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Waiting on urgent discectomy !

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terrielou
terrielou

Hi new to this and not sure if i am posting in the right place .I have a disc herniation at l5s1 and i am awaiting surgery on it .I am getting so fed up and think its getting worse .My doctor has me on lots of meds but i am still in pain so so so fed up at this stage .My question is how can i tell if its just the meds not working or i have indeed got worse .I had a couple of mri's 6 mths ago but i did not have pain in my legs just right sided pain in my lower back and hip so i was discharged and put down for review .I went for the review 2 mths after and at this time i had developed burning pain in my right leg and big toe.Now i have the same thing on my left side as the right .I am at my wits end cant work cant do anything sad

1 like, 17 replies

17 Replies

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  • jacqueline19869
    jacqueline19869

    Posted

    Hi Terrie ,I would ask for another MRI scan,I will not go into the details of my case you can look it up I

    think on my blog but my pain got excruciating despite the strongest pain killers,because of this and

    trouble going to the loo they got me in hospital 12 days ago 15th Jan 2014.The surgeons went in my

    back to follow the October scan but found a huge cyst on my sciatica nerve and spine which had grown

    since the last MRI. I am now out and having my staples taken out in 2 days time,but most importantly I am

    out of pain .Good luck let us know how you get on.Jacqueline

  • terrielou
    terrielou

    Posted

    Hi Jacqueline ,I rang the hospital today to see where i was on the list to go for the op and i was told it will be march before they see me .My gp wanted to send me in christmas week but my surgeon was off for dec and jan so what was the point .She has told me if i have trouble going to the loo to go straight in to hospital but the only trouble in that dept is when i try to do a wee (excuse me for being graphic) i feel like im going but im not then when the flow does start it stops and starts on its own .I think i may just have to go back to the doc this week and she can she do anymore for me besides giving me more pain relief that wont wont .Il take a look at your blog when i get these teenagers off the floor for the night .Glad you did get your op cant wait to get sorted now

    Terrie

  • jacqueline19869
    jacqueline19869

    Posted

    Hi Terrie,tell them you loo problem ASAP they should have you in much quicker then.

    I was told that any loo problems they treat as urgent.

    Keep us up dated good luck.Jacqueline.

  • terrielou
    terrielou

    Posted

    Well still stuck waiting .hospital dont know when they will be able to do the op.seen pain management doc last week hes gonna try a facet joint injection since the epidural didnt work .i am so fed up of having my life on hold because of all this .my two legs are killing me it never lets up except of the back isnt as bad sometimes.A new sensation started as well i cant sit down for more than a min without getting severe pins and needles in my right leg and foot it takes aged to come back half normal when i stand up .So ready to get over all this nonsense .
  • Amaz
    Amaz

    Posted

    Hi Terri I know where your coming from it really gets you down, no life, constant pain and frustration and the NHS waiting game. Re the wee'ing I spoke to my consultant about this and he told me to gently rock back and forth this encourages the muscles to relax (something they dont want to do when your back is in pain) even if you think you have finished wee'ing just sit a couple of minutes longer and gently rock. Hope it works for you. Have you asked your GP if they will refer you for hydro therapy whilst you are waiting for injections? They may do this at your local hospital. Also some hydro pools do private hydro sessions at greatly subsidised price in evenings. It has been the only thing that has helped me, I am currently on waiting list for microdiscectomy also try hot water bottle on base of back and bouncing foot gently or small circles, it doesn't take pain away but I find it helps ease the numbness and pins and needles for a short while and any break helps. I hope you start feeling better soon.
  • terrielou
    terrielou

    Posted

    Amaz Im in Ireland but we still have the same probs as the NHS and the hospital I am attending is the only one that will do the op unless I go private ,something that Im looking into at the moment .I tried the hydro privately It did not help at all .It also seems that the medication Im on isnt doing much the last few days except clould my mind for 15- 20 mins when I take it .Sorry for ranting on I am just so fed up at this stage .How long have you being waiting for the op ?Il try the rocking back and forth thing and see does it help .Thanks .
  • Brownevo
    Brownevo

    Posted

    Hi there I've just had a discectomy at S1/L5, decompression, fusion and pedicle and rod insertion. Ibhad it last Tuesday. I ended up going private with PPP AXA thankfully I got this cover with my job and they didn't care that the problem was already under investigation, this might be an avenue you could explore. Sometimes private healthcare is cheaper than you think.

    The problem with back issues is that the surgeons will not operate unless they know 100% that the surgery will help. Both my bottom 2 discs are knackered but only one was operated on. Now originally the surgeon said no to operating on my back unless he could prove beyond reasonable doubt that the pain and numbness in my back, leg and saddle area was caused by one of my discs and that the operation would stop or reduce this. The MRI proved my sciatic nerves were squashed, a disc was torn, one was bulging into the spinal column bit he couldn't understand why I had lower back pain. By now I was on 20 painkillers a day 4 different types just to go to work.

    So he ordered a moving x ray one where I curled up in a ball then bent backwards (boy did I cry at this one) 2bdays later he rang me with my op date as my spine was deforming upon movement.

    Here I am 6 days later on an electric bed at home, downstairs after being released yesterday, on the same amount of meds I was before keeping my fingers crossed the op is successful.

    Keep a diary as I did, what hurts what feels better, details about the type if pain and push for a moving x ray, at the end of the day you know your body better than anyone. But for gods sake make sure your surgeon is a neurosurgeon that's operates on spines as my dad had a less severe op and cannot feel his foot. I have no nerve damage.

    Good luck

    X

  • terrielou
    terrielou

    Posted

    Hi Brownevo..Glad you got your op ! I do think il end up taking a loan out to get it sorted shortly cant stand it any longer .Ive seen the neuro and he said i do need the op as the l4 l5 s1 herniated and the pain wont go even the pain management dr said it needs done sooner rather than later .Its never ending pain killers that dont work epidural nerve blocks etc didnt work im doubtful that the facet joint injection will work either 😟 I get so down thinking about it all! Il take a look at your blog thanks for that .Hope you make a quick recovery and are pain free soon

    Terrie x

  • Brownevo
    Brownevo

    Posted

    I know it's hard love keep your chin up as I've found the more upset and dressed I got about my back the paon was worse. Play around with your tablets, I carried a hot water bottle with me which helped massively. Acupan is fantastic, makes you feel like death for the first week but after then it reduced the paon by over 50%.

    The op is awful worse than childbirth I don't lie to you, but do far no sciatic pain x

    Keep in touch and I'll share whatever tips I can with how I coped for the past 6 years

  • neciaf209
    neciaf209 terrielou

    Posted

    Hi terrie, I had a discectomy on 1st May, 11 days ago at Hull Royal Infirmary. I had been in absolutely agony since 2weeks before Christmas, not able to eat due to medication, I could not sleep or get comfy on my left side at all and I was in pain 24/7! I went to see my doctor many times and was on paracetamol, Tramodol and Naproxene.... The next step would have been morphine. The pain was so bad that when I went to walk to the local shop and it would take my husband and I over 30 minutes rather than the usual 10 mins there and back... I was sent for an MRI scan and diagnosed with a bulging disc, L5, S1. I would need surgery and was put on a waiting list. I managed to get a cancellation 2weeks before my operation date. I cannot believe how different I am. I have a slight numbness in my left foot, near my left toe but the operation was a complete success! I cannot thank the fantastic surgeons at. Hull Royal for fixing me and giving me my life back. 

    I would recommend the operation, but I appreciate everyone is different. I actually researched the surgeons and contacted people who also had surgery there. So my experience was extremely positive. 

    I really hope you are able to get sorted and can sympathise with your pain. I have been off work since January, I work in a Primary School and wasn't able to work, walk or drive.... I am walking up to 2miles a day now and still being very cautious as I do not want to go back to before. 

    Please contact me if you have any more questions, take care

     

  • terrielou
    terrielou

    Posted

    Hi guys just an update i had the op yesterday and i feel so bad they said it was a complete success and they took what was like a pebble off my siatic nerve .i felt great last night and this morning but i feel awful this eve ive aches n pains all over like the flu and my siactic pain is making it impossible to even move at all i nearly rang an ambluance to come get me to take me back to hospital im really in imense pain they just gave me prescription for tylex and lyrica .they dont even touch the pain.feeling really sorry for myself think ive made big mistake letting them into my back
  • Brownevo
    Brownevo terrielou

    Posted

    Don't panic you will be in pain as the local injections will wear off in your back. Get some strong pain relief and rest rest rest, be positive. I am 10 week post op and Inow realise this was the best thing iI have ever done.

    Its a long road but keep remembering how you were feeling pre op and a few weeks downthe line you will see the improvement. I stayed in hospital 6 days.

    I cried myself for hours on day 2 they had to knock me out the pain was so bad.

    You will get there its early days. I'm even doing Pilates now who wouldbhave thought I'dbe able to.

    Good luck and keep smiling

    X

  • terrielou
    terrielou

    Posted

    Day 4 and I slept for 5 hrs i cant belive it probley exhaustion .I woke up in awful pain though .I have taken my tablets and hoping for the best.I was staying with my parents since the op as my old bedroom was just across the hall from the loo and everything was on one level.I came home to my own house last night 2 set of stairs to get up to my bedroom as im on the top floor .I did it but it tòok me 30 mins .I just need to get pain meds sorted out propley i think which il do on monday morning .my gp is so understanding as her hubby had same op done few yrs ago.all going well otherwise today ! Ive hope again.
    • Amaz
      Amaz terrielou

      Posted

      Hi Terrie, I'm glad to hear you have had your op, you will start to feel better, but it takes time, and can take 3-6 months to feel good again (going by the info the hospital gave me) I had my microdiscectomy on 23rd April.  I find that sleeping is the worst, and especially when you wake up as you cant move a lot of the time.  Have you been given some gentle exercises to do, like log rolling to get into and out of bed and rolling your knees side to side whilst on your back to help? did the hospital give you a sheet with exercises on it when you left? I find it best to take the pain killers and then when I feel they are working do the gentle exercises, I dont try to exercise when I am in pain as that doesnt help.  Its early days for you like Brownevo says, you need to give yourself time to recover from what is intense surgery.  If you accept that you are bound to be in pain it will be easier to deal with it, and once the pain killers get into your system they will help you.  Your doctor might be able to swap you onto different pain killers if the ones you are taking are not suiting you, it is great that you have a doctor who is so sympathetic. Also in the short term would your parents be able to let you stay with them for a couple of weeks until you get a bit more mobile? Wishing you all the best for your recovery.
  • terrielou
    terrielou

    Posted

    Hi Amaz I feel a good bit better than i was my pain is different from pre op although my left side and left leg hurt like hell compared to before .Have no idea why that is.Im glad i had the op even though i wasnt sure on day 2 had i done the right thing.My doc said i shd only take about 2-3wks to recover not the usual 6 as he went in and took the peice out it was like a pebble so easily and back muscle was in great condition .Il be happy when ive mended maybe its just as weĺl im hurting it stops me doing things .I got the sheet and ive to go to the pt next week hopefully im outta trouble with the bad pain now!Also i wanted to come home missed the kids to much x
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