Wonder if anyone can give me their own experiences? I'm 38 & have had problems with my back for 10 years (disc bulge), 4 months ago, the disc "went" again, bulging further, trapping my nerve. Since then I've had pain in my back and awful pain/numbness in foot (heel, ankle, left foot)/lower left leg. MRI done - get results next week, although they're sure it is a bulging disc. On Gabapentin (1200 a day), co-codomol, Ibuprofen. I used to get some leg pain when back flared up, but this time around it's been a permanent thing. Physio excercises make leg pain much worse - any activity makes it worse - can't walk, sit, stand for long. Worried beyond belief that this will never improve - can anyone with a similar condition offer there experiences? At my wits end! Thanks.
Hello Karen i hope my experience will bring some comfort to you. I am a 49 yr old male and have had back issues since i hurt it when i was 22 i had back surgery when i was 34 and have always had pain in legs with numbness. Last august i was in extreme pain that kept me in bed 1 month , i couldnt walk stand or sit, i lost 30 pounds. I thought i would never walk again but thank God i am walking and back to work . I am very careful what i do and i do have numbness and some pain but i dont take medicine and i dont lift heavy. I hope you are better withtime
This sounds terrible! I am so sorry to hear that you've been going through this. I am 21years and going through a similar experience but not as bad as you. I had pain in my lower back and in my left leg for three years until I finally found someone who told me that I had a bulging disc. I had an operation 8months ago but the operation made it worse! I've been in heaps of pain since then and my current specialist won't tell me why. I haven't been able to sit, stand or walk for long. But! I have been on new medication this past three weeks and I'm feeling great! I'm on lyrica, endep 10 and tramal (try this one its a life saver!). I have also been to a second spinal specialist and he told me why I'm still hurting. I have rebulged a bit! Sucks right? I have to wait it out and I may need another operation. I suggest that you get a second opinion (I went to dr winder at st Vincent's hospital sydney), it could be a life changer.
Anyway! Stay strong, try new meds, go to a pain management dr (I did this too it helps). Keep being resilient, this whole experience is shaping who you are, make sure it shapes you for the better and not for the worse.
Good luck, I hope this helps
Karen. I have had sciatica for 5 yrs. Have a disc bulge and it's been in both legs for a year. Each persons story is different. I tried pilates and Tai chi and found it helpful. Hasn't cured the pain but managed to control it. I'm balancing this with another chronic condition but keep moving about. Bit limited but I'm ok. Try and keep to a routine . You will have good and bad days. It may go but I tried gabapentin didn't work for me. Good luck. I just use codamol and asprin . I've tried low impact aerobics but have done my ankle and hip some damage.
hi Karen, I am currently in a lot of pain with an L4 L5 disc bulge. I was given no option of an MRI at the beginning just painkillers which made me costipated (Cocodamol) and antiinflamatory (dichlofennax) and Gabapenntonn for nerve pain. This gave made me feel funny so stopped the Gabbapenton immediately. This was inJan2013 I had to have 9 weeks off work and just suffer as sleep was near impossible as could notget comfy. It eventually resolved itself leaving me with a dull ache in my leg and pins needle feeling in my foot and big toe. I wennt back to work,cycling to work agrivated it and as a result of flare ups I asked for an MRI to confirm diagnosis this I had in 2014 a year too late in my mind. again was offered a change in medication to Tramadol and Naproxin also advised to take Amitripotolene so I could sleep, but I didnt want the side effect of not being able to get out of bed as I was still working at that point part time, so I didnt take them
To finish my story. I had another MRI at the end of 2015 in the hope I could be put on the waiting list for a Nerve block which I finally had done 6 weeks ago in the hope that it might sort it. I had tried physio at a private practice which was expensive but did offer some relief I mannaged to afford 6weeks worth of treatment 12 sessions over that time which involved traction and electrodes placed onn my back to stimulate the nerves.This was in the school summer holidays last year but as soon as I went back to work term time it was back to square one. however they did say to use ice packs to relieve the pain as I wanted to cut back on my medication and they really helped me I put them in a back support during the last hours of my working day and I used them at night to help me sleep. I decided to resign at work as at that point I was waiting on the nerve block and I had another flare up. My job involved alot of bending and standing as working in a pre-school you need to get down to their level. Even after giving up my job I found walking my son to school difficult I am 43 and before this I was very active doing yoga and keepfit weekly while I was waiting for my nerve block I tried Pilates which helped and swimming breast stroke. I had read on forums that the nerve block may or may not work soI wasnt getting my hopes up. I was off the tramadol completely when I had the block asI didnt like the side effects.I was doing really well up untill 2weeks ago now. I had to drive my son's dad to work as he damaged his hand and couldn't drive I did this for a week ad then I had a relapse where I was crying with the pain so I am back on Tramadol (6 tablets a day) and Naproxin (3 tablets a day)and I am now taking the Amitypotolene ( 1 at night)to help me sleep so it's day 4 of this pain. I rang my Consultants secretary to see when my 6 weekly post op check up would be she said she would get back to me so its a waiting game again. I am alsogoing to mention my back clunks when I lower my right leg . I am wondering if this has any bearing on my condition as it hasnt been picked up before anyway I hope you get some relief this forum has been a help to know that you are not alone. I also found this book a positive read Low Back Pain & Sciatica by Paul Boxcer I also use an essetial oil roll on called deep relief I have also used a clicker pen called pain away
Hi there - thanks so much for your reply. So sorry to hear that you've been through all of that, hope you continue to improve over time, it sounds like you're on the right track & that gives me hope.
Also, may I ask, how did you improve, was it through exercise, or the medication mostly?
Hi there - thanks so much for your reply, your problem sounds very similar to mine, so sorry to hear you've been through so much at such a young age, but sounds like the medication is working well? I have been told to try lyrica by a few people, I honestly don't think that Gabapentin is working well enough - I'm on 1200 a day and still in agony. I had a disc bulge before (around 10 years ago) the doctors are telling me that it's bulged further, causing the leg pain on top of the back, so guess they can get worse over time. Thanks again, your words mean a lot!
Hi there, thanks for your reply! I'm interested to know if the sciatica was in your foot as well? I managed pain before my recent episode with walking (a lot of walking!) but now I can't do that & the physio exercises seem to be doing more harm than good. It's so hard trying to help yourself and not knowing if you're doing more damage. Wishing you all the best, sounds like you have great management in place & hope you continue to see improvements.
Hi there - I had the same issue, I could not get an MRI (I'm in the UK), had to fight and fight to get one. Only after the disc bulged further did I finally get one - I get the results next week, but the specialist is sure about the problem anyway. Foot pain to me is the worst thing, it really affects mobility. With the Gabapentin - I felt horrid (awful, head spinning and bobbing, numb all over, mind fog, headache, dizzy) for 3-4 days, after that the symptoms went and they started working, alas, after around 2 weeks they stopped being as effective (recently upped the dose). I'm also taking co-co & ibuprofen (have diclofenax too). Wishing you all the best, hope you improve over time.
Thanks again - I'm so sorry you've been through so much too. The ice mention is interesting - I'm working from home but finding it hard to sit/slouch without intense pain. The only thing that keeps me going is a heat pad - but I'm understanding that it's probably the worse thing I should be doing, I have ice pads so will try those. Out of interest, how did you find the swimming? Did it really help? I can't walk much at all without horrible pain so wondering if I should try it. Hope you continue to see improvements and thank you so much for your feedback, I very much appreciate it.
Hi Karen glad my post was helpful re. Swimming it helped a bit in that the water supports you but I wouldn't over do it .I just didn't want to stop exercising altogether. I have read articles for and against heat and cold pads also they say use a combination of both I would see how it feels and do research into it or ask a professional what they think. I think you will try anything when you are in that much pain I went to a chiropractor for an initial consultation when I first had my time off work I couldn't afford the number of sessions I would have needed so I relayed on painkillers and rest the physio exercises the NHS gave me were slightly helpful too anyway I wish you well and sitting is the worst thing you can do so I would try a balance ball those type you use for yoga to sit on if working at a computer as it forces you to use your core muscles to sit upright it may help also take obvious more breaks anyway good luck with your progress.
Hi Karen , i was on gabapentin, tramadol ,800mg of ibuprofen every 8 hours but nothing worked so i just took excidrin and made a heating pad my best companion. When i could i started walking around with a cane it was a slow process because i fell numerous times the sciatic nerve was so bad it was weak and my leg would just not support my body . I would cry and really just wanted to die but God gave me the will to keep trying 3 months after i started walking i went to work. And found that the excercise i made from everyday activities has made me stronger but like mentioned before i do not for any reason lift anything so avoid bending at waist . When i was finally able to shower on my own i would not bend to scrub below my knees. So ease yourself back into who you were even if it takes months and never forget the pain you had . If you have spiritual faith make it stronger. I hope i can continue to encourage you and whoever is reading this. Please feel free to ask anything . You are not alone in this agony
I would suggest doing hydro therapy. I did this within a week of my operation and it was so good to be able to move around while supported by the water. Id probably suggest you start off with this before doing lap swimming. While lap swimming is great for spinal problems it can still aggravate it.
I have three things that have worked as pain management things for me! Firstly I used a cream called ice gel, the brand is 'mentholatum'. It's cold to start with but it works so well. Also I used hot patches that you stick on areas that hurt and they heat up, the brand I used is called 'salonpas'. Lastly I used a portable tens unit, the brand is 'pain mate'. This one is good for when you need to travel or just do day to day activities.
You should really look up these three things, they could help manage the pain or at least take the edge off it.
Thanks so much, that's really helpful, I've ordered some ice gel funnily enough! it's called Biofreeze, should get it soon, also use the stick on heat patches and an electric one, those do help (in particular the stick on one's, but have to watch them, they get very hot don't they!). My mum has a tens that she's going to lend to me. I guess the problem is 2 fold - my back and my leg - my leg in a way prohibits me from doing things more (standing/walking) but both are consitently painful. Thanks again!
Thanks, I can ask my consultant about that, I've heard good things about it. I would try the local swimming pool, but the problem would be getting there and in and out (leg) so it's an undoable situation.
I can't tell you how much this means to me, so glad to hear that things have improved, you certainly put in a lot of hard work to get where you are! Thank you so much for taking the time to tell me your story, it gives me hope that this isn't the end.
Karen , just checking in on you to see how its going today. Dont give up , get plenty of rest and heat on your back . It a slow process but you will make it . My prayers are with you and your family.