hi ive just had my mri results, prolapse at l5/s1. this ...

hi keith, i also have prolapse disc it is the 2nd time i have had one. Each time it has lasted for a yr the pain is so unbearable and i too was limping around. The tons of tablets didnt seem to help the advice i was given was to let it heal iself and eventually after a yr it did but it was a longpainful yr,i hope whatever decision you take will be of help to you. The pain evetually goes and my limp has also gone although I still have right leg weakness. I decided against surgery basically as Im a coward and everyone was giving me conflicting stories on what to do so I decided to let nature take its course and tried accupuncture which eventually did give some pain relief and walking in water at the swimming pool this also helped with the pain and at the same time helps your back muscles. The steam room was great for pain relief and also the wheat bags that you heat up in the microwave are excellent placed on the disc area. Good luck.

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Hi, i suffered a prolapse disc at l5/s1, i had to have surgery after lying in hospital for almost 4weeks unable to move, all i can say is i was treated at probably one of the best hospitals in the country and i am so glad i went through with it, the difference post op is amazing, i can walk, sit,drive and do lots of things i couldn't before surgery. i do still get twinges if i sit for to long and first thing in the morning but i only had my op 3 months ago. I am 34 years old and for a while thought my life waas over but its not. It has to be your descision but i would recommend surgery going on my experience. Mandy

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Keith - and all genuine bad back sufferers - In telling my story, like all of the input on this excellent site, it really is a matter of individual luck, or in each case bad luck, and quite frankly a lottery as to whether or not you will be relieved of this most debilitating of all pains.

I first started with sciatica in 2000 when I simply bent over to clean the bottom of a kitchen door. I could not stand up, spent two days in bed, and managed to get going after a week sick leave from the NHS job I was in.

In May 2002, forgetting by now the 2000 incident, I moved a heavy paving slab, and yes, you guessed it - bingo. An MRI scan in July 2002 revealed discs L5 & S1 herniated, and to date (20/1/06) an hell of lot of suffering, near depression, loss of my job and despair after trying so many different treatments, but with little or no success:

Year 1 (2002)

1. Epidural injections - no effect

2. Hydrotherpay - made it much worse

3. Physiotherapy - made it much worse

4. After 3 months suffering, and little or no effective pain killer tablets developed a dvt in my right leg due to immobility caused by the severe sciatica in my right leg

5. Several different pain killing tablets, tramadol, diclofenic etc, suffered severe constipation and stomach upset as a result

Year 2 (2003)

6. Commenced chiropractic treatment in January, but only able to undergo back stretch machine excercise due to still suffering dvt and on medication

7. March - started chiropractice treatment proper, by this time I was hardly able to walk and in a real bad way - chiropractic treatment proved beneficial, but limit to number of treatments, after eight sessions advised to stop, but return for periodic 'tweaking'

8. Tried Prolotherapy (a really big needle inserted with sugar solution into the back muscles - excruciatingly painful, and did not help

9. Intra-muscular stimulation therapy, some eight weekly sessions, with the first involving a total of 36 accupunture type needles inserted - made me feel poorly after each session, and did not help

10. BackLife excercise machine purchased - helps a little

11. Tens machine purchased - only helps whilst on - it distracts the mind, but is not a cure

12. More pain killers from GP - finally found Temgesic suited me,but did not get rid of pain altogether

13. Chinese Accupunture - some relief, but no cure, also passed out on one of sessions due to needle being inserted

14. Massage - deep massage as per sports massge therapy, and light massage - only slight relief. The heavy massage proved intolerable

15. Purchased 'Magic' FIR Elecromagnetic Inrared Mineral therapy lamp, heat provides some relief, but evidently not lasting. A hot bath appears much more beneficial

16. Battery operated accupunture type pencil purchased - not much benefit

17. Medicure device purchased - of no benefit (an other load of money wasted!)

18. Second MRI scan revealed the two discs had more or less reabsorbed, but still suffering a lot of pain, Consultant surgeon did not advise operation

19. Referred (at last) for NHS pain management clinic - over course of next 18 months put on Amatriptyllin & Gabapentin at first, which made me like a zombie, had to come off, next, I was put on less of the above two, but still ended up like a zombie, then put on Pregabalin, and became very poorly indeed with serious seide effects. Made to think that the lesser of the two evils was to continue to suffer my severe sciatica

Year 3

20. Continuing to suffer severe sciatic pain still, but body now suffering more arhritis problems due to lack of mobility, despite trying to walk daily

21. Discectomy operation in March 2004 due to collapsed 7th vertabrea! - yes, on top of my lower back problem still

22. Hernia operation in August 2004 - brought on by many of the different drugs tried causing constipation

23. Now on Temgesic & paracetamol only, save only to not casue more side effect suffering, but looking more likley I may have to have another MRI scan to establish the