Sciatica - Any Tips Please?

[MissLead]

A friend has been suffering for about eight weeks now- she hasn't had it before and has previously been generally in good health. Now she cannot drive, can hardly sit down and finds it difficult to sleep - has to pace up and down for ages just to tire herself out. She has been to her GP several times - he prescribes painkillers and she has attended physiotherapy sessions but no improvement in her condition has resulted - can anyone help please?
I wondered about alternative medicine - perhaps acupuncture? Although I have never had cause to use it myself.

[CluckyChick]

I had the same and the physio did help luckily, but the most useful thing the physiotherapist showed me was how to lean on a tennis ball to alleviate the pain. Best if your friend can get their physio to show them exactly how to do this. Basically though, get a normal tennis ball, place it directly over the bit that hurts and lean back against the wall. If you get it right it hurts like hell to start with, then the pressure of the ball releases the tension and it gives a lot of relief. You need to lean on the ball for about 5 minutes, several times a day.

[gingejbee]

Normally a good GP will ask for further tests (like MRI scans) if the sciatic pain (medics usually call it nerve-root pain now) does not settle down after some weeks on anti-inflammatories. Acupuncture may help with the pain but it doesn't address the underlying cause.
Surgery may even be necessary...I've had two ops in the past in a specialist orthopaedic hospital .....herniated discs found with MRI scans.
She has my sympathy!

[MissLead]

Thank you CluckyChick, I shall pass that tip on.

[ubasses]

OH had acupuncture, physio put a large thick needle into piriformus muscle, left him for a while, returned and gave it a twist. First treatment it only lasted a couple of hours. Each week it was left longer and twisted more and each treatment kept him pain free for longer until he was completely pain free. Could not guarantee it would never come back but he has been okay for over 3 years now. All done at local hospital on NHS.

[MissLead]

Many thanks for your reply Gingejbee. I would have thought that by now an MRI scan would have been appropriate. I think my friend was told that one of her discs needed to be rehydrated and that would take its own course. I am really grateful for your feedback.

[MissLead]

Ubasses, Many thanks for your response . The treatment sounds a bit drastic though, if the first one lasted a couple of hours - how often was the treatment administered please?

[Sqad]

\\\\I wondered about alternative medicine - perhaps acupuncture? \\\

Forget it.

I agree with the post of gingejbee.......she may be improved by traction.

Ubassis
\\OH had acupuncture, physio put a large thick needle into piriformus muscle, left him for a while, returned and gave it a twist.\\\

I wouldn't let a physio do that to me...the Piriformis muscle is deep and is related to some important structures.........if that is what actually happened.

[jackthehat]

I found acupuncture to be a good and immediate source of relief from my sciatica (2x blown lumbar discs).

Although, as gingejbee says, sciatica is a symptom of a problem and if it continues, there ought to be investigations made as to what is causing the problem.

[Scarlett]

I used to have it very badly for a very long time. Eventually the bulging disc just dried up and fell away, and the sciatica went overnight. I had help from a good chiropractor too. Recently I have had bad back pain again, including an aching leg, which I imagine is my 2 slipped discs pressing on a nerve. I have taken 1.5 days of diazepam and already feel looser. I don't want to keep taking it, but it has alleviated my sciatica and helped a bit with the stiffness. She could try and ask for something like that- a muscle relaxant- from her GP for a very short course?

[fbg40]

Hi MissLead
Had a bout of sciatica earlier in the year - visited my chiropractor on two occasions and although it was really uncomfortable during the treatment, it proved worthwhile. This together with her telling me to use the "tennis ball" method as well proved invaluable. Sciatica lasted about 6 - 8 weeks. I fully sympathise with your friend. Good luck to her.
FBG40

[BRIGHT SPARK]

The tennis ball or a willing partner with a good elbow worked for me....along with plenty of ice and long walks...oh and gingernuts.

[jennyjoan]

I have that painful sciatica for many years missy - but you know it "sorta" went away. Mind you it is very painful.

[MissLead]

Many thanks to all for your helpful suggestions. It does seem that the tennis ball one and possibly acupuncture might help. I'm grateful that I don't have it though, the consensus seems to be that, whichever route you take, it will take a long time before you are back to living a normal life.

[ubasses]

Sorry just came back and saw your question, the acupuncture was given 1x weekly, for 4 weeks. No recurrence since.

[MissLead]

Thanks Ubasses.

[tinkerbell23]

Bowen Therapy. X

[237SJ]

It`s funny but I wanted to say Bowen Therapy as well. My friend`s partner`s sciatica was helped by that. In theory it shouldn`t work but it does

[tinkerbell23]

Many friends & colleagues swear by it xx

[MissLead]

Well I've now looked up the Bowen therapy on the internet, but have you anything to add to that in the way of personal experience of whether or not it is effective please Tinkerbell? and if so, how long does it take?
I should mention that my friend has used the services of a Physio who also works for a football team here in the North East but so far, no joy!

[tinkerbell23]

In my line of work there are alot of back pains & sciatica.... colleage swear by bowen - relief can be after one session- NHS here used to pay for three sessions!!
Its gentle enough to use on newborn babies- another colleage did for colic and said it was like a different baby!!!!!

Worth a try if you ask me xx