Prolapsed disc... and in a lot of painnnnnn

[simples]

Hello,
I am new member and when i came across your felt a ray of hope.Can u please give me the details of the doctor so that i can take my sibling.Please help me,it is very urgent.

Thanks in advance.

 

[eppzmbhi]

Hello,

I was diagnosed with disk prolapse L5S1 and sciatica. Tried accupuncture, osteopathy, but still in lots of pain. I've just found out I'm 2 weeks pregnant, and feel pretty much like you when you wrote this message.
What did you do? How did your pregnancy go?
Hope well...

 

[Michael Q]

Basil1 I have same as you, although mine has been ongoing for 10 years now. Can you provide me with links to purchase of the book you mention?

 

[Carpe Noctem]

Hi All. I was so glad to stumble upon like minded individuals who unfortunately suffer in the same manner as myself who truly understand the issues of severe back conditions.
Ive read as many of the posts as I can, and yet still have no clear answers to the question of , will I ever be cured or even helped to live a moderately normal life state of life in the future.
I’m a 42 year old male. Who eats well, and has always tried to stay in good shape. I believe I first damaged my discs about 20 years ago when weight training without a support. I felt a searing sharp pain during a squat thrust like Id never felt before in my lower back. I awoke during the night to find my right leg had no feeling apart from tingling and excruciating pain in my lower back.
Over days I nursed it and eventually the worst of the pain subsided. Little did I know I had changed my life forever from that moment on. I then lived constantly with nagging lower back pain and occasional bouts of disc prolapse. I hobbled around almost in tears at times putting up with the pain and staying off work when I had no choice but to rest in bed. This went on for years.
I visited my doctor at the time but was only prescribed pain killers and dicofenix.No specialist was offered in those early years of suffering. I have since seen 3.
Subsequently I was involved in a minor car accident, when I was rear ended in a car park. This brought on sciatica and sever spasms in the same lower back area as before to add to the constant pain. From then on, the bouts became more frequent and more severe. About 4 or 5 times a year now I have a relapse which basically cripples me and takes a few weeks of rest and medication -muscle relaxants, pain killers, ice packs and stomach cramping –anti-inflammatories to get me on my feet again.
I have been sent to various specialists all who have had a slightly different opinions about my condition that has only added to my mistrust and confusion as to what exactly is going on in my back.I was told about 4 years ago to expect paralysis in 2 years because the disc damage was so severe. I have had one MRI scan which revealed two prolapsed discs one actually pressing on the cauda equina.I have been strongly advised to get myself to a hospital if I go numb around my groin and lower areas. This, fortunately has been narrowly avoided thus far. Specialist advice has ranged from keep doing what I’m doing.e.g. Pilates, medication excercise etc, and avoid an operation until I can not feel my legs.To an offer of an operation (stabilization operation) pins in the spine and partial disc removal, but with limited success and high risks involved of paralysis’.
As I write this, I’m in the middle of another bad relapse and severe pain is making tyoing this almost impossible. But I wanted to hear from others about their own experiences or successes with finding a real cure…. I am currently wearing a tight lumbar support, have taken pain killers every few hours, muscle relaxants, anti inflams and even devils claw- natural anti inflams. Any attempt to walk is excruiating.A cough or sneeze feels like a hammer fist to my back and my spine is currently contorted into what resembles a hard formed 'S' shape. I stand up and get around only with the help of two walking sticks.
A week ago I run a 5 k race and felt reasonably fine? Apart from a stiff back and the usual daily pain.
I know by now that only when the spasms ease will the pain start to drift away again. So far this year I have spent half a much anticipated holiday in the hotel bed because of this and may also miss a close friends wedding. I recently started a light jogging routine after further advice on strengthening my back. I enjoyed this immensely, but now fear this new hobby will also have to be shelved. The issue is slowly starting to take over and ruin my life.It is very difficult to stay positive when a condition wont even let you be you.
I was wondering if anyone out there can shed any hopeful light on this for myself and others who may also be suffering to this extent.
Thanks in advance, and thank you for the forum.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Hi Powderace

I really feel for you and know exactly what you are going through, as will many members on this site.

I am guessing that you have seen NHS specialists thus far and would recommend getting an opinion from a recommended private specialist if possible. I emphasise 'recommended' because even private specialists can get it wrong, as I found out two years ago.

I would have thought that it would be more dangerous to leave you until you have no feelings in your legs, than to try to do a surgical procedure now as far as the risk of paralysis goes.

I am on day 9 following an operation that I had via The Spine Foundation based in Cheshire, and would recommend Martin Knight as a first point of contact. I had a long way to travel to see him and I was basically 'crippled up' because of the journey, but I would do it again.

I was also at risk of losing the use of both legs and the use of my bladder, and had been on an NHS waiting list since January. As I got worse and still had no appointment I decided to bite the bullet and see Martin Knight.

This time around my problem has been present for two years, due to the negligence of a private specialist I saw two years ago who told me to 'work through the pain' and that I would be offered a spinal fusion when the pain was constant. This guy did not send me for an MRI scan but based his opinion on x-rays alone, suffice to say that my problem was much worse than either of us knew and got worse over time.

I now have a 12 week recuperation period to see whether my problem is completely sorted, or whether I need further surgery at another level, but I know that I am in capable hands.

Please, please push for more advice/treatment. Unfortunately it is a battle that you have to fight at a time when you will probably be feeling low.

I hope that you find some relief and some answers to your problem.

Maz

 

[Miss Smith]

Please take mad-maz's veiws seriously, because I know he is right!

I have also been operated on by Mr. Knight, and am 18 months post-op having had my sciatica 'completely cured' during a 3 hour cuttting edge, minimally invasive, endoscopic, laser spine surgical procedure.

Go to his web site at www.spinal-foundation.org and read everything on there, after you have finished, if you need more information, please don't hesitate to seek further confirmation from us on this forum.

For research purposes, other similar 'treatment specific' web sites are:
www.bonati.com
www.laserspineinstitute.com
www.microspine.com

Best wishes



SPINELF

 

[foxhunter1949]

I have been experiencing terrible pain in my back over the years but last October my pain began to worsen. I would get to wednesday and couldn't get out of bed my partner having to carrry and put me to the loo! this continued and began to get worse i was taking time off work (i'm a teacher). I was taken in the night to hospital where i was left on a trolly and given every drug known to man....when i could at last stand i was sent home. I saw doctors at my surgery who simply gave me more drugs including amtriptaline and diazapan both sending me into a haze. I saw physio specialists who simply turned me away and a doctor who said why did i need an MRI scan how would that help? I felt like no one was listening to me. However, my physio was so concerned that she got me an MRI which showed three prolapsed discs scoliosic and and arthritis. I paid privately to see an apparent specialist in this area who simply asked how much i weighed when i was 21!! I turned my knee around when i was 24 in a trampoline accident and as a result my spine has taken the toll!
He recomemded no surgery as he said it would make my back stiff- weight loss and the pain clinic of which i would have to wait 4 months to see. I feel so lost with this pain as it is so erratic one day i will feel ok the next terrible. When it gets too bad i take oromorph but i hate the stuff (how anyone can take this recreationally is beyond me) i am left with scars on my legs as it makes me itch like mad!!!
I feel guilty that i have missed so much work and am even contemplating giving up ...i dont know if my back can cope with this demanding job..i also drive an hour to work! I am seeing a chiropracter in Bournemouth who is worth her wait in gold. She doesn't crack and crunch and uses an hollistic approach. However, despite this i still have bad days and just turning over or getting out of bed is an ordeal ....What should i do ? Do you think i should get a second opinion?? and how long does this last ...I am swimming every other day for an hour which is helping. Do you think i should get another opinion??

 

[Annie_orphan]

Hi
Just for the record I am female

Maz

 

[MaskGurl666]

Hi Maz, Spinelf, forum members
Thank you for the kind and helpful advice, and I will indeed check out the links and the said specialist. I presume you had to pay privately for this treatment when you say "bite the bullet" ?.... You are right, in that the only specialists I have seen so far have been NHS.They have usually contradicted one another only adding to my fears and confusion about any possible treatments.Eg one said about another that "I shouldn’t listen to those types of specialist as they just like to get the knife out and operate as quick as possible”. These sorts of comments from so called professionals, has done nothing to inspire my confidence in the medical profession, along with my on going basically untreated pain.
I am managing to stand up a little more today without the sticks as much. The spasms have eased a little and I’m not so spaced out on my natural endorphins.
I have agreed to try and return to work this week on the understanding that I can be allowed to move away from my desk to stretch frequently. They haven’t been so accommodating regarding this I am sad to say. I had to drop to part time hours because of this condition and its unlikely I will ever be able to work full time until -If ever- I get my back sorted. This obviously affects my ability to pay for any private care/treatments and I will have to bare this in mind when looking into your advice. I can no longer afford to keep paying £7.40 for each prescription they write for me (sometimes x3) and have opted mainly for co-codamol and volterol over the counter. I did recently ask for another MRI to at least see how the condition is today and help me decide my next move, and also if it had gone any worse( as it feels as though it has) but the GP refused, saying there was no point as the last one 3+ years ago is sufficient.

 

[sylvanna]

Sorry Mad, I knew that!! LOL

Here's the 'S' I owe you!!

 

[Chilli dogg]

Hi All
Just looking at Powderace's post and just in case you didn't know there is a yearly payment you can make in the UK that covers as many perscripitons as you require. I believe it costs £140 but once paid you can providing the doctor gives you the perscription of course, get them free.

I know this because a friend of mine does this.

 

[race_car_bed]

Spine Elf
Thanks for the 'S' it makes me feel better

Powderace
You can also buy quarterly Pre Payment Certificate cards (PPC) for prescriptions which cost around £28.00, and can have as many prescriptions during that 3 month period as you need, at no extra cost. It can be a huge saving when you need regular prescriptions. I have just renewed my card and within days had 5 items prescribed by my GP so saved money immediately. You can apply online at:
https://www.ppa.org.uk/ppa/ppcdd/patient.do

Maz

 

[CJ G]

Hi Again all, Maz
Just an update to the advice I was so kindly given by mad-maz.I did call, and spoke to the clinic in question you recommended. After a brief chat, I was told that very few geographical areas will be NHS funded, and my area certainly isnt one of them.I was also advised that an operation would cost in the region of £10650 and I would have to raise this amount myself.They do not offer any financial assistance and even before that I have to pay £200 consultation plus £180 for an X-ray.Needless to say I am back at square one.As I have mentioned previously I am forced to work part time- get NO government assistance at all tax breaks etc and paying these fees are entirely out of the question.I have to say this condition seems permanent for those like myself who simply cannot afford correct treatments.Is this really the state of the NHS in the UK in 2010?....I wonder what on earth Ive been paying my national insurance for for all these years.Thanks for the initial promising lead with Dr Knight, but it appears it is another dead end...Any further suggestions most welcome.
Thanks again.P

 

[zxxdhoyi]

I am very sorry to hear all of your sad stories from UK. Here in our country, 90% of all surgical procedures are covered by insurance.

If you think minimally-invasive surgery (like dr. Knight does), you can consider treatment abroad for far less price. Good luck.

 

[Asheii]

Hi Powderace

Sorry to hear about your problems. You are probably correct in saying they started years ago.

I'm a similar age to you and grew up with the theory of wearing a support while weight training. Unless you are doing seriously heavy work I think these days most people suggest emphasising proper form and training without a belt, but include exercises to promote strong core muscles. Sit ups alone are not really enough for that.

I notice that you have mentioned strengthening your back and jogging. I would personally avoid jogging due to the impact. IMO Jogging is fairly inefficient way to strengthen your back, being primarily a cardio and leg stamina workout. You mention Pilates which is a far better option for strengthening your back. Although my personal favourite is a Flexi Bar, these devices were actually brought into the country for sale by Rebecca Small (a world renowned Step Instructor) after she had damaged a disc in her spine.

As I said in another recent post; most specialists recommend what they know/have been taught, and are sceptical regarding anything else. That doesn't mean other methods wont help you, but unfortunately it does mean listening to anacodotal reports and trying different approaches for yourself.

I am strong believer in the benefits of using devices such as the Nubax Trio or the Teeter inversion table. I was seeing an Osteopath weekly until I got my Teeter. After a month or two the pain had disappeared. I'm not alone as there are plenty of anecdotal accounts saying similar things.

Over the years my experiences suggest that common advice to build core fitness first, then work on functional strength but start slow is very sensible.

Hope that is of some help.

Pete

 

[Tina has Twins]

Hi PeteM01
Thanks for taking the time to read and understand where I am coming from. Im sure the regular long standing forum members have heard it all before, and I sincerely hope I do not come across as "here we go again" they think they have problems. I think I was rapidly growing tired, even depressed of the amount of generally fit and healthy people constantly telling how they understood my pain as they too have bad backs. My understanding (mainly due to the levels of pain and medical advice) is that the types of conditions on this forum and cauda equina problems in particular are not your bog standard every day run of the mill bad back issues?
This is genuinely the first time in 20 years I have felt I am talking to others who understand. Understand what it’s like being unable to put your own socks on without lying sideways on a bed. Understand not being able to tilt your neck in a shower to wash your hair without shooting pains that make you grit your teeth. Understand the embarrassing need of a grown man having to ask a neighbour to help lift him out of his car almost in tears due to the pain on a return trip from work.I wont even go into the effects and limitations it imposes on a persons sex life. I could go on, but you will mostly all know exactly what I am talking about. I thank the respondents and forum members again for the great advice offered thus far.
As I have stated not all of the advice is paying off though e.g. the expensive unaffordable operation. As amazing a fix as that may be, it might as well be offered on Mars, with my salary. But Maz, I thank you all the same. Hope and advice keeps myself and other forums members aware and informed of other possible avenues to look into, and we new members can ask no more.
PeteM...I have recently acquired an inversion table, but have been waiting until my back is up to the heavy assembly task it will involve. Soon - I hope.
I take on board what you say about the jogging and will generally heed your informed advice. I do intend to continue with some short light running - no hills, no real distances - as I have found it helps tremendously in other ways, mentally to strengthen my inner resilience whilst helping me focus against becoming little more then wheelchair bound at the age of 42.
My brother often says to me whenever I plan such fitness challenges, that I must be mad to want to do anything other than rest. Believe me though, I rest whenever and as much as I possible can because of this often debilitating condition. But I also refuse to be beaten by it as well. I was actually a fitness instructor for two years when this first occurred 20 years ago. I thought then that a quick operation with high success rates would be offered and was inevitable. I also thought with the right approach it could heal itself completely, like a skin cut you may pick up in the garden. Unfortunately this simply doesn’t happen with our backs. It takes a lot of research and filtering, to find the best personal approach to your own condition -funding or no funding as it may be the case. The worst aspect (apart from the disabling pain) about this condition and other back problems is the masses of false leads you come across and follow on your own quest to get a resolution. The best move I’ve made recently, is to join this forum.

I will continue with the Pilates, back support, volterol, diclofenix, co-dydramol and diazepam when I have to, but will remain open minded to new possibilities and advice, and I suggest others in my situation do the same.

I will try out my new inversion table shortly and I will keep trying to avoid the things that send me into a relapse. Holidays appear out though as last time I went abroad lifting a suitcase was the catalyst it needed to put me flat on my back in agony again. This condition can truly become a minefield of information that we have to tread very carefully and treat with masses of respect. I will certainly never be taking my back for granted again that’s for sure, and I will stick to my limits when it comes to lifes little tasks, until I hopefully find a practical, affordable permanent fix.

 

[Ihor T]

Hi Powderace

I hope you get your table setup soon. When you do I suggest you start slow, laying with your head below your ankles takes a while to get used to. Most people find they get a 'head rush' when they start using a table and that can be disconcerting. Your body soon adapts though and after a few weeks most find they can invert to their desired angle without discomfort.

My suggestion is to preset the angle of inversion to the lowest setting for a week or two, with a Teeter that is 20 degrees, until you feel comfortable, then going to 40 degrees and 60 degrees. Try and use the table 2 or 3 times a day, specifically just after you wake up and just before you go to bed. Sleeping generally puts the less pressure on the spine than a normal day. So reducing the pressure on the spinal column is just before going to bed can mean the spine receives the maximum amount of pressure relief, together with the natural recuperative processes that occur during sleep.

When your on the table try and relax, breath deep and then 'sigh' to get the maximum muscle relaxation. Aim for spending 3 to 5 min like this. Always return upright slowly so gravity re-applies pressure to your discs gradually.

Hope that is of some help

Pete

 

[aiswieus]

hi,im new here and would like to tell you my story.in April of last year i started with pain in back,which got worse and worse.by july i couldnt move,the doctor sent me for mri scan.to my horror i had 4 prolapsed discs after seeing orthapedic surgeon he told me he could only repair one.i had the op,it took pain from my leg away but i still suffer back pain and numbness in my foot.this numbness causes me to fall over out of the blue.i worked all my life 33yrs and like all the rest of you paid tax and national insurance.in march of this year,my employer royal mail sacked me because of this.for the 1st time in my life i claimed benefits £64 esa allowance.i attended an assesment on march 31st with an atos nurse and scored 6pts.because i never got the 15 required my benefit has stopped,so for 33yrs of paying i now get nothing at all.i have motgage and bills like the rest of you all probably.what has happened to this country,how can a man with 3 prolapsed discs and falls over get another job,who will employ me.i sympathise with all you people who suffer with this condition,and i understand your pain.what baffles me is the surgeon has told me not to work yet an atos nurse says my condition is normal.

 

[Raeddwyrte]

Hi Just read Robbie13's post. Sorry to hear of your troubles Robbie. I like many on this forum will fully understand the pain and discomfort you are in. Frustrations such as what you have discussed do nothing to help us get any better either. I had to drop my own working hours to part time and I have no chance of the employer ever letting me return to full time pay. I am slightly over the 15k threshold which stops me qualifying for any tax breaks and get no additional allowances or income apart from what I earn. Which isn’t much. As I have stated many people must be in a situation where better and more successful treatments are available, but only to those who can find the funding. I had to remortgage my property twice just to keep the roof over my head and pay bills when my wages dropped, and my partner left a few years ago. I now have no equity left to remortgage again for a private operation (that SHOULD be available on the NHS).Most months of the year I have to hobble into work in agony. I have indeed looked into DHS benefits options instead of working as I often ask myself is it worth the pain?. They basically said If I leave the job I will get nothing and its unlikely Id qualify for any other benefits for my back as I can usually walk. I may be able to walk (sometimes) but never without pain and I am severely limited to what I can do on a day to day basis. I had to take my own employer to an industrial tribunal just to get my hours dropped. I won that battle, and at least I was covered by the disability discrimination act to assist my request.
I find it disgraceful that you tried to get the just and rightly deserved benefit rewards for someone in your condition, and this has now been refused. I know of many people who travel abroad frequently, enjoy expensive shopping trips and all on the basis they are depressed or stressed. They get bills, rent and additional allowances to allow them to fund this lifestyle. The likes of you and me struggle to make even ends meet. The system for caring and treating severe back conditions on the NHS has turned me against this institution and big brother bureaucracy.
Sadly, I recently had to watch my father suffer for months with cancer in the NHS and the palliative care was attrocious.Even the normal nurses at the hospital had to be begged for any little extra help such as some dignity to allow him to die in peace without loud noises, smells and visitors for other patients all around him. This shocked me into realizing that many NHS staff have little empathy towards the sick and dying when their own jobs become mundane and coldly automatic. I understand that they cannot become emotionally involved ( I have two nurses as friends) but the coldness towards patients I watched was to my utter horror and sadness that will stay with me forever. I fully understand it’s a very difficult job and not healthcare workers are like this, but if you can’t be sympathetic and have to stay detached to the levels I witnessed - then I’m sorry nurses - but you’re definitely in the wrong job. Leave treating paitients to the nurses who see people as real, feeling individuals, with families -just like you- who deserve constant 24hr respectful care.
I now dread having to be in an NHS hospital in my final months when my own time comes around.
So overall my experiences of the health care systems, doctors, specialists and benefits over the last few years in the UK have been very depressing.
I hope you too find alternative cheaper ways to strengthen up your back like I have had to, and the relapses aren’t too often. The inversion table is my current best hope and as with pain killers, Pilates, back lumbar support, a good posture chair at home and devils claw anti-inflams. Best wishes to you and others in the same situation to get your disability recognized for what it genuinely is.
Powderace

 

[Voltaic]

Powderace,like you i have lost all faith in the system and what it is ment to stand for.I am so sorry to hear of your troubles,and as daft as this sounds,when you read this site its so glad to know your not alone.Is it me or do the docs and specialist make you feel like your imagining the pain or discomfort etc..I only wish they could have one day in our shoes,maybe they would understand better then,how this affects our lives and causes us stress and how the quality of our lives has slipped through no fault of are own.