Ask Dr Miriam

QI have cracked a bone in my buttock and I get a lot of pain which goes down my leg to the back of my knee and to my ankle. But I have to wait until next January for an appointment at the pain clinic. Can you help? You could have a crack in your sacrum or coccyx. The pain down the back of your leg sounds like sciatica.

Inflammation from the fracture could be pressing on your sciatic nerve. It’s important that

Ayou keep moving, despite the pain, because sciatica isn’t helped by bed rest. While you’re waiting for your appointment with the pain clinic you can, of course, try overthe-counter painkillers like NSAIDs (non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs). The other thing you might try is to rub in a cream containing diclofenac, a powerful drug which will give you relief for a few hours. Ask your pharmacist for it. And I hope it brings you relief.