Is pain my life now?

Hi Sinead

I can understand why this is scary right now. First I would get a second opinion. Going straight to a purely pain management approach sounds premature. There could be more surgical options. It depends on the condition of the disc. First you could have a second discectomy. Less good but still may be preferable would be fusion. You are young for it and it has less chance of success the microdiscectomy but it may be better than doing nothing. If the reherniation is not severe you might even get away with a steroid injection and lots of physio to rebuild you back muscles and take the pressure off the disc.

These are all just options but if your doctor has not categorically ruled them out for some reason then you need a second opinion. Are you with an NHS doctor? If so, do you have the option of going private? For me, it is worth a substantial investment to sort this out, or even to get a decent shot at doing so. Sometimes NHS doctors can be spread too thin or not have the inclination to point you at treatments that are pricey without a very high chance of success so some pointy elbows will come in handy.

Hope this helps.

I've suffered for 20 years with my back , the last 4 year have been horrendous. I had part discectomy on L4/L5 3 year ago while it relived the sciatica I've never been pain free , I've also had fibromyalgia for 20 yr, this yr Ave had a further 2 MRI one showing a bone spur and disc buldge in my neck c5/c6 and also disc desiccated in l4/5 L5/s1 they should look like marshmallows but instead they look like Pringle s . Dried out and shrunk , 8in constant pain can no longer sit up in a upright position or walk or stand for long period s . Got my doc to refer me to a private hospital to see a neurosurgeon which Iam back next week see what he suggests. As nhs rheumatologist suggest just pain relief and physo . Which I've done the last 15 yrs with no relief. You can ask to be refers to a private hospital by the nhs it's your right , the longer your left like I was the more nerve damage will be done, they can fuse and replace disc with titanium which is quite successful also they can hear the disc s left so the go very hard not sure about success rate on that . My quality of life is💩And I was told if my back effects my quality of life like it is then they wud operate. Realistically they shud of fused the first time round. But as it was an emergency op as disc s were crushing spinal cord they just did what they had to . Hope u get the help u need .

Oh Sinead I am so pleased to meet you but sorry for the reason why! I have herniated L5 pressing on S1 nerve root and I am only 29 and live like an old biddy due to my pain and mobility! I've been like this for over a year. So have you have an actual back surgery for your disk? Please don't despair, there are many things that can help you manage your pain that are non surgical with no side effects. One of which I am doing as we speak - infrared heat lamp

All I know, Is I kept walking when it did not hurt terribly, did stretching and yoga, used some machines lightly for strenghting mucles. and its been 3 years and the Sciatica is finally almost gone, I just have cramping down both legs in the morning. but I am 58, you are young and can heal better, so dont give up, get some physical therapy stretches and yoga to do at home. I pray it gets better soon for you. I just have disc herniation, or bulging disk, degenerative disks and I am out of alignment. but it is getting better. best wishes, get the other muscles stronger. Joan 

I've been feeling so down since my results have been back, I don't know exactly what I expect now treatment wise, I'm going to find out as much as I can about how bad my back is and work from there. I've started pilates in the hope it will strengthen my core and help my back. I'm also trying to lose weight, I am classed an obese now which obviously isn't helping. I was immobile before my discectomy in April, and I am terrified ill be like that again.

It's great see different things working for different ppl, but I would never impose or suggest to some one what they should and should not try . Every one is different and what works for one won't work for another. What affects one will affect someone else completely different are body's are different while many symptoms may be the same dosnt mean to say the same methods will be successful that's why the medical professionals make these decisions. But this site is good to talk to others experiencing Similar health issues .

Hi,

So sorry, how awful.

Perhaps you can pursue this on three fronts

neurological

temporary pain management

orthopedically

I do have a question, if the disc was removed, I would have expected the two involved vertebrae to have been fused. and how does a removed disc rupture?

kind regards

judith

Thank you everyone for your replies, I feel happier knowing others who are going through it and will understand. I spoke to the Dr and he said when I go to painting clinic they will go by what I want and say. He said if I want to go down the surgery route then that's OK also. The notes about my mri are ridiculously brief, it only mentions 2 out of 3 herniated discs, and only on my right side as at the time that was the biggest issue. Hopefully when I start pain management I will be able to find out exactly what is going on. I've asked about prolatherapy and it won't be an option, he didn't know about prolozone so I'll ask at pain clinic. I've got a horrid cold at the moment so along with my very low iron levels im feeling very tired, I've no energy for my pilates, but I may force myself later today. It made me feel great on Tuesday when u did pilates and the gym