Sciatica.

[Bill]

Has anyone got any tips on how to relieve sciatica?
Geez it's sore. ;blue

[Win2Win]

I'd swap you my reactive polyarthropy for that any day.

A monthly steroid injection will do the trick, see your GP.

[Stewards enquiry]

Bill
I had this problem for years. Pain all the way down my right leg. Tried everything from injections, acupuncture, tablets, physio and in the end they operated on my back and removed part of a disc which was leaking and pressing on a nerve. Before I had the op the pain was that bad at times I used to go to bed and take a golf ball with me and lie with it under my back where the pain started (obviously on the disc) so that it pressed on the disc and this used to relieve it for half and hour or so. I know its very painful. You dont say where your pain is but if its in the legs it could be the same as me. It was that bad sometimes I could have cried with it. Touch wood since the op about 5 years ago no problems since. Good luck.

[Bill]

Thanks for that guys. My GP says surgery is not an option. May try therapy at the local clinic. Pain is always down the left leg for some reason.

[silax]

have you had an mri scan this will show exactly what the problem is

[Stewards enquiry]

Bill
My GP tried everything until they finally decided to operate. An injection every month will not always stop the pain if it did nobody would suffer with sciticia. I had x-rays and MRI scan but when they cut me open the surgeon said it was much worst than the scan had shown. The thing is keep going back to the GP and get a surgeon involved. Make sure he is a specialist or you could finish up with a jack of all trades. An apprentice claiming 7 lbs.

[Win2Win]

...or Vegy :killer :yikes:

[Bill]

Thanks all. I will keep on at my GP until I get something done.

[Win2Win]

May be worth picking up this for £2.69 http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1887053093/202-9964428-8838209

...and read this....http://www.medic8.com/healthguide/articles/sciaticadiscprolapse.html

[Darrell66]

I can sympathise with you on this one, had back trouble for the last 20 years slipped my disc at 21 and it seemed to go every couple of years after. Culminated in me having the same op as Stewards about 3 years ago. The pain was so bad I would quite happily have let them chop my leg off. Thankfully now it is much better although I get the odd bit of pain from time to time but only because I don't keep up with my exercises.

Exercise should be your first option Bill, nothing too drastic just simple streching should ease the discomfort, do a search on Google for exercises to relieve sciatica. If they don't work then I would recommend manipulation, before my disc got too damaged I used to visit a chap who would pop it back in . Ask your Gp to recommend someone they should have an idea of who can help.

Best of luck.

[Win2Win]

Just take a wheelchair with you in case they 'pop' the wrong bit :yikes:

[johngringo]

Bill,

I definitely would try manipulation first.

I had this for over 18 months and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it out here.

Then my father died and I had to go over to the UK. I took the opportunity of having manipulation, the chap was the one and only Icelander I have ever met, during the forth or fifth session there was a noise like a pistol shot as the vertebra that was squeezing the nerve finally noved back into its due position and for the last 10 years I have never felt it again.

If you have any contact with York, you might have to stay for a fortnight or so, I can give you his name.

[Bill]

Doing some simple exercises I found at spine-health.com, at a gentle pace. It hurts a bit but not too bad. I think it is the lower back muscles as they have not been used recently so we'll see how that goes. The pain in the leg is easing. No pain no gain they say.
Thanks all for the advice.

[susanwells]

:hearty if you Google that you get just ONE hit.. guess what ?

[sean rua]

I found this to be a great exercise, but be careful, it may not suit everybody and may even bggr you right up.

Lie flat on your back on a firm flat surface.
Arms tight by your sides, keep elbows on floor and bend arms to touch the shoulders ( left hand, left shoulder; right hand, right shoulder).

Now, keeping elbow in contact with floor, slide one down to hip. First, left elbow to left hip, then right elbow to right hip.

Nice and easy. Feel it pulling your back. Do about fifty.

It may loosen up some painful tightness. You'll look a bit like that wiggle smilie, unless you seize up altogether. The risk is yours.