Hi..discectomy on 1st Nov

Well done on making it in to work :D :D :D I bet it's great to get your work hat back on again...

Take care,

Jules xx :D :D

I hope you don't mind me butting in here. My husband has been ill for 3 years, with (as yet, undiagnosed) some form of inflammatory arthritis, so he had very restricted mobility as things go. But, last week, while we were shopping, he started experiencing severe nerve pains in his left arm. It was so bad, he couldn't concentrate to operate his electronic wheelchair.

I took his to the doctor, who (to cut a long story short) has said that it seems to be a prolapsed disc in his neck. He is on Co-Codamol 500mg 4 times daily, Diclofenac 75mg twice daily and Amitryptyline 20mg at night, but nothing seems to help with the pain. He's no stranger to pain with his condition, but it seems to be completely eclipsed by this.

The doctor has referred him to a Neurologist, the waiting list is 4-6 weeks and we have been told to consider the possibility of surgery. My husband doesn't want to face it, but he asked me to do some research on his behalf. Can anyone give me their opinion please? Is surgery the only option? What are the risks of surgery? What else can I do to help him cope with their pain? (done heat packs, baths, massage) He is in so much pain, I cant bear to see him like this for up to 6 weeks waiting for the neurologist.

Thanks in advance

Carmen

well done russ, im beginning to know what you mean about the aches being more than an ache but less than pain im having trouble at night i get a hell of a lot of aching across my collar bones and at the chest bones (cervical discectomy) im disturbing my hubby every night, day time im fine so will have to try to figure out why im having that aching at night! i too cant wait to get back to the real world i do miss my clients and collegeues, my hubby like your wife is so good putting up with it all but it will be good to get back and feel part of something again. anyway well done again and dont give up it can only get better eh.gail

i sympathise with your husband completely, i too suffered with cervical prolapse discs(now 5 wks post-op) maybe the pain meds he has been prescribed are not strong enough , although they do seem to be the regular ones for this complaint, he shouldnt suffer(although with this it is sheer hell) i would speak to the gp again to review the meds,i was on tramadol 100mg 4 times a day with paracetamol and amatriptaline at night to begin with then developed a reaction to tramadol so went on codeine, i also used (at the initail pain) a tubi grip up over my arm which did help a little plus loads of deep heat gel on my arm as thats where all my pain was ( god i will never forget that pain as long as i live) the pain did ease after 3 wks but never went completley , so was then referd to a neuro(long story) i know when you do have these bad flare ups you will try anything to ease it so maybe these are something he could try.

i for one am not sorry i had the op and would do it again, there are risks involved and at the end of the day he is the one that has to decide if he has surgery if thats what the nuro suggests, but there are other conventianal methods to try as well, ie physio, injections, hydrotherepy although none of them worked for me everyone is different.best of luck. gail(¯`·._)UnDeRcOvEr(A)ÅnGeL(¯`·._)

My pain started August 2007 after kneeling on the floor and plugging hoover in.Could hardly stand up for pain in lower back.Went to chiropractor for weeks but gave up as treatment wasnt helping.Saw GP who was wonderful and prescribed p/killers and said it would settle down in about 12 weeks..oh no it didnt!! After several visits to GP, calls to emergency doctor,visits to physiotherapist and every p/killer possible my GP contacted hospital on Dec 10th and asked for appt with n/s to be brought forward from Jan2008.Success...visit to n/s Dec 11th and MRI Dec 16th.Sadly thats where it ended as still waiting to see n/s and looks like Jan 24 th appt not going to be brought forward.Can only presume things are not too bad or Iwould have been sent for by now.

Luckily the pain has eased quite a lot but has certainly not gone away...nor has the numb foot and weak left leg.

I had just started a new job on November 26th and only managed to work 4 days before going sick and now find out that i dont qualify even for stat sick pay...just another problem to sort out .

Sorry for going on but am sure you guys out there will understand.Fingers crossed for the 24th and hoping for some good news.

Take care everyone

So the news is that I made it in yesterday but there was no way I could make it in today, the aches are aching and the pain is, well paining I guess :-) and so \"resting\" it today ( that means not driving but working from home ).

When it is bad then it is normally worse at night as it keeps me awake and that in turn keeps my wife awake, so I have spoent many a night on the sofa so she can rest before having to travel into work everyday, it also feels better on my back when I need stretching.

Hopefully will be back in the office tomorrow but again, taking each day as it comes who knows what tomorrow will bring.

As always I will sign off as I normally do just so anyone aprehensive takes note...... If I had to have the op again I would in a split second, NO REGRETS ! ! !:P

Russ x

I will get a tubigrip for him in the morning. We've tried the deep heat/hot water bottles, etc, which seem to provide a little temporary relief, maybe it will do more combined with pressure. He woke up at 11am today, after taking Amitryptyline at 1am when he couldn't take the pain anymore, so he's had more sleep last night than he's had in ages.

Thanks for your kind words and advice, from both of us.

Carmen

You know it's a strange thing.....but a similar thing happens to me. Whenever I up my activity levels or do something different, usually the next day I can feel the effect..it feels like I've had a workout at the gym, not painful but very achy. When I painted the hall it took 2 days to have this effect..the day after I felt fine so painted some more. This week the day after physio, my back felt quite sore as the physio had me in positions I hadn't been in for a long time....lol :wink: She also told me that it's ok to bend as this gets the synovial fluid lubricating the joints..but not to bend doing housework..must bend the knees.

Russ, I'm sure in a day or two you will be feeling a lot more comfortable and will find that your back will cope better with the journey next time...and I hope you are taking your rolled up towel for you to use as lumbar support..I have been told to do this...but to be honest feel a bit daft carrying a rolled up towel around everywhere....lol

Take care,

Jules xx :D :D

I had spinal canal decompression and removal of L5/S1 disc protrusion back in October, long name but it was to sort out the excrutiating pain caused down my leg by the disc bulge, and it is like no pain I have ever had before.

Like your hubby and like Gail ( and many others on here ) I had tried most things from meds to TENS machine to ice packs to heat and some days one thing helped, the next it would be something else....

I did have nerve root injections which did help but they were never a cure they were pure pain relief.

I tried my hardest to put off the op as most things I was reading were people saying how they would not have the op but then the pain grew so intense I knew I had nothing to lose.

Apart from when I married my wife, having the op was one of the best decisions I have ever made and would say try not to be put off by peoples negative \"blogs\"

The way I was told by the consultant the worse case scenario after the op would be I wont feel any difference helped, the fact they wern't just saying what I wanted to hear that is.

I am now four months post op and from the moment I woke up from the op to date I can safely say I have not experienced \"that pain\".

As always if I needed to have the op again tomorrow I would do it in a split second.... NO REGRETS

Russ

I know the ache will pass, its just annoying, as I keep saying to people, it annoys me coz in my head I am fine and I know Im not ill so its just annoying that I cant do things without feeling the pains for it afterwards.

I am gonna try either tomorrow or Monday again to drive to work and the more I do the journey, no matter how many times I stop, it will get easier on my back and my doughnut cushion that I sit on and the small hard cushion on my back :-)

I would worry if I was the only one experiencing this so in a way Im glad Im not, BUT I dont wish any of it on any one either.

Keep the painting and the moving going and the get into those positions that the physio says will help

NO REGRETS

Russ x :P

I too had surgery for a ruptured L5/S1 disc in November 07....I had severe sciatica from March 07 and ended up needing Mophine to manage the pain....I really do feel for both you and your husband as to be suffering this acute pain along with his arthritic condition must be very tough for both of you....prior to the Morphine I had tried all sorts of pain relief, chemical and otherwise and it was only the Morphine which helped. With regards to the surgery...I can only echo Wuffy's words, I have no regrets about having the op, despite prior to having it I had to be sedated as I was so terrified. I was in hospital for one night and despit recovery being a bit longer and protracted than anticipated I feel fantastic ! Yes there are risks to having surgery which I'm sure the specialist will explain, but you and hubby will need to weigh these up against the benefits of an improved quality of life..I am so glad and relieved that I had surgery as I am now off all meds and return to work on Feb 4th...there are people out here who have had a very positive experience and outcome..Like Wuffy..I would have the op again if I needed to..no questions asked.I wish you both well and hope things improve very soon. Keep us posted and hopefully we can offer you further support if you need it. :D

Take care,

Jules xx :D :D

I am only young 28 and very active I coach a group of paddlers (Kayakers) and come from New Zealand. I hurt my back Skate boarding, it is continuously tight when I bend over it has been like that for about 14 weeks. It restricts me from doing everything that I love. I do have slight continuous pain in my lower back although it has reduced over the 14 weeks it has not gone completely. I have been going to the physio for most of the 14 weeks now and have started clinical parlarties (spelling unsure) which is meant to strengthen my back and abdominal muscles to support my spine. The physio has said that I have a slightly prolapsed disc but I have not had a MRI scan this is only a clinical diagnosis. I was wondering has anyone experienced this before it is very scary and I don’t know how any one could have this for the long term. Also have any of you gone back to sport after it has fixed itself specifically surfing (which I love)?

Kindest regards skiff

this site is definately helpfull

thanks

to all who contribute

i was wondereing how long surgery is for lumber disc removal

also once you see actuall surgeon does he do another mri or tests

because mine was 8 months ago and i have pain further up my spine and am worried that something else has gone wrong this waiting gets everyone paranoid dont you think

regards

Yep disc problems can go on for a long time.....years in fact..They can also sort themselves out without surgery depending on the severity of the prolapse and whether it's sitting on a nerve. Some of us on here have needed surgery..me, for one. and I am due to return to work on 4th Feb...my problem started almost a year ago. It sounds like you have been quite fortunate in finding help that has worked for you, many on this site haven't. I have had a positive experience with regards my care and treatment. With regards going back to your former activities, my advice would be to speak to your physio....this experience with my back has taught me to look after and respect my back as I would hate to go through the experience of a ruptured disc again, but if I needed surgery again I would. Good luck with it and keep us posted.

Take care,

Jules xx :D :D

Here is my treatment timeline:

First saw GP with back pain Feb 07...worsened tried all pain relief then prescribed Morphine March 07.

Referred to physio March 07

Commenced physio April 07

Referred to Specialist April 07

Initial consultation with Specialist May 07

Mri scan (requested by specialist) June 07

Appt with Specialist to discuss results and treatment options June 07

at this time as I was due to go to Canada Specialist was trying to arrange an urgent epidural but as they offered this 10 days prior to leaving the country, I declined and was put on the list for surgery as this was the only option to correct my back.

Pre-op assessment Sept 07

Surgery Nov 1st 07

Post-op consultation Dec 07.

My Specialist only does further MRI's if there are any unresolved problems post-op. He thought I may need another MRI as I had sciatica in both legs for a while but this has now gone.

Hope this helps, but please bear in mind that all hospitals/regions are different with different ways of managing back probs. Have you been told you will be having surgery? Good luck with it and keep us posted.

take care,

Jules :D