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chronic back pain following injury-what should I do next?

Posted , 5 users are following.

jessica20990
jessica20990

Hello, I was wondering if anyone could help as I am struggling to achieve any progress with conservative treatments.

I fell off a horse in September 2012 with a small amount of intermittent back pain until May 2013 when I began to experience extreme sciatica to the point where I could barely walk. At the end of June i had an mri scan showing a prolapsed disc at l5s1 touching the s1 nerve root. I was sent to a chronic pain consultant who did a root block and epidural injection. This did help slightly but at the same time I was given 300 my tramadol, 300 gabapentIn, 50mg nortryptiline and 50mg Diclofenac per day. After this I have had hydrotherapy, physio, acupuncture, hypnotherapy and chiropractic treatment. None of these have really had any effect other than themedication but even with this I still have severe back pain although the leg pain has reduced. I had another mri scan done in june 2014 showing facet joint hypertrophy and again the prolapsed disc although slightly bigger touching the s1 nerve root. Today I saw the pain consultant who told me that there is nothing that can be done other than to continue taking all the painkillers for the rest of my life and that I need to get over it and learn to accept it. I disagree in that I cannot live like this for the rest of my life when I am limited to being able to do only the most basic things and I have no quality of life. I am only 23 and was a rider previously and work with horses although I have not ridden since May 2013. I struggle to do much also because of the side effects of the medication but without all of it I am unable to move due to the severe pain.

Would I be a candidate for surgery? I am hoping to find a neurosurgeon to see what they think but I really don't know what to do any more.

Any ideas, suggestions or thoughts would be massively appreciated. Many thanks in advance :-)

2 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • dawnylou68
    dawnylou68 jessica20990

    Posted

    I would say you are definitely a candidate for surgery but I'm not a doctor lols!

    i can't believe he has said that. You need to ask to be referred to a consultant and u will need an MRI which will show what the problem is.

    dont leave it an suffer as it won't get better by the sounds of it and the longer you leave it the worse it gets.

  • dawnylou68
    dawnylou68 jessica20990

    Posted

    Oh I see u had MRI showinh disc poking into nerve same as mine was. They need to shave that off to stop the pushing on the nerve I would think, DISCETOMY .
    • jessica20990
      jessica20990 dawnylou68

      Posted

      Thanks for your comment, I definitely need something done, I also have inflammation in the facet joints causing constant back pain. I have booked an appointment today to see an orthopedic surgeon next week to see what he thinks but I will be going to see several before I make any decisions!!
  • james82082
    james82082 jessica20990

    Posted

    I know the feeling well. I'm on morphine 4 times a day and the doc told me to live with it!!! I'm now waiting to see an orthopedic consultant.
  • TomUK
    TomUK jessica20990

    Posted

    Hi Jessica,

    Just reading what that 'specialist' said makes me so angry! Reminds me of all the doctors and 'specialists' who I saw who said there was nothing wrong with me and painkillers would be enough. That really is shocking and you should complain about him to whatever authorities he is part of.

    Anyway, I would say good on you for searching for a solution. I had back pain for years and tried doctors and physios and 'consultants' and ended up reading loads of books about pain and backs and the body. I then discovered a treatment called Egoscue and I cannot recommened it enough. I haven't had any back pain for 10 years since then. See if you have a local therapist who can help you and don't give up and ignore that idiot 'specialist'.

    Good luck

  • Kimb63
    Kimb63 jessica20990

    Posted

    Hi jessica20990, how are you doing? I hope you have no been to see a Consultant who specialises in Spines whether that's Ortho or Neuro! Having read the list of medications you are on and the dosages, I'm amazed you can function at all wink If you have prolapsed L5 to S1, a micro-disectomy would give you the best relief as it would almost certainly cure the Sciatica. It may be that you require lamination or partial lamination but that's why you need the experience of a specialist. Having had a micro-disectomy of L5/S1 I was basically pain free and, after a gradual reduction in meds, was off everything and back to a 'normal' life. Took a good 6 months for the nerve to regain its sensitivity but I then had ticklish feet again :-D A note of caution for you on the meds......you will have to gradually reduce the dosages of everything but the diclofenac. Whatever you do, don't just stop taking them as it can lead to some very nasty side-effects! I really do sympathise with you and hope you get your life back very soon. Take care and keep us posted!

    Best wishes,

    Kim

  • jessica20990
    jessica20990

    Posted

    Hi everyone, thank you all very much for your replies.  biggrin

    I have now been to see a neurosurgeon and orthopedic surgeon privately, both specialised in spinal conditions and both agreed that I need a microdiscectomy and decompression. So I am now on the waiting list for the surgery but don't have a date yet.They were shocked that I had not been sent to see a specialaist/surgeon by my GP or pain consultant.

    Kimb63 - thank you for your message, my GP even says to me how do you anything on all those drugs!! I actually made a mistake on my original post on the gbapentin, I'm on 3300mg  daily not 300! I have managed to cut down slightly on some of the as the surgeons were concerned about me being on so many.

    I will let you know how I get on with the surgery, I'm praying for a good result! biggrin

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