[Closed] Sciatica

It's terrible.

I had it for a couple of years when I was in my late teens. I think mine was caused by the job I had at the time.

The worst for me was the pain I would get from just lying in bed. Horrible.

I got some meds from the GP which didn't work then they changed them and the pain greatly reduced. Changed my job and it went away.

Can't remember the name of the meds.

This post doesn't really help, just to let you know I feel your pain!

Osteopath rather than Physio for sure. I have occasional serious pain from my Sacroiliac joint which is very similar to sciatica. One hour with the osteopath and its much better and I could ride again after 4 days.

It's a symptom, you need to find out what the underlying cause is. In my case it was a herniated disc and it took ages to get sorted.

MRI is probably the best route for a diagnosis. Easier said than done though..

What job were you doing?

How long did it take to go away?

I'm a cycle courier, been doing it for 8 1/2 years. Have had back ache and some pain in my leg for the last few weeks. Last Thursday had to carry a lot of heavy legal files. Friday morning could hardly get out of bed.

Yoga sorted mine.

What job were you doing?

How long did it take to go away?

It was a long time ago, 20+ years. Working as a butcher carrying a lot of heavy meat. Typically 50kg but occasionally 90kg. It was pretty hard work. Awkward shapes as well.

Mine wasn't as bad as what you are describing, I was never laid up with it, just a lot of discomfort at times.

I went offshore and it pretty much went away, not surprising really. I have had the occasional problem since which I think is connected to it. I guess it will be an ache as I gradually get older.

I can ride my bike without pain strangely. When I get off I remember I can't walk properly.

When I get off I remember I can't walk properly.

Yeah sounds familiar. It was pressure on my heel and seemed to trigger the worst pain.

Yoga sorted mine.

Girlfriend keeps suggesting Pilates.

Feel your pain mate, i suffered it for quite a few years. I tried just about everything, osteopath, physio, doctors drugs, acupuncture.... In the end i found a good physio and although it didnt 'cure' it it certainly made it bearable. I must have tried over half a dozen different practises/people before i found something that kind of worked for me. Didn't like the doctors method of drugs as they just turned me into a zombie, they sent me to a NHS physio but they didnt really have much time for each person so went private. Guess everyone is different though so hoping you find something that works for you

Girlfriend keeps suggesting Pilates.

Could help. I heard that improving your core strength really helps.

I suffer from Sciatica. Had it really bad about 3 years ago, Pilates and physio sorted me. It still returns for maybe a week or so. Been diagnosed with a disc bulge in the lower back. The stuff I carry in work doesn't help. I was given Ibuprofen and a painkiller called Zapain.
Last resort is surgery to shave off some of the disc.

I had it. I couldn't walk, and had to crawl upstairs.

Pilates, a bit of physio, and especially exercises in the book [url= https://www.amazon.co.uk/Treat-Your-Back-Robin-McKenzie/dp/0987650408/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1489232085 ]Treat your own back[/url].

Don't bother with osteopaths - if you like you can paypal me £50 instead.

Keep moving.

Demand stronger pain killers from your doctor if need be.

If it doesn't respond to treatment you might need to go the MRI route. It could always be something more serious.

Had it just before Christmas. worst pain I've experienced. GP prescribed Codeine 30mg four times daily (ZAPAIN®) + NAPROSYN® twice daily made it tolerable (I could stay still and even move a bit without crying) in the first week. Things got better after that. Still have mild discomfort and some numbness.

Osteopathy was recommended to me. As was chiropractic. Since they're both nonsense based on no evidence I didn't choose them.

Sciatica seems to be a complex beast what with the sciatic nerve having such an exciting route. I figured that since I know my core muscles are weak at best that following the GP's exercise sheet wouldn't harm me. I saw a physio to confirm I was doing them right. Couldn't find evidence for specific exercise being helpful or not in sciatica but found evidence that it didn't do harm following back surgery.

The physiotherapy has helped core strength. And identified 'tightness' in my piriformis muscles. Which might suggest piriformis syndrome.

Expecting that lacking any intervertebral disc insults I'll gradually recover. Hope it gets better.

MRI is the least invasive route for diagnosis of a potential prolapsed intervertebral disc. It might also help identify any other structural effects on the sciatic nerve as it winds its way down. MRI also has a great capability for incidental findings. You need to consider what action you might take depending on the outcome: surgery?

@mudmonster - assuming you mean leg nerve type pain by 'sciatica' most common cause is disc or spine wear and tear compressing one of nerve roots. In 90% ish of people it is a self limiting condition that settles with pain relief and symptomatic management within three months.

Initiative treatment is painkillers and stay as mobile as you can. Physio osteopath etc - can help.

If not settling by 6-8 weeks worth getting referred. MRI scan before that adds very little - treatment would still be see if it settles. (MRI is really a test for assessing role for surgery or other intervention such as injection).

Hope that helps. jet.

A google of 'lumbar radiculopathy' will get you lots more info

I've got it now, started about five weeks ago, first time ever.
I saw the doctor after five nights sleeping no more than twenty or thirty minutes a night due to pain etc. Got some anti inflammatory/pain killers and muscle relaxers for the night, but they weren't?making any difference, so didn't bother after a couple of true.
I've been referred for physio as I've lost significant strength in my left leg.
So I'm sleeping better now and not in pain, but still have issues from it, still taking the anti inflammatories etc.
I didn't have anytime off work, due to the way the sickness policy works, I would have been under review and didn't want to go through that.
But I probably should have taken some time off, nearly falling asleep at various times during the day wasn't good!

If you are anywhere near Portsmouth/Southampton I can give you the details of a Chiropractor who defied all my expectations and made my life (and some other people I know) much more bearable.

Back pain is the most debilitating thing, you have my sympathy.

I can give you the details of a Chiropractor who defied all my expectations and made my life (and some other people I know) much more bearable.

If you want to pay me £80/hour I'll happily apply my hard-won anatomical and physiological knowledge to some handwaving and manipulation to attempt to fix your holistic body problems.

A other yoga recommendation. Mine flares up every now and again, yoga always sorts it out. Should really do the yoga as preventative measure but always seem to slack off it.

I don't envy you, my Wife had it years ago, she'd just sit there blubbering and shaking from the pain and she's no wimp. Cocktail of painkillers and physio took months to full recover but she says it's not 100%.

If you want to pay me £80/hour I'll happily apply my hard-won anatomical and physiological knowledge to some handwaving and manipulation to attempt to fix your holistic body problems.

😆

If you fix my back its worth $80 an hour!

Never been to a good Chiropractor then? Or is my experience wrong?

Differential = piriformis syndrome. The sciatic nerve runs through the piriformis muscle causing "sciatic" pain if the muscles particularly tight. Google "piriformis stretch" and try a few.

I don't post here much but my ears pricked up when I saw this.

I've been suffering for over 3 months with [b]severe[/b] sciatic pain down my left leg. It was so bad that it got to the point where I was happy to pay 800 odd quid privately for a scan. Turns out i have a prolapsed disc which is trapping the sciatic nerve. I cannot describe the pain / distress / depression I've suffered since the start of December. As a cyclist, my year so far has been ruined.

Anyway, my experience has been that the physiotherapy I've had was wrong and made it worse hence why I wanted the scan to understand the root of the problem. Walking made it worse but sitting still was equally as bad so I would persevere with various back stretches and work out what works best. If it's a disc issue you want to try and stretch in such away that it opens your vertebrae to try and get the disc to retreat.

I'm now on a short list for surgery. Fortunately in the last week I've really been starting to feel better. If I can avoid surgery that's be great but it's early days. I'm currently going through Tramadol withdrawal which is unpleasant but very welcome at the same time.

Not quite sure what the point of this is but if it perserveres pester your doc like mad, try to keep moving but not to the point of making it worse. Also buy a very expensive new bike in anticipation of recovery...

PS: 8.5 years of courier work, I'm guessing using a courier bag or rucksack and unless your a yogi your gonna have some pretty funky muscle / skeletal imbalances going on.

Don't wait for a physio referral - asks around and get the name of the best local sports physio and part with the cash for what should be a proper diagnosis.

When I first slipped a disc I had weeks of talking to GPs and making no progress - you need a correct diagnosis and, from my experience, you're more likely to get it from a good physio than anyone else.

Hope you get it sorted, I've been through all sorts of bother.

The doc said it might be time to drill some bolts through my pelvis, to 'fix' the underlying Ankiolising Spondylitis/ SI joint whatever, I said 'bugger that' and started Yoga, and making an effort to sleep so that my back isn't twisted.

I suspect the biggest thing is stretching my hamstrings...

This:

I can ride my bike without pain strangely. When I get off I remember I can't walk properly.

Is familiar...

Long term sufferer here

Do not go to an osteopath at this point they could cause more damage, actually any osteopath worth their salt wouldn't touch you.

For now small walks if you can manage and keep mobile as much as you can. Getting on the bike is not a wise move.

Get yourself back to the GP on monday and ask for

Naproxen 500mg (250mg won't do anything)
Diazepam just to relax the muscles and so you can sleep
Codeine 30mg/500mg

This lot is for severe pain.

Hot baths

Tiger balm at base of back helps

Get yourself to a physio just to assess you and give you simple excercises.
Ask your GP if your health trust has a spinal fitness class and get on it ASAP.

It does get better but don't push your boundaries.

I'm not opting for an operation just changed my lifestyle.

Good luck OP stay positive!!

I had it really badly a few years back, turned out to be a burst disc (what used to be called a 'slipped disc')

A consultant offered to trim the offending bit off (that was pressing on my nerves) but did not recommend it. I kept moving and it gradually went away.

Really unpleasant few weeks/ months.

Try to get referred to a consultant who deals with this stuff all the time.

A real bummer - I hope you get better soon.

I get it from time to time sometimes with lower back pain sometimes they occur separately. Had it for almost 2 years on and off. Two physios suggested weak core and tight glutes/hamstrings/psoas. In the end an MRI showed a prolapsed disc (L4 or L3 I can't recall which). Surgery was suggested as a last resort. Or an injection into the spine. At the moment I'm hoping it cures itself over time as I've heard too many bad stories about spinal surgery. Apparently the body can reabsorb the jelly which is released from the disc when it bursts. It's this jelly that's irritating my sciatic nerve

Thanks for all the advise. I've got codeine and naproxen. I also decided to get drunk last night which was probably a bad idea.

I'm off to a Pilates place tomorrow for an assessment. Might try to find a good physio too. Walking seems to help a bit. I really hope it's not a disc problem.

Also buy a very expensive new bike in anticipation of recovery...

I bought some Ti bolts.

[quote=jamesgarbett ]I get it from time to time sometimes with lower back pain sometimes they occur separately. Had it for almost 2 years on and off. Two physios suggested weak core and tight glutes/hamstrings/psoas. In the end an MRI showed a prolapsed disc (L4 or L3 I can't recall which). Surgery was suggested as a last resort. Or an injection into the spine. At the moment I'm hoping it cures itself over time as I've heard too many bad stories about spinal surgery. Apparently the body can reabsorb the jelly which is released from the disc when it bursts. It's this jelly that's irritating my sciatic nerve

I've had two occurrences of a "slipped disc". First one (7 years ago ish) took a few months to recover from ( horse tranquilliser strength meds to dull the pain), the second time was in 2015 and it pretty much wiped out my year biking wise (and 2016 wasn't great either) + the strong meds too. The low point was on day in July 2015 when I could only crawl around on the floor, couldn't even get up onto knees. Getting up the stairs was a no-no.

But now much better and no surgery required. I found long walks and pilates helped loads.

At the moment I'm hoping it cures itself over time as I've heard too many bad stories about spinal surgery. Apparently the body can reabsorb the jelly which is released from the disc when it bursts. It's this jelly that's irritating my sciatic nerve

Is this permanent damage? If you lose some of the contents from the disc do you end up shorter?

 

I guess you probably do end up shorter yes - I think this happens to most people as they approach old age anyway

One of my other discs looked like it had burst in the past although I'd had no symptoms then - but it looks very flat/thin compared to the others

Quick update. I'm no better. Doctor referred me to a consultant muscular skeletal physiotherapist.

I had three Pilates sessions and he said there isn't much more he can do until I improve. Was really hoping he'd sort me out.

Already worried that my summer is gonna be ruined. Mate sending me riding picks from Tenerife doesn't help.

I had sciatica years ago, v painful. Stretching fixed it, in fact some pilates moves would fix it depending on the cause. I put mine down to a desk job and poor posture.

As above, work on your core muscles, maybe back stroke in the pool. I used to be in agony. After much stretching never had it again. Bin the meds, get to the root cause.

Cortisone type injections can help with the acute symptoms and get you to stage where you can do physio etc. At least it worked for me twice (over 10 years)

I literally feel your pain. Like others I could cycle OK but then struggled to stand up straight afterwards. Driving a car had a similar effect.

MRI showed prolapsed disk.

Just over a year ago I had back surgery (microdiscetomy) to trim back the disk between L5 & S1 and take the pressure off the root of the sciatic nerve.

AFter the initial recovery period of about 3 months I got back on to the bike and started training again. This was probably too much, too soon as I've now aggravated it again. Having said that the pain now is not nearly as bad as pre-surgery. Wish I had been more cautious about the recovery as it was almost perfect, but now i feel like i've messed it up again.

Things which are now helping a slow and drawn out recovery are as follows-
-gentle stretching using exercises provided by physio (an accomplished endurance racer who suffers from lower back issues) and free osteopathy provided by my work;
-swimming front crawl
- not cycling too much - only now am I doing a gentle 40min commute, but MTB still seems to be a bit much
- core exercises
- a key thing when doing exercises and stretching is not to overextend as this is where more damage can be done.
-keeping the weight off.
-been careful how I get out of bed and how i move in general
- ensuring that I stay well-hydrated also seems to help quite a lot. Possibly something to do with keeping the remaining disk supple.
- taking ibrufen and codeine ahead of doing exercise to prevent muscle stiffness.
-core and posture - it's easy to develop bad habits and they can be hard to fix
-adjusting my position on the bike, so it's more upright. Lowered the saddle slightly so that my pelvis is in a more neutral position. Raised bars by a couple of spacers.
-one of the stretches is based on the Mckenzie method of back extensions. Go easy with this but a little bit about 3 or 4 times a week seems to be helping me at the moment.

All the best to the OP. You have my sympathy. Most of the above bullet points took quite a long time for me to figure out. It does sound like a disk issue but equally could well be one of a number of other issues. MRI to investigate perhaps (can be had on NHS or privately for ~£300).

There is also an older thread of Sciatica "sciatica driving me mad" which may be of use.

Singlespeeding helped as I had to stand and dance on every climb.

Similar situation here - broke down in training for the London marathon and get pins and needles in both feet + various pains in legs/buttocks/back if I run more than 5 minutes or on long (30mins +) walks. But I can ride hard on a spinning bike for an hour without issue.

I am currently on 500g naproxen twice a day for 4 weeks and have been referred to muscular skeletal specialist with a view to an MRI. The specialist running physio (also a Pilates trainer) did nothing for me other than take about £500 from me 🙁

Its horrible and can take months to go away, and can reoccur. MRI showed a disk protrusion pressing on the nerve. Consultant said next time he will inject a nerve root block, and if it carries on surgery. I have just got back on the bike after a 4 year rest, mostly because I was worried that excessive mountain biking (if there is such a thing) caused it.... Getting a timely diagnosis/treatment can be difficult depending on your postcode.

Thanks for the advice again. Over the weekend I'll contact a person I haven't seen for a few years. I heard she does acupuncture. Might be worth a try. I have just read the whole sciatica driving me mad thread. Got worried as I had trouble peeing and it did say call 999. Everything is still working though. Really hope I get seen by this musculoskeletal physio soon.

Feel your pain, I'm still with hospital drugs etc. As mentioned it's a postcode lottery I have received excellent care, spinal fitness classes MRIs
My discs are f*ed but have chosen not to go down operation route.

All I would say is nag your GP and nag some more, once you've been referred nag them. Treatment is there just ask for it.
I'm not sure I'd go down any alternative route until you know what's going on. Pay for an MRI at least then you'll have a better idea.

Have you been given any medication?

Sorry to hear of your situation OP and all the other posters on here, I had sciatica and sacroiliac issues for 15 or so years about 20 years ago. Very uncomfortable and depression inducing condition.

I found two approaches that have worked and kept me pretty much condition free, with only the occasional flare up that now goes within 24 hours, they have and are working for me, whether they work for you or anyone else is down to the individual.

Firstly, get yourself a fit ball and work on your core muscle strength, I would do a daily 20 minute exercise routine and kept that going for quite a few years. I could be still doing it, but laziness sets in I guess once the pain goes away.

Secondly and possibly more importantly, look at the causes for your dis-ease to manifest itself as lower back issues, I.e. the metaphysical aspect. Typically lower back issues are to do with how well supported you feel in a financial sense, how you earn your living and your relationship with money and how important financial secirity is for you. Changing my attitude and existing beliefs worke in tandem with the core muscle exercises and as I commented, sciatica is now thankfully a thing of the past and my work is physical with lots of opportunity for problems.

Find your own way, personally, any pre-existing condition of prolapsed or herniated disc's are not the true cause, our attitude and approach to life is, invest your energy into sorting that rather than physically invasive methods.

I had similar lower back & sciatica problems for a few years (and spent a small fortune on various treatments over the years). Eventually got that bad that my leg started giving way when I got really bad jolts of pain. I moaned to my GP (after getting the sticking plaster approach of loads of painkillers) and got an MRI scan and referral to a decent physio who is also a Pilates instructor. MRI scan confirmed physios initial thoughts - natural wear & tear and ageing causing discs to get squashed and press on nerve.

The physio came up with a good treatment plan that initially involved acupuncture and other stuff like laser treatment and manipulation, then once out of the initial treatment phase, i started on Pilates type strengthening exercises. My physio explained that I would never get rid of the cause of my sciatica problem, but with regular core strength training, it could be managed. The physio said why most people struggle with persistent sciatica is that they have weak core muscles and either never see someone who will advise them to strengthen their core, or they do, but then don't keep doing the excercises regularly enough. Physio also told me not to expect a magic overnight cure (as apparently most people do), as it can take a few weeks of regular exercise to really get the core muscles and posture sorted out.

I started going to the physios Pilates class once a week and doing another two 30-40 minute sessions per week. I'd guess it took about 6 weeks to really start noticing a difference, but after that, the sciatica really settled down. After 3 months of sticking at the exercises, I wasn't getting any pain. So, since then, I've been doing Pilates at home (with a DVD) for 30-45 minutes two or three times a week. The only time I've had twinges from my back is when I've not done any Pilates for a week or two - restart the Pilates exercises and the twinges stop within a few days.

Based on my experience of trying various treatments, I'd recommend trying to find a physio who also has APPI training to teach Pilates classes (Australian Physio & Pilates institute). I've done courses with non APPI instructors, but nothing comes close to the APPI instructor led classes - possibly cos most are also qualified physiotherapists!

Can't stress enough though, if you're given exercises and don't start seeing an improvement within a few days, stick with them, as in my experience they do work. (Fwiw, an orthopaedic surgeon and two physios independently told me that almost all sciatica problems can be cured with by getting and maintaining good core strength)

Good luck with it!

Bowglie - that mirrors my experience. Not identical but the salient bits are consistent.
Mixed fitness exercise also helps me - bit of road riding, bit of MTB, bit of running. Swimming I find aggravates it. But others will find this to be different I guess.

You have my sympathy 🙁
I had crippling Sciatica and SI joint pain at the tail(arf) end of last year. It was horrible. I thought it was something that only happened to 'old' people and pregnant women. I'm 35.

Only things that helped in the first instance were codeine and Diazepam for the really bad bits and to help me sleep. However, that gave me the trippiest dreams I've ever experienced.

I was willing to try anything at this point, partly as I was desperate, and partly as I'm open minded and believe in the body's ability to heal itself (but often needing a kickstart from the mental side of things). Lots of people also swore by them.
After about 4 weeks (3 weeks off work) I went to a chiropractor. Over the next 5/6 weeks I went to them twice a week.

Biggest waste of money ever. I went open minded and I was repeatedly cracked and wrenched. On many occasions I actually came away feeling worse.
After throwing the best part of £300 at them I just gave up. My back was starting to improve, but coincidentally, some research revealed that the lack of any conclusive evidence to the efficacy of Chiropractic techniques is often due to the fact that the control groups improved on their own at the same rate....
Since then I swear my joints crack even more than they did before.

What has definitely helped though is a combination of Yoga/Pilates at home. Side planks, crunches, pull ups, press ups, combined with stretches that both work on my core and increase my mobility have helped hugely.
To be honest I stopped them about a month ago after doing them since the start of the year and I've anecdotally noticed recurrences of the discomfort. I need to get back to doing them.

On the plus side, I did manage to watch some really good stuff on Netflix.

Sympathise OP & reading with interest. My left lower back has gone a few times over the years, probably as a result of doing a forestry job in my 20's and early 30's. Unbelievably painful when it goes, can't walk. Dose of painkillers and gentle exercising usually gets it back to normal but like others you forget to do the stretches when you feel ok. I once sneezed when shaving and that put it out.

2 years ago I busted by left foot and recently had an arthroscopy on it which seems to have worked on the foot, but the awkward walking over 2 years now gives me almost constant pain in the same left lower back/bum/groin area with shooting pains down the leg. Doc has given me Naproxen and am on a waiting list for physio. In the meantime trying to do exercises recommended by him but I think I might be overdoing it as no improvement. I can still ride my bike, just getting on and off is the problem. I have a small insurance policy so could get a few private sessions of physio whist waiting for NHS (not sure if I need osteopath, chiro, sports physio or what) but am a bit wary going on what others have said above.

Very frustrating pill popping but I guess you get there in the end.

Also suffered with sciatic pain for about 30 years & I guess that the cause can vary a fair bit; with me it's generally a very tight periforma - stretching/yoga/pilates helps massively & it's usually when I've been neglecting it that it returns.

My experience with chiropractors has actually been very good.

Again - today a pretty tough spin session + Pilates + weights and no issues. Try to run and I'm ****ed.

Well it's gone again. Was starting to feel like I was better although still was getting light Sciatica now and again. Always had the nagging fear of it going to go wrong again. Had to cancel a trip to bike park wales and just bought a new fork 🙁

Put up some shelves this week and my back was killing me. Was hoping it was just muscle but now now I'm back to limping around again.

Starting to think about lumbar fusion but will see what the physiotherapist says. Hope I won't have to wait too long. Guess I'm stuck with it for the rest of my life.

I must have missed this thread first time around in the spring, but for what it's worth, my experience was that surgery at the local pain clinic was the answer. Having prolapsed a disc (might have been L3) several years ago, and spent months in pain, plus much of that time unable to sit properly, it got to the point where I was sick of it not going away by itself. And of wearing the knees out of trousers kneeling at a desk. Made a nuisance of myself to my GP, who referred me to consultant at pain clinic, two courses of steroid injections into the offending area under local anaesthetic and it's been ok now for 7 years. Bloody hope it stays that way, because it was proper shit while I had it. Luckily am in a work health scheme, which would have speeded things up a bit. But if you get an MRI result which finds a prolapse, that may well be worth asking about.

I was asking for an MRI for months. They wouldn’t give one unless I was in danger of ending up permanently disabled. The doctor said on Saturday I might get one this time. How does the steroid injection work?

you could try asking your doc to prescribe amytriptyline. it won't work overnight but will reduce the length of time you suffer symptoms and it will give you a good nights sleep. it's worked for me twice

I was asking for an MRI for months. They wouldn’t give one unless I was in danger of ending up permanently disabled

Have you tried over exaggerating your experience? Ie tell them you arent sleeping, pain is a 11/10, unable to work, feeling depressed etc, etc I guess they might do some light screening to keep the timewasters out maybe?

I think I would have only got an MRI if I had cauda equina syndrome. The doctor said I should get one this time as it's happened again.
I'm off to borrow some crutches today.

[b]mudmonster[/b] How does the steroid injection work?

Great thank you 🙂

@mudmonster

I posted 8 months ago, your GP sounds sh 1t - sorry to say...

Has your GP referred you anywhere ? If not you really need to see a different doctor and quickly.

My GP has been great, I know its post code lottery to some extent, there are two waiting lists within the trust, one with a two week turn around (me) or the usual 3 months... over the last year ive had 2 mri's and a care package of medication, and lots of physio, so far i've been pain free since June, and they don't discharge the minute you feel better.

Your GP needs to be proactive...there is no way you or your GP can possibly know what is going on inside you without an MRI

(within our trust its not the GP that can ask for an MRI its the physio)

or pay for an MRI !

I've just called my doctors to find out when my visit to the musculoskeletal Physio is. It's on the 18th, very happy I don't have to wait until after xmas.

If they refuse an MRI this time I'll just pay.

Can't really stand up today without huge pain, crutches are a big help.

Think it's time to go back to full suspension now.

I know how painful it can be at times, I found that an Osteopath helped me loads when I had a few slipped discs and reduced the pain to manageable levels but in the end I still needed surgery.
It took a long time for me to get the surgery I needed, and first they tried to give me a steroid injection, but that didn't help much, and the effects were short lived.
I eventually got the proper surgery, which was not nearly as bad as I was expecting, as I foolishly googled the surgery and as always only found the bad stories. The surgery was not nearly as painful as I was expecting, and the start of the recovery went a lot quicker than I was expecting, although the whole process took longer than I thought it would. Several years down the line though and I'm a lot better, and it's only when I do silly things that I get any pain which usually goes away within a week.
Top Tip I found online at the time to get things moving quicker: say you have woken up a found you have wet the bed a few times, that really got my doctor moving things forward.

I had a discectomy a couple of years ago after cortisone and general pissing around for a few months. It improved to about 80% over a year then went backwards after a bit of overenthusiastic falling over skiing. That helped (perversely) and within 6 weeks it was almost 100%.

Fast forward to a couple of months ago and lugging 25kg bags of sand. Oh my ferkin God for I am a stupid twit.

Luckily it proved to be just muscle spasm rather than disc again. MRI confirmed and Osteopath fiddled. I'm back to near 100%. I had a wobble a month ago with extreme sciatica having thought it a good idea to go running...

Keep mythering, second opinioning and escalating until you get sense. If you have BUPA, use it. If you don't and can fund it, do so. Earliest treatment is best route to recovery. For me dicking around with cortisone was a waste of time and I'd skip this step if a similar situation occurred again.

Good luck. It really is awful.

Keep mythering, second opinioning and escalating until you get sense.

Really don't know what to do. A mate insists that it's 'tms', he read a book by John E Sarno and it worked for him. He had pain moving around his body though. My girlfriend is reading the book and now says I've got ms as well.
I'm extremely frustrated, can't even put up shelves without seriously injuring myself.

Sorry OP, I've just looked, and we've obviously cleared the paperwork up (ie binned it). It was 7 years ago mind, and was mostly the bills that the hospital charged at the time; it was done under a private medical plan. Don't recall much detail in there about the treatment as such. Might be worth googling 'steroid injection nerve block', the first hit I got produced https://www.spine-health.com/treatment/injections/selective-nerve-root-blocks-snrb-and-facet-joint-injections which sounds familiar. Good luck, I'm certain I don't want it back.

imnotverygood - Member
Keep mythering, second opinioning and escalating until you get sense.

Meaning until you find a medical opinion that tells you want you think you want to hear

Yeah that'll be it. Have much experience in this area?

It is a horrible time. Constant pain and you just don't know what to do with yourself to alleviate it. Drugs don't help and the stronger ones are massively habit forming. It is really difficult see a way out of it so your comments are not particularly helpful.

Back to the OP. Cortisone (aka steroid nerve block) may work for you but it only provides temporary relief to give the nerve(s) a chance to recover and in my case, was very very painful to apply and it had zero affect. I've had cortisone a couple of other times for other injuries and it hasn't worked there either. I'd skip it if offered again.

BTW, in my last bout a few weeks ago, my GPS asked me what I wanted to do. I elected for treatment under BUPA (needs GP referral) and an MRI on NHS. I had a scan from GP appointment to sitting in the machine within SIX DAYS! Yes six days on the NHS. Fantastic. By following up and mythering and being a PIA and not being passive.

@mudmonster

Youve been given loads of good advice, you seem to be ignoring it, even if you have an appt on the 18th Dec you probably wont get an MRI till next year...cough and pay for an MRI

If you have all these symptoms and your GP is still ignoring your needs - its telling you something, change GP !

Also using crutches could be causing you more damage, has anyone medical told you to use them ???

As I said 8 months ago DO NOT GO TO AN OSTEOPATH at this stage.

Ive been where you are as have many posters, and your thought process can get messed up with the pain, do you work ? Is your job physical ? do you drive ? what can you change right now ?

where do you live in the UK research private MRI locations

https://www.privatehealth.co.uk/conditions-and-treatments/mri-scan/costs/

Book an appointment with a good private physio in the meantime. They almost certainly will be able to do some treatment which relieve the worst of the symptoms, even if it doesn't treat the cause. Physio has sorted my back out so much over the past few years. Buy one less bike part and sort your back out, so you can ride your bike again. 5 years on (with two disc prolapses) I can largely self treat (after adjusting my lifestyle) with occasional massage top ups from a physio who knows what they are doing.

Pick up the phone to a physio this morning. You'll probably get an appt within the week.

And as I said above, next time before you start biking again, make sure to sort out your core strength! (I'm assuming you didn't bother).

I'm currently lugging concrete blocks around a house refurb, so need to heed my own advice as well.

^^^ absolutely what wonny j said

Its not some hippy thing....core strength is absolutely critical for back care

If you have all these symptoms and your GP is still ignoring your needs - its telling you something, change GP !

I seem to see a different one every time I go to the medical centre. Back in March the first few told me to take painkillers and go away. Third one finally referred me to physio.

Also using crutches could be causing you more damage, has anyone medical told you to use them ???

I will call the doctor to find out.

As I said 8 months ago DO NOT GO TO AN OSTEOPATH at this stage.

One mate won't stop going on about seeing an Osteopath. Lots of people are telling me to go to different places. I did take this advice and have not seen one. I will take the advice of the musceloskeletal physio. Pilates helped the last time even though lots of friends said I was wasting my money there.

Ive been where you are as have many posters, and your thought process can get messed up with the pain, do you work ? Is your job physical ? do you drive ? what can you change right now ?

Was working a cycle messenger until March when it happened the first time. Eight years of carrying heavy stuff on my back was probably the cause. I don't think I could safely drive right now to be honest. Will do the gentle exercises I've been given and just hope. Cheapest private MRI I found was a place on Upper Wimpole St I think.

And as I said above, next time before you start biking again, make sure to sort out your core strength! (I'm assuming you didn't bother).

I have been doing them, obviously not enough though 🙁

Buy one less bike part and sort your back out

Are you serious? 😉

Hey Mudmonster,

Sorry to hear your back is playing up (again). I know it is massively debilitating, i had it years ago (for over a year) and was offered surgery which i declined. I took up pilates, changed bike position and riding style etc, and just tried to keep active without winding up my back too much. I am now pain free...

I also come at this from a different perspective to many others as i trained as physio, and am now a researcher in back pain (and pain in general). I have been out of the UK so am not fully up to date with the recommendations but am pretty sure the Aus and UK advice is similar.

You only need an MRI if it is medically indicated (e.g. suspicion of cauda equina, other insidious symptoms) where the exposure to radiation is outweighed by the benefit the diagnostic test can give. Your front line clinician should be well versed in when to (and when not) to send someone for imaging. I know it seems as though having the scan would give you the all clear for your back. However, the majority of backs will show some changes to discs, joint spaces etc. The great majority of these people with altered structure don't (and haven't had) significant back pain - so changes in structural composition do not allow us to predict whether anyone actually has (or will develop) pain.

Also, there is fairly strong evidence that MRI should not be used as a first line assessment as it can actually increase your likelihood of developing long term pain. This is thought to be in part due to the influence it has on your emotional / affective systems (essentially increasing fear and anxiety related to your current pain) which can increase the likelihood of pain persisting - via, in part an increased sensitivity in the nervous system.

The best advice at the moment, is talk to your GP (and keep in regular contact - every coupe of weeks for monitoring) and seek access to a healthcare provider that can support your rehab - both things that i believe you have done. Try to keep moving as much as you can (without flaring up your back), we always say motion is lotion! The other thing is to try to be comfortable with the time course of recovery, backs can take a while to recover (up to 3 months), and not get too frustrated or worried because it hasn't got better as quickly as you'd like.

Keep in mind that the spine is very strong, and is very well engineered for its job. Sometimes things do go amiss with it (what your GP should be screening for) but in general it will sort itself out in time, if there are no confounding issues.

For all of those who have low back pain, a great read is Explain Pain by Lorimer Mosely and David Butler. I would look up his videos on youtube - he is a great speaker, a great physio and one of the top pain scientists around.

Also check out the advice from the CSP

http://www.csp.org.uk/your-health/healthy-living/public-information-leaflets/back-pain-myth-busters

or if you like the australian viewpoint - info from the ACI

Cheers, and hope it sorts itself out soon.
Marp

Physio made mine.Worse.

2 sessions of Reiki sorted it.

Just thought I'd add a few words of encouragement. I had 3 herniated discs 13 years ago which kept me off the bike for about 9 months, absolute agony. It would take me literally 5 mins just to manoeuvre myself into the car for example.

My GP advised me that an orthopaedic surgeon would recommend surgery, but advised me to do nothing, and it would get better by itself. I took his advice and over time the body does recover. Now it's something that's there all the time, but it;s bearable, and I live with it. So long as I don't try to lift anything too heavy, I'm OK, and no problems riding the bike.

Obviously this is just my experience, but it's important not to despair, recovery is very slow.

Definitely recommend Pilates or exercises that develop core strength.

Thanks for great advice. Just got a phone call saying I can see a physio tonight.

You only need an MRI if it is medically indicated (e.g. suspicion of cauda equina, other insidious symptoms) where the exposure to radiation is outweighed by the benefit the diagnostic test can give.

Just want to point out that MRI machines don't use ionizing radiation to produce the images, its magnetic resonance imaging, you are thinking of CT Scans that use x-rays to produce the images.

Just want to point out that MRI machines don't use ionizing radiation to produce the images, its magnetic resonance imaging, you are thinking of CT Scans that use x-rays to produce the images.

I did wonder when I read that. Already had 3 x-rays on my back in Poland and 2 on my head with a wisdom tooth extraction. Don't need any more radiation this year.

imnotverygood - Member
Keep mythering, second opinioning and escalating until you get sense.

Meaning until you find a medical opinion that tells you want you think you want to hear

Yeah that'll be it. Have much experience in this area?

It is a horrible time. Constant pain and you just don't know what to do with yourself to alleviate it. Drugs don't help and the stronger ones are massively habit forming. It is really difficult see a way out of it so your comments are not particularly helpful.