Sciatica!

[Alanstevensonsgloves]

Anyone got experience of this? I have had a mild form of it in my right leg for 9 months. After I first got it I presumed it would go away. By Christmas last year I gave up waiting, plus I was starting to walk with a slight limp and my lack of football and running meant I had added 10% body weight. Booked a consultation through NHS with a physiotherapist and he told me I needed injections to solve it, so I am now on a list to see specialist. Anyone had these injections / any tips on getting rid of sciatica?

I am aware there are some very painful forms of it out there, luckily mine is manageable but still it needs to be treated.

[adeypate]

Been free of it for 3yrs now. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Had it for 2yrs and at times was unbearable. Tried physio but didn't work for me. Ended up seeing a chiropractor. Had 4 sessions of intensive massage on the problem area and been fantastic since.

[mdd2]

Anyone got experience of this? I have had a mild form of it in my right leg for 9 months. After I first got it I presumed it would go away. By Christmas last year I gave up waiting, plus I was starting to walk with a slight limp and my lack of football and running meant I had added 10% body weight. Booked a consultation through NHS with a physiotherapist and he told me I needed injections to solve it, so I am now on a list to see specialist. Anyone had these injections / any tips on getting rid of sciatica?

I am aware there are some very painful forms of it out there, luckily mine is manageable but still it needs to be treated.

I could write a book on my personal experiences.
1974 from August until December crippled by sciatica and had surgery on L5/S1 disc--fantastic relief
No CT MRI in those days just horrible myelograms which I declined. My surgeon said it was highly likley based on his examination that it was L5/S1
1994 more bad back problems not enough to be off work-sciatica-MR scan L4/L5 disc gone-settled on its own in about three months
2010 really bad this time off work 6 weeks MR L3/L4 gone-lots of physio and it settled.
Now I get periodic low back pains from my shot at lumbar spine if I do any lifting-usually settles in a few days/weeks
Epidural injections can help
Time helps as does physio-if all else fails and you cannot work surgery for sciatica is good-not all that good for back pain. Choose your surgeon carefully
Most cases settle without the knife although after 9 months of sciatica you are going to need some help. Imagine you will need MR of lumbar spine to properly identify where to stick the epidural

[Mixedkompany]

I suggest you find the root cause of the pain.
Sciatica develops mainly due to spinal disc herniation. That’s your disc protruding and pressing on the nerve root.
Physio and injections can help to reduce the pain however it’s difficult to move a protruding disc back into place.
Be careful not to have too much manipulation via a chiropractor or osteopath. This could make things worse.
I would recommend you have some Imaging undertaken if the problem persists. An MRI being the best option. This will identify the problem and then your specialist can advise the best action.

[LordBob]

Hi mdd2 I had similar issues as yourself I to opted for surgery 12 years ago Mr Roberts at Preston. The outcome was good pain gone I still have a weak left leg (cycling helps a lot) but I avoid too many steps, hope you're still well.

[AfloatinClaret]

The Mrs has suffered for years, she reckons living somewhere a lot hotter than the UK is the best treatment.

[It Is What It Is]

I was given every treatment possible by the NHS who were absolutely brilliant but did not cure it. Sciatica Kept coming back on a regular basis and losing income as unable to work.
Tried everything and a nurse suggested maybe visiting a Chinese acupuncturist.
Wow!
Had about 8 sessions, not cheap, but was completely sorted. Never had sciatica since and that was 20 years ago.
Alternative medicine is always worth exploring if all else fails.

[mdd2]

Yes I am OK but not been able to garden now for 10years+ but I am an oldie-I saw Burnley at Maine Road in 1960 and my Dad took me on the Turf August 19th 1950 against Arsenal an 89th minute winner off the crossbar as we lost 1-0
Almost 24 years later August 13th 1974 that back went-ouch bl***y ouch.

[Clive 1960]

The Mrs has suffered for years, she reckons living somewhere a lot hotter than the UK is the best treatment.

That's what I thought better climate but not for me went worse , the massage helps but mine which I had on and off for years came from a compression in my neck.

[get stuck in tracy]

I had many years of trouble and this eventually caused muscles on my leg to start diminishing, I was referred to Gisburn where I had a decompression and fusion op. which sorted my problems out, I am now back to where I was before, playing golf with little loss of mobility, If you go NHS, they tend to just hand out leaflets for exercise , Dan at The Physio and Therapy Rooms Barrowford rooms is very good.

[Clevedon Claret]

Suffered sciatica from the late 90's as an international trucker. Disc eventually burst en route to Milan and Turin.
Worst nightmare ever trying to drive home.
After reaching home I was rushed into hospital for surgery on my L4/5 disc.
Within weeks of the surgery the sciatica returned.
I lived crippled in pain for another 15 years, being told it was something that I would have to live with.. This I have done.
Through nerve root blocks and pain medication. And excersize
The nerve root blocks are a godsend. However. You can easily cause more pain and damage whilst under its magic spell. If you follow the specialists advice along with physio or if you are lucky, hydropherapy this can give you the best chance at rehabilitation.
I was eventually put in touch with a new surgeon when mine retired. This surgeon performed a revision discectomy on me in 2021
Iam going to need a fusion surgery next. I'm happy to say the sciatica is finally gone, unless I do more than pottering around.
Good luck treating your sciatica. Remember, slow and steady wins the race.

UTC

[Sutton-Claret]

I had it about 10 years ago.... probably the worst pain I've ever experienced. I basically spent 2 days and nights walking around the house - I couldn't sit down / lie down / or stand still. Eventually the pain became bearable with Co-codamol and Ibuprofen. After a week or 2 it had gone completely and never returned. Physio gave me a few stretches to do which I do once a week.

[Billyblah]

Suffered a bulging disc (L4/5) about a decade ago resulting in trapped sciatic nerve/bizarre feelings in leg. After months on painkillers I finally managed to get an MRI scan thus diagnosing the problem.
Treated by a Dr Roberts (probably the same one referred to above).
I've been pretty much trouble free since.
As mentioned above, MRI scans first to pinpoint the problem.
Good luck.

[basil6345789]

Nerve end ablations ipv lumber injections

[Alanstevensonsgloves]

Thanks All. Regarding physios just handing out exercises I thought that the one I saw would do just that, but after a discussion he said injections (and until then painkillers) was the way to go, and not even a word about exercises I could do so he must have presumed them to not be worthwile.

[Lowbankclaret]

So my story.
Sneezed and ruptured a disc, within a couple of hours my right leg was numb to the knee. Got a quick docs appointment and he just gave me muscle relaxers and said if the numbness gets to your groin, rebook an appointment and he would book me in for emergency surgery.

I was recommended a physiotherapist who works in Rawtenstall, he is an ex premier league physio for several clubs including Burnley..

Went to see him. Basically he said 6 weeks before you will be able to drive and go back to work, showed me the injury on a plastic skeleton and told me the exercises I would have to do and how often. He didn’t do anything at the first appointment as he said it needed to settle down a bit first apart from some heat lamps and ultrasonics.

At second appointment I asked should I get my GP to send me for an MRI and get a specialist appointment. He again explained the injury and said it was not bad enough, but I did it anyway.

Had the scan , took him the result , which was exactly what he said.

Went to see the specialist and he said exactly what Ian said he would, leave it as it was getting better with Ian’s exercising.

I was back at work in 6 weeks.

I still get back pain and my foot goes numb but if a do the exercises for a couple of days it goes away.

So I would recommend him , he knows his stuff.

[Carwin261]

I’ve had a bad back for nearly 25 yrs ,after using a Kangol to break up concrete,went epidural ,acupuncture,the lot,never been sorted ,been on amytryptelene for probably 22yrs,but if I try to stop taking it ( it’s addictive ) I can understand how cold turkey feels like,can’t beat using the old tens machine ,blocks any pain straight away.

[Boss Hogg]

So my story.
Sneezed and ruptured a disc, within a couple of hours my right leg was numb to the knee. Got a quick docs appointment and he just gave me muscle relaxers and said if the numbness gets to your groin, rebook an appointment and he would book me in for emergency surgery.

I was recommended a physiotherapist who works in Rawtenstall, he is an ex premier league physio for several clubs including Burnley..

Went to see him. Basically he said 6 weeks before you will be able to drive and go back to work, showed me the injury on a plastic skeleton and told me the exercises I would have to do and how often. He didn’t do anything at the first appointment as he said it needed to settle down a bit first apart from some heat lamps and ultrasonics.

At second appointment I asked should I get my GP to send me for an MRI and get a specialist appointment. He again explained the injury and said it was not bad enough, but I did it anyway.

Had the scan , took him the result , which was exactly what he said.

Went to see the specialist and he said exactly what Ian said he would, leave it as it was getting better with Ian’s exercising.

I was back at work in 6 weeks.

I still get back pain and my foot goes numb but if a do the exercises for a couple of days it goes away.

So I would recommend him , he knows his stuff.

Who is this guy ? I have sciatica and it’s a constant throb in my right leg and pins and needles in my foot. I slipped a disk lifting a few years ago and it damaged my nerve. I’ve tried physio and acupuncture but I’ve never been able to cure it. I’ve tried all meds one of which seemed to work but made me so drowsy I had to stop. I think a chiropractor or good physio might be able to do something. I’ve been advised off injunctions and ops by a few who have ended up worse after them.

[BurnleyFC]

It’s absolute agony, the worst pain I’ve ever experienced. It got to a point where I couldn’t walk 20 yards without having to sit down due to a near unbearable testicle ache, pins and needles in my right foot and severe cramps in my right calf and hamstring, akin to having torn muscles.

After 18 months of sheer hell toing and froing between a physio and chiropractor (who assured me I was just needed loosening up) I ended up having an MRI scan and subsequent microdiscectomy on the bottom two discs of my spine at Salford Royal.

The surgeon told me that no amount of visits to a chiropractor or physio would’ve helped because it was actually shattered fragments of disc that were trapping my spinal nerve and not the more common fluid leak from a herniated disc that eventually dries up.

The relief post operation was instant and although I still get the odd warning from my back every now and then I’ve been pretty much pain free for 6 and a half years now.

I wish you the very best of luck!

[Lowbankclaret]

Who is this guy ? I have sciatica and it’s a constant throb in my right leg and pins and needles in my foot. I slipped a disk lifting a few years ago and it damaged my nerve. I’ve tried physio and acupuncture but I’ve never been able to cure it. I’ve tried all meds one of which seemed to work but made me so drowsy I had to stop. I think a chiropractor or good physio might be able to do something. I’ve been advised off injunctions and ops by a few who have ended up worse after them.

Contact number is Ian Liversedge. 01706 227428.

[Stanbill05]

I was given every treatment possible by the NHS who were absolutely brilliant but did not cure it. Sciatica Kept coming
Tried everything and a nurse suggested maybe visiting a Chinese acupuncturist.
Wow!

My 6 month outburst of severe sciatica went completely within a week of 1 acupuncture session. Don't understand it, could have been luck, but wow is how I felt too..I should add it was an NHS provided service.

[jos]

This is where this forum shines. Clarets helping Clarets.

[dougcollins]

I took the world's longest walk. Got blisters, no more sciatica.

Not a medical recommendation, obviously.