Sciatica pain relief??

gov said:
Mine lasted 8 months - nothing helped ease the pain - prescribed stronger and stronger pain killers - no good ! Resorted to acupuncture and a chiropractor - again nothing . eventually had an MRI scan and saw a surgeon who diagnosed a problem with 2 lower discs that had suqeezed together - said that if it persisted for another month he would arrange an op but emphasised that this was a last resort as it may not work and a further op would not be possible . He also said that that 90% of similar back problems cure themselves !

At this time ( after nearly 9 months of not being able to walk properly and never having a decent night's sleep ) my body must have thought enough is enough it began to improve on it's own and disappeared completely after 3 weeks :)

Not much help to the OP but at least gives you hope !
Click to expand...

Sounds very similar to my experience, MRI scan showed discs pinched together. The consultant seemed actually quite proud of the fact that he could explain my pain and discomfort but then he said that any treatment that he could give me would be far worse than putting up with what I had lol!

These days it's just constant numbness in my right leg and sometimes a day or two of back pain if I've been sitting in the wrong position for a while. I've learned to put up with it I guess, although I think I'll try Tim's glucosamine sulphate.
 
I can't really offer any more advice other than sympathize with your problem. Mine is also a rugby related injury which comes back if we have a particularly hard session of tackling. I know i should stop playing but you never want to admit you should give up, especially not at the age of 31.
 
Been suffering around 16 years now had a back op 15 years ago due to disc probs that left me with a permanent back ache and Sciatica in my legs now and then but as advised by my surgeon I learnt to live with the pain as I had done previously with my injurys from an RTA but I now have the same probs with discs at the top of my spine which causes sciatic type pain in my neck the back of my head and shoulders and to be honest this time its pissing me off the joys of getting old lol.

Re your leg pain lots of walking really helps
 
Sorry to read that you're suffering. It can be quite frustrating. I've found that trying to keep up with the Physio exercises and stretches on a regular basis helps. Also my Physio recommended me to buy a spiky massage ball, few quid from Amazon and use that to massage sore muscles to release the tight spots. It helps sometimes but as with everything try not to over do it. Of course strong does of ibuprofen help when you have to get on with things. Always keep some with you.
 
Hearing about your sciatica struggles, and you’re definitely not alone—this pain can be brutal. Start with gentle movements like short walks, light stretching, and alternating heat and cold packs to reduce inflammation. Core-strengthening exercises—think planks, bridges, bird-dogs—help stabilize your spine. If you’re feeling stuck, a good chiropractor can identify misalignments or trigger points and offer hands-on adjustments that make a real difference. Remember to avoid heavy lifting and sudden twists while healing. Most importantly, stay proactive: consistent self-care, rehab, and listening to your body help you regain mobility and ease pain over time.
 
First episode was about 9 months ago and it was very uncomfortable to say the least and lasted about a month. A couple of mild episodes since but now I know the signs I can catch it before it gets to that stage again. The NHS website gives some simple stretching exercises which help me but the overall advice is don't rest it. Heat or cold helps or both alternately and I get my good lady to massage Tiger Balm into the effected area. That may not help all that much but its nice 8)
 
I don’t get sciatica but do get chronic pain from an injury in my early twenties. Those with proper back pain, as opposed to the ‘I’ll fake it and have a month off work please doc’ brigade have my utmost sympathy.
 
I’ve been doing some gentle excercises recommended by the physio at my local GP practise for a couple of years now.

They consist of lying flat on my back and rolling and stretching, takes about 5 minutes each day and is very effective. Not a 100% solution, occasional use of Ibuprofen is necessary.
 
I had chronic sciatica for around 18 months back in 2021 which coincided with high stress levels which I think was the trigger. Started in the left leg and could barely walk for weeks, oddly the only way to control the pain was laying down which usually makes it worse. I had physio which did make it alot worse, plus it wasn't cheap, very frustrating. The docs were pretty useless and just dished out pain killers which I only took for a while, probably should have taken them but worried I would start relying on them permanently.

It went on for some 12 months and then seem to clear up pretty quickly. This only lasted for around 3 weeks and then the whole process started again but this time down the right leg but not quite as bad. Lasted another 7 months or so. The daily pain was pretty soul destroying.

I've found the biggest cure is plenty if walking but still get the odd twinge, I try and do a daily 5 mile walk, regardless of the weather. The biggest downside now is numbness in the toes in both feet which comes and goes but worse in the left foot.

Really wouldn't wish it on anyone. I was told if it's chronic then chances are it will come back but hopefully been pretty good the past 2 years.

Tim.
 
I had a chronic attack that had me in tears October 2023..

I lost about 20ks on weight and do a daily 15 minute regime of stretching and building core strength..

Took a while to took effect but major change..

If I give up on the exercises then after a month the pain starts to return,,
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom