pain seems worse now after epidural

Hi Brittany,

Dont give up, i prolapsed a disc ten years ago at the age of 30, playing the one thing i love football, i have played at every level so was gutted when i was told by my doc that it was the end of my career, i was in absolute agony i lost all of the muscle in my calf and buttock and ended up in hospital, they were not to concernerded and sent me home with paikillers and in pain i cant describe.

3 weeks later still lying on the floor in agony i got speaking to a friend who had the same problem a year earlier and he recomended a chiropractor, i booked into the nearest and went to see them, they thought the injury was too severe and needed surgery, he manipulated my back and told me how to ice it properly to reduce the swelling on the nerve, the next day i could actually feel my foot again, so i told the chiropractor and we started twice weekly manipulation, staggering to weekly then fortnightly then monthly. i was out of pain inside 3 mths .

it took 18 mths to regain full muscle and i have now and still are playing football, i am a goalkeeper and my back takes alot of punishment in trainings and games, but i have been pain free since. Occasionally i feel that i have aggravated it, so i just ice it and do the excersises that he gave me and it seems to calm it down again.

So my recomendation is to see a chiroprator, not a physio as these guys are specialist in this kind of injury. those days were some of the lonliest and darkest of my life.....but there is a road back.

hope this give you some hope

Andy

Hi Jess

It must be so hard for you, lots of gentle hugs. I've not heard of a medical counsellor but obviously a counsellor. Perhaps you could contact the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists to see if they could put you in touch with someone in your area? Here's the website link:

http://www.bacp.co.uk/

I'm sure Jules will be able to help if she comes on line, she's a community mental health nurse so she may have some good ideas.

You're not alone in your feelings hon. My GP said that it's well recognised that people with chronic daily pain often suffer from depression, it kind of goes hand in hand. It's a good positive step that you've recognised these feelings and asking for help is a great step forward. I'm saying this cos I know how you feel, I've suffered from postnatal depression and now depression for the past year and I've just these past 4 weeks started taking non-addictive antidepressants and it's been a great help for me. Not everyone is the same I know but the help should be there if you want it.

I hope you get the support that you need.

Take care

Love

Jude xxx

Hi everyone

Just to let you know that I went to see a different consultant at a different hospital on Wednesday. After much discussion and an examination, the prognosis was the same, an operation is the best option to improve my quality of life. This consultant however does the micro discectomy as opposed to the open discectomy, he's also a spine specialist. So I've decided to go with this guy and cancel the operation at the other hopsital which was due on the 9th April. My pain is manageable still with the gabapentin so I guess I've been fortunate to be able to have a choice in the matter.

So I've got a maximum 14 week wait now to have the operation, I don't know when I'll hear when the date is so fingers crossed it's sooner rather than later so I can get my life back with my kids.

Love to everyone

Jude xxx

Hi TFU

I completely understand you. I have suffered from post traumatic stress years ago - well it took approx. 5-6 years to get over an incident.

I suffer, and have always suffered from reactive depression.

What I have just been through - and still am - has knocked me for 6. I cry when I'm on my own but not when others are around, I'm very low at moment, and fear being in pain the rest of my life amongst other things.

GP surgery gave me 2 numbers to call. First one was rubbish. Second one have said they will look into it and get back to me with some info. Still not heard though. How hard is it to get help!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm litterally climbing the walls. I'm terrified I'm going to end up in the blackness I used to be in - woudn't wish that on anyone - it's a bad state to be in.

I'll keep you informed TFU.

Hugs to you.

Jessica

xxx

Hey Jude

Good luck to you. Sounds like you have a far better consultant this time and a better hospital.

I completly understand you wanting to get back to some kind of normality with the kids - I am the same. I miss chasing after my 3 year old, picking them up from shool, going to the park and just kidding around in the house. It's going to be a long time before I can do any of this.

Your appiontment you may find will not be long - have you rang them up and mentioned that if any cancellations appear you would take it? I do this all the time and find sometimes I get in a lot quicker. Give it a try.

Jessica :D

Hi Brittany

Poor thing!! I really feel for you. I was 19 when I had my first prolapsed disc - I'm now 28 and have just had 3 lots of spinal surgery for 4 prolapsed discs!!!! I now how you feel - I had to give up running which I was extremely good at and held a few records at my club. Yes gutted was defonately the word. Also had to give up trampolining and other sports I did. I gave up my coaching job as I coudn't hold childrens weight.

Losing feeling in your body is awfull too. You must have been terrified! I was when it happened to me - I am very thankfull to my last consultant who operated quickly so I didnt become paralysed. :yikes:

You must get your parents to NAG the hospital. Usually works over here to a certain extent.

Hope things go well for you. Keep us posted.

Jessica :D :D :D :D

Hi all

Sorry if it seems like I moan all the time but I need some advice.

You are aware of my situation, 3 lots of spinal surgery since January and leg problems since.

Well, 2 days ago I was lay flat on the floor circling my ankles as advised, and I moved onto my left side - as I did it, I screamed with pain.

Since then, I am positive I have sciatica on left. It shoots down through my left buttock, back of left thigh, to my foot.

What should I do? If I tell GP, they will probably refer me back to consultant, leading to another bloody op!!!!! I dont want to go through that again. Should I leave it and maybe tell physio next week?

Jessica

Hi Jess

When you left hospital did they give you a phone number to call if you have any problems post surgery? I was given a booklet and in there it had the number for the Senior Neurosciences Nurse. If they gave you something similar I would give them a call. I don't think that you should be trying to guess what the problem is. You haven't been out of hospital for very long and you should let them know.

It may not be as bad as you think. But you should get it checked out. As one who knows, it may not be a case of \"here we go again!!!\" but it isn't worth taking chances.

Let us know how things progress.

TFU

Hi Jess,

If you have ever tried to get therapy or counselling of any kind, then I'll guess you know it isn't easy. This medical counselling sounds like a good idea if only you could find someone.

I too have reactive depression, because of the complex PTSD. It goes back to some stuff when I was a kid. The problem for me is triggers and phobic reactions. The hospital experiences brought that out big time. Mainly helpnessness and vulnerabiity. For the first op it was my choice to go in. But the second and third times were not my choice and now I'm just left with this awful dread that I'll end up going back in again. They have left me very traumatised. All that I have wanted to do is to walk away. And to keep on walking. I alternate between blocking it all out and not being able to stop thinking about it all, then the reactive depression kicks in and round and round we go. This is why I didn't want to go for the MRI last week, because I had to take that step to walk back towards it all. It was my choice. And now if I'm being referred to a Neurologist and Urologist as well as still seeing the Neurosurgeon, I'm going to have to walk further and further back towards it all. I would give ANYTHING not to be in this position.

I can totally understand what you wrote in the other post. I'm guessing that you would rather be anywhere than go back.

Let's hope you find that elusive mdical Counsellor soon!!!!

TFU

Hi Jude,

At least you have formulated a plan and have some certainty now. I agree with Jess, I would let it be known that you are happy to accept a cancellation. You may be lucky. At least in the meantime you can get ready. I found it a bit like going into hospital to have a baby. This urge to clean came to me and refused to leave, then there was all the stuff to buy, new nighties, toiletries etc etc. not to mention the kitchen to stock up.

And what a good time to have an op, the end of June. You'll get to lie in the garden for a few weeks to recover. All I got was to lie on the sofa looking out at grey skies!!!

Be sure to let the Consultant know though if your symptoms worsen.

good luck!!!

TFU

Hi

From my experience... I was diagnosed with a prolapsed disc L4/L5 in Aug 2005 (from a MRI scan), I couldn't walk, I had to sleep downstairs on a made up bed and couldn't drive, I had an operation a couple of days before xmas 2005. The pain in my legs/back went immediately after the op, I could walk normally, sit down properly, then in July 2007 I started to have the pains back in my legs/back so I went for another MRI scan and was told that the disc has re-prolapsed, the symptoms this time round are not as bad as before my op in 2005, I am due to go into hospital 02/04/08.

The statics show that prolapsed discs occur in mainly men aged between 30-50, I am female and 30 this year, my partner has always said that I am awkward.

hi all,

i have been browsing occationally (when i get chance) and best wishes to all.

im 3rd week into work and even though i swore to myself that i wasnt going to go back as a workaholic WELL yeh i,ve gone overboard and been doing double shifts, even though im not yet allowed to go back to double handling I know i,ve over done it, so im taking the next 2 days off (hubbys orders) my arm is hurting bad again and ive got a new pain???? maybe someone out there can give me some insight, its a deep ache/pain(4-5) my shoulder and right up to the back of my ear! ive never had this before but i know its connected, in so scared but i know its my fault but what can you do when your eager to get back to a \"normal\" life?

will i ever be good as new?gail

Hi this is my first time on here,and i have a question i hope someone could answer.Just after christmas i found my self in agony with my back,doctors didnt seem interested and even when i told my symptoms and they examind me they said i pullud a muscle. The intenseb pain ran through my buttock and down my leg into my foot,i could not stand as everything in my leg and buttock went into spasm,also unable to lay down flat i spent 3 weeks sat on a kitchen chair trying to get some sleep. In desperation i went to a chiropractor,who diagnosed a prolapsed disc pressing on my sciatic nerve.After many visits the nerve pain has gone but i still have pain in the area where the disc is. When i sit or try to straighten my back up too far its still painfull,also when i get up in a morning. Is this normal and will it ever go away or should i go and get advice? I'm so afraid of that awful pain coming back.

Thanks everyone for reading this hope you can help . :?:

Sue

Hi Sue

I'm sorry to hear that you have been suffering not only with your back/leg pain but also from the complete negligence of your doctor. I have a prolapsed disc and any good consultant would describe the symptoms of a prolapsed disc covering your sciatic nerve as excruciating pain from your buttock all the way down to your little toe.

I would insist that your GP refer you to a consultant at the hospital and get yourself an MRI scan so at least this way you will know what you're dealing with, whether the problem has got better, whether the pain could come back and what options are open to you.

Unfortunately, my disc will result in an operation which I'm waiting for but this hopefully won't be the case for you. Shout as loud as you can and as often as you can to get this resolved so you know where you stand. We shouldn't have to suffer.

Just as an aside, I'm taking a tablet called Gabapentin which is for epilepsy but specifically helps with nerve pain (prescribed by a pain specialist at the hospital), it's safe and I've been taking it for 4 months otherwise I definitely wouldn't have been able to cope thus far (particularly looking after my kids). If the pain returns, this may be an option as well as physio or seeing your chiropractor.

Best of luck with everything

Cheers

Jude xx

Hi Sue

unfortunately doctors (GPs) are usually prepared to do very litle for you until you have had sciatica for 6-8 weeks. at bst you may get some low grade painkillers. This is because as awful as the pain is, fo mot people it clears up on it's own duing this period. However, if the pain persists byond this time yor GP should be looking to move to the next phase which is an MRI and a referral. Initially this may just be to a physiotherapist to get a full picture of where the pain is and what affects it. Then further down the line, depending on the circumstances an appointment with a neurosurgeon.

As you can imagine this all takes time!! It's good your Chiropractor has been able to help. Depending on how you did your injury, it may be that that you also damaged the piriformis muscle etc and getting relief for this will have helped greatly, as will ice packs etc. (I know, because I was in that position). The area will take awhile to settle down again and it may be that your disc has \"popped back\" in. I certainly hope so. If it hasn't and the sciatica starts up again, then you should pester your GP to take your care up the next level, i.e. MRI and a referral. Rather sadly, as brilliant as Chiropractors are (mine was an angel) your GP is unlikely to want a report from them as they don't work in the NHS.

Just a word of warning, so far you have only mentioned pain, if the sciatica does come back after a while you may get progressive numbness in your affected leg and foot, then it really is time to start banging on a few doors, asking to get help, bcause that is a sign of compression of the affected nerve, and if you should need surgery but don't get it ithin a few months you may end up with permanent damage. Even if you feel better now, I would keep seeing the Chiropractor anyway. It sounds like you still have some sort of ongoing problem.

Hope this helps. My back problems go back to last January. I had no idea of what was to come and I certainly didn't know my way around the NHS system back then. All I can say, is don't be fobbed off, follow your instincts. Pain is your friend. It is telling you that something is wrong. With luck you will be okay.

Best wishes

TFU