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rachel76740
rachel76740

Hi I have had lover back pain for years now my X husband punched me and I landed on my comics breaking it wen I was 26 I'm now 44 and 4/5 years I've had pain .The last couple of months my legs shake if I stand still I need to lean on or over something to relieve to pain and acking. My Dr ruled out sciatica as I can still do the splits on a good day .If I sit down I feel relief it's standing walking that causes me problems .my legs gave out in asda last Thursday and again yesterday .yesterday I was pushing my granddaughter in her pusher chair for surport the pain got so bad next thing I was on the floor and gd was in the road .my younger children are frightened to go out with me in case I collapse. Does this sound like spinal stenosis.i have to see muscular skeletal on 2nd feb

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • rachel76740
    rachel76740

    Posted

    Coxics not comits
    • adythewarrior
      adythewarrior rachel76740

      Posted

      Hi Rachel you have had a rough time, i also collapsed in Asda last year with pain and was taken to hospital where after a Mri scan had a trapped nerve plus some nerve damage

      I hope your ok

    • rachel76740
      rachel76740 adythewarrior

      Posted

      Thanks god it was embaressing.i have had this yrs but it's getting worse my physio said there might be a narrowing of the spine .just wondered if this sounds like S's also my leg swells
  • Rob777
    Rob777 rachel76740

    Posted

    Hello Rachel.  Yes it was wise to get rid of  him obviously!   As for the coccyx, I just found this page http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/tailbone-coccyx-injury. There's no doubt loads similar on the net, and it doesn't sound to me as if that could explain your symptoms now, but who knows?

    Myself, I have stenosis in the lumbar spine. Before I got properly diagnosed (and only an MRI can nail it properly) I saw an old bloke, an ex GP who still works with back pain, and he said stenosis patients usually say they are okay if sitting but it's the standing or walking that's the problem.

    Personally I never go into Asda without a trolley to lean on, and elsewhere I either ride my bike or walk with it and it acts like a trolley, allowing one to bend or lean and allay the pain.  I am also on Pregabalin and Amitryptiline which give good pain control and I am to have surgery in spring, long waiting list for this not uncommon problem. It never got so bad that I collapsed.  I imagine you were just pushing yourself too hard.   Still...it sounds like you are to see a relevant consultant in Feb.  Explain fully your symptoms and what people have told you, and don't go away til you've had it properly explained.

    • rachel76740
      rachel76740 Rob777

      Posted

      Rob Thanks there's another problem that I have a bit embarrassing (I wee myself ) not major full loss but enough to have to keep changing cloth and constantly conscious of smelling .I haven't told Dr this as I just put it down to a weak bladder but I also have number 2 problem s .It just seems all my symptons tick the boxes for ss
    • Rob777
      Rob777 rachel76740

      Posted

      Rachel, yes, loss of control of bladder/bowel also symptom of stenosis, but of course could be many other things.  The advice I've seen is not to mess about with it, I think it's called cauda equina syndrome, i.e. this odd Latin name refers to the bundle of nerves in that area I believe.  I have certainly seen that if you get this problem to seek help pronto, and I mean pronto.  My advice would be to see your gp tomorrow and tell herhim about all symptoms so as to get this possibility excluded at once. Regards, Rob
    • rachel76740
      rachel76740 Rob777

      Posted

      Rob I've been like this for yrs and I've read ur link the bit about six also affects me .It hurts but can't tell Dr this face to face to embarrassing. Hopefully muscular skeleton clinic will be a woman.ill tell her cheers bud ill keep you updated as and wen I find anything out
    • Rob777
      Rob777 rachel76740

      Posted

      In that case, Rachel, I don't think you do tick all the boxes for stenosis, as cauda equina is definitely an emergency and if you''ve had your problem a long time it must be something else. Fod god's sake please tell your gp about p*ssing yourself etc. he will know what it means !!!, and/or ask to see a woman if your musculo skel person turns out to be male too.  Cheers, and keep me informed.
    • rachel76740
      rachel76740 Rob777

      Posted

      So rob don't you think it could be spinal stenosis with a possible weak bladder I just want to no wot is wrong with me and if it can get sorted my Dr is crap
    • Rob777
      Rob777 rachel76740

      Posted

      That sounds like a sensible conclusion, but I am not a fan of self diagnosis. I told myself for years that my problems were hip related, as my sister had to have hers done, but it progressed and got worse and for some months I didn't know where I was.  Whatever, there's no way you can go to a GP and say this of that person on the net told you what it was - you will make your GP angry or worse. If your doctor is rubbish then you must change - I put up with a crap health centre for years as they had a local monopoly and treated patents with contempt very often, but I went further afield and have not regretted it.  Sounds to me you have worrying symptoms, not least the collapses, which could land you in trouble if you fell in front of vehicles, say. Patricia4866 wrote a very interesting piece. Whatever, leaving these conditions which often progress is not a sensible option. As Patricia says you must get yourself to a relevant consultant who can do the proper tests, make a diagnosis and chart a therapetic task.  If you are embarrassed to talk, write your symptoms and hand that over. Or go to A&E, or a walk in centre.  And when you have done the necessary, you can relax.
  • adythewarrior
    adythewarrior rachel76740

    Posted

    I been reading your reply.I have to cathertise 4 times per day its rough, had a turp also 2 bladder neck incisions but to no avail x
  • patricia4866
    patricia4866 rachel76740

    Posted

    Hi Rachel. I am in the US and a bit older than you, I think what I have been through can possibly be likened to some of what you are experiencing. I am almost 67 yrs and very pleased to say that I am 11 wks post-op L4-L5 Laminectomy, disectomy w/bone graft and fusion for a pretty severe spinal stenosis that eventually led to a cord compression and have been completely relieved of all pain and symptoms. The cord compression was directly related to a disc prolapse that was apparently caused at work (I was a bedside RN on an Ortho Surg unit until I retired last May). It was the prolapsed disc between L4-L5 that pinched the bundle of nerves leading down the back/legs from the buttock to the back of the knees. I too had times that I found myself suddenly and w/o any warning picking myself off of the floor. Luckily I was never seriously injured during these falls but that was by pure chance. Standing and walking causes the disc to pinch the nerve...no feeling, no use. It is also what causes the terrible pain. Fortunately for me, being a working RN here in the US gave me some insight into what was going on with my sudden back pain. The odd thing is that I have never been plagued with lower back pain until the disc prolapsed moving a heavy patient up in the bed. It kept worsening until the above pain and falling took over. It took 13 months for me to get into surgery during which time physical therapy was offered but only made the pain worse. I never had loss of bowel/bladder control but that was a question asked of me at every pre-op neurosurg appointment I had. I was able to manage my pain with 600 mg Ibuprophen morning and night for the 13 months and I can happily say that as soon as the disc was removed in surgery I no longer had pain upon standing other than expected surgical pain. The fusion was completed bc the disc was removed for stability of the spine. My sympathy to anyone suffering this type of pain. Unfortunately it IS a common problem that only worsens as the aging process progresses. I wish you good luck. Try very hard to get in to see a neurosurgeon as soon as possible. Impress it upon him/her that your symptoms are worsening, that you are falling to the ground without warning and that you have lost control of B/B. Also emphasize the pain and whether or not you are able to manage it with over the counter meds. Safety, comfort, and sleep are often the deciding factors for surgery. In my opinion it is ridiculous that you are dealing with this condition in your 40s and you haven't been offered surgery. Your children are correct not to want you taking their kids out. It is becoming a growing possibility that you could fall and injur yourself while caring for them. As I said, God speed and good luck. Please stay in touch.

    Patricia

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