Sciatica.

[Colossus]

Anyone suffered this before. I was trying to work out last night just how long I've been afflicted with this for. I reckon I've had it now, on and off, for around 4 months, with no sign of it disappearing yet, and in some cases getting worse as time goes on. I've seen 3 physios, been to the doc's, had x-rays taken and been to an osteopath. Each time its like one step forward, but after a couple of days, two steps back. I was pain free last week for three days, went to play golf last Saturday and getting out of the car it came back, was pain free for 4 days this week, and come Friday night I was every bit as bad again. I'm not sleeping due to the discomfort in bed, and am constantly putting ice packs and biofreeze on the affected area. I can get a certain amount of relief, but I just know its not enough to get out playing golf at the moment. I haven't hit a ball in competition in two months and its driving me mad.

What is the best way of getting rid of this curse? I wouldn't wish the pain on anyone, not even my worst enemy. I've another physio to see this week who comes highly reccommended, then my last resort is accupuncture. After that, my only choice is a bullet in the head, I fear. If I was an animal, I'd have been put down months ago.

Any ideas?

[Longshot]

I suffered from it for several years but it seems to have gone now. I wish I could tell you how or why...

All I know is that it was one of the most painful, irritating conditions I've ever known.

I'm pretty sure that it was driving that made it flare up worse than anything else and I actually wonder now, on reflection, whether changing cars a few years ago was about the time it seemed to stop recurring. I wish I could remember for sure.

Good luck, anyway.

[Keve]

I had a sore back and left goolie all weekend and from research on the internet it looks like the sc warmiatic nerve that was causing it, 2 hours in a jucuzzi with a jet of warm water on my lower back and gentle bubbles caressing my balls seems to have 'cured' it.

[ecclesrec]

Get to the docs - f*ck the physio off and get them to do an MR scan. I have suffered for years and it started to manifest into shooting pains in to the legs. I used to grin and bear it with the bad back but the shooting pains no way.

Had the scan - came back with protruding disc! So get to the quaks.

Good luck

[ijmorgan]

Had it for a few years, with a million other bits with my back and legs got to the point i couldn't walk. 4 GP visits 2 MRIs no diagnosis seen a chiropractor and was on the way back after a few weeks. No one seemed to acknowledge it. The most but best money i spent. Get it sorted before it's gets really bad.

Cheers
Ian

[Shiro Hagen]

I remember my GP sending me for an X-ray when I first began suffering, I told her I suspected a slipped disc and she replied the X-ray came back normal, then I pointed out to her that discs don't show up on X-ray, few weeks pass- I get to the point I cant stand up and go to hospital, MRI proves severe slip on L5-S1 and emergency surgery same day  never been the same since- get it sorted before it sorts you!