I'm not one for seeing a doctor, things have got to get quite bad before I make an appointment, but I finally relented on Tuesday and rang the surgery. Our doctors are still not doing face to face consultations because of coronavirus so I made a telephone appointment. I hadn't spoken to the doctor who rang me back before but she seemed thorough, or as thorough as she could be over a telephone. I was on quite a while with her whilst she asked lots of questions and she seems to think it's sciatica.
I've been taking paracetamol and ibuprofen and she's told me to continue with those but has also prescribed codeine to take with them. I can't say I'm keen, I usually suffer rather than take tablets but things have got so bad that I'll try anything. She's referring me for physiotherapy, though she did warn me that the appointment could take a while and even then it would be over the phone. She did mention going private and that is an option as I do have private health cover, but I'll wait and see how long I have to wait before going down that route.
It seems to run in our family, my mum and dad both suffered terribly with their backs and my brother has trouble with his too. I'm hoping that the exercises I receive from the physio will help and that I can ward off any future problems.
Back pain affects so many other things ... I feel for you. I'd suggest having a look for exercises on YouTube as there are lots of videos dealing with sciatica pain relief. Hope you're on the mend soon xx
ReplyDeleteIt is horrible when your back flares up, I hope you get relief soon.
ReplyDeleteoh i feel for you. I was heavily pregnant with sciatica and used to stand at the kitchen bench screaming in pain and unable to move - coupled with my pelvis which was splitting. Luckily i didn't end up in a wheelchair! Wishing you all the luck and pain free shortly!
ReplyDeleteWe do take our bodies for granted until something goes wrong and I have found that as I age, I have to consider what I am going to do more carefully. I do yogalates to help with flexibility and as Eileen T comments, there is a wealth of info on the internet.
ReplyDeleteI thought I had sciatica or a hip problem as I got a horrible achy pain down my leg and lower back pain too, as well as pain when walking, but this has turned out to be greater trochanteric pain syndrome (due I think to sitting on tiny chairs for ten years when I worked in Reception classes). I had a steroid jab and have been doing exercises to stretch the muscles.
I can sympathise - pain is so debilitating and you can't ignore it. I hope things improve for you.
Best wishes
Ellie
Back pain can be so debilitating and can last a while too. I slipped a disc almost 30 years ago but still have to take care with bending and lifting. Gentle exercise was the key for me along with resting when the pain was bad. Sciatica does tend to resolve itself eventually but I do hope you feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteJo,I do feel for you & as I too suffer with back pain from 2 unrelated problems I was born with & am allergic to most painkillers (especially codeine), my go to are heatbags, which do relieve it to an extent. Give it a try, amongst whatever else you are doing. Hope you soon feel better. Take care, stay safe and huggles.
ReplyDeleteI feel for you Jo sciatica is awful I hope that you get some relief soon, I used YouTube and went online for exercises for my tennis elbow and found some that really helped, hopefully the ones for sciatica will be helpful too.xx
ReplyDeleteI hope you feel relief soon, Jo. Backache can be a real pain. Literally!
ReplyDeleteHi Jo, sorry to hear about your back, I'm in a similar situation only mine is galloping arthritis. I just wanted to say that I was prescribed the exact same codeine tablets and wanted to warn you that if you take them regularly you need to take laxatives as well. I didn't go for a week after taking them because the doctor didn't tell me I would need laxatives. I was in agony. Like you I hate taking any kind of pill but have to sometimes just for a break from the pain.
ReplyDeleteHave you been for an xray, this might give you some idea of what is going on in your back.
Briony
x
I haven't been for an x-ray. Although I've suffered with my back mildly for years, this is the first time I've approached the doctor. I'll just have to see how I get on once I get the appointment through for physio and take it from there.
DeleteOh, Jo :( John is also suffering with his back and his hip arthritis at the moment. Most of the time he is stuck in bed. Getting up and down stairs is such hard and painful work, that we are seriously thinking of moving and down sizing to a one bedroom flat. He had an appointment with our doctor, who gave him a thorough examination, and he's to have an x-ray to see just how bad the arthritis is. I hope you get some relief soon. Take care. Best, Jane x
ReplyDeleteMy sympathies. I hope that the pain eases and you feel better soon. Take care. xx
ReplyDeleteMy husband is a sciatica sufferer and I know how badly it affects him. I hope you get some relief soon x
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to read you are suffering with unpleasant back pain.
ReplyDeleteI hope you don't have to wait too long to speak/see a physiotherapist and that it helps/eases your condition.
Healing wishes and good wishes.
All the best Jan
Sorry to hear you've been suffering with this. My friend has sciatica too, she used to really struggle with it at times. Now she does yoga, she found really gentle stretches designed especially for sciatica sufferers on YouTube, she says they really help and i can see the difference in the way she walks. Might be worth a go?
ReplyDeleteI hope you don't have to wait too long for your appointment.
Take care
xx
Jo you have been through too much this year. Remember codeine is constipating...so add some fake fiber if need be.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about not wanting to take the medication unless you really have to, hopefully it won't be too long before you hear from the physio and the exercises help.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you're suffering, Jo. Hope the tablets offer some relief. X
ReplyDeleteIt's so easy to take for granted everything we do physically (and often overdo it) until we experience something like this. I hope that you get into the physio soon and the exercises give you some long term relief.
ReplyDeleteOh blimey, that's all you need. I hope you find something soon that relieves the pain.
ReplyDeleteHope that you get sorted out. I recently had a telephone appt with the optician!
ReplyDeleteI suffer bouts of back pain too, sometimes it can last six weeks so you have my sympathy. The only thing that helps my pain is a really hot water bottle, it works miracles. I do hope you feel better soon.xxx
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear that you are in such pain that sounds awful. I do hope the tablets give you some relief. I am not sure if it would help but I can recommend Katy Bowman, she has written books and has a website on biomechanics and how we move/sit/stand etc and the effect that can have on other parts of our body. I am reading her book Move your DNA and it is a fascinating read and includes many, really gentle exercises.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you're suffering. I see doctors are no starting to prescribe low doses of antidepressants instead of painkillers as painkillers often become ineffective with chronic pain. I must say the low dosage antidepressant I was given for persistent stabbing headaches years ago certainly did the trick.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get some relief. Take care.
So sorry to hear you are in such pain. I do hope that you can get some relief from it soon, Jo.
ReplyDeleteI have had this myself and it is horrible. I could not stand up straight for months and had shooting pains down to my foot. Please rest. Rest and take those anti-inflammatory meds and learn stretches to get the blood flow back to this area. Take care of yourself.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear how you have been in pain I hope you get it sorrmted soon x
ReplyDelete