Tuesday 26 March 2024

How to ease sciatica when painkillers won’t work – Dr Zoe Williams answers your health questions

From the-sun.com

Q) SINCE November I have been suffering from sciatica but I haven’t had much help from my GP. I’ve been taking paracetamol to try to ease the pain but this is not making it much better.

It’s reached the stage where I’ve thought of paying to see a chiropractor but they are very expensive.

Would it be worth the money?

A) I’m so sorry to hear that you’ve been struggling with this for four months.

Sciatica can be painful, but also disabling, and can affect your emotional health and your quality of life.

The majority of cases of sciatica self-resolve over six weeks.

But yours has persisted far beyond this, so I would advise seeking further support at this stage.

You may be able to self-refer to physiotherapy, or you could ask your GP to refer you to the musculoskeletal service at your local hospital. Wait times vary so, if you have the means, it may be worth seeing a private practitioner in the meantime.

It’s a shame that we don’t have access to chiropractors and osteopaths on the NHS as they are highly skilled healthcare professionals who would work brilliantly alongside our wonderful NHS physiotherapists.

Chiropractors deal with musculoskeletal issues such as those of the back, including those accompanied by sciatica.

Assuming this is what you have, and you know a chiropractor who has been recommended to you, then I’d say go for it.

If they can help, it will be money very well spent.

https://www.the-sun.com/health/10885925/ease-sciatica-painkillers-dr-zoe-health-questions/ 

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