Disillusioned, in pain and anxious about future

[theoriginalquestmaker]

To whom ever maybe listening,

i'm very knew to this forum thing so excuse my etiquette

Two years ago i had a slight twinge in my left leg and for a while i thought nothing of it until somebody told me i had sciatica especially when my big toe became numb. After a trip to the specialist and an MRI(how horrible are they?!?) I was diagnosed with a prolapsed disc. The specialist was'nt very helpful, at least i have realised that since reading thro this forum. He told me about a discectomy, fusion of discs and walking but apart from that there was nothing that could be done for me. I went home to my wife and almost cried. After a few months of pain I went to the physiotherapist. He performed some manipulation on me and it seemed to loosen the whole area. I must admit that in the beginning i did not experience much pain more a stiffness. Anyway he loosened the area up and told me to do these "rotations" twice a day along with a form of pressup which i duly did and everything was fine. However this September my wife and i had our first child and ever since then i have been on a downward spiral. I'm on substantial anti/inflams which turn my stomach but do relieve the pain. Im disillusioned because i dont know where to turn now, I dont know much about the injury, my options, am I destined for a life of pain? I am quite active every day(my job has me on my feet foor up to 10 hr aday) despite the pain but it is beginning to get on top of me. Do i return to phyisio, consider the operation or plod along on the meds indefinately???

hopefully some of you would share your vast experience wth me.

Yours in anticipation
Aidan

 

[lovin_him]

hi i would try to find a good spinal surgeon at a good orthopaedic hospital,he will give you the best advise what can done for you.You probably need a mri scan to find out what the exact problem is.i sympathise with you totally, i have been in back pain myself 4 four years,i have a degenerative disc which needs to be opperated on.people dont understand back pain unless they have had it themselfs.i know how you are feeling,let me know how you get on,Tink

 

[gettinliad]

If the manipulative physio helped before, then there's a good chance it would again. I can's say as that I would advise the stretches on your front though as this can aggravate. Not so much the disc itself as they are very few, if any pain receptors in intervertebral discs, but extending the lumbar spine backwards tends to compress the facet joints that are probably already irritated and causing most of the pain.

Surgery is and should be a last resort treatment and any good consultant would tell you this. There are certain signs that indicate suregery i.e. testable - loss of power, numbness, control of bowel, bladder, etc.

Pain is not one of them.

Here's a couple of articles I put together that explain more.

http://fp.osteopath.plus.com/articles/advice_4_back_pain.htm

http://fp.osteopath.plus.com/holistic-centre/articles/ost&backpain.htm

I tend to recommend a neurologist, rather than an orthopaedic consultant, if I consider that they may need surgery. Also, ask about their success rate and the general success rate of the procedure before committing.

If the physio doesn't help, then suggest trying an osteopath before heading down the road of surgery.

And.

 

[Court]

Aidan

I suffered with debilitating back pain for years and tried everything and everybody!

The only treatment that worked for me was from a Chiropractor.

For what it's worth, I truly sympathise.

Regards
Wendy x

 

[njeltucoipgidcedj]

How about getting some core stability from your muscles to support your back. I'm a Pilates teacher and deal with long term chronic back pain patients and the reults are always rewarding.
Sharon.

 

[Alanny]

Hi andy just to echo what others have already said and say that the arrival of your baby will add alot of stress and invairably increase the pain that you have.
Its made it even more difficult to spend mony on yourself in terms of finding relief.
So please do be aware that you have lots of options physio, osteo, massage pilaties before you go down the surgical route.As you have already found consultants rarely advise the alternative way but much of it is already posted on healthypages.
regards steve

 

[stimpy]

Really want to recommend a kinesiologist. kinesiology began as a treatment for sports injuries and has evolved from there. have personally seen some amazing and sustained recoveries (including myself,my partner and my daughter) amongst my immediate circle but it is important that you get a good one, as with all therapists. contact A.S.K. for details of practitioners. For the stress of a new baby, add 5 drops of lavender oil to your bath and take the baby in with you!

 

[ngv]

Hiya Aidan.
I would definitelt echo those recommendations of other folks.... surgery is the last resort. I have been working with a girl who had a spinal op for a prolapsed disc and she is worse than she was before due to adhesions.
Core stability certainly is a good option... go to a regestered Pilates teacher, perhgaps one to one sessions. Often back issues are caused by a shortening of muscles on the front of the body and the hip flexor muscles can pull the low back into a lordosis and create pain. Find someone who can work the muscles for you and also someone who can do adjustments to alleviate pressure.

Best of luck.

 

[Madrid Chica]

aiden,

I heartily agree with the emphasis on looking at other options prior to surgery. Whether it be a manipulative therpy or an educational one, go to a surgeon and 9/10 they will offer what they do "surgery" which is pretty final.

Aiden did you injure your back? and did something happen after the birth that made it worse? have a look at the links below and just become educated about what is happening in your body and the options:

http://somatics.com/conditions.htm#Sciatica
http://somatics.com/appendix.htm
http://somatics.com/chronic_back_pain.htm

Manipulation could be: Osteopathy, Chiropractic, Mctimoney Chiropractic, Physiotherapy (check they have had extra training in manipulation as the other discipline listed specialise in this area)

Bodywork: Massage, Myofascial work, Structural Integration

Education: Alexander technique, Feldenkrais, Somatics

There are some good movements for the back pain on the link below, all they require you do is lie on a firm carpeted surface, and be gentle and aware.

http://www.somatics.com/back_pain.htm


Take care aiden