Back Pain + Numb Leg

mimi1234

Hi all,

I know this is a MSE website so unsure if this is the right place to ask but my Mom has been in quite a lot of extreme pain for some while now and don't really know who to turn to or what to do. It is possibly sciatica and was just wondering if anyone else has had this / know of anyone and how long they suffered for and how they were dealt with by their GP's / A+E.

Mom is 65 and has type 2 diabetes and has always had mobility problems.

At the starting of June, she started getting sharp pains in her legs which persisted so mid June, we went to the GP and she was given painkillers. The pain remained and in July, we went to the GP again and she was given some stronger painkillers.

About a week ago, she started getting really sharp pain in her lower back - near the spine and the pain in her leg intensified. It's sharp pain which last almost all day as opposed to before when it was only for a while and then stopped.

Last Monday we phoned the GP and they said go to A+E. We went to A+E, they simply had a quick look and gave her some stronger painkillers. No tests or checks were done even though she was hunched up and walking very painfully.

Tuesday, she was completely hunched up in half and could only take a step or two before she had to sit down. Wednesday, we called the GP for a home appointment because she was in a lot of pain but they said we can see her at the practice but no home visits. She managed to make it to the GP which took forever, who said "yes, you are in pain, come back next week and see Dr xxxx". She was given some more painkillers and he said they will make the pain go away in a day or two. I asked why that Dr and he said he is an expert in this field.

Friday, we went back to A+E because she had numbness in her legs and near her bottom. They did a quick check and said it seems like a slipped disc / sciatica. The doctor at A+E said "we can't do anything, we don't have authority to ask for a scan or an xray, you have to go to your GP for this. Because you can still poop and pee, it's not serious enough for us to do anything but your GP can authorise it". I asked him to repeat it to make sure I had understood it right. Some stronger painkillers and we were sent home.

Mom had been taking the painkillers but they were not making any difference. She had bruises / welts down her arms and legs which I think is from one of the painkillers she was given. She has stopped taking the Amitriptaline (or however it is spelt) and the bruises are fading away. She is still on the cocodamol high dose and naproxen and something else which I can't remember for the life of me.

Monday this week, we went back to the GP's and made an appointment with Dr xxx. He said he could not authorise a scan / xray and that the doctor at A+E should have done this. She was given some stronger painkillers and sent on her way even though she was walking completely hunched up and having to stop after every few steps.

Mom is still in a lot of pain. I know there is no quick fix and no one can wave a magic wand and make it all better. However, I do think it's a bit much them fobbing her off and sending her from one place to the other. Why couldn't they just say "no one will do anything, it's just some pain, get over it"? But surely, if she has been in pain for this long, they should maybe have a look at it properly? Is it possible to get a scan or xray done privately?


Sorry about the long essay but has anyone else suffered from these kind of problems and do they get better and is it only painkillers they will give her? I've been buying those deep heat patches which seem to be helping her. Whilst I was putting one of the patches on, I looked at her back and it seemed like there was a bone or something poking out near her lower back / hip area to the left. When she walks, she is hunched in half but her lower left back area seems to jutting out. I am surprised that even after this many visits to A+E and the GP they have not noticed this.

One of the doctors said it sounds like sciatica, one said it's just a muscle spasm and the other one didn't say anything.

If anyone else has suffered from this, please can you give us some pointers? Anything Mom should be eating or drinking or staying away from? I've tried looking on Google and it came up with all kinds of horror stories so I don't want to go there again.


Thanks for reading and to anyone who might be able to help and advise. Sorry if I am all over the place because I am all over the place. I don't know if I am coming or going.

barbiedoll

Firstly, call the medicines information department at the hospitall (check for the number online or ring the switchboard, they'll be open during office hours) and check that your mum's painkillers are safe to take with her other medication, and that she can take several different types at the same time.
If she's been given lots of different ones by different doctors, she may be in danger of overdosing.

Secondly, go back to the GP and ask for a referral to a pain clinic/specialist. Sciatica tends to go away eventually by itself but if there is a reason for it, such as a slipped or damaged disc, it won't. A pain specialist WILL be able to order scans and so on and there are procedures which may be able to help with your mum's pain.

I suffered with this for over 4 years and it's only steroid injections in my back/buttocks, that have ever helped. I was taking lots of painkillers and my GP was very reluctant to refer me to our local pain clinic, I had to insist very firmly!

Don't be fobbed off and do be firm. And give my best wishes to your mum, she has my sympathy. I wouldn't wish sciatic pain on my worst enemy!

Snuggles

You and your mum have my utmost sympathy OP, I watched my father go through something almost identical. I would advise you to arm yourself with as much information as possible so that you can challenge the GP - look up NICE guidelines for diagnosis / investigation of back pain and red flag symptoms, for example. The fact is that without an MRI scan they cannot know for sure what is causing the symptoms and whilst I don't want to alarm you I would be very concerned about the numbness around the bottom. If that persists I would be going back to A & E.

My dad was far too accepting of what doctors told him even though he was in agony. It was only because I challenged and questioned and persisted that he was finally sent for an MRI which revealed a serious and urgent condition. I'm not saying that will be the case with your mum, but given what you've said, I just wouldn't accept being fobbed off with painkillers.

lessonlearned

Mimi.......I am so sorry to hear this. You have my sympathy too. The way your mum is being shunted from pillar to post and fobbed off with ever increasing doses of painkillers is totally unacceptable.

1. I agree you need to ensure that all those drugs are safe for her - especially given that she is diabetic. It might be better to discuss this with a pharmacist. They are far more knowledgeable about drugs then GPs and will know all about allergic reactions, contra indications etc. You may need to book an appt. you will need to take all the drugs with you - or at least the packaging or labels so they can get a true picture.

2. Your mum needs proper investigations. You might need to start shouting but I agree she ought to have an MRI scan. Again especially because she already has diabetes. It's the only way to ascertain what's going on.

3. You asked about private MRI scans. Yes you can pay privately and you don't need a referral from a GP. They are not as scarily expensive as you might think.......hundreds rather than thousands. It might just be worth it.

There are several companies who offfer them. Some will do a full body scan whilst some will just scan the "problem area", thus making the scan more affordable. I have seen them advertised from as little as £199 for a limited area.

A scan of say her lower back and pelvic area might be enough as part of an initial checklist. You can then take a copy of her scan to her GP so they can take it from there.

I know you shouldnt have to do this but in the circumstances, unless they start taking her seriously and start investigating, then it might be your best option.

Hope you can get your mum some proper treatment soon.

Starrystarrynight1

Please please do all you can to get an MRI scan for your mam. Your GP is perfectly able to authorise these, I'm sure. Mine certainly did, on more than one occasion!

I was fobbed off twice with painkillers in circumstances which sound very similar to your mam's. The pain didn't go away and, a couple of years later, I've ended up with permanent nerve damage in my leg, a dropped foot and even more pain. As a scan wasn't ordered initially, it wasn't know that I had a herniated disc which was pressing on a nerve. I know every situation is different, but I do worry when I hear accounts like yours.

kaya

its all about money unfortunatly and budgets, amitryptelene is an old antidepressent that is often described for back pain, naproxen is an anti-inflamtory (like nurofen but a lot stronger) and hopefully was prescribed alongside another drug to stop the nast effects it has on your stomach, codiene is an opiate painkiller. I suffer and have done for years and i wil be carefull not to give medical type advice as i know this is frowned upon here.
Doctors surgerys have budgets and sending folk for an mri scan eats into that so you basically have to go to your gp and insist on one as the pain is so severe and becoming unbearable, it does sound like a slipped disc and sciatica from the description but how somebody at the hospital thought they could diagnose this without an mri is quite funny (crystal ball maybe)? .
I would find it unikley that a pain clinician would see you without reason which is why an MRI is needed, please go back to the GPand insist on an MRI scan as this is the only way to get the ball rolling

Katiehound

Many many years ago I had sciatica.... and eventually a numb foot & shorter leg due to a suspected slipped disc. Jumped through all conventional hoops including physio, traction..... but could barely walk.

Problem solved by an osteopath over months rather than weeks. By the time I saw the orthopedic consultant he determined I had had the correct treatment. Not cheap but worth it!

It may well be worth your while to consult an osteopath or chiropractor in your area.

Dill

It's times like this when private medical insurance can be a Godsend. You simply cannot rely on the NHS I do hope your mum manages to get the help she needs asap.

DomRavioli

Please also don't forget about diabetic neuropathy. Might be worth a mention.

teddysmum

I had similar, but with higher up (thoracic) pain, some 8 years ago and my GP referred me to a neurologist.


I don't think a GP can order an MRI but a neurologist certainly can.(I've had at least 5 as I have multiple herniated discs). The neurologist checks me every 8-10 months (Officially 6 months but the department is busy).


I think A&E only use MRIs for emergency situations and can commandeer your pre-booked slot, if a machine is required in those circumstances.

AbbieCadabra

i went to my GP just before xmas with very similar pains. i've had back problems for years but i knew this was different as it was coming from my spine & down into my leg, not just localised pain from muscle spasms which is what i've suffered with before.

GP referred me straight to A&E & i was finally seen by ortho reg after an excruciating 4 hour wait. sciatica confirmed & referred for an MRI scan, sent away with liquid morphine & diazepam & advised to come back if any significant change or if got worse.

pain was worse over night so ended up at drop in clinic (didn't want to go to A&E again as was the Saturday before xmas & knew would be very busy). was given tramadol, which finally gave me some relief from the pain.

end of Jan had my scan, disc herniation confirmed & booked in for microdiscectomy. operation took place mid March, took twice as long as they had estimated but they can't really tell how things really are until they've started the op.

i've been able to reduce down to just 3 tramadol per day, was 8 initially, but pain is still too bad to come off them completely. i have got some of the sensation back in my leg, but the top of my foot is still pretty numb & i can't move it fully. went to my GP again about 6 weeks ago as still struggling with my mobility & i've got a physio appointment in a couple of weeks.

the surgeon was happy with my progress when he saw my 6 weeks post op but did say it's only 50/50 that i'll get better mobility/sensation back, & it could take a year or more for full recovery. before the op i was told that nerve damage already suffered would likely to be permanent but mobility should improve. this hasn't quite been the case for me though as i have got a few other issues that have perhaps hindered a better physical recovery. there was no way i could have turned down the op though as i couldn't live with that level of pain/dropped foot for too much longer.