So after a bit of research, and 2.5 months of sciatica, I figured I’d give CBD oil a go.

Am already on Cocodamol, Diclofenac and Gabapentin, which was barely keeping it under control.

My doctor seemed non-plussed about CBD, she kept seeming to confuse it with actual cannabis e.g. mentioning ‘feeling stoned’.

Got some LoveCBD Entourage capsules, have only taken one but it seemed to coincide with the pain getting worse, so I’ve backed off for now, but that seems to contradict all the ‘anecdotal’ reviews I’ve read.

Anyone care to share their experiences?

*please no ‘snake oil’ chat, for the cost of the capsules I’m prepared to be open minded!

Ta

There are no double blind placebo controlled randomised trials and the legal strength of CBD in this country is not consider pharmacological. I’ll leave you to draw your own conclusions.

It’s no good masking the pain forever, whether that’s with paracetamol or CBD or whatever.
The workplaces I have worked in have tended to give a lot of instances of sciatica and every case I’ve known it’s effective physio that has worked.
Treat the cause – find out how the sciatic nerve is being trapped and do something to stop it – rather than forever easing the symptoms.

I’m not sure about CBD- I tried a cheap oil and now got some of the entourage oil capsules. I’m massively suspicious of anything that’s recommended for so many different things, like, exactly how is it a magic bullet both for my anxiety and your nerve pain?

But, if I absolutely had to, I’d say it does have a slight benefit for me. It’s way below the level where I can be sure, and it definitely could just be placebo/psychological. And I don’t really care, because my illness is also only in my head! But with a physical medical issue I’d want more surety.

Never had sciatica but I did have a trapped nerve in my neck so you have my total sympathy, like swedishmetal said medication helped but physio reduced and ultimately fixed it.

You’re already on such a cocktail of strong painkillers I’m not sure another one of anything will be noticeable unless it’s like some crazy opiod or something! I found the entourage oil helped with my considerably milder back pain anyway and helped me sleep through the night better. Keep meaning to order some more.

Yep, I’m well on the road to treating the physical cause, just need something to help with pain until my surgery.

Most physio (e.g.McKenzie exercises etc) having no effect, and the exercises I can do (basically anything in the prone position with minimal hip flexing, e.g. plank, plank and plank) are having no effect on pain which has been gradually getting worse over the last two months.

As it happens I’ve now also bern prescribed morphine which disappointingly is also having little effect!

I know this is off topic, but … one exercise that has helped me massively is as follows:

Lie on your front, prop yourself up on your elbows, keep your hips and thighs flat on the ground. Nod your head while kicking alternate lower legs up and down. It is very important to keep your hips and thighs flat. If you can’t get heel to bum without twisting / lifting, don’t kick as far.

I’ve got a permanent pro lapsed disc at L5-6 that is inoperable and presses on my main nerves that feed my left leg, so I live with sciatica type pain every day.

This exercise has helped me get off stronger pain killers. Do it 30 times each leg and then release it all by sitting your bum back on your heels and then leaning forward with your arms straight out in front of you on the ground. I can’t remember the official name of that pose, I just call it “relax”.

Interesting review here

Here

Fat-boy, sorry to hear you’re stuck with it! Your exercise sounds like a variation of nerve flossing. Gave it a shot, definitely felt OK while I was doing it as well.

Feeling a bit silly actually, was perhaps expecting a bit much from the CBD over and above all the other drugs, although according to that article above I should maybe be taking 5 times as much!

If you can, try some 10% ibuprofen gel. I know it’s “only” ibuprofen, but when applied topically to the skin, you can get higher tissue concentrations than tablets. This assumes you can rub the site giving you pain. Voltarol (diclofenac) is also possible, but boots 10% ibuprofen is cheaper.

Morphine will stop you caring about it. It may stop your trips for No2s, and that might make it worse when you have to.

Morphine appears to be doing literally nothing! But on the flipside, maybe I would be a lot worse without it.

Haven’t tried it in the maximum dose suggested by doc yet, could be a nice experiment…

Thanks for tips on gels TiRed, as it happens doc didn’t rate Diclofenac as much better than Ibuprofen, in fact I’m thinking of switching to Ibuprofen anyway as it’s the easiest way of getting the highest strength of codeine over the counter (i.e. stronger than over the counter Cocodamol).

Only worry is that the gel would need to get through the thickness of a buttock to get to the inflamed nerve!

God feel your pain! Haven’t had it for about a year but occasionally feel the warning signs doing something innocuous like getting out of a car and I’m instantly into embarrassing hip-swivelling physio which has fended it off to date. When it was really bad only the diazepam could really touch it although the knee replacement helped a bit!

This thread has just reminded me to buy my first tube of Volterol, in case my chronic lower back pain returns like it did last month for a week or so.

Back in 2008 when my back initially went, I was taking Dechlophenac for ~12 months.

Hope you find a way of making things tolerable, back muscles are easy to take for granted until you injure them. The increased cycling from 2017 helped me, along with core exercises like The Plank and The Bridge variants (which I need to get back into a regular routine of doing after this recent episode).

My lower backpain was caused by (couldn’t move for a week) causing issues all my life

Cause:
1. Different leg length
2. Flatish foot arch right foot

Result:
Hellish lower back pain , sciatica type pain

Triggered by:
1. Inside leg muscle being used lifting a low weight

Fixed by:
* Insert on one side
* 10 physio sessions
* Daily ridiculous amounts of self trigger pointing in glutes hamstring lower and upper back over the past 3 years
*Pilates
* More trigger pointing

On CBD oil: no idea 🙂

I have suffered with lower back pain due to degeneration of L5/6 for over 25 years and also suffered with referred sciatic pain in both legs for 15+ years. 5 years ago I had a bilateral nerve root block, and more recently 2 rounds of facet joint injections about 2 years apart. Over the years I have been prescribed codeine phosphate, amitryptiline, tramadol, diclofenac, gabapentin & naproxen.

Far and away the best treatment I have had was the nerve root block. It was transformative in terms of daily pain.
The 2nd round of facet joint injections at the beginning of this year has also been of benefit.

I no longer take anything stronger than paracetamol and ibuprofen and generally speaking only really suffer when I’m lazy and don’t stretch etc. or over do it/adopt poor positions when sitting etc.

I have never tried any alternative remedies but, personally, genuinely feel that the combination of some medical intervention plus physio & exercise is the way to go. I have absolutely no desire to undergo full surgery e.g. fusion.

I’d see a proper physio. Surgery quite often isn’t the answer.

Be aware that Gabapentin is nasty in it’s own rights – I had horrible side effects and came off them (slowly). I broke my back 4 years ago, but it’s slowly improved that I rarely take pain killers.

Morphine will also dry out your skin, as well as bung you up. It made a right mess of my feet – all my skin pealed off.

Stretching and walking all help.

Better ban Christmas too, Eade maybe, and any other celebration ! I’ll personally be glad when they stop making glitter – blooming hate the stuff, get’s everywhere.

Working from home today, dosed up on morphine and Hendrix on the stereo, not feeling too sorry for myself 🙂

Am done with physio, even if I could find the perfect set of exercises that didn’t aggravate it any further, I’ve had three months of trying various different routines and am only slowly getting worse. Was crippled on Friday night after 40 lengths in the pool (it’s a small pool right enough).

Parenthood, career and getting back on the bike are the greater goal, I’ll take whatever the consultant offers me and if that’s surgery so be it, I’m only young once and am not wasting any more time trying to second guess whatever’s going on with my back.

That being said, I’m almost looking forward to getting stuck into some proper strengthening and stretching routines once I’ve got over the sciatica, I’ve got Tommy Danielson’s book ‘Core Advantage’ and there’s some great workout routines in there.

As to the original question, I’ll park the CBD until I’m off all the others, then maybe just take the capsules I have to see if there’s any noticeable benefit.

TiRed

Member
There are no double blind placebo controlled randomised trials and the legal strength of CBD in this country is not consider pharmacological. I’ll leave you to draw your own conclusions.

There are studies, they’re just thin on the ground if you want British based reports. It is pharmaceutical – look at Nabilone or Sativex. There is evidence that suggests THC, CBD or a combination of both *can* help with *some* symptoms of people’s illnesses. Sounds like your conclusions are already drawn though? Google NICE guidelines for CBD.

Those are POM not OTC. Any over the counter CBD has a non pharmacological dose. Those are the current regulations.

NICE have concluded that more studies are needed, as one would expect for an EMA-licensed product for prescription. My comment was in relation to OTC.

Definitive review here

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29017688-cannabinoids-in-pain-management-and-palliative-medicine/?from_term=CBD+randomised+trial+pain&from_pos=1

As others have said, all any painkiller will do is mask the pain. CBD, if it does anything at all for you will just add another ingredient to the cocktail.

Exercises under the eyes of a good physio and / or surgery will be the only things that will treat the cause rather than the symptoms.

For me the McKennzie exercises just pinched the nerves more. I needed to open my spine the opposite way by curling into a ball. I can now do both very effectively, but I still have to open my spine first. Yoga and Pilates, along with core strength exercises.

I ended up with surgery on three prolapsed discs, L3/4, L4/5, L5/S1, and flexible fusion. I take amitriptyline to help with the residual nerve pain. My sciatic nerve was trapped for so long that it’s permanently damaged. I have numb toes in my right foot, but compared to numb / cramp like pain all down my right leg it’s an improvement.

My sciatic nerve was trapped for so long that it’s permanently damaged

I’m almost dreading the answer to this, but how long was yours trapped for?

NICE have concluded that more studies are needed, as one would expect for an EMA-licensed product for prescription

Why would one expect NICE to conclude this?

Because of this specific products clinical data or because of the Regulatory approval process (i.e. centralised by EMA rather than a National review by MHRA)?

CBD has a license for relief of spasm in Multiple Sclerosis#. It does not have any label for relief of pain. Use in Germany for pain was based on opinion rather than data (the paper I linked to). So use for pain would be off-label and promotion for this use by the authorisation holder (GW PHarmaceuticals) would be illegal and subject to prosecution. A doctor may prescribe any approved medicine off-label (e.g. for pain) once it is licensed, but assumes any risk associated with ensuing adverse events.

NICE have weighed the evidence on CBD use, I suspect due to public pressure (as in Germany) and possible off-label use. They have not reviewed any Marketting Authorisation Application (in fact NICE review the cost-effectiveness of [newly] approved madicines) – as there is no data to support an EMA review for a pain indication, because the data has yet to be provided. That data will be two well-controlled randomized double blind clincial trials in pain tested against standard of care.

Hope that is clear.

#Exact label is “…indicated as treatment for symptoms improvement in adult patients with moderate to severe spasticity due to multiple sclerosis (MS) who have not responded adequately to other anti-spasticity medication and who demonstrate clinically significant improvement in spasticity related symptoms during an initial trial of therapy.”

MHRA review and approval here

My sciatic nerve was trapped for so long that it’s permanently damaged

I’m almost dreading the answer to this, but how long was yours trapped for?

My back problem started in 1997, tore the erector spinae on the right side, which gave me a very slight twist in my spine. The muscle wasn’t holding my spine up straight. Numerous spasms over the next 10 years then saw my first real bout of sciatica in the winter of 2006/7. I then had a caudal epidural in the summer of 2008, which then had me pain free and full range of movement. Change of job and driving around the country day in day out in 2010 started to play havoc with bouts of sciatica until May 2014. I had another caudal epidural in May 2014 followed by a root nerve block and facet joint injections in July 2014. They did nothing, but that was followed by a physio tearing the disc in L5/S6 trying to elevate the trapped nerve in September 2014. Change of specialist in November 2014 saw more facet joint injections, again which did nothing. Surgery was in March 2015. Post surgery infection delayed recovery but I was more or less pain free and full strength by August 2015. I’ve been on amitriptyline since November 2014 at 25mg per day. Any less and the numbness and tingling gets to be bothersome.

TLDR: Trapped sciatica nerve for about 12 years in various intensities.

Wow, you have my sympathies! I’m only 3 months at the moment, although a few spasms prior to this, no serious sciatica until now.

MRI tomorrow AM, just a shame it’s a lobg drive through rush-hour traffic to get there!

TiRed

Member

OK, I assumed that as the other meds the OP mentioned were prescribed, we were also talking about prescribed a prescribed CBD, not Holland and Barrett holistic grade.

Feel your pain OP and other chronic nerve pain sufferers. I’ve just recovered from 2 months of a trapped Femoral nerve and have a history of other back issues including sciatica, sacroiliac, prolapsed neck discs going back some 30 years.

The recent Femoral nerve issue has been my first episode for over 11 years and interestingly enough for me, has tied in with what’s going on for me in my life on an emotional level, as have my two previous crippling back issues. Both previous occurrences came at a time when my relationship with my SO had reached the end of its life cycle. This most recent Femoral nerve issue has highlighted to me that once again, I need to be honest with myself and those I share my life with.

Unsurprisingly, as soon as I admitted to myself the stark reality, my condition made a very slight improvement – I had already seen a Physiotherapist and doing my exercises – which are as if not more important for recovery IMHO than the metaphysical. Yes, I have been taking high strength co-codamol, amitriptlyne and naproxen and also some Pregabalin. Thankfully, yesterday I was painkiller free for the first day in nearly 3 months.

Generally, I endeavour to exercise daily on a fit ball to condition and strengthen my core. This was recommended to me by a physio nearly 20 years ago but we’re all human and whilst it would be better for me and my 6-pack to practice daily, I don’t and hence my internal dis-ease manifests itself once again with a back issue.

As for CBD… listen, I’ve been using cannabis for pretty much my whole adult life and quite frankly, the current whoosh of CBD is so people can make some money in a fairly ‘legitimate’ way. Yes, if you follow a chap called Rick Simpson and use oil that has been made with his or similar methodology, there are certainly benefits and lots of anecdotal evidence – which, let’s face it, never goes down all that well on here. As for the band wagon CBD, personally, you’re better off with paracetamol.

Lastly, because this is STW and everyone’s love affair with science and western medicine, the best performing drug ever, in all clinical trials is the placebo. So perhaps it’s time to look within and try to find out the root cause of your dis-ease? 🤗

My experience is in line with slackalice’s.

op, have you visited a chiropractor? I had pain in my legs and back for years. I hobbled into the chiropractor’s like an old man and walked out an hour later like the 19 year old that I was. That was after years of examinations and tests and dead ends. My GP at the time was close to scathing of the idea or chiropractic treatment.

Thanks for all the responses folks.

I bought the CBD capsules partly out of desperation, partly out of curiosity and partly out of ‘what have I got to lose?’. Fairly convinced now that they were a waste of £20 but not embarassed, there was enough positive anecdotal stuff out there to give them a whirl. Perhaps they work better as a placebo for folk with chronic low level pain. Given that I was practically licking the inside of my bottle of morphine clean at 4am this morning I’m probably a bit beyond ‘placebo’…

So perhaps it’s time to look within and try to find out the root cause of your dis-ease?

I am open to this sort of thinking, but I’m not sure what I would be looking for! e.g. my sleep is good (despite best efforts of our 2 yr old!) Stress levels are good after a difficult start to the year, activity levels are good, even with the current sciatica I’m doing as much exercise as pain allows.

I’m familiar with the theory that the nervous system can become sensitised and ‘over-react’ to certain stimuli, for instance perhaps my lower back is excessively guarded against bending and twisting. Am hoping a gentle and gradual introduction to yoga will perhaps ‘teach’ my body that I CAN bend and twist without needing to go into full muscular spasm lockdown!

op, have you visited a chiropractor

I haven’t, and probably won’t. I’m cursed with an over analytical nature (experiments with CBD not-withstanding!) and don’t understand how chiropractic would actually do anything that proper strengthening and stretching couldn’t. Also nervous of certain side effects (loosening of ligaments due to repeated ‘manipulation’ of joints etc.). I just don’t feel it’s a sustainable way forward (for me).

If your physio/doctor has prescribed doing planks to help with sciatica I’d be seeing somebody else!

If your physio/doctor has prescribed doing planks to help with sciatica I’d be seeing somebody else!

No, all physio had suggested was standard McKenzie type flexion and extension, which was getting me nowhere and was often more painful or sent pain further down leg or even into other leg!

Planks are just me trying to get a head start on core strength stuff. Actually discovered last night that I got some relief from standing with my back against the wall and pulling in belly button to flatten back against wall. Very similar to other exercises I’ve been doing but this particular version seems to bring some relief..