Anyone suffered from this? What was the long term diagnosis? Been suffering now for 8 weeks with pain from mild to where i can hardly walk, getting really frustrated.
Suffered with it from 25 to 35, missed some (playing) matches thru' it, it wasn't the reason I gave up playing football but, when I did, it never really came back, stopped playing Sunday league nearly 20 years ago, good luck - it is horrible
Yeah, had it twice a few years back. I was lying on the floor in agony. Doctor gave me a list of exercises and strong painkillers. Keep moving if at all possible. Hopefully will go in time.
I was off for two months earlier this year with sciatica and it's a bugger. Without a doubt the best thing is regular physio and daily stretching exercises . Medication didn't do anything for me apart from alleviate the pain slightly. It can be long process but once you are pain free you must keep up the exercises even if it's for just 10 minutes a day.
Based on what I know, I would have it thoroughly checked out by your GP before you assume it's straightforward sciatic nerve pain. 9 times out of 10 it will be sciatic pain, but there is an outside chance it could be far more serious. It could be the start of a tumour growing and pressing against the soft tissue of the sciatic nerve. The symptoms are identical. It will take an X-ray - or an MRI scan to know for sure. Worth a chat with your GP.
Get it all The time due to prolapsed disc, the 1st I had it I must say its the worst pain I've been in , on the floor for a couple of months crying like a baby , nowadays I get used to it can cope with the pain a lot better , you should use a cold pack on your back and never use deep heat the nerve becomes inflamed and the last thing you want to is out deep heat on your back inflaming it even more. As people have said previous exercise and moving about is good but I really do recommend a cold pack .
I've had sciatica for about four years after two prolapsed discs in my lower back. It started off mildly and slowly spread all the way down my right leg until I had pins and needles in the bottom of my foot. I've had three epidurals. The first one worked a treat and I had no sciatic pain for six months. But then it came back with a vengeance. The second epidural didn't work very well so I had a third a few months later and soon after was in absolute agony. I couldn't move for a week. I had two trips to A&E and it wasn't until I had morphin that I could get moving again. The result of the MRI after the painful episode showed that one of the discs had completely ruptured. The specialist stated he would have operated then but nature took it's course. Since then I've had mild sciatica but more back pain. I take ibuprofen and paracetemol as and when needed. I could carry on for the rest of my life quite happily managing this as long as the severe sciatica doesn't come back. It has to be the worst pain I've ever had. Totally crippling and absolute agony.
Anyone suffered from this? What was the long term diagnosis? Been suffering now for 8 weeks with pain from mild to where i can hardly walk, getting really frustrated.
Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Had it when I was 35, bent down to pick a ball up in the garden during a kick about with number one son. Back went, told son to go and get his mother to straighten me out. Went to doctors who also did a bit of chiropractory and he eased the pain but.............it was nine months before it troubled me no more :-(
Scabbyhorse - you really have to get a firm diagnosis of what's causing it. Far too often they just fob you off with pain killers and exercise. If you are overweight, you should tackle that immediately as it will help. Exercise can ease or stop it but you have to be sure you know what's causing it, not what a Doctor thinks. I suffered for years on and off and the final bout was a year solid. Eventually an MRI scan diagnosed a ruptured disc which would not have recovered on it's own, so I had to have surgery. Been as good as new since but avoid lifting cars and other heavy objects nowadays....
See the GP, I had sciatic pain after pullung the tenders on my spine. Had to take strong pain killers, and go to Kings Physitherapy department. It was there i found out where my pelvic floor and muscle where, Had to do exerxcises to strengthen the pelvic muscles . Since then have suffered very little pain.
Strongly recommend going down the GP & NHS Physio route, even if it means a wait for the physio. Sorted me out properly whereas the private treatments were more of a quick fix. In particular the physios gave exercises and advice that are real-world & achievable
Scabbyhorse - you really have to get a firm diagnosis of what's causing it. Far too often they just fob you off with pain killers and exercise. If you are overweight, you should tackle that immediately as it will help. Exercise can ease or stop it but you have to be sure you know what's causing it, not what a Doctor thinks. I suffered for years on and off and the final bout was a year solid. Eventually an MRI scan diagnosed a ruptured disc which would not have recovered on it's own, so I had to have surgery. Been as good as new since but avoid lifting cars and other heavy objects nowadays....
Had x rays on monday as doctor says thats the procedure first. Struggling to get dressed and walking at moment and off work because it involves heavy lifting, driving is also a killer and can just about manage 5 mibs before pain becomes too much, will have to stand saturday if pain gets too much.
Get it all The time due to prolapsed disc, the 1st I had it I must say its the worst pain I've been in , on the floor for a couple of months crying like a baby , nowadays I get used to it can cope with the pain a lot better , you should use a cold pack on your back and never use deep heat the nerve becomes inflamed and the last thing you want to is out deep heat on your back inflaming it even more. As people have said previous exercise and moving about is good but I really do recommend a cold pack .
My first slipped disc was agony - by number 3 it was more manageable.
I've suffered from sciatica since my early 20s but until recently I'd had a good 10 or so years but just after I came back from holiday in May, I bent down to get my running kit out of the washing machine on a Sunday morning and my back popped and I was in all sorts of trouble.
Put it down to sciatica straight away. Thought I'd be ok. (Funnily enough, I bumped into AFKA's wife in Zizzi's at Bexleyheath later that day!) Managed to get through Sunday just about but when I woke up Monday morning I was in all kinds of trouble. I attempted to drive to the GP. Managed to get in the car and drive over but collapsed in a heap on the floor as soon as I tried to put my right foot down on the floor as I stepped out the car.
Passed out in agony and my blood pressure dropped, ended up in an Ambulance on gas and went to A&E. They just gave me diazepan and cocodamol. Not ideal as they both serious fcuk up my stomach for days on end but had no choice really.
The pain went but my mobility was restricted for a good few weeks after. Ended up going private and having an MRI scan. It turns out I've got 'dehydration' of the L4/L5/S1 vertebrae. Basically the vertebrae are made up of 90% water but I've got 80% in mine, meaning they are prone to moving about a bit and bulging, which happens through wear and tear, like bending down suddenly at the washing machine. Anyhow, the right sided bulge I've got occasionally presses on one of the nerves linked to the sciatic nerve and thats what I can feel in the right hand side of my groin and down the back of my right hamstring and in my backside. Nice.
Surgery not required for 95% of patients but the weakness I'll have can be managed by pain relief and physio. Had my first physio session two weeks ago, almost 3 months after the first incident and I'm only just getting out of bed in the morning now without feeling it.
The physio showed me some warm up exercises to do with the back before getting out of bed to loosen up and stressed the need for strength conditioning, especially the core and glutes which will support the lower back, plank and bridge exercises especially. Not sit ups though as may put too much pressure on the back if you dont get the technique right.
Thats the MRI of my back. The three black disc things are the cross section of my vertebrae at L5/S1. Can you see the right-sided bulge on the central one? Thats the one causing me the problem. Apparently its genetic so its my parents fault.
I'd recomend getting a lumbar support cushion for when you're driving, bought one from halfords two years ago for about a tenner, yet to have a major onset since
i've suffered on a number of occasions with sciatic pain caused by a lower disc bulge pressing on a nerve, bloody painful and can last for a long time, i'm afraid.
the last occasion, i had a steroid injection in my lower back, rather than the surgery the speciallist was offering and it was brilliant. the pain had gone when i came round from the anesthetic and touch wood haven't had it since, cue kiss of death!!
Had back pain and sciatica for about 3 years and finally decided to do something about it and am very lucky to have private medical insurance as part of my job package so having an MRI tomorrow. The consultant is already 99% certain I have a bulging disc like JohnBoy UK but if he offers an operation (which these days can give up to 80% improvement) then I will take it in a heart beat. I know a couple of people who've had it done and they have never looked back.
Had back pain and sciatica for about 3 years and finally decided to do something about it and am very lucky to have private medical insurance as part of my job package so having an MRI tomorrow. The consultant is already 99% certain I have a bulging disc like JohnBoy UK but if he offers an operation (which these days can give up to 80% improvement) then I will take it in a heart beat. I know a couple of people who've had it done and they have never looked back.
i would also get a second opinion if i was you, before opting for surgery. because i too was offered an operation and had heard of some horror stories.
the second consultant, i can't remember his title but not orthopedic, something to do with the spine, advised me against an operation and said it would be better to have the injection. glad i took his advise.
A variety of different things could cause the pain. Important to get checked out properly which probably should involve an MRI scan. I had some problems and it was found I had a loose ligament pressing on my nerve. I had surgery to stop it getting worse.
Thanks silva nitram appreciate the advice. I am under a spinal orthopaedic surgeon so I hope he will give me the best advice. If injections will cure it then fine I'll obviously discuss it before making any decision but your words of caution are worth heeding
Comments
Medication didn't do anything for me apart from alleviate the pain slightly.
It can be long process but once you are pain free you must keep up the exercises even if it's for just 10 minutes a day.
The time due to prolapsed disc, the 1st I had it I must say its the worst pain I've been in , on the floor for a couple of months crying like a baby , nowadays I get used to it can cope with the pain a lot better , you should use a cold pack on your back and never use deep heat the nerve becomes inflamed and the last thing you want to is out deep heat on your back inflaming it even more. As people have said previous exercise and moving about is good but I really do recommend a cold pack .
It fully went away after a couple of months. I found exercise helped, there's certain stretching moves while lying on your back which are good.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Sciatica/Pages/Introduction.aspx
Actual sciatica pain is felt in the bottom and legs, rather than the back, but does go away naturally
Struggling to get dressed and walking at moment and off work because it involves heavy lifting, driving is also a killer and can just about manage 5 mibs before pain becomes too much, will have to stand saturday if pain gets too much.
Cocodamol worked but it is horrible stuff.
Put it down to sciatica straight away. Thought I'd be ok. (Funnily enough, I bumped into AFKA's wife in Zizzi's at Bexleyheath later that day!) Managed to get through Sunday just about but when I woke up Monday morning I was in all kinds of trouble. I attempted to drive to the GP. Managed to get in the car and drive over but collapsed in a heap on the floor as soon as I tried to put my right foot down on the floor as I stepped out the car.
Passed out in agony and my blood pressure dropped, ended up in an Ambulance on gas and went to A&E. They just gave me diazepan and cocodamol. Not ideal as they both serious fcuk up my stomach for days on end but had no choice really.
The pain went but my mobility was restricted for a good few weeks after. Ended up going private and having an MRI scan. It turns out I've got 'dehydration' of the L4/L5/S1 vertebrae. Basically the vertebrae are made up of 90% water but I've got 80% in mine, meaning they are prone to moving about a bit and bulging, which happens through wear and tear, like bending down suddenly at the washing machine. Anyhow, the right sided bulge I've got occasionally presses on one of the nerves linked to the sciatic nerve and thats what I can feel in the right hand side of my groin and down the back of my right hamstring and in my backside. Nice.
Surgery not required for 95% of patients but the weakness I'll have can be managed by pain relief and physio. Had my first physio session two weeks ago, almost 3 months after the first incident and I'm only just getting out of bed in the morning now without feeling it.
The physio showed me some warm up exercises to do with the back before getting out of bed to loosen up and stressed the need for strength conditioning, especially the core and glutes which will support the lower back, plank and bridge exercises especially. Not sit ups though as may put too much pressure on the back if you dont get the technique right.
Thats the MRI of my back. The three black disc things are the cross section of my vertebrae at L5/S1. Can you see the right-sided bulge on the central one? Thats the one causing me the problem. Apparently its genetic so its my parents fault.
the last occasion, i had a steroid injection in my lower back, rather than the surgery the speciallist was offering and it was brilliant. the pain had gone when i came round from the anesthetic and touch wood haven't had it since, cue kiss of death!!
the second consultant, i can't remember his title but not orthopedic, something to do with the spine, advised me against an operation and said it would be better to have the injection. glad i took his advise.