Hi all, im hoping someone can give me some advice!
My situation is that im a 26 year old PE teacher, married with a 1 year old little girl.
Back in January I was admitted to hospital unable to walk, drive etc with little feeling in my leg and terrible pain in my lower back, right buttock, hip and groin. I was in hospital for 4 days, given an MRI which showed 2 prolapsed discs, one of which was impending on the dura. I was told initally I woiuld have surgery but this was then overulled due to my age and I was given Diclophenac, codiene, paracetamol etc (excuse my spellings!) and told it show settle on its own. I was given an outpatient appointment with a neuro consultant.
The symptoms just got worse and at the consultants appointment, the Dr told me to try Diazapam for 2 week and he fully expected that to 'clear it up', he then discharged me.
It continued to get worse, I tried everything, Chiropractor, loads of different tablets from the GP, pain management etc etc.
Currently i'm on Oral Morphine as its the only thing that hits it, but does give me really bad headaches and itching.
I've now asked for a 2nd opinion from a different neuro consultant, but no one seems to want to see me, they palm me off with different pain relief. My worry now is that this has gone on for 4/5 months and i'm at risk of losing my job due to the fact I cant teach.
Does anyone have any suggestions? would a private consultation help? (the consultation is about all i can afford!) I've complained to the NHS but got no where..
Anyway, thanks for reading, i tried to keep it as brief as possible!
Thanks
Mark:confused::confused:
Sorry to hear that you're in pain, know how you feel, had it in my neck. Have you considered the Bowen Technique ?
Take care x
mark, I know what you are going through as I am currently suffering a prolapsed disc and finding the doctors just dont want to know. My back went last friday and I was also prescribed diazipam and tramadol by the out of hours doctor at the hospital. Although I have since found out from my GP that I should never have been prescribed that. Not sure why. Am currently going to a chiropractor, but it is so expensive. I have tried in the past physio but they left me in worse pain! The NHS just doesnt seem to offer anything!
Doctors in the past have also put the fear of God in me, after telling me to go home and take paracetamol, I was told I could have an op but it would be 50/50 whether I was left paralysed! I have just found them useless (when it comes to backs). I am going to go back to them next week tho and demand an MRI, not sure what that can do or the point really but I just dont know what else there is out there for me.
I dont have any words of advice, am so sorry, wish I did. Just wanted you to know you are not alone.
I hope things pick up for you.
All the very best.
Mel
On the seminar of acupuncture there's been case of L5 prolapsed disk
discussed for advanced healing scheme:
No--->Ho--->Ho--->Ho--->Ho(torso)--->No(spinal column)---> He(L region)--->No(L5)--->Ne(disk): He down, Homo up,
Ne, No ctrl.
If you tell what disk is suffering, I can arrange the points on pics of fingers joints easy enough to find to do the massage (the simplest treatment) yourself.
I understand how painful and frustrating this situation is. Five years ago I had two prolapsed discs in my lower back having spent far too much time making beds and overreaching two days previously. I too was very physically active and fit, playing tennis regularly and lifting heavy weights (working outside).
I was referred for an MRI scan and Xray by a consultant (showed clearly the two prolapsed discs impinging on a nerve) and advised to have an operation to fuse the vertebrae. I refused this option - had traction (not always advisable), acupuncture and chiropractic (McTimoney is good) treatment as things improved. It is really important not to lift anything heavy as this hinders the healing process. I found that anything to ease the pain including peppermint lotion with arnica, occasional ice packs and complementary therapies that are gentle, relaxing and do not aggravate are beneficial. I since qualified as a nutritional therapist and have learnt though this experience that the body really does 'heal itself'. It was a gradual healing process and not a method of recovery preferred by everyone. I wish you well with everything.
Take care
It does seem to me that the NHS has very little to offer in the way of comfort in the long wait to see a consultant. There should be easier access and support for patients with these problems that just painkillers and anti inflams. I so hope you are feeling better by now Mark. xxx
keep pushing
Hi Mark, I hope you are feeling better and things have got sorted for you, if not I would definately get a private consultation, I hurt my back 3 years ago and was told I had a piriformis injury and that because I have cerebral palsy it would take along time to heal, anyway after 3 years of back and forth to the the docs, hospital i moved from nottingham to Bristol continued the physio but they were unhappy about my symptoms so referred me for mri I had my mri scan in dec and the results showed "the worst damaged l5/s1 disc they had seen" however given my age 32 they decided to try a nerve block which didn't help so in may this year I had what was supposed to be micro surgery but ended up taking around four hours and I ended up with a 12 inch scar, however I have lost that agonising pain in my leg and foot. sadly my recovery has been hampered by poor nhs aftercare and the fact that I got a massive foot ulcer following surgery so am still only walking with crutches but I now manage physio once a week and hydro 2 times a week I pay for one and get one on the nhs so i am gradually getting active. However had i not seen a private pain consultant post surgery(who I now see on the nhs btw) I was told I would never walk again, now they are saying that my recovery may take 1-2 years due to my cerebral palsy but I am living more of a "normal life" than I was pre op so I would really recommend you keep pushing. good louck with it all
Lizz 🙂
there is another thread on this site in the 'back problems' section, called "discectomy - after the operation". i really recommend anyone with disc issues have a read....there are 100s of posts from lost of different people at various stages of treatment for prolapsed discs and consequently lots of positive and negative stories. it was a huge source of support for me when my back was at its worst.
i had a prolapse and subsequent herniation at L5/S1 with on-off pain for 7 years. eventually had the discectomy (operation is not for everyone, but has been really successful for me so far), but op only came after trying physio, osteopath, chirporactor (awful experience), herbal medicine, chinese medicine man, accupuncture, an unbelievable number of painkillers, reiki, reflexology and hanging upside down in a children's play park.
anyway...please check out the other thread...there are so many useful stories and ideas on there.
good luck xx
prolapsed disc
Hi,
Did you find a cure for your disc problem?
Really hope so!
Could you let me know what your cure was ? - As I am in agony with a prolapsed disc and am getting no where with pain relief or advice. Have had it since end september 2011
(am on Co-Codomol 30mg/500mg and Naproxen - it helps a bit for about an hour)
Hello, I have read many of your messages - Has anyone found relief from your prolqaps
Hello, I have read many of your messages - Has anyone found relief from your prolapsed discs yet - if so - what was it?? I really need help. Have had prolapsed disc since sept 2011 sorry this may be brief but not used this sort of message system before but i'm deperate to find pain refielf!
mark, I know what you are going through as I am currently suffering a prolapsed disc and finding the doctors just dont want to know. My back went last friday and I was also prescribed diazipam and tramadol by the out of hours doctor at the hospital. Although I have since found out from my GP that I should never have been prescribed that. Not sure why. Am currently going to a chiropractor, but it is so expensive. I have tried in the past physio but they left me in worse pain! The NHS just doesnt seem to offer anything!
Doctors in the past have also put the fear of God in me, after telling me to go home and take paracetamol, I was told I could have an op but it would be 50/50 whether I was left paralysed! I have just found them useless (when it comes to backs). I am going to go back to them next week tho and demand an MRI, not sure what that can do or the point really but I just dont know what else there is out there for me.
I dont have any words of advice, am so sorry, wish I did. Just wanted you to know you are not alone.
I hope things pick up for you.
All the very best.
Mel