Sciatica with OA of Hip ?

silkysam

I am wondering if anyone here experiences Sciatica through OA in hip and lower spine? If so , any tips on easing pain please?

stickywicket

My husband's golfing partner was unable to play due to sciatica for over a year. He saw a physio who gave him an exercise plan. He's not 100% yet but can play sometimes. This is the NHS exercise video for sciatica but I'd suggest you check first with your GP that it's OK for you to try it.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Sciatica/Pages/Treatment.aspx

Here are some previous forum threads about sciatica.

http://bit.ly/1r3d0Rj


Technical Edit
Shortened link as this was overrunning the page in some browsers.
Mod B

silkysam

Thanks for your kind reply stickywicket, will take a look now

silkysam

Thanks Stickywicket. I looked up a few posts about Sciatica. Getting more familiar with using the forums a little now. It is nice to know that we are not on our own, also the lovely communication and help interweaving throughout the topics. It does make you feel less isolated! I am so grateful for your help.
I was also struck by the positive comments on here that make you feel that we can deal with the pain using various methods. So, all in all - I really feel as though I have found a new outlet to release the anxiety of the sometimes unbearable pain, and pick up lots of hints and tips along the way.

stickywicket

I do hope so, silkysam. I find the support on here second to none. We all know and understand pain and how debilitating and demoralising it can be. It can also rob us of our self-confidence. Coping with it is complex. We have to learn when to let it win the battle so that we can win the war but we also need to not let it dominate our lives to the point where they become miserable.

I've just had a wonderful 5 days with my family. I'm exhausted, achey in places that don't usually ache and achey in the places that do BUT, I loved it and would / will do it all again, maybe not tomorrow :roll: but definitely in a couple of months time.

This is a good place to share both bad and good times

dreamdaisy

We aim to help, Silkysam, after all we're all in similar boats especially when it comes to dealing with constant and unrelenting pain, we all face that with the range of conditions on here.

Pain itself is isolating, it limits our abilities to socialise, it inhibits what we can do (and for how long) and having conditions that, despite frequent visits to docs etc., refuse to improve is difficult for us (and those around us) to comprehend. I felt very alone in my early days but that all changed once I found the forum. This is the only one to which I belong and it has changed my life for the better. I am now better equipped to deal with the day-to-day rollercoaster ride of Living with Arthritis thanks to the support of some wonderful people on here. I hope we will be able to do the same for you. DD

silkysam

Oh , and I forgot empathy! Thankful to you both. You know, aready I fee a little better. xx

dreamdaisy

Hurrah! That is pleasing to read so I'm off to watch Bargain Hunt, complete with a grin. DD

silkysam

Enjoy !!!

barbara12

Hello silkysam
And a warm welcome from me, you are never on your own on this forum... I have sciatic pain , I had the hip replaced due to OA but the pain is still there, apparently it could be the disc or might be the sacroiliac joint the pain can be much like the sciatic one..stretching is good you try for a re feral to a physio..

silkysam

barbara12 Oh thanks for sharing that info. As a matter of fact I have two prolapsed discs L4 and L5 , also OA of both hips (worse in right, and lower spine) Also have Spina Bifida Occulta. Have got an appointment with physio soon. Oh well, feeling overwhelmed with feedback. So very grateful and thank you for the welcome

barbara12

You are welcome
I know there is an injection if the sciatic pain gets to bad...it worked wonders for our Elnafin..you could also ask about that, or put it on your list..good luck and let us know how you get on..
ooh just a thought spina bifida and your hips will mean you dip when you walk, this can throw the Sacroiliac joint slightly out..its the joint between your pelvis and spine..I am waiting for the results of an MRI on it..so might know more then

johnsouthwales

gp never did nowt about my sciatica from 2009/2010.. took me ages to get physio then they stopped it after a couple of weeks and wrote to the gp saying i need an xray as the exercise was painful mid 2011.

turned out to be OA in the spine.. left on the scrap heap..

probably i wouldn't be able to play golf while on incapacity benefit as the dwp would probably say improvement in condition and fit for work

silkysam

Thanks for sharing info johnsouthwales. I also have OA spine both hips and prolapsed lower two discs. I am finding this weather very challenging. I have been prescribed Gabapentin. Does anyone have experience of this medication please? I had a reflexology treatment last week, that made me fee very relaxed for the rest of the day, also woke up in the morning almost pain-free and straighter! It was amazing! However by the afternoon , I was getting back to normal burning pain etc. I will give it a further try this week. Thanks again everyone for input

dreamdaisy

I've not broached gabapentin but if you put the word into the search engine on here all relevant (hopefully ) threads will appear so you can read others' experiences. I have not tried reflexology as yet but I accept that any form of relief is temporary, be it reiki, homeopathy, acupuncture, tissue salts, the meds I am given et al.

I too am finding this weather challenging but on my auto-immune front: the OA is very subdued. That won't last! DD

silkysam

Thanks dreamdaisy, will do that. Sorry about your auto immune problems.

silkysam

Sorry dreamdaisy, smiley face was for the help. not the last remark. Looking at it now it has been posted seems unkind xx

dreamdaisy

No worries but thank you for apologising. I always bear in mind that arthritic fingers may be at work. DD

silkysam

Thank you dreamdaisy for understanding

dreamdaisy

To my mind that is what the forum is about - don't think about yourself, think about others. When I first joined that was my thought and still is. I've learned so much on here and am still learning. DD

silkysam

Well dreamdaisy, think I am getting the hang of it now. It is a brilliant support already!!!

frogmella

I found gabapentin a wonder - it worked really well on my nerve pain, I didn't realise how well until I had norovirus so had several days without it! I was started on amitriptyline but found the drowsiness too hard to handle to asked to be switched. Some people complain about the side effects of gaba but for me they were worth it. Horses for courses really. Took some messing with doses to get it right.

silkysam

thanks frogmella. Did you start your first tablet at night?

frogmella

Can't remember! I just stopped the ami, which was at night, and started the gaba. All I remember are the withdrawal effects from the ami!

silkysam

was it a great relief frogmella? Thanks for getting back with your reply.

frogmella

It did work really well, I was surprised! Not as well as injections and fusion but it worked well!