Twenty days ago, or so, I wrote about my sciatica attack. I am pleased to report that it has got progressively better over the last two weeks and is, essentially, over.

 I started taking the amitriptyline that the doc prescribed, as I wrote before, and nothing much happened. It still hurt so badly that I could have happily had my leg just cut off. I took myself to the pharmacy and discussed with the pharmacist what I could do. She very helpfully suggested Cocodamol but warned me about becoming addicted and said not to take it for more than three days in a row. Being risk-averse I took it only when the pain was terrible – that was always at night – and it was very effective. It didn’t take the pain away completely but took enough away that the amitriptyline could help me sleep. One Thursday night the pain was faint and I slept really well. I put that down to the fact that I had walked to my Tai Chi class, had done the exercises and had walked home and was determined to exercise the next day as well. I walked and exercised on that Friday and was in terrible pain that night!  

But, after that night it all got better.

Yesterday I was in Ramsgate so decided to make an appointment with the acupuncturist, Steve. He could fit me in later in the afternoon so I waited about, went shopping (bought a great dress!), then had my acupuncture session. Steve told me that acupuncture works really well on sciatica on the second day of an attack. He said, “I’ve had people limp in here and walk out with no pain.” Though I hope I will never have another bout of sciatica, I will remember what he said.

The white haired woman free from sciatica pain