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And so it continues.....

Posted , 8 users are following.

james82082
james82082

so today I saw the consultant, sad

what a let down! 

The guy went through what happened first, then asked me some questions about the pain etc and got me to walk, tip toes, etc etc. 

then em said he won't operate. Instead will give me a root nerve injection. sad!!!! I'm totally terrified of needles and the thought of this is driving me mad sad

my my fiancée who was with me didn't like him too much and neither did I. He didn't seem like he was on this planet!

he kept asking me questions I couldn't answer. The pain killers mask virtually all my pain. The only pain I get is in my back and if I try to come down a dose, I get horrendous pain in my leg down to my heel and back. His attitude was, your obviously not in that much pain today so we won't even think about an operation! 

He was reading a letter from the pain clinic doctor who said I'm not a suitable candidate for an operation, yet the Orthopedic specialist I saw said I need an operation without a shadow of a doubt!

i have a friend who has had an l5s1 fusion, and he said don't have the nerve root injection. Someone who had one at the same time of him hasn't walked properly ever again. 

So if I don't do the nerve root, can I take anti inflamatories instead? He said he wants to do it as a diagnosis. 

0 likes, 39 replies

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  • debbie1971
    debbie1971 james82082

    Posted

    Hi James

    My neurosurgeon said that if he gave me the injection Id have temporary relief for a few weeks and would be back to square one, mine was L5/S1, I had surgery 12 days ago and am completely pain free at the moment.

    If I was you I'd ask for a second opinion he sounds like a right pillock.

    Good luck hope you get the answers you need

    • james82082
      james82082 debbie1971

      Posted

      So did you have the injections? Or did they go straight for the operation? 

      Did id you have to protest to get the operation?

    • debbie1971
      debbie1971 james82082

      Posted

      My neurosurgeon said the injections wouldn't cure it and he would prefer to operate, so no I didn't have injections or physio went straight for surgery. Neurosurgeon said if I had the injections Id be sat in front of him again within 3 weeks, the choice was mine and I chose surgery, I like you wanted to get my life back, I've been off sick since January and been in pain since last June, I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel, my staples came out today and I feel great. Good luck, keep your chin up and keep badgering them until you get the option you want x
    • james82082
      james82082 debbie1971

      Posted

      That is precisely my thought! It's been two years nearly and I want a cure, not another test so he can play with me! 

      Im going to see my GP on Tuesday and raise my concerns and get her opinion. I will see if she can get me back to the Orthopedic specialist, maybe he can write a strong letter?

    • keith94082
      keith94082 debbie1971

      Posted

      Wish I was pain free I still get the pain I have mobility issues. I had complete compression of all 5he nerves to my lower half I tried to get back to normal but my bottom half shut down I have a colostomy and urstomy stomas had 6 major operation since not on my back that can't be touch . All this because they did not act in the 1st 48 hours. It all could have been avoid. I have established Cauda equine. With extreme nerve damage to my lower half. Every day is pain pain pain. I take a lot of strong pain tablet. My neurological surgeon at kings in London says the operation was to relieve the compression. Not to cure me. I am glad ur pain free.
    • debbie1971
      debbie1971 keith94082

      Posted

      Oh my goodness really sounds like you've been and are going through the wringer, I hope you get some relief soon x
  • Nutters
    Nutters james82082

    Posted

    From my experience the doctors do all they can to avoid the risk of an operation and injections are the next step after physiotherapy/painkillers etc.  I had a round of steroid injections - they only worked for a few days.  I'm now going in for some radio frequency injections which have a higher percentage of success - not a permanent fixture - but happy to avoid an op at all costs.  The injections are really not that bad - they can sedate you.  I don't think taking anti-inflammatories on a long term basis is a good thing.  I really hope you find relief soon
    • james82082
      james82082 Nutters

      Posted

      I just want a permanent fixture, I'm getting married next year, and I want my life back so I can start my new one!

      the specialist told me I must have an operation as he found a bulge coming out towards my spinal cord aswell as root nerve impingment

  • laura49003
    laura49003 james82082

    Posted

    Oh no i just typed a massive response to your James i don't think it saved! 

    I had nerve root blockers as well as 2 other injections one being SI joint injection and facet joint injection.the ones that gave me relief were nerve root dont discount them ok these surgeons in my experience try all this conservative treatment first. I ended up having a spinal fusion 11 weeks ago 

    I am doing well indeed. 

    • james82082
      james82082 laura49003

      Posted

      That's my point though, I've been told by a specialist I needed a disectomy. So why waste time trying an injection that won't fix me? I'm in a huge dose of morphine so I won't even know if the spinal injection works or not!
  • laura49003
    laura49003 james82082

    Posted

    Hi James, in my experience they try to eliminate where the pain is coming from exactly. I've had 2 years of pain with 4 injections then micro discectomy then major surgery spinal fusion. 

    They want to calm the nerve that is being pressed on with the disc bulge in my opinion if the injection gives you some temporary relief then consider it. 

    • james82082
      james82082 laura49003

      Posted

      I get relief from the pain killers. But I want permanent relief, not to be a drug addict for the rest of my life! 

      As I see it and have been told, the only way that pain is going to go is if someone physically removes the disc or piece of disc which is pressing on the nerve! sad

       

    • debbie1971
      debbie1971 james82082

      Posted

      I agree with you James, taking drugs long term is not the answer,

      I know some people are wary of being operated on but mine was the exact same problem as yours and I'm so pleased I had the surgery, it's been 2 weeks now since I had a disc removed and apart from a bit of bruising and swelling I've got no pain in my back or leg, the pins and needles have gone, the numbness has gone. I've been told the surgeon I had is one of the best in the country and I'm truly thankful for that.

      If you want surgery push for it, at the end of the day you need your life back. Good luck on Thursday x

    • drinxs
      drinxs debbie1971

      Posted

      Hi Debbie,

      Are you able to share the name of your Surgeon?

    • debbie1971
      debbie1971 drinxs

      Posted

      Hi

      It's Mr G O'Reilly, he works at Hull Royal, Castle Hill and The Spire all based in Hull, I had mine done at The Spire on the NHS although it is a private hospital.

      Really nice chap too, very pleasant and easy to talk to, not pompous at all like some surgeons.

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