Surgery back
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hi looking for some help plz.
Basically im in my early 30s, I was injured & resulted in 2 slipped/bulging discs l3/4 or 4/5, right at bottom with them compressing bilaterally on the nerves. I have had many numerous facet joint blocks, sleeve root nerve blocks, epidurals, steroids, I have also had a nucleoplasty all to of which have not had any major success, I have regular root blocks every 5/6months which help give me abit more movement & a little help with pain but I still have to take a mix of meds- currently ranging from minimum 400mg -500/600mg morphine daily (mix of slow release & fast) alongside I take amytriptaline 75mg, & various others for depression/anxiety, I have built up a very high tolerance & even at these doses they only help me to function minimally, I can't bend, I can't walk distances, I struggle with everything. I have issues with severe leg pains, pins & needles resulting in numbness & no feeling for periods of time, burning sensations in the soles of my feet & bottom like I'm been prodded with a poker, also get really bad cramps & hands/feet seize up & unable to release them. Since the injury I have incontinence problems, frequent retention, both urine & faeces.
so after many years of having blocks etc, my consultant as now said he's concerned due to the fact of having issues with bladder & level of pain & non successful treatments for long periods as informed me many times I will always have long term problems & this will never go but will not continue to give blocks & says no further options available, when I've asked about surgery he says they don't like to do this as not guaranteed to work & he cannot do the surgery, I would under no terms be able to cope without regular blocks & just mess, do I push to be ref to a neuro/back consultant? Would surgery help? I'm so young & my quality of life is rubbish.
0 likes, 33 replies
Ginagirl Diamond14
Posted
I agree with you Icequeen.. There is very little Sympathy these days, that is why you have do what is right for you, do what makes life easier.. insist you get the care you deserve.. sadly I have been treated poorly by many NHS Staff.
As they know My injury is Liable to the NHS, I do get an injury NHSBenefit. But doesn't STOP the pain!
I have been ignored and refused neurological care a New MRI, offered Pain Clinics. Nobody can state the level of pain anyone one person can suffer.
I have had my DNA sample and results show I have a very low threshold of PAIN.
So in any pain whatever it is I suffer.
If you are criticised for this, the people who say they care for you and don't, should be kicked out the caring profession!
CHICO_MARX Ginagirl
Posted
Carolineq8 CHICO_MARX
Posted
No😢
Hi chiko, just wanted to mention that I asked my GP about ct scan with contrast and he said no they don't do them anymore because it can cause all sorts of problems i.e. Arachnoiditis🤔🤔
Still waiting for my MRI report it's been 8 weeks but they have said that there is no change so it makes me wander why I'm in so much pain, just dosnt make sense, I know something has changed in my lower back and I have increased nerve pain all over my body, not a nice feeling at all 😊
CHICO_MARX Carolineq8
Posted
Don't do them anymore? WHAT???? The CT/Myelogram with contrast is the GOLD STANDARD test for the spine...used by neurosurgeons worldwide. My doc would have warned me about any possible complications. You don't ask a GP about this...you go to a NEUROSURGEON!!!!
Carolineq8 CHICO_MARX
Posted
I'm back to see him in a few weeks, if there's no answers then I will be asking again, thanks chiko😊
Diamond14
Posted
Hi, so I'm having blocks in the next few weeks, do I continue to push my specialist to ref me to a neurosurgeon for longer term plans as this is the last set of blocks he will do, he's adamant that there's nothing else he can do & that surgery would not solve anything however that should be my option, or do I just push my own go to ref me onto neurosurgeon? I know I will not be able to survive without the regular blocks & just on medications. Thanks
jessica_78456 Diamond14
Posted
Defo push to see a neurosurgeon, how can he say surgery won't work if it's not tried. If you have the correct surgery then there's every chance it will help , my neurosurgeon asked me what I want them said what he thought but left the decision to me I've done lots of research and iam going for the wallis ligament s and spacers in between my vertebrates as well as the discectomy shaving of the disc that's catching the nerves. If you get to see a neurosurgeon explain the injection s didn't work ask about the discogram test this will definitely determine wether the disc are the sorce of pain .
Diamond14
Posted
Hi
Just an update & any advice plz, had my nerve root blocks in March which didn't help at all & also now have to catherer I ended up back in hospital due to the pain was unbearable & they thought I had cauda equine, MRI rulers that put & basically dr said my disc is now in place & should be in plain which I clearly are, I feel like somebody is stabbing my in back constantly & like my feet are on fire constantly then have pins & needles all the time, my legs give way & I fall at times, I've no sense of feeling majority of the time down below & whilst in hospital said I had reduced anal rectal tone. They said nothing can do for me cos disc is in place but that doesn't answer what is the pain, I know my body & my back is buggered. I'm due to see pain consultant again in few wks and want to go to him with questions of what is available for me, can he kill all the nerves, remove the disc that was damaged as I can't continue this way, I have limited movement on upto 600mg morphine daily with nil affect. I'm seriously depressed & just want the problem to go away. Thanks
jessica_78456 Diamond14
Posted
There's definitely something not right just because yr disc in place dosnt mean to say it's not damaged. I should consider asking yr Gp to refer i to a private hospital via The nhs . I did and I had spinal fusion 4 wks ago it's Been tough at times but so pleased I did it. The fact you already have fresh MRI images ect should speed things up . If u manage to get an appointment with a neurosurgeon at a private hospital ask the consultant s secretary to ask yr hospital to transfer the images across. You can find out who the secretary is by ringing which ever private hospital u go to . Push for this otherwise the longer u leave it the more damage to nerves and they will not mend good luck
Carolineq8 jessica_78456
Posted
Disc bulges arnt usually the source of pain and especially if there is no compression of nerves, it's so frustrating but nerve pain is unbearable, more surgery isn't always the answer and can make things worse but that's easier said than done, when your in that much pain you will do anything, just make sure you try everything else possible first, good luck 😊
jessica_78456 Carolineq8
Posted
I've tried loads of none invasive treatment s . With no success. Each disc has loads of tiny little nerves ect inside I was told bt my consultant these with many other factors can cause pain I had a bulging disc and I have osteoarthritis in my facet joints in my back as well as fibromyalgia and hyper mobility. But hey ho could be worse
Carolineq8 jessica_78456
Posted
Have you been to see a rheumatologist? He will be able to help with your arthritic pain.
I have faucet joint and sacrialic joint injections 8 bilateral every 4 months, they work really well for me, Iv had about 12 rounds now maybe more, there starting to wear off now and you forget how painful it is until they do, also ice packs are really good 😊
jessica_78456 Carolineq8
Posted
jessica_78456 Carolineq8
Posted
Injection s don't help at all infact they make me ill last time I was admitted to hospital for 4 days end up with fever
Carolineq8 jessica_78456
Posted
That's good 😊
Carolineq8 jessica_78456
Posted
Ah really, they don't work for everyone and that's a shame, I didn't hold up much hope to be honest because everyone I spoke to didn't have any joy but I knew the next morning that they had worked even with all the bruising, I hope your getting some relief it just sucks dosnt it 😢