Archive for Experience of Prolapsed Disc from 2005

i had an accident on a trampoline back in the 80's, i used to be a fittness trainer but the accident finished me and have had a bad back ever since. over the years i got progressively worse and i am now regd disabled for over 7 yrs now, my house is adappted for me with stairlift, shower, etc. when it was confirmed that i would never do any sports again i broke down. i also have arthritis and have severe pain most every day which is very depressing, but still i put up with the pain and hold back the tears so no one knows how much im in pain, but would like some tips on exercising my back to make me more mobile as i have a 4yr old son who wants me to play and i can't cos i'm so stiff. can anyone help?

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i am a 35 year old female who had part of l5 removed 6 years ago. i was unfortunate enough to be left with cauda equine syndrome and numbness down my left side. my disc had slipped but burst in the end so i had to have emergency surgery or i would have been paralysed.it was a very difficult time in my life as i had a 2 year old child who i could not look after and relied on my wonderful partner to do eveything for us. i have managed to live with this since then although a year ago my right side got attacked again with bad sciatica. i went to a different consultant and we argued because he said it was just mechanical but i knew different as i had been down that road before. he said my mri scan did not show anything but i still disagreed as i had been taken to hospital in an ambulance on three occasions as i could not physicaly walk and was in exteme pain even with diazipan tramadol and mobic!!! i managed to get a second opinion and guess what i have got a bulging disc after all!!! they said it is too risky to operate a second time as i would suffer more cauda equine syndrome so i will have to be really careful in every move i make from now on. i dont mean to scare anyone out there my point here is the patient knows better than any doctor as they are living the pain. i felt really insulted with my consultant as i attended spinal injuries for 2 years and the people educated me really well, and of course these people are the EXPERTS not orthopedic doctors. i cant work now but u have to get used to it or u will get depressed i look at life as i am the lucky one as i am still walking although when i am bad i am on the floor for weeks or walking with the stick again. i am waiting on a reply from the complaints dept at the hospital as i think my so called consultant owes me an explanation as to how he misdiagnosed me ? to everone out there never give up as there is always someone worse off than you.

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I have just been diagnosed with a "free floating fragment of disc" This is when a chunk of the disc breaks off and seperates from the disc. It then presses on the spinal cord causing pain, numbness and weakness.

The pain while evident, is manageable with rest. the numbness is moderate. It feels like my entire right leg is inflated and very heavy. The weakness is the big problem. I can walk, sit, stand and climb stairs but have significantly reduced strength in my big toe and ankle and calf which really effect my balance. I am 58 years old my husband and I just retired to AZ to a tennis/golf community!! the entire social life revolves around those two sports.

This happend 10 days ago. The MRI was read 2 days ago and the neurosurgeon will see me in 5 days to determine if I am, stable, or getting weaker. If the later he will operate.

I'm new to this problem and want to know of anyone who has had a fragment like mine pressing on to the spinal cord and causing these problems. What are the risks/results of the operation? what are the risks/results of physical therpay. It sounds selfish and petty but the ability to play tennis in some fashion in the future without constanlty falling over (doing anything for that matter that envoles my right leg )is very important to me. SHould I get a second opinion? how long can I give PT a try and acupuncture a try and every other alternative treatment a try before I resort to surgery. What about the scar tissue that may build up after surgery? Thanks to all.

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I totally agree with all the comments posted that back pain, especially one caused by a prolapsed disk is everyone's worst nightmare! I am 24 year old woman suffering from lower back pain for a year.Initially my GP did not take it seriously at all and thought it was a muscle spasm.I couldn't walk for weeks. Then it got better and I soon forgot about it.Although I had constant pain in the leg it was bearable so i continued to work. Eventually it got me and now I have been unable to walk for 3 months.Once the pain got severe I pressurised my GP in referring me to an Orthopaedic surgeon and he did his utmost best. So now, i've had an MRI scan and it showed a bulging disk and the consultant has recommended surgery. I am hoping to avoid it but i think it is not possible so i will go ahead despite the risks.I must admit i have been depressed on occasions becasue i am dependant on others. None of the painkillers, except Ibuprofen, worked for me. My advice to all those with any sort of back pain is to treat it seriously and see an orthopaedic surgeon ASAP. Osteopathy did not work for me. I did try Homeopathy and i think it helped the pain; better than the prescribed painkillers. Maybe worth a try. I have found this site very useful and advise everyone to stay positive no matter what life brings!!

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I have found this site to be really useful. I was diagnosed with disc prolapse between L4/5 2 months ago. This was caused by a car accident almost two years ago, and i have been suffering lower back pain since then. 8 months after the accident the insurers offered me £1500. My solicitor told me this was a fair offer for an injury lasting less than a year. I refused it saying i was still suffering an requiring osteopathy to enable me to function. it has taken this long to get the MRI scan done and the diagnosis confirmed. Am i glad i didn't settle! 'an injury lasting less than a year'! I don't think so, seems like i'm gonna be stuck with this for good unless i opt for surgery and all the risks that carries. don't listen to your doctors or solicitors when they say it's just back ache... listen to your back!

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I have just read the comments from the others on this site and I know how they feel. I have been suffering with back pain for 16 yrs, it started in 1990 when I was pregnant with my second child, I had physio which helped for a while. Over the years my pain has been up and down, I have had about 3 lots of physio, ultrasound, tens machine, wheat cushion hot, pain killers, acupuncture, and loads of back exercises. Finally this year I have had a MRI scan and it came back with prolapsed disc. Over the years this pain has made me very depressed and I have been on tablets on and off for this as well. I am now waiting for injections into the spine to see if that helps I live in hope, as I can not spend the rest of my life in this pain.

my advice to all of you in pain don't give up we are all in this together we can beat it, and come out smiling in the end. I send love and healing to all of you. :D:lol:

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I suffered a prolasped disc 5 years ago. I too have an office based job. However,as a Solicitor specialising in personal injury and clinincal negligence work I asked my GP to refer me to a Consultant I knew. The quality of Consultants varies widely just as there are excellent, good and the bad in every profession. I think this made a huge difference. I was eventually given the choice of intensive physiotherapy or an operation. I chose the physiotherapy and was initially having sessions up to 4 times a week and after 4 months I was back to normal. On discharge I was given a programme of light gym and weight work and which I had to do to strengthen my back. Since then I have had a few minor relapses (usually when I have not been doing the exercises)but no major problems and in total I have had 3 days off sick with back pain over the last 4 years. I thank my Consultant and especially my Physiotherapist. I was also fortunate to have private health insurance, which meant treatment commenced in days and not months under the NHS.

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I have had a prolapsed disc and sciatica for 1year now after injuring myself at work.I have seen 8 specialists, 4 doctors, had numerous treatments, and been on a ton of different painkillers. My pain ranges from bad, to severe and chronic. I would never wish this pain on my worst enemy. There is no easy answer to this daily pain, and it affects your whole life.

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Hello there

I too have a floating free disc fragment, sustained during a work accident. This is a very rare condition, particularly if its in the thoracic area as mine is. It took 5 years to get mine diagnosed and the treatment ive received is minimal and mainly drugs to control pain. An operation is too risky to do as it may cause paralysis.

Ive learned to live with it, I cant lift heavy objects, play sport or anything physical im registered disabled. Not much fun for someone so active before.

Im not sure if yours is lumbar or thoracic but you stand a better chance of successful treatment if its lumbar.

Good luck

Kim

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IM SO GLAD I HAVE FOUND THIS SITE. I HAD AN ACCIDENT AT WORK (LIFTING A HEAVY OBJECT) NO ONE UNDERSTOOD WHAT PAIN I WAS IN, THEY ALL THOUGHT I PULLED A MUSCLE IN MY NECK (I KNEW DIFFERENT) AFTER 2 WEEKS AND LOSING HALF A STONE I WAS ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL, I WAS AGAIN TREATED FOR A PULLED MUSCLE FOR 12 DAYS, ON THE 13TH DAY I GOT A MRI SCAN (ONLY BECAUSE I CREATED I NEEDED TO GET ONE, AS I WAS TOLD I WOULD GET ONE THAT DAY AND THEN WAS TOLD I COULDNT AS THERE WAS EMERGENCY APPOINTMENTS BEFORE ME) SURE ENOUGH IT SHOWED I HAVE 2 PROLAPSED DISCS. IM OFF WORK AND LIKELY TO BE FOR A WHILE. I TRIED PHYSIO FOR A FEW WEEKS (NO HELP AT ALL) SO I WAS REFFERED TO NEWCASTLE, I HAVE SINCE SEEN A SURGEON THERE AND AM AWAITING SURGERY, IM REALLY FRIGHTENED. IM A 30 YEAR OLD MOTHER OF 2 WHO LIKES TO LIVE LIFE TO THE MAX :cheers:, THIS HAS HAD TO STOP AS WELL, ANYHOW IM HAVING A WORD WITH A SOLICITOR AT THE MOMENT :D , THINGS LOOKING OK I HOPE (IF I CAN GET INSURANCE) ANYHOW I SHALL LET YOUS ALL KNOW HOW I GET ON, P.S IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO LET ME KNOW HOW THEY HAVE GOT ON AFTER SURGERY I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW , THANX LIZ XXX

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Hello. I, too, have just had a lumbar MRI that revealed a free floating fragment that is impinging on a nerve in the L 4-5 area. I had it done because I've been experiencing weakness in my right leg and my gait and ability to exercise — I, too, love to run and play tennis — have been compromised. I'm 63 years old and don't know how long I've had this condition; it just became acute in the past six weeks or so.

My chiropractor and my personal trainer both said immediately, "Have the surgery done." My chiropractor actually had the same condition and was operated on 15 years ago. He says that he regained a normal life after the surgery. The personal trainer has had a number of clients who have had success with this type of surgery.

I'm going to investigate further and talk to at least two surgeons before deciding to go ahead, but based on what I've heard, I think I'll probably opt for the surgery. I just can't see having my physical activity impaired for the rest of my life, especially as the knowledgeable people I've talked to have said that this type of surgery has become quite routine and success rates are very high.

I'll keep you posted as to what I find out.

Best,

Greg Lewis

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i had a prolapsed disc l5 operated on in feb 2004 as it was pressing on a nerve. that went really well but in jan 2005 i had a re-do op as the same thing happened again. since that op i have been in great pain cos of scarring tissue. i am now unable to work and my whole life is ruined. i cant work, ride my motorbike, walk fast, run or do anything i used to be able to do. i am 34 and feel like my life is over. painkillers are ineffective, i have had many more mri scans and tests, my consultant says he can do no more for me and that i have to "DEAL WITH IT" . i also have had nerve block with has not helped. apart from being amputated from the waist down, nobody it seems can help me. in my eyes thay messed me up so they should fix me. any ideas anyone ?

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Hi Liz, I'm a 34yr old mother of 3 and three months ago had surgery on a prolapse disc l5/s1 after lying in hospital for 4weeks in severe pain. I feel the surgery has given me my life back as i couldn't do anything for myself. Of course i'm still recovering but the early signs are good, i would recommend surgery as it worked for me and i really hope it does for you to. thanks mandy

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hi if this makes sense to you my results were.....very significant disc prolapse at the c4/5 level on the left side, i need a anterior cervical discectomy and fusion arrggggggggghhhhh !!!!! im no wiser what this means though im very glad you left your reply this does help me feel much better thanks again liz:ok:

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L5 S1 prolapse in jan 2005 presented as a spasm in lower spine,Doctor gave AIDs and painkillers, paid for my own MRI after a pointless back scjool on NHS and sciaica down left leg to foot.

Saw NHS consultant in April 2005 who said that he would not operate, thought that such discs shrink and improve over time. Booked me for a disc injection which i managed to get brought forward to June as I was in increasing pain.Had multiple injections as sciatica had moved to my right leg. The injection resulted in my upper and middle back going into spasms and i felt for months as if i had been beaten up, neck was stiff ribs hurt arms hurt couldnt sit for more thn 5 minutes.

Anti depressants--couldnt get on with them.Tamazepan--horrible, nearly became dependant, taking it gave me 4 hours of dead sleep.

There is more , I will come back.Another injection end of this month that i dont know whether i shoulld have or not.

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