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2 herniated disc 17 year old female

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elle0
elle0

Hello to whoever is reading, I'm 17 and have been suffering with a herniated disc in the lumbar region for 3 years and had no treatments due to cancellations or going to my appointments and not being able to be seen after waiting for 4 months + for my appointments. over the years it has gotten worse and 6 months ago I was diagnosed with a second herniated disc but don't have an appointment at the hospital until october. Usually I get shooting pains down my legs, sharp pains in my back, tingling in my feet and sometimes my arms. 5 days ago

I fell down the stairs at my home and have been in absolute agony since. I can barely walk. My legs feel and knees feel so weak, stiff, fatigued and painful they feel like they could just snap. The middle of my back is now in just as much pain as my lower and my feet keep going numb and then getting pins and needles after. the sharp pain feels a lot sharper  and i have pains in my legs constantly. I just wanted some advice wether I should just wait for my appointment which is 2 months away or see my gp or go to A&E right away?? I'm asking because i don't want to have to struggle getting there because of the pain if they can't do anything for me and if more damage has been done idk if i should just leave it, ygm? Thank you rob whoever reads this and I hope someone responds. 

1 like, 23 replies

23 Replies

  • gabriella44865
    gabriella44865 elle0

    Posted

    Hi Elle,

    Sorry to hear about your pain. In answer to your A & E question - can you walk and do you have control of your bladder/bowels? If so they will not class you as an emergency and unless you are in want of an emergency MRI there's not really much point as they will probably just send you home with opioids and tell you to wait until your appointment. Who is your appointment with in 2 months time? What treatments have you tried for your condition so far?  

    I have herniated disks at L3, L4 and L5 and also have all the symptoms you describe. I do a few exercises at home each day but i can't walk far or stand for long. I've given up a lot of things and have my second appointment at the pain clinic in October. 

    • elle0
      elle0 gabriella44865

      Posted

      Hi Gabriella, sorry to hear that you are going through the same, i really hope things are sorted for you soon. I was supposed to have physio therapy at first in the beginning of 2016 but every time I went there was always a problem as to why I couldn't have it. That is the only treatment. I'm currently under a spinal surgeon and am waiting to receive an epidural injection as they don't think surgery is a good idea because I am so young. I haven't lost control in my bladder or bowel but I can relate when you said that you can't stand nor walk for long. I can walk, it just hurts a lot to do so. I have also had to give up many things, even going to college And pretty much my social life. I try to get out as much as possible but it's so hard. I'm not even sure what specific discs mine are as I have never been told. I'm constantly just waiting for appointments that have no outcomes whilst the pain gets worse. Thank you so much for replying. I hope u feel better soon! 

  • gabriella44865
    gabriella44865 elle0

    Posted

    Hi Elle,

    Well I know I'm not as young as you so maybe should count myself lucky but my pain started when I was 27 and i know how it feels to have no social life. I also see all my friends around me getting married and having kids and I know that I have won't be able to do those things due to my back. Definitely persist with the Physio and try and get at least 6 sessions out of the nhs as it will help. The injection is worth a try but it's only temporary relief. Surgery is always a last resort as scar tissue can cause pain in itself, the surgery isn't always successful and sometimes it can cause paralysis and such like. Also the chances of another disk prolapsing are also increased after surgery so you are right to be cautious. I find yoga helps as does massage. If you need anymore advice just ask :-) 

    • elle0
      elle0 gabriella44865

      Posted

      Thank you Gabrielle! It means a lot that someone took their time out to reply, I'll definitely use your advice smile

    • elle0
      elle0

      Posted

      Sorry! I put Gabrielle instead of Gabriella! My bad 
    • Carolineq8
      Carolineq8 elle0

      Posted

      Hi Elleo sorry to hear your struggling your so young, I have suffered 14 years so i know, I would see your GP just so he can make sure it's nothing urgent. the injections help me so there worth a try and if they work then physio will be easier and help you build core strength, maybe see a chiropractor mine does wanders, Pilates and swimming but don't over do it to start, if you can avoid surgery while your so young and try everything else first, good luck Hun and let us know how you get on😊

    • elle0
      elle0 Carolineq8

      Posted

      Hi Caroline, I'm so sorry that you have been going through this for so long! You are so brave! Thank you for your advice and I will definitely keep you updated! smile 

    • elle0
      elle0 Carolineq8

      Posted

      Hi Caroline! I dont know if u actually wanted an update when u said keep us updated but I went to my gp today and she gave me amitriptyline tablets to see if they can help with the pain until my appointment in Octobersmile 
    • Carolineq8
      Carolineq8 elle0

      Posted

      Hi elle0, sorry I havnt got back to you, how are you doing on the meds? Im glad they've gave you something to help until your app, I hope your doing better Hun and yes keep us updated on your progress.

      Iv just had faucet joint injections over a week ago and they felt great at first but short lived I'm afraid and back struggling to walk, I was told last week by my surgeon that one of the screws in my fusion might be loose and that it probably always has been 😫 so there sending me for a ct scan, Iv been in pain from the onset and it looks like the fusion has never took but it's took 14 years for them to tell me 😡 Never mind onwards and upwards, keep your chin up Hun and hopefully you will be sorted soon 😊

    • elle0
      elle0 Carolineq8

      Posted

      Hi Caroline! Disappointingly, they haven't helped at all 😣 14 years to tell you that is truly out of order and unacceptable,  They haven't even told me which discs of mine are herniated, just that they are in the lumbar region so I kind of know what you're going through, although I've only been waiting 3 years.  I really hope you get sorted  and hope you are able to walk properly again soon. Let me know how your CT goes! I'm sorry you have to go through all of this pain sad 

    • Carolineq8
      Carolineq8 elle0

      Posted

      It will probably be l4-5 as theses are the ones that get worn out first xx
  • Yukonjak
    Yukonjak elle0

    Posted

    I'm not a Doctor, so take my suggestions with a grain of salt, and absolve me from any liability!  I suspect that you may reside in the UK, rather than here in the USA.  Therefore, my suggestion is based on our crazy health insurance system that looks like it may be headed towards the single-payer/socialized medicine that is used in the UK, Canada, etc..  It sounds like the delay in getting the attention you need is thanks to rationing of healthcare under socialized medicine.

    ?Having to wait months to be seen by a Doctor, given your pain level, is not acceptable.  Therefore, my suggestion would be to go to the nearest Emergency Room at a hospital, to be examined by an ER Doctor.  That Doc will then refer you to a Neurologist or Neurosurgeon who may be able to  help you.  By being referred from an ER Doctor, they can typically get you in to see either of the Specialists much more quickly than if you try to make an appointment by yourself.

    ?It sounds like you have stenosis and sciatica, along with possible diic compression, but remember this "diagnosis" is from an Engineer; not a Doctor!  I hope this suggestion brings you relief sooner than a few months.  Although it is risky surgery, I've found spinal surgery to be much easier to recuperate from than other types I've had (knee and hip replacements).

    • elle0
      elle0 Yukonjak

      Posted

      Thank you for your advice! I also agree that it is totally unacceptable, almost every treatment plan I've been given has been cancelled before Ive even had one session! I will go and get checked out just incase it is something serious, thank you so much for replying to my I really needed the help as I was so unsure what to do. 

  • elle0
    elle0

    Posted

    hi everyone, its me again. im in need of some advice once again, since i don't know what else i can do and cant talk to anyone i know about this because they dont really get it. i was just wondering if anyone knows if this could be because of my herniated disc' - i have recently been experiencing awful neck pain into my upper and middle of my back, sometimes it goes into my shoulder blades and other times it shoots right down my spine. also, when i try walking the whole of my back and my legs hurt very much and it feels like something is popping in and out of place. i have been experiencing very painful spasms in the middle of my back and in my legs. does anyone know what this could be? i just need some advice, thanks to whoever reads this and reaches back out to me.

    • Carolineq8
      Carolineq8 elle0

      Posted

      Aw elle0 you need  to go back to your GP, it could be that your back is under a lot of stress so it's going into spasm, they say when you start with one problem spinal area it can be like a domino effect however once they sort your lower back then hopefully everything else will settle down, your posture is probably out which will add to the stress and discomfort, try some ice packs 20mins on 20 mins off, not long for your appointment, I hope they get you sorted.

      I would just like to say that if bulging discs are not compressing your spinal cord or irritating nerves then please push for alternative treatments and don't rush into surgery until you've tried everything first, this can take time tho so patience is needed, my husband was involved in a car accident and it took him 2 years to recover with relentless physio and chiro treatments but he's back to work, he has the odd twinge but at 53 I think he's doing well, let us know how you go 😊

    • elle0
      elle0 Carolineq8

      Posted

      Thanks Caroline smile, I’m due to have an epidural soon but when they made the appointment for that (which is on Monday, finally) it was only the pain in one leg, this was even before I fell down the stairs before I first posted on this forum, I’m not sure whether I should ask for any more tests to be carried out to see if anything has changed or to just go through with the epidural, thank you for replying to me 😊

    • Carolineq8
      Carolineq8 elle0

      Posted

      Have the epidural but also mention what has happened since, see how you go you never know the epidural may work wanders, I really hope it does but keep a diary in the mean time it's amazing what we forget😊

    • elle0
      elle0

      Posted

      Hi! smile I thought I’d update since it’s been 2 months and you asked to keep a diary! so they never gave me the epidural injection. They sent me for another MRI and now they are only sending me back to the pain clinic whenever I receive  the appointment which could be months.  I just feel like I’ve been messed about for 4 years. The NHS is truly tragic. Idk how I will be able to do physiotherapy because I can barely walk but yeah that’s my updatesmile how’s your back?
    • Carolineq8
      Carolineq8 elle0

      Posted

      Ah Elle that's awful, I can't believe they've done that to you, so what are you doing for pain relief?

      I totally understand about the physio as well, Iv never done anything for so long because the pain is so bad or it flares it up 😡😡

      My backs not so good, still feels like it's going to collapse if I try to walk, the pains like bone on bone grinding, that's the only way to describe it. I have been on Celebrex for about 5 days and it did help at first but back to normal now. 

      I don't know if I mentioned but have you tried chiropractic treatment, sorry if I have but brain fog is taking over at the mo😂

       

    • elle0
      elle0 Carolineq8

      Posted

      I’m on nerve pain tablets at the minute, but they don’t help at all. I feel a bit helpless tbh lol. Also I understand, my backs been feeling totally unsupported as well like it could just snap and it’s so weird it’s like I feel a bone popping in and out of place when I walk too. Also, I’ve never tried chiropractic treatment, I haven’t received any treatment over the years I’ve just been back and forth and on different pain medication that doesn’t really work. I keep getting like cold burning sensations in my feet and legs too but they aren’t cold to the touch, have u ever heard of that??? Also I’m sorry you’re in pain, it really is horrible, I hope your medication starts to work again x
    • Carolineq8
      Carolineq8 elle0

      Posted

      The cold burning is nerve pain, have you tried gabapentin or pregabalin? You could also try a back brace, I got one from Lidl and it's really good, the same one on A....n is a lot dearer, check with your doc first because they can make your muscles weak if over used. If you do try chiropractic treatment then make sure it's a good one, acupuncture is also good. 

      Also supplements might help, you could try B vitamins, magnesium, vit d3....but again check with your doc first😊

    • elle0
      elle0 Carolineq8

      Posted

      I’ve had gabapentin but they didn’t do anything also ok thanks Caroline I’ll try and get an appointment with my gp to ask ☺️
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