After 13 ish weeks off work with back pain I visited an osteopath who finally told me I have a problem with my facet joints caused by my hyper lordosis. I've been given exercises but that's about it, looking to try and find out if anyone else has experienced this and has any advice? I can't do anything through the day without being confined to the couch in the evening in a lot of pain. I'm doing yoga to try and help too but I have a holiday to Florida booked for September and the last thing I want is it ruined by being in so much pain.
Hi Aylz, I had facet joint arthritis due to wear and tear, I had lordosis too. I had a treatment called Rhyzolosis, where the exposed nerves were burnt off. I had that done 2 years ago and still remain free from the facet joint pain. Yoga can help but have you got anyone else involved except an osteopath?
Hi Aylz
I fell off a ladder last year, broke the L1 (compression fracture) and when my dr told me he didn't believe I was still in so much pain after 6-7 months, I decided to see a neurosurgeon. He discovered that 1 of the facet joints from the T12 vertebra was broken off. The area around the spine hurts, my middle and lower back, and the iliac area is very painful (a very intense downward pressure pain). I need to lay down after sitting for 2hrs, which prevents me from going back to work. Whenever I do too much in the hosehold, it feels like my middle, lower back and hips are on fire.
My new dr adviced me to do a nerve ablation (radio frequency ablation/facet rhizotomy) on T12, L1 and L2. Had one side done last week, the other side on July 3rd. They said it'll take a few weeks to show results.
You could maybe ask your dr about this procedure?
Hi, yeah my doctor is also involved but all they did was give me painkillers which haven't worked and an X-ray from one side to make sure there was no slip, since then it's been a case of when can u go back to work? Until the osteopath said its facet joints but still now I have to wait weeks before I'll even get referred to the orthopedic surgeon.
That sounds horrible sorry to hear that, they are very reluctant to explore anything with me as I'm 26 and they just seem to expect me to heal miraculously. It's quite scary to be 26 and not be able to get out of bed for pain and have to limit activity to gentle yoga because of pain. Think I may have to go back to my doctor (they don't even see me anymore) I usually have to just call for my sick lines. I hope your procedure goes well, good luck
I have not experienced this but i am sure someone else may have some other ideas
Maybe you could try and see a neurosurgeon for this (it doesn't mean you'll need surgery, I was reluctant to go at first too)? I don't know where you are, but they had to do an mri and a bone scan to see of there was a problem with the nerves, if there was inflammation of the bone. I don't think they will see everything/something on an x-ray. They should get you checked more thoroughly since your pain levels are so high...
I hope you get some relief soon...
Thanks, yeah id be happy to see anyone who could maybe help. Im in Scotland tho so id need referral from my GP which is a nightmare cause they take forever and are very reluctant to do it in the first place, i think ill keep pushing for it though, i really want some relief so i can enjoy my holiday in september.
6 month wait now to see an orthopaedic doctor and a possible further 6 months for treatment looks like I can kiss goodbye to my job then!