Rustybucket Loc: England

Hi guys and gals,

Has anyone any experience of sciatica?

Out of the blue one evening I felt a sharp little pain in my buttock/hip area. By bedtime the pain had spread to my upper thigh and whole hip/buttock area. the pain was really intense so I took paracetamol but could sleep all night for it. The pain level set me thinking back to the last time I experienced that level of pain and there ware two incidences. First one was during childbirth 43 years ago and the second time was after having a hysterectomy. They discovered I had an internal bleed and had to go to theatre again the next morning so they withdrew my morphine all that night. It wasn't at all pleasant, I can tell you.

So if anyone out there can explain to me what sciatica should feel like it would help as I feel the doctor is fobbing me off. Even when I am in excruciating pain, I have no loss of flexibility or movement and when I do move it has no effect on the pain, making it neither better nor worse. The doc has told me that my symptoms are not of classic sciatica but was unwilling to have any tests done to prove it or otherwise but my daughter came with me and forced the issue and managed to get him to agree to have an xray and blood tests done and I'm now waiting for a scan.

I'm not one for running to the doctor unless it's necessary so if anyone knows of something in the way of self-help that they have used and proved beneficial...I'd love to know.

Basically, I'm on 2Ibuprofen + 2 Paracets + 2 Tramadol, just to keep the pain at a manageable level..... and I'm definitely not a pill popper. I rarely ever have to take painkillers as I don't like the fuzzy head they give me.

So if anyone out there has ANY helpful self-help knowledge I'd be eternally grateful.

My new SonyRX100 has arrived as well as the Guide by R White but my heads been too fuddled to feel like tackling it. I'll update you all as soon as I've trialed it for a bit.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I just read all about it on Wikipedia. Back on Dec 29th I got exactly that but my doctor didn't call it that. Since I've been suffering from 3 herniated discs since 1999 I have been in a lot of back pain over the years. But last Dec on the 29th I experienced the same pain you described. I've suffered nerve pain going down my right leg many times but usually subsides when I sit or lay down. Not last Dec. No matter what I did I was in pain. It was a 9 out of 10 pain too. I almost went to the emergency room but instead my doctor got me in right away and gave me a shot of Toradol. He told me that it would take effect in about a half hour and that if it breaks the pain cycle I might get relief for the long term. He said "might". I was praying. Anyway, by the time I got home and laid down on the couch the pain was 90% gone. I went to bed early and when I awoke, my pain was down to a 4. It got better over the next few days and I was able to go up north to shoot my elephant seals in early January. That Torado works wonders. The only problem is that it's pretty dangerous so it can't be given very often.

rocco_7155 Loc: Connecticut/Louisiana

Toradol (Ketorolac), is a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug used for for muskuloskeletal pain, inflammatory pain in kidney stones, chest wall pain, severe tension headache, and much more. As long as you have no renal (kidney) disease, it can be given every 6 hours over a few days without any harm. It is able to be given Intravenous, Intramuscular injection, or Orally.

hlmichel Loc: New Hope, Minnesota

I occasionally suffer from sciatica. The best way I can describe it is a stiff, burning hot cord that runs from just under the buttocks to above the knee on the back of the leg. The pain radiates and cannot be relieved by sitting, standing, laying down.

Last year I was sent to physical therapy for lower back pain. Some of the exercises I was given seem to lessen the sciatica pain for days at a time.

I do not take meds for pain.

Rustybucket Loc: England

Jeep daddy....Thanks for that. Toradol sounds interesting I'll have to go online and see what the British equivalent is. I'm fairly comfortable on the stuff I'm taking now but I swear I'd rather have 3 babies on the trot than the pain I was in :-). Cos at least the pain goes when the baby arrives LOLL. I have no history of back pain of any kind and it just sorta floored me when it came out of the blue. I got more worried when the pain spread round my left hip and then encroached into my groin and abdomen. I had an appointment at the Urgent Care Center and the doctor there advised that I needed my own doctor to arrange follow-up tests because he was worried that if the numbness crept any further round it could possibly cause incontinence. That's when alarm bells started ringing. When I got an appointment with my own doctor's surgery next day he just didn't want to know. My daughter had to badger him for Tramadol painkillers and for test to be done. He wanted me to wait 6 weeks before he did anything. I have to see the doc again soon so I'll ask about Toradol if I'm still in as much pain. Thanks for taking the time to answer...much appreciated.

Rustybucket Loc: England

rocco.....Thanks for the explanation. I don't suffer from kidney disease so it looks like I'd be OK on it. I'll definitely look into it. Thanks for taking time to reply. I really appreciate it.

Rustybucket Loc: England

hlmichel.... Thanks for answering. Generally I'm not a tablet taker. I have a feeling that doing some physiotherapy would help as I'm generally not as strong as I used to be (I'll be 64 this year). I don't like this "old age" lark. I don't mind BEING old, or looking old...I just don't like FEELING old. I appreciate your answering. Thanks again

Doddy Loc: Barnard Castle-England

Be careful of taking too much ibuprofen Rustybucket, that type of painkiller (n-saids) can cause internal bleeding. I take the same tablets as you for my back pain but the doc also gave me omeprazole to counteract the effects they might have on my stomach.
Best of luck.
ps. Iv'e had a back operation last november...but no joy, as you said you dont mind getting old, its the feeling of constant pain thats the bugbear.

Rustybucket Loc: England

Thanks Doddy....I had stomach trouble a while back and was given Omeprazole for it. It was purely caused by stress. More recently I've used Ranitidine. I'm always careful to take my painkillers with food and so far I haven't had any trouble...but it's early days. Hopefully the sciatica will get better and I won't need to take the painkillers for too long. Sorry to hear your back operation wasn't as successful as you might have hoped. If I hear of anyone taking a new medication that does great things I'll be sure to pass the information on. I really appreciate your input.

Picdude Loc: Ohio

Hello Rustybucket,

My mother has had Sciatica problems a few times over the last 40 years. The symptoms you have described sound similar but there are other things that can cause them.

Earlier this month Mom had pains that she thought was Sciatic; went to the doctor and found out she had a muscle that was bruised/swollen and pinching a nerve, but not Sciatic. Doctor put her on muscle relaxants for a week. Problem resolved. Just something to keep in mind. Hope you're feeling better soon!!

Crwiwy Loc: Devon UK

If it is truly sciatica it can be caused by a pinched nerve where it passes through a hole in the pelvic bone. This problem can quite easily be freed by deep massage on the area. This needs to be done by an experienced masseuse.

For other causes it may be advisable to see an Osteopath - they know a lot more about nerves and bones than a doctor.

Penny MG Loc: Fresno, Texas

First of all, sorry to hear about the pain. I am in neurology and we treat this conditinon quite frequently. First of all a plain film xray is not going to tell much about sciatica. If anything, an MRI should be done of the lumbosacral spine to make sure there is no nerve root impingement or spinal stenosis. Microwave heatpacks with rice in them can be your best friend, especially since you can take them anywhere there is a microwave available. The heat is a moist heat, so when applied to the area that hurts, it speeds up circulation to help "heal", plus it just feels good. If it is truly sciatic nerve pain, then Neurontin (gabapentin) or Lyrica are more specific for nerve pain and usually help immensely. Do know that either can make you feel a little funny in the head, but if you stick it out for a few days, this usually passes as the medication gets constant in your system. An EMG (electromyography) can be performed as well to see if there is any slowing in the nerves or loss of communication between the nerves and muscles which can prove or disprove a nerve root problem or a high sciatic nerve lesion. Just make sure you use a physician that is certified in electrodiagnostic medicine as there are a lot of physicians that can do this test without proper training. Hope this helps. If you need more info, please feel free to PM me. Hope you are feeling better soon!

viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

I've had the damn thing fo9r four weeks.Not too bad during the day but real agony in bed.Went to the doctor yesterday and had an x-ray and he gave me Tramadol which is ok for al while.Trouble is, one I wake up with the pain I can't get back to sleep.

jamitjim73 Loc: Franklin,Tn.

Hey Folks, Can I ask a question unrelated to this subject. This happened yesterday. If I can I will explain. This could possibly effect a lot of people.

Jimmy

viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

Go ahead