Trapped Sciatic Nerve

Pembily

Hi I am not looking for medical advice or physio advice (know the problem but can't get it fixed until Monday), I misalign my hip sometimes and my chiropractor fixes it but this time it happened on Thursday and its now badly trapped my sciatic nerve and I am in bad pain now and just want to know if anyone knows what the best thing to do to prevent anymore damage!!!

I am just looking for advice if anyone else has had this problem before and how did ye help minimise the pain!!! I am moving as little as possilbe!!!!

Mods please don't close its just advice (from people who may have experience the same thing) until I can get to my chiropractor on Monday!!

Thanks

Khannie

Sciatica can be caused by lots of things. I'd advise you to just avoid doing whatever hurts until you can see someone on Monday. Maybe get some pain killers in.

ilovelamp2000

I take it you have no anti inflammatories / pain killers ?

**Timbuk2**

I once injured my sciatic nerve, and it hurt like hell! Everytime I lifted my right leg a shooting pain went through my back, it was agony! I found that icing it helped relieve the pain a bit.

What I did was get one of those foam/plastic cups, fill it with water and put it in the freezer. When it was frozen, I got a knife and cut it in half (cup + ice). I also cut a tiny piece of the cup off on one side, so that the ice stuck out of the cup. This way you can hold the ice at your back without touching the ice with your fingers!

Pembily

Rosco1982 wrote: »

I take it you have no anti inflammatories / pain killers ?

Am prone to stomach ulcers so they are generally a no go - but have taken 2 neurofen plus and don't wanna take more but am wondering if I should in case I do more damage to the nerve!!!

Sadly every kind of movement hurts so am trying to not move!!!

Thanks Em

mack32

Getting over some nerve damage myself at the mo and was at my chiro a couple days ago and she said fish oils are just as good an anti inflammatory as nurofen etc. She said to avoid direct heat too and that icing the area ahould reduce swelling, alcohol is a bad idea too.

Khannie

Pembily wrote: »

Am prone to stomach ulcers so they are generally a no go

Paracetamol are ok if you have stomach trouble. They're actually a really decent painkiller.

Colpriz

this is a real bitch, type of pain that can wake you from your sleep. Really you need to rest till you can see a doctor.

You need difene, a muscle relaxent, both tablet and topical rubbing cream. Possibly some valium too and strong painkillers..you'll be a space cadet for a few days but is the only way!

You could go to your local pharmacy and explain your situation, if they are sympathetic they might help you out..good luck to you

InKonspikuou2

Try a physiotherapist if you don't have much luck with the chiropractor. I went to a chiropractor for almost a year after a bad back injury and i had recurring trapped sciatic nerves too. 3-4 times a week for 11 months and it would always only alleviate pain until i needed the next session. Almost like it was intentional. My teams insurance were covering the costs so i didn't mind the payments but i decided to try elsewhere. 3 sessions with a physio and i was grand. They used this heating gel on me and something to do with uv therapy or something.

Pembily

Thanks for all the advice - painkiller wise I have solpadol and zydol (they are great) and have a hot pack on it, will defo take the fish oils thanks

Should I put ice on instead of heat, the heat is helping!! All I am doing is sitting and only walking to get tea or use the loo... Good excuse to do my thesis

Pembily

sesna wrote: »

Dont get too fond of the Zydol or high codeine content of Solpadol. They are very addictive if used regularly for more than a few days.

Oh yeah I am well aware of that - its in all the papers at the minute, generally only take it if in bad pain and max one day in a row!!!! Its catch 22 - zydol is ok for my stomach but highly addictive and difene is really bad for my stomach yet not as addictive...

d'Oracle

I know OP asked for this not to be closed, but this is silly.

Discussing which painkillers to take, with the condition of an existing stomach problem?
This is an issue for a Doctor, not Boards.ie Fitness forum.

deman

The general rule is

if it's muscle pain, apply heat
if it's nerve pain, apply cold

DO NOT in any circumstances apply heat to nerve pain. It might feel good at the time but it makes the problem worse.

There is an ice gel you can in chemists' that works well in the case of sciatica.

But the best advice I can give to prevent this from happening again is to start going to the gym. Tell the instructors there what the problem is and they'll put you on a program. There is some great equipment nowadays that make it easy to do stomach crunches without exerting your back. Stomach and back muscles need to be strengthened to take the pressure off your spine.

Hope this helps you as it helped me.

deman

d'Oracle wrote: »

I know OP asked for this not to be closed, but this is silly.

Discussing which painkillers to take, with the condition of an existing stomach problem?
This is an issue for a Doctor, not Boards.ie Fitness forum.

Disagree. He didn't ask about medication.

Colpriz

d'Oracle wrote: »

I know OP asked for this not to be closed, but this is silly.

Discussing which painkillers to take, with the condition of an existing stomach problem?
This is an issue for a Doctor, not Boards.ie Fitness forum.

Think OP knows that, she just came on to know of anyone who shared experience and gain some benifit or some light relief

Pembily

d'Oracle wrote: »

I know OP asked for this not to be closed, but this is silly.

Discussing which painkillers to take, with the condition of an existing stomach problem?
This is an issue for a Doctor, not Boards.ie Fitness forum.

There was no discussion - I am well aware of what I can and cannot take painkiller wise (taking the wrong ones sends me to hospital) I just said that I am well aware of the addictivness of zydol!!!!

sesna

deman wrote: »

The general rule is

if it's muscle pain, apply heat
if it's nerve pain, apply cold

DO NOT in any circumstances apply heat to nerve pain. It might feel good at the time but it makes the problem worse.

There is an ice gel you can in chemists' that works well in the case of sciatica.

But the best advice I can give to prevent this from happening again is to start going to the gym. Tell the instructors there what the problem is and they'll put you on a program. There is some great equipment nowadays that make it easy to do stomach crunches without exerting your back. Stomach and back muscles need to be strengthened to take the pressure off your spine.

Hope this helps you as it helped me.

Why would applying heat make the problem worse ?

Pembily

deman wrote: »

The general rule is

if it's muscle pain, apply heat
if it's nerve pain, apply cold

DO NOT in any circumstances apply heat to nerve pain. It might feel good at the time but it makes the problem worse.

There is an ice gel you can in chemists' that works well in the case of sciatica.

But the best advice I can give to prevent this from happening again is to start going to the gym. Tell the instructors there what the problem is and they'll put you on a program. There is some great equipment nowadays that make it easy to do stomach crunches without exerting your back. Stomach and back muscles need to be strengthened to take the pressure off your spine.

Hope this helps you as it helped me.

K i just took the heat pack off and am going to chemist to get the gel now!!! Thanks, never thought of a topical gel - DOH!!!

The thing is I do exercises that I have been shown to do and cycle or walk / run daily but due to the weather at home (lethal ice) I have barley left the house in 2 weeks and so no exercise at all!!!! Should have kept up the stretches but never thought I would end up this way, lesson learned!!!

Thanks again and mods thanks for not closing, cos I have been putting heat on it all day!!! Thanks again Em

PS I am a girl...

d'Oracle

Interesting how that big post discussing the effects of different meds is now gone.....

Pembily

d'Oracle wrote: »

Interesting how that big post discussing the effects of different meds is now gone.....

deman

sesna wrote: »

Why would applying heat make the problem worse ?

Heat should only be applied after the pain and inflammation has gone in order to increase blood flow and regenerate muscle.

Cooling the area decreases inflammation while heating increases it.

This was the advice given to me by both my naprapath and physio.

sesna

deman wrote: »

Heat should only be applied after the pain and inflammation has gone in order to increase blood flow and regenerate muscle.

Cooling the area decreases inflammation while heating increases it.

This was the advice given to me by both my naprapath and physio.

I dont see how applying heat is going to regenerate muscle. Why would you apply heat when there is no pain or inflammation present. Why do deep heat patches etc market themselves as relieving pain. I believe heat should not be applied in the acute initial stages of inflamation as you outlined. But applying it after a day or so should be no problem

Khannie

d'Oracle wrote: »

Discussing which painkillers to take, with the condition of an existing stomach problem?
This is an issue for a Doctor, not Boards.ie Fitness forum.

Agreed. I think this one has crossed the line.