I'm not from the U.K. but I share your universal problem. I'm from the U.S. This is a great site that I came upon accidentally.
I'm sorry you have this lousy condition. I've had it for 30 years. It started when I was 17 years old so I understand what it's like to be young but feel like you're 100 years old.. Never even understood how it started. Constant discomfort for many years with no diagnosis because nothing ever showed up on images until recently. The symptoms and so forth are so different for each individual and constantly change. Right?
I have a bulging disc and 2 left osteophytes with 1 causing moderate neural forminal norrowing.
It's a complicated and confusing condition that no one except fellow sufferers can understand. It can be angering and isolating.You're lucky, though it doesn't seem like it, there was no internet when my troubles began so trying to find answers and support was near impossible, just silent suffering and feeling utterly alone.
It just recently went to a new level that I'm not very happy about and am considering further intervention. For years I've relied on chiropractic though it has cost me a small fortune it seems to help me through the flare-ups. I know many discourage it but I believe that it kept me more functional all these years and prevented faster degeneration, though I can't prove it.
Mine was very severe at first, like I had taken a serious fall, but I can't recall a serious incident (baffling) to this day. Mine eventually kind of stablized so don't lose hope.
I've managed to stay active all these years somehow. I never thought anyone had it worse than me until recently and actually makes me feel like I may have actually been a little bit lucky. I also seem to have an insane pain tolerance and have only recently started taking a mild anti-inflammatory meds.. I still managed to surf and mountain bike (at my own comfort level) despite the discomfort and the risk I knew I was taking. I accepted the excacerbation of symptoms for the joy these activities give me and I realize that not everyone else is capable of doing these things. Far from it. Not sure if I'll be able to anymore myself now. I'm doing a lot of yoga and mobility type excercise and some swimming.
It's really hard when your young because these things aren't supposed to happen at that age. Your going to hear it from people all the time I'm afraid, they won't understand. It makes everything diificult and people may find you aloof and distant when all you really are is distracted from constant discomfort or pain. I'm still misunderstood but just accept that few will ever truly understand.
I wish I had good news for you, but there is no cure yet and your going to have to find a way to manage it. For me it felt like I had arthritis for the entire 30 years despite nothing showing up for many years. It's very mysterious and frustrating.
Hell, I have mild scoliosis of my thoracic and lumbar spine along with it.
Manage your stress and try to be positive it may spontaneously calm down and become more manageable. Stress, for me at least, exacerbates symptoms a lot and may help you also.
Like most Americans I talk too much. Good luck. I'll keep my eye on you.
Best wishes.
