Sciatica

[srilfc2013]

I was off June 2024 with sciatica for two weeks and was issued a stage 1. It has came back with a vengeance, if I go sick does a new year start or will I be issued with a stage 2 and lose my first three days pay

[scoobydo79]

Start a fresh I would think. It was over a year ago

[ted_e_bear]

As above definitely it's over a year ago you'll be fine, hope it clears up soon my mate suffers from it, and it goes without saying no point rushing back you'll be issued a stage anyway after 12 days or whatever it got reduced to, RM don't give a f**k about you neither does your manager they just want you back on a duty.

[srilfc2013]

Thanks everyone

[celtic1967]

You have my sympathy, when it happens the pain is excruciating

[Basildon Bond]

I think the main problem with saying "Sciatica" is that it's a general term for pain that could be caused by several things. Best case with going to a GP is that they know this (and you don't) so they struggle to pick the next best step and a resolution drags on.

I would recommend taking a bit of time to research the causes and perhaps test yourself for what causes the pain to increase on your own time and be better preparing to explain it to a GP etc. It could need medical treatment, but it could be just tight muscles from a lot of walking (and sitting a lot doesn't help either). Best to read up and see if it's something you can start to fix yourself immediately or not.

For example...

- https://nielasher.com/blogs/video-blog/ ... a-overview (quote: "Where the sciatica arises from piriformis syndrome [muscle tightness], the symptoms will usually become worse after prolonged sitting, walking, or running but may feel better after lying down on the back")
- https://abbottcenter.com/bostonpainther ... er-points/ (to understand the pictures: the red parts are where it hurts; the little black crosses (x) are where you need to put a fair amount of pressure with a tennis ball or similar and roll around that small area for 20 seconds). Take it slow and for a few minutes tops at first.

Good luck.

[Idk]

Go get a GP note and they can't do anything.

[SkiSunday]

Go get a GP note and they can't do anything.

They can very much f**k you over with the new absence procedure though. Thanks CWU

[Idk]

We've had someone off for 4 months with depression and not a things been said or done to them.

[srilfc2013]

I think the main problem with saying "Sciatica" is that it's a general term for pain that could be caused by several things. Best case with going to a GP is that they know this (and you don't) so they struggle to pick the next best step and a resolution drags on.

I would recommend taking a bit of time to research the causes and perhaps test yourself for what causes the pain to increase on your own time and be better preparing to explain it to a GP etc. It could need medical treatment, but it could be just tight muscles from a lot of walking (and sitting a lot doesn't help either). Best to read up and see if it's something you can start to fix yourself immediately or not.

For example...

- https://nielasher.com/blogs/video-blog/ ... a-overview (quote: "Where the sciatica arises from piriformis syndrome [muscle tightness], the symptoms will usually become worse after prolonged sitting, walking, or running but may feel better after lying down on the back")
- https://abbottcenter.com/bostonpainther ... er-points/ (to understand the pictures: the red parts are where it hurts; the little black crosses (x) are where you need to put a fair amount of pressure with a tennis ball or similar and roll around that small area for 20 seconds). Take it slow and for a few minutes tops at first.

Good luck.

Thanks will look into this

[postmanzach]

You have my sympathy, when it happens the pain is excruciating

Second that.

It’s horrible. Use to have it so bad thankfully no longer have it.
Think the cause was tight hamstrings although pain felt like it was coming from the bottom of my spine.
Best relief I found was using lying down and using a “roller” muscle massage thing or a ball.

[Basildon Bond]

Aldi sometimes have foam rollers in for very little money (£3.99 ish). Obviously they only have them on and off so you cannot know when they are available. You just have to keep an eye out for them in the fitness bins.

https://www.aldi.co.uk/product/crane-ma ... 0648156001

I would HIGHLY recommend ONLY getting and sticking with a smooth one - they are the best. Knobbed rollers are not as good in my humble opinion - better than no roller but I would generally avoid.

If you wanted something from eBay (not affiliated at all) these look like the thing you need (good smaller size, smooth, and even have a few exercises printed on the packaging to get you started)...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226935365819

The thing with a roller is you cannot go at it for 30 minutes once a week or now and again like a bull in a china shop. You have to build five to ten minutes into your morning routine everyday (even when not working that day) and knock down any tight muscles. And it may take a week or more to feel like it is doing any good. Then you need to maintain it.

https://www.healthline.com/health/fitne ... ing-how-to

[Broxi51]

Hope your Sciatica gets better.
Back in 2022, I got Sciatica. I went to NHS for a physio who gave me exercises. I went Private who gave me exercises. None of this helped and so I tried another private physio who actually massaged the tissue around the nerve in my leg for a few appointments and it started to get better. He then started massaging the nerve itself which was painful but he kept going for a few more appointments and I felt brilliant. He checked the leg and found a few areas that were still sore to touch and worked on them. Eventually, I was free and it has never returned. I asked him about exercises but he said I was a postie who did exercise every day and so he just wanted to massage where the sciatica was.

[Gary55]

Don't be forced into light duties sorting sitting down or standing up will only exacerbate it similar with throwing off households etc. Remember they are all tossers and only want bums on seats. I've had bad sciatica for many years only helped by walking but obviously our route marches eventually get too much.Stay strong

[dudek05]

Aldi sometimes have foam rollers in for very little money (£3.99 ish). Obviously they only have them on and off so you cannot know when they are available. You just have to keep an eye out for them in the fitness bins.

https://www.aldi.co.uk/product/crane-ma ... 0648156001

I would HIGHLY recommend ONLY getting and sticking with a smooth one - they are the best. Knobbed rollers are not as good in my humble opinion - better than no roller but I would generally avoid.

If you wanted something from eBay (not affiliated at all) these look like the thing you need (good smaller size, smooth, and even have a few exercises printed on the packaging to get you started)...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226935365819

The thing with a roller is you cannot go at it for 30 minutes once a week or now and again like a bull in a china shop. You have to build five to ten minutes into your morning routine everyday (even when not working that day) and knock down any tight muscles. And it may take a week or more to feel like it is doing any good. Then you need to maintain it.

https://www.healthline.com/health/fitne ... ing-how-to

Saw them down the middle aisle in our Aldi a couple of days ago