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Sciatica, pain relief??

Posted , 25 users are following.

calis
calis

Hi all!

I have been diagnosed with spinal disc herniation on L4 and L5 on my back + spondylolitshesis. I was relatively pain free for about a month until all of the sudden the pain came back a week ago, now stronger than ever. It's typical sciatica pain, shooting down pain from my right lower back all the way to the right ankle. When I sit down it helps but I literally can't walk for more than about 100metres at a time,the pain comes too much. I've already been out of work for the whole week and really can't afford more so I'm desperate for some relief.

I've been to the doctors a couple of times this week. So far they have given me: Arcoxia 90mg (tried that twice, no relief), Naproxen 500mg (no relief), Co-codamol 30/500mg (took three of these one day,no relief) and now I've taken Amitriptyline 25mg at nights. I've slept fine but it has not had any sort of an affect during the day. I haven't taken any of these together though, I mean I've just taken one medicine at a time.

If anyone has ANY idea what could help in this acute pain, I'd really appreciate it! Has anyone tried seasalt with their bath, how does thatw ork? I've heard people have got some help of that. And next time I'm going to my GP (probably in a couple of days), any ideas what medicine I should ask for?

Thanks a lot already, I really hope someone will reply!

2 likes, 34 replies

34 Replies

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  • john_k_p
    john_k_p

    Posted

    angela67075 may I suggest you read this https://patient.info/medicine/tramadol-for-pain-relief . Then perhaps you will change your opinion.
    • pamela49947
      pamela49947 john_k_p

      Posted

      John, I am from the USA and maybe the Tramadol you get is a narcotic but the one I have been on for years now is not:ULTRAM® (tramadol hydrochloride) tablets is a centrally acting analgesic.ULTRAM® (tramadol hcl) is indicated for the management of moderate to moderately severe pain in adults.
  • calis
    calis

    Posted

    Hi there, just checked my old email address and noticed there had still been some replies on this thread, so just thought of coming back here to say thanks to everyone who gave some good suggestions on how to relieve the sciatica pain and encouraged me smile Since the time when the pain was so bad that I literally couldn't walk for over a month, the pain has actually pretty much stayed away now and I've started to do everything I can to keep it that way (gym, water sports, learn the right way to lift stuff, etc.). I just wanted to come and say thanks as at the time when problems arised I was new in the country and didn't really know anyone, so this forum helped me a lot smile

    And also, in the end Tramadol was the only thing that helped and I'm glad someone suggested it, for short term use.

  • jan77536
    jan77536 calis

    Posted

    Try ice pack on painful area of lumbar region. I do this when pain increases for 20 mins every hr. I find using a heat pad aggravates pain in back and leg. I have had sciatica for 13 months now. MRI shows protruding L4/5 disc and narrowing of formaninal spaces. + thickened ligaments and atrophy of facet joint. I had back surgery 20+ years ago for prolapsed L5/S1 disc. I was reasonably active up to recent problems with new prolapse. I see an osteopath every 6-8 weeks. NHS Physio set me back a few months. So starting again. Going to pain clinic this week. Re pain management as i've refused surgery and epidurals, tried gabapentin/amitriptyline and 30/500 co codamol from gp , but made me so zombiefied no thank you. Hoping to join pilates class if specialist ok's it. I take over the counter 8/500 co-codamol much to my gps disaproval as i cannot be prescribed nsaid's as have high blood pressure. I understand about the addictive qualitys of opiates(codeine) which concerns my gp. But, i only take when pain gets to a reasonable level.and then only every 8 hrs. I have a very high pain tolerance level, but find it so depressing and restrictive to be in pain most of the time. I find staying on my feet and keeping active all day helps greatly ease the pain. Most pain on waking for about 30 mins.
  • debbie37675
    debbie37675 calis

    Posted

    Try tramadol that helped me and diazepam together they made the pain bearable
  • cappy62256
    cappy62256 calis

    Posted

    it took about 3 months of practice, but yoga really helped me.  totally changed my life.
  • ryanbern
    ryanbern calis

    Posted

    I have Sciatica Horrible pain like having toothache in the leg , I tried Gabapentin tablets, Definatly releive the pain, Just got up one morning and had this pain, And try and get a doctors appointment these days, 2 and a half week waiting time .. 
  • Nikkala
    Nikkala calis

    Posted

    Oh my goodness! That cocktail of drugs makes my stomach turn! sad I hope you have found relief by now my lovely but thought I'd add my 2 cents! wink I have suffered with back problems for years and part of that has been awful sciatica right through the butt cheek to my ankle....so I feel your pain! Was on tramadol for over a year til my body finally rejected them and they just made me vomit. rolleyes A friend introduced me to some all natural pain relief "patches" however and I've never looked back! If I feel an attack coming on I slap on a strip and can walk painlessly within 30 minutes. They're FDA listed and safe-like I said...all natural. They've completely transformed my days so now I'm passionate about sharing with as many people as possible! If you are still in pain please dont hesitate to message me and I'll give you the info. Would be more than happy to help Hun. xxx
    • pacehuman
      pacehuman Nikkala

      Posted

      Hi Nik

      Can i have the details of those patches as i do get sometimes lower back pain and pain in buttocks going towards right and left leg. I have a prolapsed disk L5.

      Cheerssmile

    • ruth01267
      ruth01267 Nikkala

      Posted

      Would appreciate details of these patches - I have severe sciatica.  Many thanks.
  • pacehuman
    pacehuman calis

    Posted

    Mate,

    May Allah give you health and relieve you from this pain for good. I have prolapsed disc in 2010 think L5, I had taken Zydol 50 mg, i had bad sciatica for 3 weeks couldn't sit or sleep only stand. But since then i do get odd pain but not sciatica. Its horrifying!!

    Cheers 

  • katiehl1985
    katiehl1985 calis

    Posted

    I was told for years I had sciatica, until last year when one of my GP's Finally sent me for an X-Ray, as it turns out I have scoliosis (22 degree curve of my lower spine) and disc degeneration. I am currently suffering acute chronic back pain (though I refuse to stop working this time as I have had a total of around 4 months off due to back pain in the last 3 years) I have tried Naproxen, Co-Dydramol and Tramadol 50mg and nothing has worked, I have been given stretches which do not help and when the pain is bad I can't do them. Should I be asking my GP for more treatment? I am waking up around 15 times every night in pain and am starting to feel very fed up! The Only thing that slightly helps is nightly massages and also a very hot bath every night, but those are just mild and temporary relief. I cannot stand or walk for long and I'm in pain 24/7 :-( 
    • mark22616
      mark22616 katiehl1985

      Posted

      Hi , google hypothermia treatment, my doctor hasnt heard of it yet, i do no how depressing you can feel, its a struggle but dont give in, there will be something out there for you
    • katiehl1985
      katiehl1985 mark22616

      Posted

      I will google it, my back pain has not eased, Iv waited for physio for 4 months, finally got an appointment on jan 16th, I dunno how much it'll help as I still do the stretches given to me by my last one. Im not waking up as much now as i take amytriptline at night, however I no im not sleeping deeply as I am waking up and feeling really groggy and lethargic, but that could be the drugs i'm taking. I have weaned myself off my daily painkillers and trying heat/ice patches, but they dnt help either. Its just so frustrating I'm caught in a cycle whereby I'm overweight so that doesnt help my back, but I cnt do the exercise I enjoy cuz it hurts my back. so I'm at a lose as to what to do, hopefully i'll get a better idea when I speak to my physio, only thing is my back is doing ok(ish) atm and I do remember going once when I was in oxford I waited so long for a referral and by the time I got it I was better so the physio said I was fine, just do not want that to happen again!
  • natalie86287
    natalie86287 calis

    Posted

    Hi, i had a large disc prolapse a little over a year ago that largely affected my ability to walk for several months, it was incredibly painful, Whilst attending physio every week loosened me up nothing reduced the pain like deep tissue massage. I have now discharged myself from physio and have regular massages instead. I have sciatica every day but its mild enough to manage with ibuprofen now . I felt a huge improvement after just one massage so i'd advise everyone to give it a try,
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