Degenerative discs and nerve damage help please.

woody_56

Iv'e had two opps ( Kyphoplasty T7-T9 )-after a spinal collapse caused by a diabetic
Hypo,that was March 2010-second operation helped hugely,but im back into hospital
this Sunday? to have a nerve block injection in my spine after further problems,and a
touching nerve.
I can honestly say iv'e had a rough ride.
Zeb is absolutely correct regards the painkillers,i was put on TRAMADOL and GABAPENTIN
coming off them was the worse exsperience iv'e ever had.???????????
It's your basic right to request an MRI-to see what exactly is going on.

HB58

I'm lucky in that I 'only' have 2 level DDD with one completely 'blown' disc.

I had an L4/5 microdiscectomy in November 2010. The surgeon said that my symptoms matched the MRI findings so exactly that surgery was pretty much guaranteed to work. Given that, I was happy to go ahead and get my life back. Unfortunately, I have been no better following surgery and am now in the hands of the pain clinic and have been warned to expect this to be lifelong.

In December I saw a renowned surgeon for a second opinion. He said it would be 'worth a try' exploring the nerve root and re-doing the discectomy. However he warned that there would be 'considerable difficulty' with the surgery, there was a 'very real chance' that I would get no benefit and a 'real chance' of ending up worse off. In addition, he thought that the NHS would refuse to fund the surgery (as my own surgeon had said there was no further surgical solution) so it would cost around £10,300.

I decided not to bother :eek:.

If you are seriously thinking about disc replacement, you can get a lot of help and info from this site

http://www.adrsupportuk.com/

Whatever you decide, I wish you luck!

paidinchickens

Saversue wrote: »

I have Disc Degenaration, 4 Prolapsed Lumbar Discs, Stenosis and Arthritis in my spine and hip. I also have nerve damage, sciatica, foot drop and inversion of the foot and toes as a result.
Having had 4 MRI's, Nerve blocks ( didn't help) and Nerve Conduction Tests, my Consultant tells me the operation to repair the prolapsed discs and stenosis would be huge, and at the most would have a 50% chance of improving my leg pain,would make little difference to my back but has loads of risks.
I take 40 tablets a day including Morphine and Oro-Morph, but think this is better than going under the knife.

Having been on a 4 week pain management programme, I have seen the effects of surgery that has gone wrong.
All the advice given was don't have any operations on your spine unless totally essential - you can always have surgery at a later date provided you are not doing any more harm.

I am having Botox Injections into my leg in a few weeks, and believe this is very specialized treatment, taking place about 40 miles from my home.
The hope is it will help release some of the leg muscles that are in permanent spasm and hep me to put my foot and toes flatter on the floor.

If anyone else has had Botox Injections to help with Dystonia I would really like to hear what it was like and if it helped.

woody_56 wrote: »

Iv'e had two opps ( Kyphoplasty T7-T9 )-after a spinal collapse caused by a diabetic
Hypo,that was March 2010-second operation helped hugely,but im back into hospital
this Sunday? to have a nerve block injection in my spine after further problems,and a
touching nerve.
I can honestly say iv'e had a rough ride.
Zeb is absolutely correct regards the painkillers,i was put on TRAMADOL and GABAPENTIN
coming off them was the worse exsperience iv'e ever had.???????????
It's your basic right to request an MRI-to see what exactly is going on.

Please come back and let me know how you both get on.

HB58 wrote: »

I'm lucky in that I 'only' have 2 level DDD with one completely 'blown' disc.

I had an L4/5 microdiscectomy in November 2010. The surgeon said that my symptoms matched the MRI findings so exactly that surgery was pretty much guaranteed to work. Given that, I was happy to go ahead and get my life back. Unfortunately, I have been no better following surgery and am now in the hands of the pain clinic and have been warned to expect this to be lifelong.

In December I saw a renowned surgeon for a second opinion. He said it would be 'worth a try' exploring the nerve root and re-doing the discectomy. However he warned that there would be 'considerable difficulty' with the surgery, there was a 'very real chance' that I would get no benefit and a 'real chance' of ending up worse off. In addition, he thought that the NHS would refuse to fund the surgery (as my own surgeon had said there was no further surgical solution) so it would cost around £10,300.

I decided not to bother :eek:.

If you are seriously thinking about disc replacement, you can get a lot of help and info from this site

http://www.adrsupportuk.com/

Whatever you decide, I wish you luck!

I never even thought about getting off the pills :eek:

I have had all sorts for weeks and then I ended up with burnt looking, red face that sort of swelled and peeled (quite fetching I know) so I have stopped taking everything apart from Amitriptyline until I know what caused the reaction. The Amitriptyline does not stop the pain but at least I am getting about 5 hours sleep which I can cope with.


I also struggle to describe the pain, the closest I can say is that someone has pulled the nerve from my back to my foot and is playing it like a violin with a rusty saw mixed with my leg is in labour.

cherry-boom-boom

I have the same condition, I have been on all the medications above,spinal blocks, nerve blocks, facet joint injections but nothing apart from Morphine hits the pain. Im having a spinal cord stimulator fitted into my spine in 12 days. Are you under a pain management team at your local hospital? I found my local one was awful but am now under Guys and St Thomas's in London and they are marvelous

Mupette

degenerative discs here too.

but have other factors

spent years trying this that and the other, was also prescribed gabapentin which worked for a few weeks then stopped.

but am on pregabalin now, this i have found is working not just for my back but also for some of my ms problems, but i was given it because i have trienminal neuralgia and found that this drug helpped, and oh yes it does, not has the neuralgia headache now for almost 3 months and believe me it is better than winning the lottery.

pregabalin works on so many levels for so many other pain problems, one friend has it for back pain that normally would have her in a wheelchair, now she isnt ready to do cartwheels but she's upright on sticks

another gets migraines and this has helped

it's supposed to be a drug for epilepsy but as i have said it works on so many levels for so many people.

Be warned that to start with the doctor will need to play with your dosage until you find a happy medium so dont dismiss it straight away.

Wannabedebtfree

I finally saw the pain clinic, started to explained everything that is going on in my back etc only to be told to be quiet as she wasn't interested in anything that occurred before January.....

The doc's words were "look at me, I had a slipped disc years ago and I'm fine", my reply was "lucky you".

Her diagnosis - carry on taking the tablets, lose weight and do exercises.

Back to the doctor again on Monday

paidinchickens

Wannabedebtfree wrote: »

I finally saw the pain clinic, started to explained everything that is going on in my back etc only to be told to be quiet as she wasn't interested in anything that occurred before January.....

The doc's words were "look at me, I had a slipped disc years ago and I'm fine", my reply was "lucky you".

Her diagnosis - carry on taking the tablets, lose weight and do exercises.

Back to the doctor again on Monday

That is terrible :eek: make sure you tell your doctor.

When I was at the clinic the other week the "physiotherapist consultant" told me to "go and get my hair done" because when she hurt her back she found it relaxing :eek::eek: I could not get in a chair and have my hair washed for all the money in the world. These poor people with their "back aches" don't know what it is like to be in too much pain to move :mad:

I told my GP who was furious and that he was that mad he was ringing her rather than writing, however I would say she will have it in for me on the next visit

CrazyRed

Hi PIC,

I can fully relate to how you're feeling. My wife suffers with nerve damage and the pain that goes with it. Many of the medications mentioned in this thread have been tried, with varying degrees of success - Tramadol triggered seizures in her, morphine patches didn't really work, Pregablin wasn't helpful but we found that Cuprofen (ibuprofen/codeine mix) and Targinact (Slow-release Oxycodone) along with amitryptiline at night helps, but it does little more than 'take the edge off' of the discomfort, it has to be said.

Wishing you the best of luck with finding something that works for you - it's a long journey!

Ellejmorgan

I wonder would those who replied would mind detailing their situation with benefits etc..i am struggling with atos right now, have submitted to questionairres recently now got to go for assessment as get ESA and am in the WRAG, as detailed before i have a lumbar disk removed, have sciatica, arthritis and spine is wearing.. also have cervical prolapse which affects domianant arm..working ain't an option..Dla ran out in Nov and need specialist help to support new application
Neck needs surgery and spine is going to be fused, am also lone parent..am well fed up with it..on 70 mgc transtec
What does everyone else get if you don't mind me asking...

GlynD

I'm in this club too. Lumbar spondylosis and lumbar spondylolisthesis.