Pins and needles

Hi 'No Regrets' Russ

That's great that things have gone so well, hope they continue to do so. And yes, our other halves do see the worst side of us don't they :lol: and the best too :wink:

Hope you enjoyed your spag bol and are relaxing in front of the TV or even better, fast alseep dreaming of climbing mountains :D

Take care, really hope this works and you don't need another injection :D

Love

Jude xxx

basicaly i'm at the young age of 21 and about 7-8months ago i began having severe shooting pains in my left buttock. soon after they progressed to the same pain with an added dull ache down my left leg to the ankle. i ignored it for weeks thinking it would just go away, but it didn't. i could hardly sleep, found it hard to straighten up while standing anf couldn't sit for more than 5mins without moving. i went to the doctor and she said it was probabely sciatica and for me to just take painkillers and keep active. the painkillers did not work and at one point i was taking 1500mg of my medication in single doses in hope of relief. eventually i was referred to a physio after nagging my doctor and he diagnosed prolapsed disc and said just do stretches as a scan was out of the question (3 year wait in swansea area!!!) i changed doctors and now have been referred for an mri scan, hopefully within a couple of months. i just wanted to share my expereance with you all as i have read all posts with great sympathy and understanding. And also used your comments as inspiration as not to let the NHS dismiss there being a real problem! thanx. gareth from swansea

ps sorry about my spelling and grammar!!!!! rushed it a bit!!!

Hi,

Can anyone give me some advice as what to do? Had Mri scan in December that showed disc bulges at L3/4 and L4/5, also at L5/S1 in moderate broad-based posterior disc protrusion. Went to see an NHS neurosurgeon on Feb 14th to be told to carry on with painkillers and exercise!! I have had lower back pain now for 6 months and now have chronic left leg pain after walking for 10mins, which I explained to him but his reply was I will get better and he does not believe I'm getting any worse. At the moment I am still able to work but have a sit down computer based job. Have read various websites that say you should improve after 6-8 weeks and if not then they should be advising what to do about the pain and not sending me away to do what I've done for the last 6 months!. I'm worried that this is not improving and do I have to get to the stage where I can't pee before they will do anything about it.......Is it the general feeling that if I paid privately to have surgery would they do it???

So far my job has accomodated me and let me walk around so I don't sit down for too long but it is going to get to the stage where they want me to progress and that involves sitting down with customers for what could be up to 4 hours. I feel this is taking over my whole life and have been left on occasions unable to walk with the pain. I feel for everyone on this site as some of you seem to be alot worse than me.....why do they wait for it to get so bad they have to give you surgery and then the damage is already done???? Any advice would greatly be appreciated xx :D

Poor you, your really not having much help from your hospital, what can i say if you ask to go private they will jump to attention a willingly take your money off you, you shouldn't have to , have you seen your gp can he/she help with the hospital, they sent you for mri its showing prolapse discs they should be offering something.What meds are you on at the moment if the meds aren't controlling the pain adequatly (sorry about spelling)then maybe your gp could change them to something else it sounds like your in a job that doesn't help (sitting down for long periods etc) are your employers okay with you, will they let you move around when you need to, can they offer you a better chair with more back support have you tried some kind of back support drs dont really like them but stuff the drs if it helps take some pressure off then so be it.

Keep on at your gp to try and get the hospital to do more the more you pester them the more likely they will do something if only to shut you up .lol.Keep intouch let us know how thing progress xxx Julie

hi guys

i am posting from hospital. yes, its jessica. but guess what? i became so bad over weekend i went to A&E and oh!!! i have 2 different prolapsed discs, permanently lost bowls and yet again told could end up paralysed. i have big op 2morrow. not allowed up etc. let u know properly whatsgone on soon.

wishme luck.

ttfn xxxxxxx

Hey Jess

OMG, Im so sorry to hear your news, hope u r ok and do keep us informed as and when u can

Keep yer chin up and hope whatever they do, brings success

Do take care and keep us informed

Russ x

hi Jessica

When you didn't post yesterday I guessed you were back in hospital. At least you are in the right place now and you can be treated.

It goes without saying that I wish you luck for tomorrow and for your recovery afterwards.

It's good you can use the internet in hospital to while away the hours.

Remember.....you are strong, you are woman!!!!!

TFU

Hi Dimps

Has the Consultant discharged you or just asked you to see how it goes for a period of time, e.g three months? If the scans show that there is hope the position will right itself on it's own then it makes sense to wait a while, if the pain permits. If the discs are bulging rather than herniated and if the nerve root compression isn't too bad, then that may be the reason. The Consultant should have explained his decision to you, at least, but they aren't all great in being forthcoming with this sort of detail. It seems very unfair to leave you in limbo. I would say though that if your symptoms change, or you develop progessive numbness in your leg/foot, then you should probably ask for another appointment.

Has he suggested structured phsiotherapy?

TFU

Hi Guys and Gals

I am new to this site and have read most of your posts, which have been very informative and addictive reads.

I also have a prolapsed disc and the pain is excrutiating. This has been going on since September 2007. Had physio and acupuncture in November and December but the pain has gotten worse.

Eventually paid to see a private consultant in January and had a MRI scan.

Then decided to wait for the operation on the NHS due to the costs involved under privately.

The date is April 3rd. However last week the problem has gotten worse - so much so that I had to quit working as I am self employed.

The doctor gave me Co-Dydramol tablets but they offer little relief. The type of work I am doing (computer related/involving lots of driving to sites e.g 120 miles 3 times a week.. and then sitting down at a desk etc for 8-12 hours ) meant that any stronger meds would affect my work.

The pain has now gotten so severe that I have pushed for the op to be done privately - this is now happening March 18th and I will have to have another MRI scan.

Hopefully recovery will allow me to claw back the high cost of the op and I will be back working again.

Will keep you all updated on my progress and what the MRI comes up with.

Hi Jessica , all i can say is i have got everything crossed that i can cross for a very succesful op take care let us know how you are when you can . The very best of luck lot of gentle hugs xxxx Julie

Hi there

I'm sorry to hear that you've been in so much pain and that you've had to give up your work for the moment. I'm in the same position as you, waiting for an operation on the NHS on the 9th April, an open discectomy. I'm just waiting to see another consultant about discussing a micro discectomy on the NHS at a different hospital.

I too was in excruciating pain but after being hospitalised, the pain specialist put me on a tablet called Gabapentin. It's what epileptics take every day of their lives but it's been found to help with nerve pain. It's a miracle how it has helped my pain relief (I was on all sorts of medication including morphine in hospital but now I only have to take this tablet, 1200mg per day). It might be worth speaking to your GP about it in the meantime whilst you wait for your op. It might mean that you could wait a little longer for the NHS operation and avoid paying out all that money?

Just a thought. I really hope your operation goes well and that you can get back to working as soon as possible.

Best wishes

Jude xxx

Oh hon I'm so sorry to hear that you're back in hospital. Like everyone says, I hope your treatment is successful and you get some relief from this awful situation.

Big gentle hugs

Love

Jude xxx

Thanks for the advise JudeR..

I have been informed this afternoon that they can perform the surgery next Wednesday and that the pre-op is tomorrow morning.

The spine surgeon advised that another MRI scan is not necessary. So I will be going for this date and hopefully I can get back to work quicker.

Will keep you posted....

Hi again

I wish you all the luck in the world, hope it all goes really smoothly and your recovery is quick.

Please let us know how you get on.

Take care

Jude xxx

I haven't been around much lately but I do know your story.

Good luck Jess, I really do wish you all the best.

Sandra