Hi, I need help with my boyfriend's terrible sciatic pain. It's been 2 weeks since his symptoms started, he's been for a CT scan and it doesn't show a herniated disk, but is more likely arthritis (osteo-fite?) or scar tissue from back surgery 17 years ago that his putting pressure on his sciatic nerve. He has terrible pain in his buttock and down his right thigh, his toes tingle and his skin hurts to touch. He's waiting to get an appointment with a back specialist for an MRI but our medical system can be brutal here (B.C. Canada) and wait-times can be extremely long.

He is taking Ibuprofen, Gabapentin and Hydromorphone and nothing helps, nothing touches the pain. He can't get comfortable lying down at all. He finds some relief during the day when he sits upright but as soon as he lies down the pain is terrible. At night it's the worst and he spends the entire night writhing in pain in bed, getting maybe 30 minutes sleep total. I don't know what to do for him. Does anyone have a special "cocktail" that they recommend for pain management? He went to an accupuncturist today and after 2 hours felt momentary pain relief but it was back within the hour. It seems to be getting worse, not better. He can't work, can't walk more than 10-15 steps, can't stand up for more than a minute. Please help.