michele Posted May 1, 2007 Share Posted May 1, 2007 anyone suffer what do you take it' agony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted May 1, 2007 Share Posted May 1, 2007 Lots of painkillers I should think (got any of your tablets left?), not sure if heat helps though, you could try a nice warm bath. Sorry not to be more forthcoming with helpful advice. :-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howie Posted May 1, 2007 Share Posted May 1, 2007 Two bottles of "Jim Bean" and a aspirin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest caraprof Posted May 1, 2007 Share Posted May 1, 2007 michele - 2007-05-01 9:55 PM anyone suffer what do you take it' agony The sciatic nerve is the body's largest and is as thick as a pencil lead and runs from the spinal column right down to the feet. The most popular cause of sciatica is this nerve becoming trapped owing to a ruptured lumbar disc. The disc is full of a soft and gooey substance which acts as a suspension fluid between the vertebra. When a disc ruptures (there's no such thing as a 'slipped' disc, it's a misnomer) this fluid is released into the spinal column where it can press on the sciatic nerve causing pain in the lower back and right down the leg. Sometimes over time the problem rights itself as the fluid shrinks but if it persists for a long period the only answer is surgery. A laminectomy is performed where the surgeon enters the spinal column and removes the goo but leaves the disc in place. The disc isn't as effective as it has no fluid in it but at least it's still there separating the vertebra. I'm not a doctor but once a month I go to London where I'm on the board of a largish medical charity. I'm now vice-chairman of the applications committee and although we have many distinguished medics who give technical advice, laymen such as me learn an awful lot about various popular medical problems and the necessary operations etc. I'm actually quite knowledgeable about other things too, such as photography, cameras and business! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MandyAndy Posted May 2, 2007 Share Posted May 2, 2007 Many years ago I went to the doctors with pain in what I thought was my back, got it through walking in sand dunes on a daily basis while on holiday. They sent me for an X-ray, it turned out to be nothing wrong with my back but Sciatica, not helped by the bullet I had lodged in my rear. All this was a complete surprise to me and do not remember ever being shot there, which you would think I would, they reckon it could have happened when I was a child and it sat under my skin and gradually over the years has worked further and further in. I now get Sciatica quite often , though I can go months without knowing its there , thats the hard bit, as you forget about it and suddenly it hits you and gawd does it hurt. I have Diclofenic on repeat prescription and find you get to manage the Sciatica quite well in the end. Trouble is you have to catch it early, as the doctor described it to me as it is cross when when you first get hit with it, but it can turn in to a real rage if you don't stop, take the tablet sit still for an hour and let it calm down. I have to say this trick has worked really well, walking over rough ground definitely effects it , so does bending over washer or dishwasher etc without lifting my left leg at the same time, which at first seemed really silly but it does pay off and it becomes automatic. You need to work out what triggers it for you and try to change the way you do something, it could be the way you bend to pick the children up. I also don't wear slippers in the house anymore as we have wooden floors and you need to turn your hip the moment you turn your body and not let one work against the other, I wear thick wolley socks. Blimey what a lovely picture I must be painting, bent over , leg in air, with thick wooley socks on. Hope this helps a bit Michelle, but I agree it really hurts when it happens, just stand still and lift your leg slightly off the floor to let the muscle relax and calm down. Mandy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Newell Posted May 2, 2007 Share Posted May 2, 2007 I'm currently suffering sciatica and sitting down is hell! I wear a back support belt and take either co-codamol for pain releif or ibuprofen for pain releif/anti-inflammation. I think mine is a ruptured disc but I haven't had a chance to see the quack yet. Quack would give me co-dydramol which is a stronger pain killer but all codeine based drugs cause constipation as a side effect and i can live without that. D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randonneur Posted May 2, 2007 Share Posted May 2, 2007 I suffered from sciatica 3 years ago after a fall on a small grass slope. The doctor here gave me painkillers: Dafalgan and Topalgic, I believe one of them was Tramadol based. They did the trick, the problem was when I came off them we were up in Brittany for a week and I was suffering with withdrawal symptons so we had to come home early, so never again will I take anything that contains Tramadol. I do take Diclofenac (Voltarene) for ongoing arthritis and I haven't had another attack of sciatica since. Maybe I am lucky, it is very painful not only in the buttocks region but also in the ankle and under the knee. I feel for you Michele. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michele Posted May 2, 2007 Author Share Posted May 2, 2007 Hey Guy's thank you all I was trying to avoid Diclofenac (generic) trade name Voltrol as it's know in the trade as an NSAID which means for thoes of you that don't know non sterodial anti inflamatory ...Theses can cause stomach ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding ..don't want to put you all off like sorry...anything from the fen family is an NSAID. maybe I will opt for the Co codamol or Co-Dydramol DF118's..god it's agony getting old. dave true they do bung you up but it's worth it at the moment this is hell and it feels worse when driving its shooting from my back right down my leg....no sleep ...I give up. wondered if anyone had tried the Gels potions. *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Newell Posted May 2, 2007 Share Posted May 2, 2007 One thing I do use that works well is a TENS machine. £40 from Boots for a dual channel unit with 7 different programmes, if you haven't already tried one I'd urge you to give it a go. £40 might sound a lot but with the cost of prescriptions or over the counter drugs you'll soon eat your way through more than that. D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo3090 Posted May 2, 2007 Share Posted May 2, 2007 Michele, I had Sciatica last year and I went to see a "Cranial Osteopath" and a Chinese Accupuncturist. I don't know what they did but both treatments, espescially the massages, were good. It took several months but eventually the pain decreased. The Osteopath reccommended I took up pilates to strengthen my core muscles and improve my posture. The results were excellent. I improved so much I completed a 106 mile walk from Glasgow to Fort William at the end of March and I carried all my gear including tents etc. total weight 18Kilos. Never felt a twinge! Still, I have learned my lesson and make sure I lift stuff correctly and NEVER attempt to lift anything I can't move first. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo3090 Posted May 2, 2007 Share Posted May 2, 2007 Oh, I forgot! Daves' reccommendation about the TENS machine is spot on. It was the only thing that worked for me when the pain was at its' worst. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michele Posted May 2, 2007 Author Share Posted May 2, 2007 Ok Boots it is then thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twooks Posted May 2, 2007 Share Posted May 2, 2007 or try your local pain clinic - [NHS] you will probably have to wait but their TENS machines are much better than Boots' not strictly OT but I also find 'goosebumps' great for muscular pain, got one off e-bay last year. if you take co-codamol or similar try prune juice >:-) B-) no, not the books by R L Strine http://www.goosebumps.net/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michele Posted May 2, 2007 Author Share Posted May 2, 2007 Yacks you know what them little yellow pills do ha ha .....relax the muscles. :D :D :D :D :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Newell Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 Twooks, enlighten me please as to how the NHS TENS machines are better than the Boots ones. D. Oops, I just read that after posting it and it sounds a bit brusque, its not meant to be, I am genuinely interested and if they are genuinely better I night try for one. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J9withdogs Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 I bought a tens machine from Boots last week, 'cus I have a trapped nerve in my shoulder and it has made it worse! Back to the ice packs externally and the whisky internally, methinks. Unfortunately it's a problem putting 'Shirley' into 5th & reverse, and I'm driving to Scotland tomorrow, so I won't be able to wave as I'll be holding onto the bag of frozen peas on my shoulder. *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjphillips Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 I suffered with sciatica from about 40 years ago brought on by the type of job I did.I eventually visited an osteopath & then bought a backswing on his recomendation.I still use it & have no more problems but it is quite a long story to explain all that happened since better explained over the phone if thats apropiate.I'm not sure if its okay to give my telephone number here !!?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J9withdogs Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 Sounds like a fun bit of equipment tho (lol) Have you tried the New Era Homeopathic Tissue Salts? I'm eating them like smarties in the hope they will cure me before tomorrow. Not sure I like what aspirins do to the stomach long term. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 Had sciatica about 30 years ago, we where camping near Ballachullish, had a nightmare trip to doctors on road that seemed to have giant potholes, doc pumped me full of painkillers and I spent next week mostly confined to tent till I was fit enough for the journey home, well thats one holiday I'll allways remember! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandy Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 TENS machine as mentioned and if you want to stay off prescription drugs try taking 2 paracetamol and 2 Ibuprofen every four hours, also a hot water bottle on your back is heaven!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzy Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 Non weight bearin gexerise i.e. swimming daily will help. Followed by taking care when lifting. I notice that if I've been putting on the dogs' leads without bending down I soon feel the nerve pulling! Nurofen twice a day. Brisk walking as the pain improves. Taking care with bending as above, I have to kneel down to garden and feed the chooks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Newell Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 Finally got to see the quack today and confirmed a disc rupture is most likely. Prescribed co-dydramol and Naproxen for the pain and referred me to the orthopaedic back specialist. Just got to wait for an appointment now. These pain killers seem to help and so far don't bother my stomach, Diclofenic gave me horrible stomach cramps, constipation and diarrhoea al at the same time, not pretty :-( . D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michele Posted May 8, 2007 Author Share Posted May 8, 2007 J9 get Asprin Ec entrcote coating that stops the stomach reacting Asprin one of lifes little wonders just 75mg a day keeps the heart healthy and the blood thin pumping round . Dont take Asprin if you are asthmatic . :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 Lizzy - 2007-05-08 4:05 PM Non weight bearin gexerise i.e. swimming daily will help. Followed by taking care when lifting. I notice that if I've been putting on the dogs' leads without bending down I soon feel the nerve pulling! Lizzy - you must have long legged dogs! Or do YOU wear the lead?!!! 8-) Can you get sciatica in your arm??? (?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twooks Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 Dave Newell - 2007-05-07 2:05 PM Twooks, enlighten me please as to how the NHS TENS machines are better than the Boots ones. D. Oops, I just read that after posting it and it sounds a bit brusque, its not meant to be, I am genuinely interested and if they are genuinely better I night try for one. ;-) Hi Dave, sorry I've not been back to you before now, been invaded by in-laws. The Boots TENS has got lots of fancy switches and programmes - but the patches aren't as 'comfortable' at least on mine, and the connector is actually on the pad, so you can sit or lean on it accidentally. The ones used by NHS are flat and the connector can by moved to one side. and come in different shapes - long and thin, square, round. The actual motor has a much higher power point - [which may not be such a good thing perhaps]. The pads are made by Nidd Valley Medical - not sure who makes the machine, - not sure how many variations on a theme NHS does, this lot came from York, they may use local suppliers - odd as that sounds for NHS. You can also get hyper hypo non allergenic pads - but they don't as well and aren't really reusable. Main downside is likely waiting time :-S for the kit. B-) ps apology not necessary - didn't take it that way :D :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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