Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: margaret on July 08, 2014, 06:22:07 PM
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Hi Ladies,
Has anyone got advice on how to relieve sciatic nerve pain, I'm in agony.
Thanks x
::)
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Unfortunately there really isn't much you can do. I found heat helped a lot to star t with. Regular pain killers too, I just used paracetamol.
If you Google exercises for sciatica then there are good demonstrations of stretches that really help.
Honeyb
x
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I found that if I took Nurofen immediately then walked briskly for half an hour it eased symptoms. My fault because I didn't bend my knees when putting on dogs' leads ::)
However, the burning altered sensation I have down both thighs is totally different to sciatic pain. I realised after a year that it has been caused by leaning over small display cabinets for the past 4 years :-X
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Thank you ladies, I've had it for about 2 weeks but it's got worse over the past 4 days can hardly walk or sit for the pain, I've tried some exercises, it doesn't help that I do a cleaning job.
:(
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You do need to rest up a bit.
Have you seen your GP. Might be worth a visit.
Honeyb
x
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Thanks Honeyb,
The doctor told me to take painkillers, I think if it lasts much longer I'll go back, don't like this getting old malarky
I'm just a young chick hee hee
xxx ::)
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When I get it I can't sit on the loo …….. I usually take 2 Nurofen then an hour later another ……… then 2 at the 'proper' time. You may need physio., you could ring the dept to see if there are exercises which would help?
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When I get it I can't go to the loo let alone sit on it! My GP gave me a load of exercises to do. Of course when the sciatica wore off (after three weeks :o) I started to forget to do them. I found sitting for long periods made it worse and painkillers weren't that effective. Walking is the best remedy. You're right it's no fun this getting old business :(
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Mine got so bad I had to see a osteopath.
I was also given some exercises to do and was also advised to wear an orthaheel orthopaedic sole in my shoes as I was walking with one foot turned in and to help with the arches in my feet.
This has helped no end and so far I've been ok -touch wood!
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When mine gets bad I lay on my back on the floor and pull my knees up to my chest and rock side to side for a few minutes, then roll onto my side and get onto all fours before I try to get up slowly. That gentle stretch seems to help, although it doesn't sort my dead toes. They take the longest to come right. I also have one of those strange stools where you kneel on the front lower pad, and perch yer bum on the higher one at the back. (completely adjustable via a central screw thread underneath) And then in that position I lean onto the dinner table... Elegant I'm not...
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I sat on the settee this afternoon and had ACUTE pain shoot through my left buttock, so painful I couldn't even shout. Until it went away …….. like a red hot needle going through :-\
Will try that exercise Witches Cat …….. if you can arrange for John Trevolta to pull me from the floor? ;)
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I have sciatica to add to my list of wows, caused by my pelvic floor problems. Four weeks of hourly external physio, and daily exercises of different types of stretches, lying on a heat pad and a change in posture and it has gone, if I miss the exercises it comes back.
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:-\ I'm not an exercising type person though ::)
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I don't consider it exercise really. It is all done lying on the floor on a yoga mat and a pillow.
When I first saw physio he said my piriformis muscle which is all to do with the sciatic nerve was an eight out of ten for tightness, two weeks of strict exercises it was a three, and walking is also the best thing for it which I do twice a day at a reasonable pass, kicks in the good endorphins for pain and mood. :)
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can you manage to see a physio? It's often something is out of alignment so pressing on a nerve.
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My sciatica is caused by not bending down when putting dogs' leads on …….. leaning over which I am not built to do so need to bend ::)
I have low back pain too ……….. right in the small of my back, I've been sleeping deeply ……….
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Just been to the chemist and he's given me some tablets called Paramol, you can only take them for 3 days. I can't take anti-inflammatory drugs as I have high blood pressure. Keeping my fingers crossed they do some good. :)
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What's in Paramol? What's the dosage?
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I think Paramol are paracetamol & codeine and they are the strongest pain-killers you can buy over the counter. My hubby and I have both used them in the past and they do work well or at least did for us.
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:thankyou: so it's the codeine that is the risk!
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You could need some physio. I put up with the pain for months then my doc sent me to have some physio and I was very surprised to find the root of the problem was at the top of my spine (between the shoulder blades). I had two vertebra out of kink and that was throwing the bottom of my spine out and compressing the sciatic nerve. Was booked for six sessions but only needed four. The last session I had to lay face down and the vertebra were push back in place ( a bit scary). Still do the exercises I was given from time to time but would not leave it so long if it came back. Backs are complicated things and GPs are not experts. Worth going private if he won't refer (about £25 per session).
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Totally agree with what rosebud57 has said, I use to go to a therapist who does acupuncture, massage and manipulation, I lay on my tummy and she would trace my spine and gently using a towel press any vertebrae back into position.
I have not been for a few years because of distance, but I think its time I did.
Back pain is not well managed on the NHS, but they are beginning refer patients out to alternative therapists for acupuncture etc.
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Back pain is caused because we evolved standing upright >:( - none of our near relatives do this! Back pain is incredibly difficult to diagnose, treat and get the patient to maintain an exercise programme in order to keep the spine supple. Like everything else, once the patient begins to feel better, any exercise regime is forgotten ;) ......... even a bad pair of shoes can make a HUGE difference to how a person walks = compensation of the spinal column - I often want to stop women in particular in the street and advise them to get better footwear :-\ :-[ - looking good or buying cheap sandals for the Summer ain't the way to treat our skeleton!
I slept throughout last night without any sciatic pain nor did I have the burning thighs ......... dreamt a lot though!
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I have arthritis in my knees and asked a physiotherapist if wearing heels would make any difference or do more harm. He said it would not harm them at all.
I generally wear shoes with heels albeit small ones these days.
I did used to totter about in ridiculously high heels when I was younger.....a lot younger ;D. Can't manage them at all now.
Honeyb
x
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A small heel is supposedly good for posture, but not more than 2" high. Remember stilettos :-\ - I saw a bloke in some recently :-X
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:lol:
Takes all sorts I guess.
I saw Johnny Depp in town today. He was dressed as Captain what's his name and riding a three wheeler motorbike with a trailer that was done up like a galleon. I have not quite figured out what he was doing.
Honeyb
x
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Hi Ladies,
Paramol not doing the trick, still got pain, I'm going to the docs in the morning, someone suggested getting a muscle relaxant I'll try anything I've had this going on for nearly a month now :'(
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Hi Margaret after six weeks of physio x once a week, and daily exercises lasting half an hour, I went to physio today and my Sciatic pain has gone.
Sciatica generally comes from the piriformis muscle hence the need for stretches and exercises, the piriformis becomes contracted and the sciatic nerve gets irritated.
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Oh Jonny Depp :-*