Any Sciatic tips?

hello yes you most probably have a bulging disc which hits off a nerve and runs down the leg the doctor told me to exercise ,,,thats a joke  the only way for me was rest lie down and let disc reduce,i hope this helps

Hi Emily. This is normal for sciatica as usually you feel more pain in your leg than your back. Most people recover from this in a few weeks, other people can take upto 3 months and if you're unlucky like I have been longer. I have had it for 6 months and i now have an operation booked for a lumbar discesctomy in June. I was started with Naproxen and co codomal and it seems that this is standard medication at the start . I went to physio, referred by the GP after about 3 weeks but the exercises for these are on the NHS website . They didn't help me but might help you although I still do them to keep my spine mobile, and they do take some pressure off . Keep moving about so that you don't stiffen up, take care with lifting, over stretching, sitting for too long and if you can go for walks or swimming as these will all benefit you. Heat or ice packs to the area can also help.  My sciatica just got worse over the weeks and i did not see any improvement despite my best efforts, i hope that you are luckier. Sciatica is usually caused by a disc herniation putting pressure on the sciatic nerve which runs all the way down your leg. My pain was in the buttock, and the back of my upper thigh, knee, calf, ankle and i had numbness in my toes all appearing over a matter of weeks. I asked for a scan after about 5-6 weeks, which took about 4 weeks to come through. So if this continues for you make sure you ask for one as until you do no one knows exactly where your problem is. I hope that this message helps you and that you make a speedy recovery. Best Wishes Donna

forgot to say that it can take Naproxen  a few weeks to start to work

Hi Emily. I'm 33 and had a sciatic nerve release which is different to yours I guess because mine was stuck between my pelvis and hip and ended up with nerve damage in my left leg. However, I know how painful it can be. Naproxen made me sick so having it with food might help. I've been on long term opioids for hip issues but yeah if makes you drowsy just be careful with what u do. I would discourage seeing a physio without a scan as they have no idea what they are treating or how bad it is. If it's no better with rest and gentle movement in a couple of weeks or is worse, insist on a scan. If you do see a physio make sure you explain that you don't know what's wrong. (What's causing it). Any physio worth their salt won't do too much and will expect at least an X-ray. I've been to many physio's and if they do the wrong thing you might be in trouble. Any increase in pain or muscle spasms tell (don't ask) your GP for a scan. It sounds like the GP is a bit lazy, no offense.

I was pumped full of drugs for a few weeks and it turned I needed an urgent hip operation for a trapped sciatic nerve then later, pumped full of drugs and it turned out my hip was partially dislocating. GP's tend to throw drugs at you in the UK. Yes a pillow between your legs is a great idea. Nurofen gel may help muscle pain, but not sure if you can use it with naproxen. I was using everything they could think of and spent weeks in hospital. And colour change, sensation change and increased pain go straight back to GP.

Yes my sciatica sends shooting pains down my leg to my foot.  It is caused by a compressed nerve.  Doctors just give us pain killers and sometimes rub in gels.  An osteopath or physiotherapist may be able to help with manipulation.  I do exercises shown to my by hospital physiotherapist and also there are exercises on utube for sciatica. 

I hobble about, but when the pain shoots, it is so bad, I do a little cry out loud, ouch!!  Yes it is bad isn't it?  Yes keep moving about as much as you can.  I find sitting and walking painful, and lying down eases the back pain.  We have to keep mo9ving however much it hurts. 

Often it does get better on its own, I find I am OK for a while, but it returns.  Keep taking the pain killers if they help.  I just manage my problem by myself now as fed up with taking strong pain killers that make me feel worse, and Ibrupofen that gave me bleeding from my bowel. 

I cannot afford private physiotherapy or chiropratic or osteopath, but I think they are worth trying.  I have done in the past when I could afford it. 

No offense to Anne but never let anyone manipulate your back. Sciatic nerve problems can be serious and people do end up with damage. Unless they have conclusive clinical evidence regarding the cause of your pain no one should touch you, perhaps just core exercises etc but no manipulation, movement or intense physiotherapy until you have a diagnosis. I would advise an X-Ray given you felt a snap and then an MRI if you don't improve with anti-inflammatories in time.

Sorry, you felt a sharp shooting pain after you coughed? Does sounds like a disc or inflammation of some kind. Still would suggest the above if no better with anti-inflammatory medication. Try a heat pack or hot water bottle wrapped in a towel to settle any muscle spasms.

Hello, all. Thank you so much for all your replies! My pain is now settling into a dull ache in my calf and walking is unbearable just about. It feels like its shooting into my hip. The naproxen doesn't seem to touch it at all. Ive sat with cold compresses, hot water bottle, I had a bath and nothing eases it. Im back to the doctor on Friday but have the feeling im just going to be told its all bloody normal...

It really is the sort of pain that just whittles away at you, isn't it?!