I'm 18 years old and in march 2015 I happened to injure my back and slip my disc. Since then I have had physio many times I have tried nearly every pain medication out there, from oramorph, cocodamol, tramadol, morphine patches and lyrica. I have been in pain none stop ever since, every day. I don't even know what it's like to wake up and not feel any pain, honestly! So the other day I went to the doctors ( I'm there constantly btw) and I asked if I could be referred to see a specialist because I haven't seen one yet so I have an appointment on the 22nd. So the whole point of this is, all of a sudden a couple of days ago I woke up with extreme pain in my lower and middle back. The pain is so uncomfortable and makes me want to be sick! It makes it hard for me to fall asleep and it wakes me up so I have bee so tired that past couple of days. I was just wondering if anyone had any idea of what it is and what could be happening? Thankyou guys!
Without an Mri scan it's hard to say. Any sciatica issues are extremely painful and change depending on the type of issue caused by disc pressure /prolapse.
If you are in pain or go numb around tops of legs there is a condition called Caudia Equine . When you get pins and needles and can loose bladder control. It is rare but any strange pain you need to go to A and E asap.
I've had ongoing sciatica for 4 years and now have tendinopathy in my right hip.
Just make sure you get a scan helps if they are able to see the cause of your pain.. if they can. Good luck wish you well
I had an MRI scan a year ago and was diagnosed with a prolapsed disc but they won't give me another one for some reason? Do you think I could have slipped another disc by any chance? Thankyou!
Hello Rachael, so sorry to read your story, especially at such a young age. Are you saying that since march 2015 you have never had an m.r.i. or c.t. scan? If not then you've been in this nightmare condition for around 19 months?, If so then it's a disgrace that your g.p has never sent you for one!!. It sounds to me that your back muscles MAY be going into spasms to protect your slipped disc, which I suffered from for 2 and a half years before I was finally operated on. Take a parent or close friend with you to your specialist and tell him/her how long you've been suffering and that you thought your g.p. would have sent you for a scan MONTHS AGO!!!!. Hope this helps you slightly. Daveyam, let me know how you get on and good luck!
Have a good read up on Mackenzie exercises and listen to the Mckenzie Webinar on sciatica and backpain.
You probably need a Microdisectomy if physio wont fix it.Dont worry I had one and am very glad I did.
Hi Rachael
So sorry...
L4-L5 is a very vulnerable area of our spine. It is an area that carries great weight. It is an area of great movement. It is an area that can cause pain to radiate down the legs.
March 2015.. when was your last MRI? The 2015 tells us what was going on then...we need to know what is going on now.
Exercises will strengthen your trunk muscles...ask for a consultation with a physical therapist so you can learn how to care for your spine.
I am concerned because you are so young to be exposed to so many narcotics. Perhaps you will ask your physician for a TENS trans cutaneous electrical nerve stimulation...I suggest one with a "modulate" mode, meaning two electrodes are on while the other two electrodes are off, this alternates and feels like the current is moving in a circle.
Invest in a heating pad. And invest in a gel ice pack which you freeze. Inflammation responds positively to twenty minutes of heat, to twenty minutes of cold, to twenty minutes of heat...then lay flat on your back and pick your legs up, way up, and stretch your vertebrae, gently stretch and hold.
I further suggest you soeak with your physician about wearing a proper back brace with metal stays...they are specially fit to your body...and the brace and the TENS got me through.
When I study your list of medications, I note the lack of NSAIDs to reduce inflammation.
When you see the specialist please discuss non surgical non narcotic solutions first.
But of course all of this is speculation without a current MRI.
kind regards
judith
It could be a number of things related to yr disc . What ever it is, it's probably affecting your nerve ending s . Do u have any other symptoms except pain . I.e. Pins needles, numbness pains shooting down yr leg or legs siatica . If you haven't had a MRI scan,them you should push for one to see what's going on . Infact insist . Your well with in your right to be referred to s private hospital via the nhs . Your doctor should have referred you on, well before now. As in some cases if any nerve s are been affected it could lead to long term nerve damage if not dealt with ASAP, as in my case . Good luck , i am 40 and have lived with back problems 20 year,you do learn to have a higher pain threshold but it's still not good or right to suffer.
Thankyou so much!
The last time I had an MRI was September last year! They said I can't have another one because I had two last year one in February and there was no slipped disc and then one in September and they found the slipped disc so within a couple of months my disc had badly slipped. Ive had chest pains and severe back pain. I've also had pain in my shoulders which is new. I will do thankyou so much!
I will do thankyou!
My last MRI scan was in September. I'm getting chest pains and a different type of back pain. I've also had pains in my shoulders. I will definitely try the heat pads and ice packs! Thankyou so much!
Yes when I sit down I get pins and needles in my legs and feet. And yes I get shooting pains in my legs and a full ache like my legs are too heavy to lift. Yes I have got used to the pain too, I'm in pain everyday so it's the usual to me. But all of a sudden the other day I started to get severe back pain and chest pain. I have a feeling I've slipped a disc in the middle of my back, I hope I haven't though! Thankyou so much!
Disc in the in the middle of yr back in T1 ect area could cause these symptoms. Mines worse with sitting as it putting more pressure on disc . I spend 90 of my time lying with my feet up slightly elevating my head with a pillow. Defo push for another MRI don't let them waist time tell them what ud like to see happen
Hi Rachael,
I have slipped disk L5 and I get neck upper back/ should and chest pain too. Some is caused by compensating muscles and some caused by the anxiety of having constant pain. I might also have fibromyalgia which many people with pain conditions do have espveisply if you have ever been in a traumic event or undergone a lot of stress in your life. Message me directly if you want to x
I ve had fibromyalgia 21 years now and all been is heightened by this . This alone is. Crippling. Many say ME and fibromyalgia or the same . Not sure?
Aww Rachael I'm sorry to read this. I too have prolapse in L4/L5/S1 and have had for 9 years now. The first bit of advise I would urge you to take is stay away from Tramadol as I am currently weaning myself off it after 9 years now that I have been diagnosed with epilepsy after taking 2 seizures, which the Drs think has possibly been caused by long term Tramadol use because it lowers seizure thresholds. Anyway my point is that I am now dealing with back pain, withdrawals and epilepsy the last 2 of which could of been avoided if I had taken an alternative pain medication. In relation to your upcoming specialist appointment, make sure you are clear about how this is negatively effecting your quality of life on a day to day basis. Write some examples down of what it is stopping you from doing and how it is effecting your mental health. I always go even to the GP with a list because it easy to go blank in these situations. One thing they will ask is where abouts in your legs the pain is and where it travels to so be clear about that as it helps them to determine where in your spine the problem is. Ask to be referred to a pain management clinic also-this can be done through either the GP or specialist. Good luck and let us know how you get on x
Hi Rachael
Great, September...what did it show?
Was your thoracic spine checked?
The leg business is either L5 or S1 OR sciatic. The Sciatic comes off the affected nerve root so your physician will need to pinpoint just where the compression is.
You are having other pains ..when our back hurts, we tense our muscles in an effort to prevent the pain...we stiffen up. It is possible that pain is radiating because of this.
The more specific you are, the better diagnosis you should receive.
Is the ice and heat helping?
Have you been able to reduce the narcotics?
kind regards
judith
It could be any number of things. Try to see a spine or pain specialist and get an MRI scan.
Hi Rachael, I have an L4/L5 prolapse. I was able to cope with it most of the time until the disk started pressing on the nerve root. This as well as the back pain also caused horrendous sciatic pain all the way down my left leg. I got to the point where I just didn't know what to do with myself. I couldn't sleep, couldn't sit comfortably, was struggling through my days at work - purely because I couldn't afford to be off sick and not get paid. I was in agony most of the time. I had to go through all the official processes of pain killers, physio, pain clinic before they finally agreed to send me for the scan that I'd been asking for for over a year. This showed two prolapsed discs - one of which clearly pressing on the nerve. They tried me with more nerve block pain killers and a nerve root injection. None of this worked for me but I do work with someone who benefitted from the injection. Finally they decided they would operate. The relief when I woke up the next day was immense. This was in March, I am still free of the leg pain and agony in my back. I'm not back to normal - I still have an amount of back pain and stiffness. I can deal with that though and they do say it can take up to 2 years for your back to fully recover so to speak. Hang in there, keep asking for a scan, keep going to your doctors they can help.
big warm hug