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Sciatica Pain Killers Help!

Posted , 10 users are following.

aidan16169
aidan16169

Please help!

Im a 30 year old man my wife and i have 10 month old twins which is hard work even for a fit person!

Ive been in and out if my work for the last few months due to the pain and can take much more.

I’ve had and MRI scan and its revealed i have an l5s1 protrusion of the disc with compression of the right S1 canal slightly narrowed. I’ve been advised if the pain is not any better in 12 weeks after physio to speak to a neurosurgeon, which i dont really want to do. I’ve been to a chiropractor and also an osteopath for there opinion but my NHS  physio has told me not to as this would make the protrusion worse.I have been prescribed several types of medication over the course of the last few months such as -naproxen, 2mg diazepam, solpadol.Amitriptyline, tramadol and iboprufren gel.None of these had any effect.I am now on gabbapentin 300mg 3 times a day which i have started double dosing as this is still not taking the nerve pain away.Can any one advise any other painkillers that will help? Taking solpadol with he gabbapentin helps slightly and so does the diazepam but the GP is not willing to give any substantial amount of them out. I am also doing all the stretches provided by the physio but seem to be getting no where. I really need to get back to fitness for my childrens sake and my work.Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

0 likes, 45 replies

45 Replies

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  • aidan16169
    aidan16169

    Posted

    Quick update for any one that’s interested, went back to the the consultant who done the MRI he’s reffered me to a surgeon next week, Ive been feeling great in the house, been working from the house on the laptop.

    Went a big walk today and sciatica is kiling me down right leg, Seems the only way i will get back to physical work is surgery sadly.

    Regards Aidan

  • karen02354
    karen02354 aidan16169

    Posted

    Big walk and you’re considering surgery?! If you can do that amount of activity... think twice. Surgery is not a cure all... in saying that, all the best Aiden.
    • aidan16169
      aidan16169 karen02354

      Posted

      Hi Karen

      The problem is i cant go back to my normal physical job where i am required, im lucky  enough i work in a family business that just now i can help out with some of the office work. That cant go on for much longer though, we have too many large jobs starting where i will be a working supervisor. I am also worried if i do get the surgery i will be immobile for even longer for recovery.

      Regards Aidan

  • aidan16169
    aidan16169

    Posted

    So went to the private neurosurgeon today he agreeed i needed surgery, i asked how much it would cost he said it would cost £10,000 and could do it next week. Other options are wait on NHS waiting list for god knows how long. Or just hope it gets better itself 😀 So feeling a bit crap today and having a few beers feeling a bit peed off right now. It would be the same surgeon that carries out the procedure NHS, private or not thats what pees me off the most. Rant over, hope every one else is feeling a bit better!

    Regards Aidan

    • amanda59745
      amanda59745 aidan16169

      Posted

      OMG Aidan £10 grand. That,s a lot of money and there is no 100% guarantee it will fix it for good i bet. I would have to go on NHS waiting list . I am still in agony with my sciatica. my physio also advised me not to go to a chiro but, i am in such a lot of pain. I have been using a tens machine as well as naproxen and gabapentin but, still in pain ;( x 

    • karen02354
      karen02354 aidan16169

      Posted

      Adrian, I’ve been in severe debilitating pain for 2.5 years (+10 years before that with just back pain). NHS won’t operate and I rarely leave the house (nerve pain, both feet, 1leg) even I wouldn’t have rushed into surgery. It’s not a quick fix. It fails. You’ve had your sciatica for not very long in the context of things and haven’t tried all of the options yet...
    • aidan16169
      aidan16169 amanda59745

      Posted

      Hi Amanda

      He said 10k like it was nothing too, as his porsche sits outside in the car park. 

      Just keep going back to your GP and tell them the medication they have you isnt working and try something else, never know other meds work better on different people.

      Hope you get better.

      Regards Aidan. 

    • aidan16169
      aidan16169 karen02354

      Posted

      Hi Karen

      Im not prepared to wait years to get better,  i dont want to waste the best years of my life suffering and i need to get back to work and help my kids. I also tried several other options and every “Specialist” I’ve spoken to has said something different. Ive read too many stories about people suffering for such a long time. The neurosurgeon said he could get me on the NHS waiting list and get the procedure done within 2-6 months. Possibly less if there is any cancellations so fingers crossed.

      Regards Aidan. 

  • aidan16169
    aidan16169

    Posted

    Right more info now! Ive been feeling great the last week with no sciaticac  pain down my leg at all, just slight pain in my back, ive still been off my work this full time so rest has been definitely  a help, all doctors, GP’s etc ive spoken to say gabbapentin takes a few weeks to get in to your system, i feel as if thats the difference now as ive been taking about 2400mg a day now for the last week on top of the 900mg a day for 2 weeks before that.  My question is what happens now? When do i know to stop taking the gabbapentin so i can go back to work. 

    Thanks for any advice in advance 

    • amanda59745
      amanda59745 aidan16169

      Posted

      Hi Aidan i am so glad you are getting some relief now, its funny how different things work for different people. Naproxen helps me more than the gaba ever did. When you do decide to come off of gaba do it slow the withdrawal symptoms are no fun i hear. x
    • aidan16169
      aidan16169 amanda59745

      Posted

      Hi Amanda

      I know ive already looked up gabbapentin withdrawals its giving me the fear, I’m going to book an appointment with my GP next week to see what there opinion is, honestly i think naproxen are useless, all they are is anti inflammatory, the only thing that helps is some sort of nerve drugs such as gabbapentin, amitriptyline, just keep going back to the GP and trying something else if they dont work, try something else, everybody’s body is different and have different effects so just keep going back every couple of weeks thats what i did until i got the correct medication

      Hope you get better😀

    • pauly504
      pauly504 aidan16169

      Posted

      I got sent for an MRI because of my pain, and then I got offered an injection which did not work for me. I tried all the pills that have been mentioned before my doctor gave me codeine then morphine. Morphine definitely works but they don't give it lightly. I had to have some relief for work but went back to doctor who referred me back to spinal surgeon who gave me injection and they did another MRI and said surgery only option or stay on meds forever.

      I'm 5 months post op for L4/L5 decompression and it has helped but not completely as still have to take some meds some days but not others. Surgeon said it can take as long to heal as I originally had the sciatica pain. Try a different doctor to get some pain relief and also a referral for a spinal surgeon.

      I've only just started posting on here to see if it's unusual for me to still require some pain relief and apparently it is as I'm still healing. I sympathise with anyone who has this, it messes you up mentally too :-( 

      I hope you get this sorted

      Paul

    • aidan16169
      aidan16169 pauly504

      Posted

      Hi Pauly

      Your definitely right it messes with you mentally, my pain in leg has went away and have tried to cut down to 900mg of gabbapentin, before i was taking 2400mg a day plus several solpadols and 10mg diazepams because it was so sore. Now that im not on all that im feeling anxious as hell about everything, spoke to my physio today and she told me to keep on the gabbapentin for another month and if the pain is still away they will then start to wean me off it happy days! Feel as if i  need something to help cope with the anxiety though  just now but god knows what. Hope you start to feel better you sound as if you have had a horrendous time of it mate.

    • amanda59745
      amanda59745 aidan16169

      Posted

      Hi aidan how are you doing now? I am still in lots of pain, it is not controlled well. I have finally been referred to an orthopedic surgeon so hope to get a scan. I am struggling to cope with this pain xx 
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