First of all, I don't know of any OTC medications which I've found helpful for this condition. I have sciatica where it only hurts a lot in certain positions. I cannot lie on my back, the pain is just phenomenal. Certain other positions cause this tremendous pain to present it. What I wanted to say is that several weeks ago, I suffered a seizure. I do research into any health issue I have found that two medications mentioned in these stories, tramadol which reduces the threshold for a seizure and flexural contributed heavily to my seizure.

I hurt my back about three months ago and have been seeing a chiropractor three times a week. It has gotten much worse now my sciatic nerve is aggravated. I can barely move. Walking is impossible. It feels like the worst cramp imaginable in my hamstring; unfortunately, it never lets up. I'm starting physical therapy next week, but I am definitely dreading spending another weekend like this.

I have suffered from sciatica on and off for more than 25 years, always seeming to stem from muscle inflammation. I've done chiropractic, acupuncture, and physical therapy. I think mostly it just goes away on its own, though I find the stretching exercises prescribed by my chiropractor most helpful. Three years ago, I started practicing yoga. I have been free of sciatica the entire time. This week, however, I came down with what seemed a cold or flu bug. It started with my usual symptoms -- sensitive scalp and then sore throat, fever, body aches and pains. But then it didn't move to my sinuses like usual, but instead carried on with intense headaches and body aches. Starting yesterday, I have intense sciatic pain down both legs, starting from below my buttocks. It's not in my lower back or buttocks at all. Whereas last Friday I could sit on the floor with my legs out straight, touch my toes with my hands and touch my forehead to my knees, today just sitting on the floor with my legs out is so painful that my vision blurs. I don't know how I'm going to sleep tonight. Lying in bed in any position is painful. I will try a heating pad and perhaps some padding under my back and knees, as another patient suggested. I've never had these symptoms from what I assume is a virus. Not fun.

Last Wednesday I went to work and that night went to bed feeling great. Thursday morning I woke up feeling a slight pain in my right leg, starting at the buttocks and extending down to the knee. It felt more like a slight sprain than anything else. The pain got progressively worse over the next two days. I started taking 1200mg of ibuprofen which made the pain tolerable, but still bad. I could barely walk, sit, stand, or lie down. I could barely drive by leaning over on my left side, only being able to use my right foot for the gas and my left foot for the brake. I could only sleep on my back with my left leg straight and my right leg bent, propped up on a pillow. Sunday morning it was so bad that I decided to go to the local urgent care walk-in (or limp-in) clinic. I told them that on a scale of 1-10 the pain was a 10. It brought tears to my eyes. They could see that I could not sit down to take the reflex test they wanted to give me. They diagnosed me with sciatica, which I've never had before, gave me a shot of a heavy-duty anti-inflammatory, and a prescription for Vicodin. On advice of a medical professional friend of mine, I took the Vicodin along with a reduced dosage (400-600mg) of ibuprofen and am using heat and ice packs alternately. This morning (Monday) the pain was still bad. I had to get out of bed by rolling over onto my stomach and swinging my legs over the edge to land on my knees, then stand up. I cannot lift my right leg more than six inches or bend over far enough to reach the floor or my feet. Putting on pants and socks is nearly impossible. I use one of those grabber pick-up tools to help. After moving around slowly for a half hour or so, I finally started to loosen up. Needless to say, I am off of work for at least two days. If I feel well enough, I am planning on going to a chiropractor and the VA clinic (two hours away) tomorrow. After that, we'll see.