pain seems worse now after epidural

Hi Morag,

Sorry to hear that you've also been in alot of pain I sympathise with you totally you cannot describe the pain.

I tried Gabapentin but had to stop taking them as they gave me a severe headache. I was using the Morphine Patches but I had an allergic reaction to them so I'm now taking Morphine Sulphate Tablets, they do help a little with the pain but don't take it away completely and they can make you rather drowsy at times. I also take Tramadol, Fluoxetine, Amytriptlin, Diclofenac and Paracetamol too. I too want to get back to normal, I've been off work since December 2006 with my back and I've had 2 Operations on my Spine for a Prolapsed Disc L5/S1.

It sounds like you may need an Op yourself, I've also had 2 Spinal Epidural Injections and a Nerve Root Block, ask about these options when you get to see someone hopefully soon.

Keep us posted!

Angela

Hi thanks for the replys been in a lot of pain over weekend but iam just resting now for a few hours before bed. I have had numb foot for about two weeks not all the foot just outside in to about the third toeand up the back of the leg but i cant moan as some of you are a lot worse than me.

I will keep you informed of mri results on wedensdays.

thanks again for support.

Stacey

Hi Stacey,

Feel free to moan all you like!!! I suspect that you will be doing a lot of that over the next few weeks/months as the wait for an appointment to get some proper help drags on. We don't mind. We've all done it!!! Some of us still are!!!

Good luck with your results!!!

TFU

Hi

Are you currently taking NSAID's?

I have been at my GP's today complaining of tiredness, sickness, breathleness and just unwell. She told me it could be that I have anemia caused by taking NSAID's for so long (since last October). I have just stopped taking them as I also have had chronic heartburn for three wks.

They are also going to check my liver & kidney function as these can be affected too.

I also have had a rash and terrible itching, now got antihistamine as they think I have also had a reaction to pain medication.

Go to your GP, I feel like I'm always there at the moment asking for another sicknote or more pain medication. They do understand, I just wish I was without all this as well as back leg pain and numbness.

HTH

Hi All

Just found this site, great to see people who are also in the same boat!

I have had sciatica since last Oct, have had all the usual symptoms big time since christmas when I could take no more. Paid to see surgeon privately early Feb, referred to NHS for MRI two weeks later, just got scan results last week and pushed for early referral back to specialist and got a appointment tomorrow to see what he is going to do.

Apparently I have a large extrusion L5-S1 compressing nerve at spinal junction and a tear in the disc above with lack of height whatever that means!

I have been having chiropractic treatment since day after boxing day twice a week, if I try and reduce them I am in severe pain again.

Hate taking pain medication as its next to useless and makes me feel ill, now can't take the NSAID's as they are affecting my stomach and I feel generally unwell on top of everything else.

Can't wait for tomorrow to see what they are going to do, specialist did say he would probably give me a micro disectomy depending on the size of the bulge. Really don't want to waste time going down the injection route.

Just want to get back to normal life and be a real mum to my two small children.

Thanks if you got this far, will be checking in again!

Hi

Sounds like what I am suffering with, but dont think I'm stupid , what is an NSAID?

Thanks

Jess

Hello all

I am currently having a lot of sharp pain when moving in my right hip.

As you are aware, my right leg has severe nerve damage, but this pain is sharp and then my nerve pain gets even worse down my leg in waves.

As well as this, the bottom of my spine is aching enough to make me feel sick.

It first started 2 days ago as I was doing my physio, and yesterday it was so bad I couldnt walk and I cried virtually all day until my husband sent me to bed at 7pm. Every movement sets it off. When the sharp pain goes I am left with a deep aching feeling in hip and spine, whilst my right leg which has been fired up goes mental with nerve pain.

I am still getting pins and needles in my right arm on and off, and I now cant feel anything when I do my pelvic floor exercises. Getting a little nervous about it all. What do you lot think?

Jessica :?

Hi Jess

Sorry you are not being thick NSAID's are anti - inflammatories, ibuprofen etc or in my case difofenac (sp) and naxproxen!

Hope this helps

Donna

Hi Jess

Not sure what advice to give here but I had loss of feeling in the lower half of my back and could not longer feel my tens machine this was about six weeks after the initial onset of real pain and problems. I told my specialist on my first visit and had mri and finally got my follow up appointment today yippeee after a long wait.

Not sure at what stage you are and if you have been seen by anyone other than GP? They do say that if you have bowel or bladder problems then go straight to a&e.

What I would say that is go back to your GP and pester, its the only way to get taken seriously.

I have had so many different aches, pains, numbness and pins and needles in different parts of my back and legs its hard to keep up with! I have been having chiropractic treatment and that is keeping me mobile and he is great at telling me what is going on in terms of what my body is doing to me in lack of seeing any one at hospital when I have been panicking!

Hope it improves

Donna

Hi Ive back from hospital with results well i had to open them couldnt wait[until i see Dr tomorrow they say L5 /S1 There is left paracentral disc extrusion with superior migration. this causing significant compression of the thecal sac as well as the left sided s1 nerve root ganglion.

At L4/L5 there is a small focal left paracentral disc protrusion which is causing minimal compression on the thecal sac. The L4/L5 AND L5/S1 discs are dessicated. the cord signal is normal. loss of lordosis is evident.

Thats most of it dont really understand it all does it mean one disc out one a bit out if you know could you let me know i got dr in morning so i will see what the can do for me what do you all think they will do .

Thanks for the replys in advance. You are a great support.

Staecy[/code]

Hi Well just got back from hospital couldnt wait till i see Dr tomorrow has to open results dont understand it all but is seems LS/S1There is a disc extrusion and S1 root nerve ganglion whatever that is if you know please let me know also L4/L5 There is a small disc protrusion so i think this means one disc is out one a bit out please let me know if you do as iam new to all this i wll just wait a see what they will do with me know what do u all think.

Thanks for replys in advance.

Stacey

Hi donna

I'm at the stage of recovery after 3 lots of spinal surgery in 7 weeks.

I was seen today by consultant and Hes changing my meds to even higher doses of stronger stuff. I should be coming off tablets by now, but as I keep getting worse, everything is upped and upped!!!!!!

He checked me over and I now have to see him every 2 weeks instead of every 4. He's a little concerned with how I am. I am so fortunate though that he is a fantastic consultant. Never met anyone like him and from some posting on here, I am very very lucky to have that.

He also said I have over done things again - this is by just doing my washing, and cleaning up. Back on the bedrest AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Glad to hear you have had your MRI done. Lets hope everything can be sorted for you.

Jess

xxx

Hello

Just a post to say I saw my consultant today about pain in hip, spine and leg on top of the nerve pain. and Social Services have been.

He isn't sure whats going on, but has said I have been over-doing things. I have only cleaned my house!!! I'm back on rest again. I have to see him every 2 weeks now for ckecks on the pins and needles in right arm and the sharp extra pain in lumbar region etc. As the pains have become severe he has changed my meds. He's now putting me on high doses of Oxicontin and Oxinorm and changing the 600mg dose of Pregabalin to high dose of Gabapentin. The other tablets are staying the same.

I am really struggling to walk again. Social Serrvices came yesterday. They put in my 2nd bannister rail and grab rails on my front door. They help alot. But I am crawling up stairs at moment. It's awfull. My children keep hugging and kissing me saying I will be ok, and it's so hard not to cry in front of them. I hate them seeing me crawl up stairs, or wince everytime I move.

Trying acupuncture now for Stress. Not sure if it works but having it every week anyway. Will let you know.

Jessica

xxx

Hi Jessica,

You really are suffering aren't you! I think that you might of overdone it with the Physio, I couldn't do any exercises as it made my back worse than before.

If I were you I would go straight back to the Doctors or phone the Consultant who done your Operation, you need something doing and quickly. Don't hang about when you're in so much pain, you've been like me and Tfu, one thing after another and no signs of getting any better, get it sorted out, why don't you take yourself off to Accident & Emergency or call an Ambulance (I would).

I feel for you, the thought of that pain again makes me go cold.

Try to stay positive and don't let the NHS fob you off. Keep us informed of your situation.

Take care, best wishes.

Angela

Hi Jess

I am just so pleased for you that you have such a wonderful consultant and that he is now going to see you every two weeks. I know that it seems like a backward move to you, but you are so so lucky. He is keeping such a close eye on you. Remember what it was like when nobody was interested in doing anything to help you? Hold that thought!!!! And he's right, you must slow down. It really isn't worth the consequences. A clean house (which will look trashed again after a few days with young kiddies around) really isn't a fair exchange for the pain and discomfort that follows.

I know it's hard to have your kids seeing you in distress. I found it hard and my kids are all in their twenties!!!

Hopefully this combination of meds will work better for you. On the subject of the sharp pain in your right hip? When I came off the meds for 24 hours a few weeks ago as an experiment, I had the same in my left hip. It got worse and worse as I walked. I also had the pre surgery back pain, but also really sharp pains in my back too, together with this (what I can only describe as) pressure that led to me having to constantly hold my back because I thought it was going to bust and explode into a thousand pieces. And now I am about to do the same again!!! I still don't have back the MRI results and I don't think that the hospital is planning on allocating me a new nerosurgeon any time soon. I am seeing this Musculeo-skeletal Consultant on Thursday. The idea was that I was going to see the original surgeon last week, she was going to discuss the results with him and then he was going to do whatever. Now I don't suppose he'll even know the results, my file will be with the complaints team so quite what we are going to discuss I have no idea. But I guess he wants to bend me and twist me this way and that. So I figured I'd come of the meds for 24 hours to give a more accurate picture. I'd really like him to be able to do something for my clawed toes. What else he can do I don't know. The numbness in my left leg has got a lot worse since the second op in that before it was just in my lower leg/foot, but now it is from my knee to thigh. When I've had enough of the numbness I have taken to twisting my leg to produce pain, but I can't really feel it, maybe 10%. But without the meds I have more pain than I can handle, so I can't win. And for some reason, both the pain(such as I can actually feel it) and the numbness is worse when I lie down. The pins and needles are weird too, I know it's there smetimes but at best I can only feel it about 10%. And I get pain shooting southwards into my \"bits\", and occasionally really sharp sudden back pain when I'm walking that pretty much knocks me to the floor. Also does anybody else have this.....if I lie down and try to straight raise my bad leg, it goes about 20 degrees, then shakes and shudders and collapses, no pain though. Am I getting better????? Am I hell????? I just want my MRI results. If I don't get them by the end of next week I'll chase it up.

As I said at the beginning you are so lucky to have a good surgeon that cares.

Best wishes

TFU