Hi. I have had an MRI which has shown DDD on 3 discs. I have now had this lower back pain for 12 months. I have had acupuncture/chiro/steroid & epidural injections and nothing has helped with the pain. This is all alongside medication. An Orthopedic consultant has said it is not operable as it involves too many discs. So I am now left in pain still, depressed and no quality of life whatsoever. Has anyone been in this situation or has any ideas . Clutching at straws for my own sanity, husband and my 15 year old & 4 year of twins.
Thanks
Do you get numbness in your legs as I've had a mri scan l5 same as you DDD But the specialist has said that the pain I described can't be coming from my disc as the sciatia nerve is not effected I'm in agony 24/7 I take amitriptyline for sleeping and tramadol for the pain
Which part of the country are you in first of all.
Secondly, request a second opinion from a hospital which specialises in spinal injuries in the north west it is Liverpools Walton Centre. You can't be left in pain like that.
The thing that bothers me is if you are in a car crash and have a spinal injury they all want to know but when it comes on over a matter of time they just don't want to be bothered
please make sure your MRI rules out any Modic changes or reactive endplate changes. if you do have them you might want to look into modic antibiotic spinal therapy.
all the best
My left leg constantly feels heavy and a little numb, but I can feel it if I pinch it! I have had some simple tests, just bending and reflex tests & as there were reflexes then the surgeon said there is nothing wrong with my nerves. I too take amitryptyline/gaberpentin/naproxen/diazepam/paracetamol. I cannot walk longer than about 10mins before I can barely put one foot in front of the other.
How someone else with the same MRI walk around and not even know ( which is what DR said) is unbelievable!
I am in Cambridgeshire.
I am seeing a consultant in an orthopaedic & spinal specialist hospital, he said he will try another epidural this month ( last one was done in a different general hospital) this one he will do under local anaesthetic. Not sure that will make any difference !
Thanks for this information. I have never heard of any of it so I will do some research. Do you speak from experience?
Thanks for your time.
I am so sorry I know how you feel it is horrible the only thing that really helps is with all kinds of stretching and yoga and sometimes if you have to hurt through the pain like when you're stretching let it hurt and it's kind of relieve the muscle sometimes it's something with the muscles and just sometimes naproxen help in walking a lot help actually relieved it so keep trying so sorry for 9 months for me
The main problem I seem to have when I try to do stretching or core exercises or walking too much is that my back just goes into a massive spasm and I literally can't move & end up bed ridden for a few days. But in saying that, some days I think are not as bad and then I just get up from a chair and it happens. There seems to be no logic behind it.
9 months and counting I'm sure for you.
I've been reading things about the piriformis muscle which causes the prob near sciatic nerve..and putting like a tennis ball and just letting it sit on the muscle like a minute or two and it I do it around the glute muscles and it helps I also got a shot of a toradol for pain and a steroid for 3 days Had no muscle tingle pain ..but its coming back. it was nice just to have no pain you might try that but I'm going to get the major shot that goes in the actual nerves or joints soon..also ice gel packs and tens muscle thing i ordered and a back brace..i am trying everything.
just remembered my girlfriend who is a nurse said to soak in Epsom salt and really just getting to the joints in the nerves in the supposed to help so I'm going to try that too
The tennis ball or a rolled up town is really good
also if you lay on your back and with each knee bend your knee and then try to touch your bed or floor repeat this about five times per day and do it every day, always try to keep your shoulders flat on the surface.
This technique was shown to me by an wrestler.
I also used to have my five year old son stand on the area that causing the problem and carefully try to move under the weight.
This type of treatment may cause a cracking sound but that is good as you have moved the offending bones or tendon back in to place
In USA so can't comment on the care you have available. Age 68, 12 months of disabling low back pain with burning nerve pain into right leg. MRI showed spinal stenosis, scoliosis, bulging discs at several lumbar levels. 3 epidural injections, chiro, acupuncture, physical therapy, pain meds. Refusal by ortho back surgeon to even consider surgery. Finally referral to spinal reconstruction surgeon. Out now 3 months from decompression and fusion at 3 levels, L2-5. Rough recovery/rehab but I can now walk as necessary, carry on a somewhat normal life, and the pain, even though present every day to some degree, is manageable with gabapentin,Tylenol and ibuprofen. No regret at this time even though I'm aware that the hardware used for fusion may not hold because of soft bones from osteoporosis. I was willing to try anything for pain relief and am sorry others might not have surgery as an option.
Key signs of Modic degeneration, hope you are doing some research!
My left leg just feels not alive, kind off like I need to feel the need to limp off it as it doesn't feel strong enough. Mind you after 12 months of not being able to do anything, I think most of my bodies muscle is just wasting away.
Yes. I certainly have. My chiropractic said he has not heard of modic changes causing pain. I'm seeing my Orthopedic surgeon tomorrow for an epidural so I will be asking him also.
My SI joint and all around is really sore. It does feel like there are big knots in that area. So this could help hopefully.
Thank you.
Wow. You have been through a lot. My Orthopedic surgeon said he would not fuse the 3 discs as it would put too much pressure on the discs above and in a short time I would end up needing more surgery on those discs then where does it end. So no option of surgery.
I really hope it holds out good for you. X.
U to, best wishes ..the shot kinda war off, but I'm just going to keep walking, ice and the whoke bit.. I don't think Surgery is good anyway it's probably makes it worse, They say the body heals..we will see..
Your chiropractor is unfortunately very misinformed. The orthopedist will most likely not up on this. You need to look for a MAST center. After the epidural has worn off, please check it out.
All the best!