Degenerative disc disease
Posted , 3 users are following.
I have been diagnosed as suffering from Degenerative Disc Disease of my Lumbar region!
After several years of misdiagnosis to Physiotherapist's Therapy, Acupuncture's, Epidural injections several times without success. I was eventually given an MRI Scan where I was finally correctly diagnosed . The really sadcpoint now is Fusion surgery is no longer viable owing to numbers of disc affected, so my question to other forum user's is there a suitable treatment out there for me?
1 like, 9 replies
buggsy1000 Reddave8
Posted
Hi Reddave
Sorry to here about your diagnosis.
I am 38 and have this even after spinal fusion. Sadly there isn't a lot that can be done.
You need to avoid lifting heavy weights, and when you do lift anything check your posture, they can also offer some injections but these don't work particularly well, but they might in your case, lastly I have to loose weight, but ic find this hard as it hurts to do most forms of exercise and can't walk more than 100 Mtrs.
Speak with your pain specialists and GP they can give different types of pain meds.
Regards
George
Reddave8 buggsy1000
Posted
Thanks for your advice, I've just been signed off from pain management as they can do no more for me. Unfortunately I live in Shropshire where the NHS trust has vetoed further treatment owing to costs. The post code lottery strikes again!
jessica_78456 Reddave8
Posted
Reddave8 jessica_78456
Posted
Thanks jessica, I've never heard of Dynesys back surgery, however I'm going to look into a second opinion, though as I'm a NHS patient and unable to get private insurance not sure how well I'll get on but I will be giving it a go as I plan to be around a long time yet. I'm 55 today and I'm going to push for 100! 🙂
buggsy1000 Reddave8
Posted
Can I ask what your main pain is, do you get a lot of sciatic leg/foot pain??
What meds are you on??
Regards
George
jessica_78456 Reddave8
Posted
My doctor referred me to a private hospital via the nhs. I live in the. North east . Patients now a days have the right to this, a right to chose where they want to be seen and the nhs cover the costs. You may need to say to ur doctor your not getting any where with who u currently see and it emotionally and mentally affecting u . Iam only 40 and don't want to go on for another 10 years like this, so I am opting for a operation. Possible fusion. As far as am concerned the worst can happen is death via the operation. As the pain I suffer and the physical implications and quality of life surly can't get much worse
Reddave8 buggsy1000
Posted
Hi Buggsy
My main pain is in my Lumbar region at times I'm in tears and I'm so frustrated as meds aren't helping as much as I'd like.
I do get a lot of sciatic pain down my left leg, although I have under gone decompression surgery which helped for about 10-12 months.
Reddave8 jessica_78456
Posted
Hi jessica
I have family living in Dorset so I might be able to get my sister who's a nurse at Dorchester hospital to ask around for me before I try and speak to my own doctor. It's got to be worth a go, in the end what have I got to lose.
buggsy1000 Reddave8
Posted
Hi Dave
I recently had a trial of a spinal cord stimulator, sadly it didn't work on my back or right leg but I got 60-70% less pain in my left leg, but it was decided that as I got nothing in my back or right leg it failed as you need an operation every 4 -7 years to change the battery, they said I had so much scar tissue that they couldn't get the leads to sit in the right place for right leg and back. Prehaps this is something that you can get them to look In too? I did a course about learning about the device and there were people from all over the UK it was done at st Thomas in London. Out of the 10 people that had it done on my group it has worked really well for 6 people, 2 failed including me and 2 decided not to have it done.
If you want more info private message me I can give you all the surgeons details, emails for the team and contact numbers so you can give them to your Dr.
Regards
George