Please help!
Im a 30 year old man my wife and i have 10 month old twins which is hard work even for a fit person!
Ive been in and out if my work for the last few months due to the pain and can take much more.
I’ve had and MRI scan and its revealed i have an l5s1 protrusion of the disc with compression of the right S1 canal slightly narrowed. I’ve been advised if the pain is not any better in 12 weeks after physio to speak to a neurosurgeon, which i dont really want to do. I’ve been to a chiropractor and also an osteopath for there opinion but my NHS physio has told me not to as this would make the protrusion worse.I have been prescribed several types of medication over the course of the last few months such as -naproxen, 2mg diazepam, solpadol.Amitriptyline, tramadol and iboprufren gel.None of these had any effect.I am now on gabbapentin 300mg 3 times a day which i have started double dosing as this is still not taking the nerve pain away.Can any one advise any other painkillers that will help? Taking solpadol with he gabbapentin helps slightly and so does the diazepam but the GP is not willing to give any substantial amount of them out. I am also doing all the stretches provided by the physio but seem to be getting no where. I really need to get back to fitness for my childrens sake and my work.Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
At your age, I suggest do everything you can to avoid surgery but if it comes to a laminectomy or something similar you will probably be Ok as you are young. I've tried taking PEA phosptatidylethanolamide supplement to my pregabalin which is similar to gabapentin and it helps to enhance effect so u don't have to take higher doses. A disc protrusion can heal itself with time the correct exercises and good nutrition. Have you tried blasting it with anti inflammatory meds for a week? No longer, no longer?
PS somebody also recently recommended kinesiology to me. I haven't tried it yet
Hi Maggie
Thanks for your reply, the only anti inflammatory meds I’ve been prescribed is naproxen and the iboprufen gels. Ive been taking them just as much as the doctor had prescribed on the side of the packaging. Twice a day for the naproxen each one for when ive had a meal. Then another GP gave me the gel instead to take 3 times a day but not to take the naproxen with them as it could cause an overdose.
Regards Aidan.
Well I think you'd need to get the inflammatory response under control. I suggest you return to your gp and ask for some more effective anti inflammatory
I'm on co-codamol, gabapentin and Naproxen (max dose) for back pain and severe sciatica affecting feet (2 x disk bulge) - I honestly don't rate Naproxen, gabapentin is so-so - even on max dose I'm in bad pain so looking to switch this soon. Co-co honestly does work but leaves me a bit of a zombie, however, without it, struggle to move (but so addictive alas). Tried lyrica, did nothing. Noritriptyline (sp?) I may want to try but it apparently leaves you very dehydrated in general, another spaced out drug. Also TENS machine and varying bits and bobs that don't really touch the nerve pain (NHS won't operate so stuck with trying anything I can). Different drugs work in different ways for people though and there are more options for you to try. Hope all goes well and your pain improves soon.
So interested in PEA, how are you finding it Maggie? Reading good stuff about it and thinking of ordering some, do you find it really helps?
Hi Maggie
Do you have any suggestions on what would be better anti inflammatory? My GP surgery is an absolute shambles its a different locom GP ive seen every time in the last month, one of them actually asked me what prescription i wanted them to write up, I told them your the proffesional you tell me!!
Regards Aidan
Hi Karen
I also feel as if naproxen has not made any difference what so ever, the gels do help maybe for about an about then ware off. Tried the Amitryptiline was told to take that before bed it did help get a good sleep but as soon as you wake up its instant pain again.I think im going to go with trying the max dose of gabbapentin a day a (3600mg) if that does not help then it’ll be another visit to the GP to try something else i suppose. If you try anything new that helps please let me know. I now need to to get to work which involves stting down, i am dreading it, sitting down is by far the worst thing for the symtoms to increase.
Kind Regards Aidan.
I would see a good neurosurgeon if it won’t improve on its own. Medications only mask the issue. You are young and pending no other medical issues, should recover fine if you need a discecomy or micro-discectomy. Best of luck.
Hi Melissa
That seems to the be route i need to go down, every person I’ve spoken to with my condition has eventually needed surgery 😔
Kind Regards Aidan.
Hi again
If you decide on surgery just be absolutely sure you go to the best neurosurgeon you can find. Recovery is slow and not always without complications. I had surgery 10 months ago and I'm still suffering. Hopefully you will be instantly cured. Explore all the other options first.
Don't rush into it.
Get fully informed
Watch u tube videos on your condition, there as re hundreds of physiotherapy exercises you can try.
Stop doing whatever it is tht brings on the pain
Try voltaren 50mg three times a day. You need to take it with food. Plus a local topical 1% voltarol gel. You could also try celecoxib which is a slow release formulation so take 2 tablets per day, one am and one PM. The doses start at 100mg per tablet. Stop the anti inflammatory after one week I take pregabalin as well.
Hi Maggie
Im an electrician as well i think thats what caused a lot of the problems so it will make the recovery even harder.
I have tried lots of videos on you tube, they do ease the pain, but again its back within a couple of hours.
I keep hearing different opinions of people saying go back to work and keep active and then others say rest, I put in a couple of hard shifts in the last 2 days and this morning i was unable to walk. The sciatica in my right leg was so unbearable i couldnt even support my own weight on it.
I need a quick soloution as the twins are nearly crawling now and im starting to get terrified of how hard it will be with them!
Kind Regards Aidan.
Hi Maggie
Thanks for the advice i will pass this on to my GP but no doubt i will get offered something useless like asprin instead!
Regards Aidan.
Hi Aidan, i have had a bad back (bulging disk) touching sciatic nerve 3 years ago. This caused me altered skin sensations and numbness. I was on amitriptyline for 2 years and had a bad time coming off it but it did help me. I eventually came off it in december 2017 and my back became sore again in december. I started physio 8th jan and developed sciatica in my left leg in march but, mild, it was in my buttock and foot too. This has now spread to both legs and buttocks. I have been on naproxen for months had diazapam ( like you cant be prescribed anymore as addictive). I am currently on gabapentin and cry daily due to this awful pain. My gp has referred me back to physio as this ended 20th june ( even though i was in pain still). I go again in 2 weeks. I feel so sad that this is how i am and have been for months. Keep me posted if something helps please.
What kind of surgery did you have ? I’m definitely going zthe surgery route. I’ve tried EVERYTHING. I am getting my final epidural shot and then I will be a candidate for surgery.
Hi genie
I had L4-5 laminectomy and fusion.
I've got spinal canal stenosis, scoliosis and a bit of as twist so I'm probably not an easy patient
Thanks Maggie, I’m sorry we all are going through this. I have been suffering with severe sciatica for 9mos 😢. I’ll pray for us both.
I used to be a spinal surgery ward and ICU nurse. Just make sure you feel and confident with the surgery you may eventually choose. It sounds like it would be a simple discectomy/ microdiscectomy to relieve the pressure on the nerve root. It makes sense as you said sitting makes the pain worse (compression of the vertebra pushing bludging disc further onto nerve root). There are usually strict precautions for 6 weeks and it a few months to recover but as long as you follow the recovery guidelines well, you should be ok. Melissa