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Back pain...my nightmare so far. My back pain started in...

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Guest
Guest

Back pain...my nightmare so far.

My back pain started in aug 2004 when after a slow non eventful night shift at work i went home to bed and after having a couple of hours sleep i awoke to find that i could not turn over in bed(nor get out of it)I was 28 at the time and had never had a problem with my back nor could think of a reason why i was in so much pain.i called my partner from work and he had to come home,get me changed and carry my to the car to take me to the on call doctor.i got prescribed some diazepam and got told to see my GP the next day.this was the start of my living nightmare.i had in total 4 months off work with the most excrutiating pain you can imagine and just constantly being prescribed painkillers like they was going out of fashion.my GP was not very helpful neither was the the first physio that i saw. slowly i returned to work still in constant pain everyday yet managing with painkillers(to a degree)i changed my GP due to feeling like i was getting nowhere FAST!!my new GP has referred me to a specialist and further physio,i so far have had most painkillers going on the market yet i am unable to take a lot of them and function during the day to work or without feeling sick and dizzy.i have had an xray,MRI scan(which showed S1/S2 AND L5 had prolapsed)prolatherapy,epidurals,acupuncture,traction etc all treatment so far has failed to take away any of the pain and my back has spasmed 4 times in the 2 years so far.my specialist now states that i am not bad enough for an operation.i would like him to live with the constant pain and sciatica and then tell me that! i now feel like i am going to have to put up with the little quality of life i now have left.my only slight relief is a TENS machine.I hope people have more success than me as it makes you depressed/suicidal at times to a degree people do not realise unless they have experienced it themselves and realise just how debilitating it really is.good luck to everyone though!!!

[i:e650e120a9]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:e650e120a9]

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Seek a second opinion with another specialist if you can.I was in pain for 12months and like you took over 80 pills a week and took every pain killer around. Only surgery has helped me with my L4/L5 prolapse,i had a discectomy. Good luck and dont give up.Lisa

    [i:2536bebb38]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:2536bebb38]

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    it saddens me and makes me angry to hear of yet another person living on painkillers and in server pain my opinion is seek a second opinion to be told you are not bad enough to warrent an operation is outragous as pain is very difficult thing to assess as our dr cannt feel your pain and no one should have to put up with being in constent pain i hope you find suitable treatment quickly and can begin to enjoy pain free days:ok:

    [i:e098093153]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:e098093153]

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    thanks for your comments, well things have changed since i wrote my comments (no17).On 3/2/07 (MY BIRTHDAY)my back spasmed (again)called dr out who gave me a shot of tramadol,opiate patches and diazepam. told me if it gets any worse to call an ambulance,hence 12 hours later i was screaming in pain and had no choice but to call one. they gave me morphine etc to get me downstairs and i spent the day in hospital throwing up with the amount of drugs etc. they then referred me to see the consultant on the monday,he then referred me for ANOTHER mri scan which showed that my prolapsed disc s1/s2 had enlarged.He has sent me a letter on the 14/02/07 to say that i am being referred to a surgeon (yippie) My pain has changed my left leg,hip,feet and bum are all numb with cramp pain and i am on crutches(again)yet more time off work have only been back 3 months since last prolapse,hopefully i'll be operated on if i'd have known that you get to see the surgeon from one trip to the hospital i'd have gone years ago rather than be fobbed off by my specialist that i was not bad enough to see one!!will keep this site updated as to my progress but fingers crossed that he isnt one of these not so keen dr's to operate.have been told it would need a fusion 0n my back and that there is a risk of paralysis (at this moment due to amount of pain i would still do it even if that was the outcome)anyway sorry to be miserable(again) but it gives me hope reading other peoples stories and my friends/family are i'm sure sick of me talking about it but as you all know it takes over your life especially when you think that your stuck with it for life!thankyou and good luck to people suffering:ok:

    [i:c7eee832e5]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:c7eee832e5]

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    I have had two fusions and I am totaly aware of the pain that you are in and feel SO much for you. It's extremely difficult to put into words the intensity of the pain. The nearest I can get is to say it's like raging toothache in your buttock and leg. There's no escape either and no position that offers relief. Like you, I had to endure months of bloody useless painkillers and that head****ing Diazapam. Only when my bowels and bladder packed up and I was rushed into hospital did a surgeon finally take a look. After a mylogram and a scan it was discovered that my discs had completely collapsed and were trapping the sciatic nerve BIG time. I know what it's like my friend and the sooner you get looked at by a consultant the better. My post operative condition is like having a new life. It's THAT good. Good luck to you, and I mean that so very much.
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    i have just read your letter and i am interested to know what you was like after your milogram and did it have any effect afterwards i am wai ting to have this procedure done and i have been told it is'nt very pleasant bad headache blurred vision etc i would appreciate some feed back from you glad things worked out well for you Pat
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    [color=red:4cf3e34cc5][/color:4cf3e34cc5] :x :x :x :x :x :x

    I am in consideralbe pain with my back all the time it all started with a car accident in 0ctober 2006 leaving me with a prolapse to disc l4/l5 pressing on root nerves no operation offered as they have said it is to dangerous. I am unable to do anything i have been off work since the accident i have continuous pain in my leg and i just cry sometimes when i am on my own i have to put a brave face on for my small children as it is not there fault but i am really fed up, i was referred for a epidural which i had no help accupuncture, hydotherapy, i have just been referred back for physio as i am now dragging my leg as it is so numb. I have been on endless painkillers and diazepam. Emergency Doctors coming out giving me Morphine and threatening to take me into hospital but I cant do that to my children as they have just lost there Nan after her being is hospital and they are scared of hospital. I am now on 8 tramadol a day 3 diclofenac 8 paracetamol and 150mg amitriptyllin to make me sleep, that is a laugh i have had one nights sleep since the accident. Has anyone any ideas [b:4cf3e34cc5]I WANT MY LIFE BACK[/b:4cf3e34cc5][b:4cf3e34cc5][/b:4cf3e34cc5]

  • gail
    gail

    Posted

    hi kelsey

    i do feel for you , it must be terrible especally with little ones, i cannot offer any advise regarding the back issue as mine are in the neck, but you,ve come to the right place in regard support and understanding, hopfully you will pick up some hints and tips from the post here as there are a lot of people in the same position as yourself (i know sometimes you think you are the only person going through it) and they may be able to offer some advise.take caregail

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