Sciatica

Had sciatic pain for many years, also take co codamol. Have tried amatriptaline but it made me feel like a zombie in the mornings. Tried Tramadol but that had a similar effect so back to the co codamol.

Just been to the pain clinic and trying Gabapeptin, a week in and it is making me feel nauseas. So not sure where to go next. Had a year of Physio and then a course at a back rehab clinic which was a total waste of time, physiotherapists telling us that chronic pain is all imagined, yeah right!!

My pain is caused by degenerative arthritis (spondilitus) diagnosed after a CAT scan after an eventual referal to an orthapeadic consultant.

I saw an Osteopath about five years ago and he actually made my pain worse, which is unsurprising as he had no way of knowing what was causing it. I wouldnt go near another Osteopath, manipulating and 'cracking' spines without any X-rays or scans is irresponsible IMO.

Of cause a lot of people swear by Osteopaths so I hope you get on better than I did

I have been having pain for some time and have been offered surgery on my spine which I am reluctant to take up - as yet. It is not a thing to be undertaken lightly especially when the surgeon says it may help, it mey not and it may just make it worse! :shock:

I am not keen on taking meds which make we woozy so I have been given a tens machine to see if that will help. Early days as yet but will let you know how it goes.

I find it incredible that Sid's physios think that chronic pain is in the mind! :shock: I can tell them exactly where mine is! :roll:

Sciatic pain is most often caused due to damage / injury / degeneration of the sciatic nerve, and I don't beleive an osteopath has any business trying to 'cure' something which is not postural / skeletal in nature.

I take tramadol for my back pain which is caused by a neck / back injury sustained many years ago, and it suits me fine for general use. You don't want to know what I take when theres a flare-up! lol It's quite the cocktail!

I hope you're more comfortable soon.

I've been reading the posts whereby people with diabetes are also suffering from sciatica. I know its an old post, but hopefully this info will still be of benefit. My good friend Tim Farmer is a diabetic, and recently he has had to have his right leg amputated just above the knee due to complications. He's also been suffering from chronic sciatica, and in able to assist him I did some research, which coincidentally was also of great benefit to me. I came across a sciatica treatment site which offered help to all back sufferers. It was a great help to Tim, even in his condition, he was able to undertake the treatment. I hope you can find the same benfits from it.

(Advertising link removed)

Best wishes Al

I have pain in my left buttock and hip and going down to my knee. I have been off work almost a year, tried all different types of combinations of painkillers, pain patches and accupuncture, nothing has worked. Im having an epidural next week so im hoping that works!

I had sciatica before I was diagnosed, partly due to injuries suffered in a motorbike accident including "footdrop" the osteopath was great but when they fold your legs like a figure 4 brace yourself as they're about to jump on you! Now regular stretching keeps it all at bay.

hi
been a sufferer for ten years now went from a six pack to a sixty pack threw loss of ability to excersize. Max dose of amitryp's night time and trammodol daytime and awaiting surgery this year .I have the opinion that if i don't try the surgery i will spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair. So for me it's all or nothing. The official rate is 50/50 so when you've suffered for 10 yrs and your driving a wheelchair all the time you have go to give surgery a chance. If i was offered surgery in the first place i would have give it a try .It's up to the indavidual .Good luck watever you do .The amatryp's sideaffects do settle down and more importantly you will get a good nights sleep eventually. I'm on max dose of ama's and trammadol they were both very strange at first but now they have settled down i only score 7 on the pain what was 10 for 6yrs .Whatever you choose to do is up to you however i don't recomend the way i chose as i am in a wheelchair now
GOOD LUCK! you have got to remember that people can't see your disability
so they have'nt got a clue what your going threw my own family did'nt bat an eyelid until the last two yrs .That was a sole distroyer on it's own .Keep in touch i am very interested on any views towards our illness.
JF

I can recomend an electric blanket and full power ama's will relieve your pain enough to sleep .Don't be a fool like i have bean torture your GP as often as possible ( remember codienne might numb the pain it does'nt fix the problem) .It is really important to pest your DR for an mri scan as this will show your problems to your DR and hopefully get you fixed quickly
Stick in there folks
JF

Sarah69 said:

I have pain in my left buttock and hip and going down to my knee. I have been off work almost a year, tried all different types of combinations of painkillers, pain patches and accupuncture, nothing has worked. Im having an epidural next week so im hoping that works!

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I know this is an old post, but I have same experience - but on right side, feels like a neuralgia type pain (like tootheache in my leg)! Not as severe as yours as I am still working, but it does hurt more after work - as a lecturer I am on my feet a lot! I have not read all through the posts, due to time limitations, so there may be an outcome, otherwise - wondering how the epidural (which sounds a little drastic so assume you are in extreme pain) went? Also, I do feel this is due to nerve damage from diabetes.

Have had the epidural and so far it has made no difference at all, they did say it could take up2 2 weeks to start working, but as everything else hasnt worked I cant see this is going to either. Im having an MRI scan on Monday so im hoping that shows something up!

epidural (Spinal block)
Yes the first ones always seem to take time to kick in
Sometimes it can take a few attempts to hit the right nerves with me was the 3rd set of injections that hit the right spot :wink:
Then if the other injections work , you may be offered radio frequency nerve ablation
on the same spot

I have spinal block injections every 6<>8weeks in my back and neck

Your MRI scan will show your consultant a lot more ,I have MRI twice a year now
If you do have any spinal damage best to keep away from the Osteopath and Physios
as NO manipulation can fix mechanical damage to your spine and could do more damage
or until your consultant approves any Physio treatment

DRUGS
I take the following for pain
Amatriptaline 80mg
Gabapeptin 2400mg
I was pre warned of the Zombie effect and to try and stick with them as in the end will work
both are max rec dose now for pain relief ,
I found the Zombie feeling will ease off after a week or so
both help me very well with different kinds of nerve pain
I take 2 types of Morphine for deep pain ,Morphine can make you feel very sick for a while i
found that passes after 4<>6 weeks can give you something for sickness

I have Just started a new drug for me Clonazepam that im told is to 2X the effect of all above pain drugs and help stop the spasms
Well i can tell you this is the King of the Zombie drugs i have taken so far ,, Like the rest after
week or so , now its started to settled down , combined with all above , I am now getting a full nights sleep,and a reasonable pain control first time ever , Just hope it lasts

Other thing watch is your BG levels as the spinal blocks can play havoc with them
if a steroid is added into the mix

Some things to try
Hot water bottle in small of your back
In bed lay on your side bring your knees up into fetal position (only if it does not hurt you)
Place a pillow between your knees
Place pillow behind you help stop you rolling back

Google the --- Pain Clinic ---- Site is one of first few Lots of very good info

Bob
All Pain and no Gain

I was told if the 1st epidural doesn't work then it's not going to. It was done under the guidance of X-ray. I also find that sedation doesn't work with me either. I've been on both the painkillers you have taken with no effect. I've been on many combinations of painkillers, pain patches, acupuncture nothin has eased my pain at all. I think an MRI is my last hope!

Good luck with your MRI Amazed you have not had MRI before ?
Hope find some thing to rid you of the pain

Bob

Yes, good luck, I do hope that either the epidural kicks in or they find a cause with the MRI that can be effect relief :!: