Degenerative discs and nerve damage help please.

paidinchickens

Does anyone else suffer from this?? How do you manage??

I have had a bad back for years but this last year has been unbearable. I have just had the worst pain ever and was in bed for a week, four weeks later I am still not upright.

The doctor got my xray results back and said I have degenerative discs and nerve damage and is sending me for an MRI.

I have been on all sorts of pain killers and none of them work, they don't even take the edge off.

Night time is the worst as from 9pm onwards I am in agony.

I am scared to go in the bath or shower when in the house alone incase I get stuck and at DH is having to do everything including cooking and cleaning as I really can't do it.

Any advice would be helpful

PIC x

Ainsley1

Get back to your GP soonest. There are other drugs that specifically help with nerve pain such as Gabapentin.

Ziggazee

You must get back to the doctor and ask for something to help with nerve pain. Painkillers/anti-inflammatories just won't cut it.
I had a trapped nerve over Christmas (woke with it Xmas Day of all days), worst pain I'd ever felt in my life. After 5 nights of no sleep my GP prescribed Amitriptyline which worked blinkin wonders.
I really hope you get some relief soon x

paidinchickens

I am really worried as I talked to my friends Mum and she has the same thing. Nothing has worked for her, no drugs, injections or operations and I am feeling a little sorry for myself thinking is this my lot?

I know there are people far worse off than me but the pain really gets you down doesn't it.

I have heard someone mention Gabapentin before but I couldn't remember the name.

I have sleeping tablets but I dare not take them as last time my head wanted to stay on the pillow and my leg wanted to walk round the house so I ended up walking round like a zombi for hours :rotfl:

paidinchickens

Ziggazee wrote: »

You must get back to the doctor and ask for something to help with nerve pain. Painkillers/anti-inflammatories just won't cut it.
I had a trapped nerve over Christmas (woke with it Xmas Day of all days), worst pain I'd ever felt in my life. After 5 nights of no sleep my GP prescribed Amitriptyline which worked blinkin wonders.
I really hope you get some relief soon x

You poor thing, Christmas day I am glad you are ok now.

Invalidation

I got my Doctor to give me Oromorph
I also use a Tens machine turned on full bore !! Ive got 3 degenartive discs

SingleSue

I have 3 degenerative discs in my spine, I get by with amitriptylene with naproxen top ups.

The doctor had wanted me on stronger stuff as the above doesn't really do the trick but as I insist on having a clear head for driving and I have an adverse reaction to a fair few painkillers, then that is about as far as he can go. It's not easy and on a fair few days the pain is quite unbearable but being able to drive (it is essential I am able to drive due to care duties), is more important.

eighties_girl

Ainsley1 wrote: »

Get back to your GP soonest. There are other drugs that specifically help with nerve pain such as Gabapentin.

My husband is on Gabapentin he has the same and he said it helps, but he is also on morphine also.Like you he gets stuck in bed for days and he gets very frustrated with it.

zee_2

watch out for gabapentin...takes time to build up to doseage prescribed, swells ankles and takes time to come off it.
had same as you ,had to wait for over 1 year for op.[pins and bone grafts..spine fushion to 4 vertebrae]
was on 50ml of oramorph and other items ..a day.nhs op is 60/40 success.
there is a private op. read about in daily mail last year where spine discs are replaced think price of op.is 5-8 k..would have had it if had known about it, would have raised money somehow.
quality of life with ''spine fuishion'' is terrible , yes pain reduced 90% but mobility spine is like say second joint of little finger solid for bending ect. also has cause heavy wear on hip joint but refused new one rather live on meds..no more ops..first and last in 62 years../// all best to you pain is bad.

sunnyone

Gabapentin is an older style drug and it has been surpassed by a much better newer drug with less side affects called Lyrica (Pregabalin) but the newer drug costs a lot more and so GPs wont change to it without you asking for it and justifying why you want to change (such as the said affects you get)

I know its not available to someone I know in Scotland though, she cant get it even though a specialist has recomended it (the specialist was in England as there are none north of the border according to her)

Amitriptyline has also been surpassed by Nortryptalin (sp) and again the GPS wont tell you this or change you over unless you ask and justify the change.

Parva

I actually use Pregablin for phantom leg pains. Can't say it seems to do much for me since I'm always getting pains in my foot, calf and thigh which is a nuisance when the leg isn't actually there! Also on OxyContin (slow-release morphine) and OxyNorm (fast acting) but again, none seems to do a right lot. No doubt they will work fantasically for others, just don't seem to do a lot for me. Back to docs methinks! Oh yeah, forgot to add the Amitriptylene too.