.

[jules_s]

Panamax said:

bad company said:

I m finding walking very painful and I can t stand up properly. I did manage a few miles on my bike this afternoon though. Much more comfortable than walking.

Yup, bike is good. .

To balance that - every specialist I've seen has warned against 'bike' - yes bikes have great advantages (fresh air/fitness etc which they all rightly promote) but In my experience - from a posture pov it isn't great - ok in moderation...

[BlackTails]

bad company said:

I ve got some Codeine which seems to help a bit, also some heat pads. I d been using ibuprofen which didn t touch the pain.

Panamax’s advice matches my experience, so I’d say follow that.

Codeine based medications help with the pain. Ibuprofen or better if you can get it naproxen are anti inflammatories (which you also want). When was at it worst I was mixing those two with healthy slugs of booze, because that is a muscle relaxant. I really don’t recommend that cocktail, but at the time it was a case of needs must.

You have two things going on in all likelihood. First sciatic pain, which means pain radiating from in the nerves in your leg caused by pressure on the nerve around L5/S1. Codeine might dent that.

Secondly, the musculature in your spine around the damaged area has gone into lockdown. This is ostensibly to protect via stabilisation the afflicted area, but it comes with a lot of pain and the occasional super painful spasm. The anti-inflams help with that.

I found a heat pack was really good for loosening up the tight muscles prior to mobilising them, and a cold pack afterwards helped to keep the inflammation down. Plus Mackenzie stretches. Very very frequently.

First thing in the morning: genuine agony, because everything has tightened up like a bd overnight, and the process of getting from lying to vertical engages your non-engages core and lower back far far more than you realise.

But as said, keep moving during the day and try if you can to replicate your pre injury movement patterns. Don’t let the pain force you into uneven or unbalanced movement as that can cause cascading minor further issues.

In the long run once you’re over this you need to get yourself to a gym regularly and have someone there teach you how to lift weights properly and safely. This is the most counterintuitive thing in a world of counterintuitive stuff, but the simple version is that you’re injured because the musculature around your spine and your core is weak, and didn’t support your skeleton adequately at a crucial moment. Strengthen the muscles to protect the skeletal structure.

[900sAds]

I've been in the same situation, where drugs didn't help and I couldn't walk standing up straight, the first thing that helped me stand upright was acupuncture (I thought it was rubbish before I tried it) but after one session I was able to stand upright - a real game changer. I also had the epidural (can't remember the name) but that was done by a clinic in Guildford.

[bad company]

BlackTails said:

Panamax s advice matches my experience, so I d say follow that.

Codeine based medications help with the pain. Ibuprofen or better if you can get it naproxen are anti inflammatories (which you also want). When was at it worst I was mixing those two with healthy slugs of booze, because that is a muscle relaxant. I really don t recommend that cocktail, but at the time it was a case of needs must.

You have two things going on in all likelihood. First sciatic pain, which means pain radiating from in the nerves in your leg caused by pressure on the nerve around L5/S1. Codeine might dent that.

Secondly, the musculature in your spine around the damaged area has gone into lockdown. This is ostensibly to protect via stabilisation the afflicted area, but it comes with a lot of pain and the occasional super painful spasm. The anti-inflams help with that.

I found a heat pack was really good for loosening up the tight muscles prior to mobilising them, and a cold pack afterwards helped to keep the inflammation down. Plus Mackenzie stretches. Very very frequently.

First thing in the morning: genuine agony, because everything has tightened up like a bd overnight, and the process of getting from lying to vertical engages your non-engages core and lower back far far more than you realise.

But as said, keep moving during the day and try if you can to replicate your pre injury movement patterns. Don t let the pain force you into uneven or unbalanced movement as that can cause cascading minor further issues.

In the long run once you re over this you need to get yourself to a gym regularly and have someone there teach you how to lift weights properly and safely. This is the most counterintuitive thing in a world of counterintuitive stuff, but the simple version is that you re injured because the musculature around your spine and your core is weak, and didn t support your skeleton adequately at a crucial moment. Strengthen the muscles to protect the skeletal structure.

Interesting, thanks for the detailed advice.

I m trying to maintain movement and exercise but it s difficult. Mrs BC and I normally do a lot of walking, easily 10 miles a day though I couldn t do that at the moment.

I have some exercises from a physio and as I said the bike ride was good. I m trying to use the codeine sparingly as it s an opiate. Today I took 2 200mg tablets and I ll try not to take any more until the morning.

Thanks for the help everyone.

Edited by bad company on Friday 11th July 23:29

[Phooey]

bad company said:

I m finding walking very painful and I can t stand up properly.

Use a TENS machine to get you standing up better and then hot and cold therapy it afterwards. Be careful stretching it as it can further aggravate the joint if inflamed. Also try a massage ball for stuff like glute release. When seated use a rolled up towel to support the arch of your back. Lots of other hacks you can incorporate but the above is good for stage 1.

[bad company]

Woke up a lot better this morning. Then I went down the stairs. Each time I put my weight onto my left foot, one stair at a time it was agony. Now laying on the couch downstairs and back to square one.

Has anyone else here used a TENS machine? I’ve looked them up but sceptical.