GABAPENTIN
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hi Lee,
Just read your reply on the Gabapetin, how long did the side affects take to come out. Was the operation you had very painfull and how long in all did you have to wait, I find trying to get up in the morning the worst , takes about 35 mins to be able to get ou of bed then about 2 hours to be able to walk properly withour the spasms, bet your glad its all over for you
0 likes, 13 replies
Guest
Posted
The operation after marth is very sore and painful at the wound site but it will be and it is only temporary - I also have 9 metal staples in at the moment that dont help matters either - but the nurse came today to change the dressing and I looked at it and it is healing very well. Unfortunately I had very bad sciatic leg pains back this morning which have now died down....last night was the first night since the op I laid on my back so it probably upset things a bit...I am sure it will all go away soon!
In answer to your question about waiting - I've had problems for a long time and it was mis-diagnosed last year as sancriolitos - now I have spelt that wrong and I'm typeing standing up too so I'm allowed haha! but then I was off work by August in a state and got a private MRI done in October and consultation and was told I had a very herniated disc that had leaked it's contents out and it needed surgery 'urgently' - then went back to the NHS and well - was on the waiting list as 'urgent' - waited from October to July...well thats 10 months(it was nearly 11) - I have nearly been off work a year - I am sorry to hear about your all too familiar scenario just trying to get going in the morning - I KNOW what a complete drag down the whole business is - are you on a waiting list - what stage are you at??? Lee
judith
Posted
Jude
Guest
Posted
I really do sympathise with you and my lord you are still working - cripes!! So you havn't had this confirmed yet to what it is (but it does sound very very slipped discy) I know about the weight thing I went from a 10-12 and I am now a 16. And as for wine! I was doing a bottle, maybe nearly 2 a night when things were bad as after a year of it I was losing it as you know it affects everything (I have lost my job, am in the middle of buying a house etc nightmare). It all sounds grim but there is light at the end of the tunnel - I did push things along by going to my MP otherwise I would still be waiting. If you cannot get a scan done soon try that one - 6 months is unacceptable.
I never had traction or even traction suggested to me - maybe because the disc had herniated and leaked. I am glad you get some relief from that - are you still driving? I haven't driven my car since last september and it is dead and rotting on the driveway. Apart from painkillers and wine nothing helped - though don't get hooked on codeine as I did and had a hell week coming off it - be careful with that - also don't become a bloated semi alcohlic like I was - I can't believe I've not drunk for a week - unthinkable 10 days ago!! You main goal at the moment is finding out exactly what is going on in your back - then you know what you are dealing with. It makes me so mad so many of us are in this position grrr sorry I wont start ranting!
The main thing is be careful with these pills they dole out - since April I have only taken normal shop bought paracetamol - and actually just went back on it today. I really didn't like popping all the pills after months and months but then I just subsituted them with wine that wasn't good either! If you can get the scan done privately at least you know what you are up against and can skip that part of the NHS waiting game - even if you get penalised it will still be shorter than waiting for their scan you can do what i did - take the scan to your GP and get them to refer you to a good surgeon and get on his/her waiting list asap.
Lee
judith
Posted
What part of the UK are you from, I was originally from Peterborough but movede to Wales about 30 years ago with my parents :roll: .
At least it is good to speak to people on here you do not feel so alone, prob made loads of spelling mistakes in this as the mornings are the worse, tried a couple of largers last night didn't make me feel so ill. well will speak to you soon
Jude
gail
Posted
Lee_Michelle
Posted
In answer to your question Judith I am in Westerham on the Kent/Surrey border - I had the op done in Redwood Hospital (BUPA centre) in Redhill, Surrey - lovely place and lovely staff.
I found writing to my MP got things done a lot quicker but it didn't help me get any higher on the waiting list - I've had several meetings with my employer and they are now going to dismiss me as they have said there is no guarentee I will not take lots of time off again for my back. To be honest I have a job where I was sitting for 12 hour shifts and I don't think I will be able to do that anyway. The MP helped me get an appointment with the consultant quicker - I met up with him at one of these local MP 'surgeries' they have at local town halls. There is no harm in trying this and I recommend it - I emailed him 5pm on a Sunday evening - 8.30am the next day I had his secretary on the phone from the House of Commons taking up the case. I didn't mention to you both that that I saw a consultant before the one that just did the op at Farnborough Hospital in Bromley and he said it 'would go away in time!' - anyone even with no medical training can see on the MRI the disc had herniated everywhere - the reason they said this is they know the scans have been done privately and they suggested I could afford to get the op done too!... so I got the MP to help me get another appointment with a Surrey surgeon but the hospital kept losing the 'pain questionare' they send out to see how much pain you are in (I KNOW!!!) they score it and this is how urgent you will get an appointment - well they kept repeatedly losing it - it was a joke and this is then when the MP stepped in and sorted it. I hope all that made sense as typing standing up is making me ramble!
Lee
judith
Posted
How are things with you now, has the pain got an easier. I had a telephone call yesterday from the hospital and I have an apointment tomorrow at 2.30 with the rheumatologist, think maybe they have refered me to the wrong place but will go and see what happens.
Today the pain was bad this morning but has eased off during the day that is until I go to bed and then my legs come back with avengance.
Let me know how things are with you.
Lee_Michelle
Posted
I am doing well - walked into town yesterday which was good....nurse came today and signed me off and did a special water resistant dressing so I finally had a shower and washed my hair - bliss! Next step is getting rid of the staples next Tuesday.
I hope your appointment goes well, Lee
judith
Posted
judith
Posted
Went back to physio again to-day just expected the normal traction but oh no, load of stretching exercises could not walk after, in agony to-night in places I have never had pain, apparently its because of holding myself with the back ets the muscles can start to waste, have to do these exercieses every day, next time I go to physio one and a half hour visit traction and the gym !!!!!!!!,
How are things with you both, did either of you have traction, and Lee which disc was it again that you had done, will speak to you soon, and hope you both have good weeekend.
Jude
Lee_Michelle
Posted
I hope you are not in too much pain....I didn't have traction as the disc was herniated - it was disc L5/S1 - in answer to your question on PM about age - I am 34 - there seems to be a lot of people on this site aged 34 too which is spooky.
I haven't taken pain killers yet today - this is the first time in over a year - what a milestone - there IS light at the end of the tunnel but it is all the uneccessary s*** that goes on before that really wears you down.
Thinking of you!
Lee M
judith
Posted
Glad you are feeling a little better to-day, what is the difference between a bulging disk and a herniated disc, I am beginning to wonder if I have either or is it something else, well have a good day tomorrow hopefully another day without the painkillers
Jude
Lee_Michelle
Posted
Boy I hope you get a scan soon - as just knowing what you are dealing with will be so much better.
speak to you soon,
Lee