painful hips after dicectomy

[Yer Royal Highness, Guv]

Hi I'm a new bee so please bear with me.
I had a prolapsed disc due to bending awkwardly in work in Feb 2010. After several weeks of physiotherapy and x-rays which found nothing I was referred for an MRI scan Which found that I had prolapsed discs in L4/L5 and was referred to Mr May at the Walton Center in Liverpool who put me on the emergency list for a discectomy.

I had this on 5/10/10 came home on the 6/10/10 which was a Wednesday feeling ok some pain still and my left leg was still in pain too, but nothing like before, I was told that the pain should reduce soon. Saturday came and I think because all the drugs I had during and after the operation had worn off I could feel the pain more, as the days went on the pain got worse and so much more intense than it was before but all my own GP said was that it would settle and kept increasing the amitriptyline that I was on but this did not help I ended up going back to the Walton center and they admitted me. in the morning I had another MRI and was told my disc had prolapsed again and I would need a re-do this happened on the 17/11/10 , all went well I was told even though it had only been 4 weeks since my previous op I had a lot of scar tissue which needed to be taken out and It would take longer to recover.

I was given a cocktail of drugs diclaphenac, Gabapentin, amitriptyline, ibruprofen and paracetamol but over time I am now only taking gabapentin 200 in the morn and 300 at night. My problem is that I have great difficulty sleeping, my hips aren't strong enough to turn myself over without holding onto something to help me, so I am constantly waking up through the night and when I wake in the morning it takes me at least an hour to be able to move properly. I do stretches in bed before I get up and I have been doing yoga.

I put on two stone when I was bad last year but I have lost a stone now and I am back at work I'm a shop assistant. I have become more active, so I'm helping myself heal but it is just the pain in my hips I can't bear is this normal? my GP just told me it was going to take time which I understand but I'm only 38 and I feel like I'm about 78 some days. I asked my GP about replacing my mattress but he said don't waist my money!! I have a memory foam mattress at the moment and it is only 2 years old.

Can anybody give me some advice as to what I can do. I'm sorry I went on a bit but I just wanted to explain as best as I could. Please help !! not having a full nights sleep for such a long time is taking it's toll on me now Thanks for reading this Janeydon xxx

 

[Slalfurbusa]

Well I'm not a fan of memory foam mattresses, at the risk of leaping to conclusions, interesting that this problem appeared after owning one for a year. Our bodies move in the night into shapes they need to unravel their own stored patterns, the idea of the bed keeping you in the shape it remembers seems strange.

That said, surely this isn't the only factor. I'm afraid that to help properly needs a complete shake-down of the whole situation including general health history and preferably physical examination. However, there are a few threads on very similar subjects here which may contain enough general points to help you get started. The important point is that there is lots that can be done.

Good Luck!

 

[oiehaudoiihiduepd]

I am an avid memory foam mattress lover, I find they stabilise me, support my back and neck and I wake up feeling refreshed and not numb!

I do understand that the idea is that my muscles will be wasting but they are relaxing which to me is far different. They rest and are comfortable.

Hips - do you mean hips from front to back as if through the groin as that can be a different disc problem.

 

[whartyorarp]

I don't think you quite understand how a memory foam mattress is supposed to work.

The memory foam layer is only actually there to mould to your body, providing even support, without causing pressure points. It does this because it is open celled, which means that unlike reflex foam (normal upolstery foam) it doesn't contain lots of bubbles, but instead it is made up from loads of tiny holes.

When you push down on memory foam it reacts to your body heat, which softens it closest to your body. The air also slowly seeps out of the holes allowing the memory foam to mould to your body. This has a similar effect to laying on soft sand, where it will mould to your body and stay there. However when you release the pressure the air slowly seeps back into the memory foam. Whilst it does this it will leave an imprint for a couple of seconds (which is why it is called memory foam). But this only lasts a few seconds until the mattress completely returns to it's original shape.

You shouldn't find it difficult to change position with memory foam. If you do then this is usually caused by one or two things: The memory foam is probably too deep, meaning that you are sinking far too deep into it.The density of the memory foam is far too high.The optimum depth is around 2", and the optimum density is 60 to 70kg per m3.

The layer under the memory foam is also very important. Many manufacturers use a layer of reflex foam as this spring layer (even some of the expensive manufacturers). However reflex foam is very hot, sweaty, and isn't really very supportive. And over time it can start to break down leaving a dip in your mattress.

The best type of memory foam mattress for both support and comfort would be pocket sprung with memory foam. Although these do need to be full size steel pocket springs, and not the cheaper and less supportive reflex foam encapsulated pocket springs.

If you really don't like the slow reacting feel of memory foam, then go for a mattress that has at least 2" deep layers of natural talalay latex foam.

 

[Annuh]

Hi Tim, welcome and thanks. I love my memory foam, and recently bought another for the settee, this one was thinner and has a much slower return time so is practically useless to me though Suddenly I realise why some people don't rate memory foam. its the foam!