Pins and needles

hi russ

good luck with tomorrow i really do hope things are positive for you let us know eh we,ll all be wondering. gail

Hi Russ,

I've had a MRI Scan where they inject you with a dye first. They just put the dye into your arm I was lying on the table at the time, they then put you into the MRI machine it takes about 10-15 minutes. I was told it shows up any Scar Tissue etc.

I have a real phobia of needles and I found this not too bad at all. Don't worry it will be over before you know it. Hope this has put your mind at ease. Good Luck for tomorrow.

Angela

hi all

well good and bad news, had my last (i hope) physio today, she tested me and said i have nerve damage, it dont feel that bad to me but of course i,ve been used to severe pain for well over 2 yrs so these little aches and pains dont feel nothing compared, i mentioned that i have my occupational health appointment next week with a view to me going back to work feb 29, she said she,d have to speak to my surgeon about it, as its still early days and with my job being physical the surgeon may want to see me at 3 mths post op before my returning to work. the physio will phone me tomorrow to let me know, im so fed up with the news! im doing everything now and off restrictions except repetative prolonged movements like bending / stretching for too long, which i,ll have to be careful whilst in work as well, the physio said if i need to see her just phone and she,ll fit me in so that was good. i,ll just have to be aware of my posture and position whilst working, im determined that i,ll recover completely, but the thought of staying off work another month has got me down just keep my fingers crossed eh for good news tomorrow. gail

Hi Angela

Thanks for the reply, much appreciated........

Not worried about the injection, just wondered what they do, if its just an injection or done by IV, any reaction or anything like that, I have read about taste in the mouth and all stuff like that, one thing I am worried about is if Im gonna feel sick, I hate that with a passion...

I guess if the needle hurts it hurt but I have had so many that I think I am now immune to them ;-) I dont like them, who does, but its part of it I guess, anyway been told its a small needle so that helps :roll:

Will let everyone know how it goes, get the results on Thursday

No regrets Russ

Hi Gail,

Hope it is good news for you tomorrow, and sorry its not good news about the nerve damage but I know what u mean, any pain less than the pain previously is manageable compared to that, totally agree 100%

Let us know how u get on tomorrow and hopefully be back at work before u know it it

Russ x

Hi Russ,

Just wanted to say \"Good Luck\" with the scan tomorrow :D I'm sure that whatever the outcome, you'll look at it with a positive perspective.

Even if you do feel sick (and I'm not sure if that is one of the side effects as I've not had the procedure done myself), it's still going to be no where near as bad as the pain you were in last year! I'll pop into the forum on Thurs to see how it went and what the outcome is....

Take care,

Jules xx :D :D

Thanks everyone for all the replies, will update tomorrw and let u know how it went then def let u know Thursday what the results are..... should be fun, at least I get to listen to Barry ( Manilow ) whilst in the scanner, and yep, that is my choice... :-)

Will let u know how it goes and thanks once again

No regrets Russ x

Hi Gail,

Sorry to hear that you have nerve damage but it sounds like you are making excellent progress :D Don't push going back to work though, especially with the job you do...I know you're probably feeling ready to be back and going ever so slightly stir crazy, but you have a physically demanding job and you don't want to undo any of the good work you've done so far. With regards going back to work, can you have a phased return with light duties or do you have to \"hit the ground running\"?

Take care,

Jules xx :D :D

hi

thanx both

for your replies, russ

i except the news about the nerve damage it was explained post-op and with the pain not so bad that i can live with it taking the occational paracetamol, and of course im back on the amatriptaline at night , took one (25mg) last night and have to admit i did sleep all night so its obviously needed, thats fine i can cope with that.

jules

maybe i am being a little optomistic about returning 11 wks post-op but i do feel ready but i,m going to ask my occupational health about staggering my rest days so that i wont have to work 7 days before my first rest day, i should be starting back fri 29 feb then work til the following thur then have the weekend off before going back 7 days, my team has just taken on a heavy call a gent whos paraplegic and the double handling is a tough one, so hopfully my office will accommadate me at least for the first few weeks, hows the work going with you hope your coping ok?gail

Hi Gail

I'm sorry to hear about the nerve damage, glad the Amat. helped/is helping you. And it's great news that you've been signed off by the physio, you've obviously made amazing progress. Like Jules said, easing yourself back into work is probably a good idea and I hope they accommodate you.

Good luck with everything :D

Love

Jude x

I had an accident while at work i fell and hurt my back it was very painfull and started to go black i had an xray which it came back no broken bones the pain stayed with me so my gp sent me for physio which did not help i stopped it my self because the pain was so bad then i went to see a private consultant and he could not believe that physio had not recomended a M.R.I. scan i waited and got the scan it showed prolapsed disc i went to see the spinnal consultant but he will not operate so all i am left with is waiting a 12 week hospital appointment for pain management i have never had pain thats with me every day and so severe it is looking like i have got this for the rest of my life and its been almost a year now and its getting worse,is there anybody that can advise me if there is any other way out of this mess i find my self in.

Hi David

I really feel for you, it's just such horrendous pain!!! I've got a prolapsed disc too, not had it as long as you (well the pain anyway), mine started in early Nov 07. With your prolapsed disc, does any sciatic pain move down into your buttock and your leg? The reason I ask is that this is what I've got and I was put onto a tablet called Gabapentin - I can't sing its praises highly enough. It's what epileptics take (safe) however it's also beneficial for nerve pain. Although I was on a concoction of drugs, this is now the only tablet I take. It really is a little miracle and I can move and walk (3 kids to look after so I've gotta move :-)).

Rather than be in all that pain for the next 3 months, if it is sciatic pain you're experiencing, I would suggest you go back to your GP and demand to be put on this tablet. I can't believe they expect you to cope for that length of time, it's ridiculous.

Some of the other guys and gals on here have had different experiences with different medication so I'm sure they'll offer their support.

Unfortunately, my back has to be operated on - it's a sequestrated prolapsed disc, no chance of it getting better, I go in hospital in early April. I hope it doesn't come to that for you and things can start to get easier.

Take care

Jude

Just wondered how it all went for you yesterday?

Cheers

Jude x

Hey Jude

Thanks for asking, sorry didnt put anything on here yesterday, all went well and get the results tomorrow, had no \"funny feelings\", didnt feel sick, no funny metal taste ( as I had read would happen ) no rash where the injection went in and no bruise.today... hopefully no bad news tomorrow either.

Will let u know exactly what I find out tomorrow and as always...NO REGRETS :-)

Russ x

Hi all

Just want to let you all know that after 4 weeks of hell I have been discharged from Walton Neuro Centre.

I have had 2 microdisectomies on my L5 in 3 weeks.

I was incontinant for 2.5 weeks, lost all my lower half and was weelchair bound for 2 weeks. After a second op on the same damn disc I then lost the lower section of my right leg which has gone for life due to severe nerve damage and I am very lucky not to be wheelchair bound now.

I have yet to get a foot - leg splint so I can walk properly.

I have only met 1 other person that has been through what I have but even they said it wasn't to the extent I had!!!!!!

Got to be awkward eh?

Physio has started now and its a killer!!! haven't left the house yet as cant walk far at all and only just manage to get up my stairs. It'll get easier I hope.

Feeling miserable. :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: