Prolapsed Disc L4 / L5 11 months on

[Baby Bean]

Hi to everyone,

The reason why have joined is the fact that I'm now getting desperate. My life has been awful for the last 11 months ans shows no sign of getting any better.

End of July last year I finished a 7 days on working week ( Security Officer ) and started to have a strange pain down my right leg. I went to the doctors and was prescribed something and told to take paracetamol.

Over the next few weeks as my pain and movement got worse (still only my right leg) I went to see a specialist who said I had all the signs of a prolapsed invertebral disc but had no weakness in the right leg ( a good sign I was told). I also had no numbness or pins and needles. I had an epidural a couple of weeks later which I feel did nothing. My drugs at this point were Ibuprofen 400mg 4 times a day and now co-codamol 4 times a day.

I was put on the NHS waiting list for an MRI and was lucky to have one a month later which showed L4 / L5 bulging but also the disc underneath was not in great condition. However I then saw a neuro surgeon who said they would not operate in my case and referred me to the pain clinic.

I had been off work for 6 months and spent a lot of time resting, and I mean a lot. I returned to work and had physio once a week and my duties were office bound as I couldn't bend to search people.

The ibuprofen was recently started to make my tummy a bit rough as I had been on it for 10 months. I started taking pregablin 75mg a day and amitriptyline 10mg at night. I have since had my pregabalin increased to 300mg a day (i'm a week into this) but no ibuprofen which has meant some of my leg pain has got worse.

The question is what do I do next?

I'm so low, I still struggle to put socks on or trousers, I limp, I'm in pain for 95% of the time, my body is wonky and I'm just not getting better. I've stopped physio, dont really think it did much, but I have some core exercises which I try to do when I'm not drousy which is rarely.

Next month will be a year of this and if I took all the drugs away I think I'd be the same as I was a year ago. Who can help me?

Regards

 

[qbsokrgx]

If you can I would book privately, you will never be out of pain otherwise you can cause more damage if you keep on taking the pills, as you feel better in yourself but just mask the problem, If you are in some kind of health insurance or now you can ask your doctor to send you to a private consultant under the NHS this will also cover your MRI scans and you can choose which hospital you go to. You have my sympathy its hard work getting doctors to understand how much it hurts and stops you doing normal everyday things.

 

[Amii...x]

Thanks Keels. I actually think my original doctor ( now retired ) was very helpful getting an MRI, the neurosurgeon, the pain clinic etc.

The thing is who can fix me? Is it a chiropractor or an osteopath? Or will it be surgery which everything I read can be awful and that the pain returns etc.

Does anyone think I've actually got better or am I just masking it.

I would just love to put my socks on in the morning with no pain, get in the car with no pain, even just run to somewhere or pick up someone for a hug!

 

[LgTuttle]

Not sure if Pregabalin works yet. When I 1st went on a small dosage I thought it did have an effect on the pain. Its a weird thing as if your clever enough you can feel what its doing which I think makes the pain return, so if your not that bright I think it works better.

On 300mg I will find out over the next week or so as it would have been in my system for a while, but not holding out too many chances.

I've had 2 steroid injections and they both did nothing. I'm going to have to push to see the neurosurgeon again.

Even though I have special way of getting in the car a 20 minute drive to work I'm in constant pain (8/10) and then getting out is a nightmare.

Just want it gone!

 

[marshell]

I went to the pain clinic and instead of the tablets i had 6 surface steroid injections and ive been loads better again, just intime for my holiday in three weeks. Did they do you injections uunder X-Ray? I have this type every 12 months and they put it in in 6 different places. The consultant the other day said he normally gives people a top up in between the big injections as it tends to help if the steroids do you some good. They dont always work on everyone though, which is a shame. The type of car and how you sit in it can also make a difference, i changed my car twice before i got one that i was really comfortable in. I can drive for two hours straight and not be aching at the end of it. Passats are quite comfy to sit in.

 

[Pompal 09.]

the best thing I can advise is to move heaven and earth to get the £200 for a consultation with Mr Martin Knight at the Spinal Foundation - this man is nothing short of a genius, I can't praise him highly enough !! Good luck and much love

 

[Derrick T]

I have been suffering for over a year now with the same problem i spent 18 days in hospital being preped twice for surgery only to be let down.
Then i was given a multitude of different drugs to help me cope with every day life.
I now take paracetamol codien 4 times a day along with morphine sulphate twice a day and gabapentin diazepam diclofenic then there is senna and lactrlose to help with the constipation.
To be honest none of these are helping me a total of 40 tablets a day????
I am now walking with the aid of crutches i have a toilet frame to help me off and on and a shower board to let me sit in the shower and a perching stool to sit at the bowl and shave.
But probably the same as you all being told there is nothing they can do disregaurding the constant pain discomfort and total life change that i have had to go through.
I am fed up of being told to rest rest rest but will that pay my bills NO i dont think so??
When will they listen to the individual and not just go by the book and medical views everyones pain levels are different. As i have read HELP IS THERE ANYONE IN THE MEDICAL WORLD WHO WILL HELP THE SUFFERERS OF THIS CONDITION???????

 

[tim l]

Hi there, I can indentify with all you have said and sympathsise I went through the same for two years I am now 12 days post op and feel great I had an L4 L5 dicectomy on the 20th Oct and feel like a new person I am happy to tell you my story and am sure there is an op to fix your back.

 

[Marykate]

What levels did you have your injections at Dragerboy?, if the 2 steroid injections did not work, the reason is 'probably' because they were placed in the wrong level of the spine or the nerve root. The first 2/3 injections are 'usually' very effective, if placed in the right location.

I was mis-diagnosed for 3 years when my Orthopaedic Surgeon targeted
my L 2/3 & L3/4 discs impingements as being the problem areas, and gave me 2 injections at that level. They both failed completely, because my symptoms were acctually coming from a bone impingement at my L4/5 & L5/S1 levels.

I diagnosed this fact for my self, and was then given 2 further nerve root injections at the L4/5 level, this completely removed my pains for 6 weeks and gave me good improvement for over a further 5 weeks period.

Ask your Surgeon for a copy of the report and scan, and see if other listed areas are 'in fact' the 'true' cause of your problems and perhaps match your symptoms more closely.

Best wishes


SPINELF

 

[Bears Mom]

It might be an idea to try Bio energy healing guys... it works on the energy fields around the body, by clearing the chakras. It works on the physical, mental and emotional and i would recommend it.

 

[cherry kitty]

My first back problem was 16 yrs ago, when I had a prolapse of L5/S1. I ended up having the disc shaved, that was great for 8 years when the disc eventually collapsed. I suffered with severe sciatica and groin pain for 10 months, until one day woke up with my groin numb, spooky, I was in surgery that afternoon, where they done a full discectomy and a lateral fusion with bone taken from my pelvis. Things were great from then on, till 3 months ago, when I lifted a gaqrden planter and woke the next night with sciatica again and pain in my hips. After seeing some very uninterested GP's I eventually got to see a spinal surgeon at Stoke Mandeville hospital. I had by this time had an X-Ray and MRI scan. The scan showed a badly prolapsed disc L4/L5, with the associated Facit joint also showing some damage. I am currently on Co-Codamol, was on diclafenic, but did my stomach in, despite taking loads of milk and various indegestion remedies. I was on Amytriptaline, but found it "mood changing". I have a friend who is a physio, so get the treatment for nothing, but doesnt really help. I am awaiting a nerve block injection at the moment.Have been told that it could take 18 weeks to get it. Personally, I would agree to another op to either shave the disc or remove the disc completely. Luckilly, my work have been very good about it, but it is so debilitating. I would not recommend people taking drugs, as to be honest, all it does is mask the symptoms.

 

[Flusterated]

I am so saddened, but not supprised, to see that you have had multiple level problems and repeat operations. To be facing another spinal procedure in the future must be devastating for you, and I feel gutted that you have joined a long list of forum members who are expected to trust in Surgeons, after they have given you 'only limited' freedom from you long term suffering.

Best wishes

SPINELF

 

[uweghuiwiwyiwgegs]

Just wanted to sympathise with you. If anyone is taking a diclofenac long term they need to also take a stomach protecting drug like Omeprazole along with it. This ensures that no long term damage is done to the gut .