excrutiating pai from nerve squashed lower back

celebgran I hope you don't have to have an op either, but if needs must you will benefit it will be a life changer!
My first op was for decompression, the second to 'shave' a disc that was sticking out into the nerve and the 3rd was spinal fusion as you say Charleygirl an X-ray prior to my 3rd op showed a curve forming in the previous surgeries site and misaligned discs.
I never suffered with any back pain at all, for years I had sciatica to a degree right down my left leg, it gradually got worse until I could not even stand long enough to have a shower and a walk for me was at best 10 yards.
I hope all goes well for you celebgran

I am getting v nervous appt tomorrow at 9 35 hope the chap can help as the pain is reslly getting me down.

I have not suffered from severe back pain before it came on suddenly last October strangely enough,

Thanks ladies for helpfulness

Happy was. Very disappointing man insaw was not a specialist he was just assessing people to weed out timewaste

Sorry iPad froze again. He said it would go before 2 co sulta rs who study my . MRi scan a d 34 other cases each wed, then i am informed if am Elegible for treatment or suitable and will be long wait then?How on Earth can we help people from other countries when I can Be in so.much pain and it isn't clear sidered urgent too long waiting lists.

celebgran I would guess that it is about which cases are considered urgent ie causing permanent damage . Severe pain ( as awful as it is) is not going to cause permanent damage so is not considered a priority . The NHS is so stretched that this is going to happen more and more - its not about people from other countries but about prioritising . I am sympathetic as I have a very painful condition ! Try going back to the GP to try to get effective pain relief while you are waiting . I am on something which works but it took a lot of taking things which didn`t to get to this point .

No not really as my disc s damaged and nerve dislodged as far as I can Understand

Nhs resources are stretched and to be honest it does annoy me having paid nhs contributions all my life that I am expected to wait in pain.

I do think the huge nod of people being treated from other countries is a major factor in resources being stretched and do understand why some london hospitals have asked for passports before treating people.

However that is a different story,

I understand if someone has cancer or become incontinent due to back pain then it would naturally be priority but it is horrendous to try and cope with awful pain and reduced mobility imhave nad for over 3 months,

I am on morphine as needed and maximum dose codeine so not sure what else also pregabalim nerve pain med, my gp I a seeing at moment is very helpful,

My knees also playing up at moment?

However did manage acquacise class today first one for ages.

Sorry f77ms that u too in pain isnit back related?

celebgran I was also seen en masse by a consultants minion, but I didn't wait too long to see a consultant and treatment (surgery) followed shortly after. This was in Wales, the process is much slower here. Hope all goes well for you, it's a very debilitating condition.

Glad ladygracie u got treatment quite quickly hope,i do!

He also told me GPs. Not slowed refer for MRI scans now it was my knee specialist who referred me for MRI whole thing is a middle.

I remember my awful time similar to you - always had back trouble off and on for years but it went bonkers around 2 years ago and right down left leg - I couldn't stand or walk for for more than couple of minutes even with walking stick. I had lots of physio but pain was too great to do the exercises. Only pregabalin took the pain down somewhat on top of tramadol and paracetamol! After 6 months I had injections under anaesthesia in theatre - two types - done by consultant and within couple of days was ok again. The physios said I had piriformis syndrome and sciatica. MRI showed degenerative discs in lower spine too. I was nearly demented in the end and housebound but I've been fine since the injections so don't give up hope - the dr should be able to do something.

celegran Pain in my neck, midback and legs . I have a form of neuropathy which started 1995 but the majority of the pain is in my back . I am on a patch called fentanyl which you change every 72 hours and gives significant relief. It is in your system all the time so you don`t get the fluctuations you get with taking tablets . Before starting this medication in 2008 I felt very ill with the pain and had no quality of life but now I do feel much better. I am still very limited , have to pace myself and `choose` which things to do because my stamina runs out very quickly and I get spasms which tell me I need to change activity but in general life is much nicer than it was . Sometimes there is not a lot the Drs can do and you have to find solutions which work for you . I believe that the injections under sedation help some people but they didn`t do much for me but it is worth trying anything to see if it helps you .

Don't baulk at surgery. It won't be offered unless absolutely necessary.

I had this problem 30 years ago and got to the state of my left leg being virtually useless. Couldn't sit, walk or lay down other than on my stomach and I was popping painkillers randomly. Even then, on the NHS I would have had to wait a year for an op. So we paid for the same surgeon to do it. It was worth it as apart from a warning stab of pain if I do something silly, my back has been good ever since (touching wood now!). The relief after the operation was instant. No pain, and I could touch my toes! It took longer to get the muscles back and be able to walk again.

Good luck. In all likelihood it can be fixed.

Thanks ladies for such positive feedback it really helps

Guess what upset me was horrid negative attitude of physiotherapist I asked about private treatment he said no idea what it costs

Will patiently wait til hear next week then make enquiries

He also said they may decide I don't need treatment??which seems ridiculous

I saw this thread the other day and thought ' I would have nothing positive to add'.

But since then I have developed lower back pain, radiating across the buttock and down the right leg which has kept me awake for two nights and i'm having difficulty walking, constantly painful all the time.
I am wondering if it will go with over-the counter anti-inflammatories or if I need to see the GP (probably a wait anyway).
It does make you feel miserable, I hope you get sorted out soon celebgran

Ps that wasn't that wasn't positive, sorry!!

Jail a do hope yours goes away!Sadly mine has been persistent and horrid for over 3 months

Worst thing is our surgery make U see nurse first inwas in so much pain they sent me to a and e twice! No wonder a and e can't cope.

It annoys me that the first visit to the consultant always results in a visit to the physiotherapist. I went last summer to see if I could have my bunion sorted - and was sent to the physio.

I know I am not walking properly (broken ankle, sore knees) so I am trying to walk slowly and properly and take anti-inflammatory tablets before I then try the GP.

I can sympathise celebgran -3 months of misery
And for anyone else suffering, hope you get some relief soon

Jalima - it's probably a knock on effect of not walking properly. It might settle - take the anti inflammatory meds if you can tolerate them and do little exercises to stretch the leg- most settlecwithin 6 weeks I was told. Mine didn't - but there are other meds for nerve pain which help, like pregabalin. Best wishes it does go away.

Have been referred to orthaoedic chap got wait for appt also physio next week so we shall see.

Just. Even away couple days and back was lot better then got worse last. Night again very up and down. I can only tolerate low dose pregabalin
Tummy seems playingmup also could be codeine I expect and or morphine

I hope they don't make you wait too long to see orthopaedic consultant and physio helps.

Thanks GrannyA
I may have to see the Doc next week (if I can get an appointment) because it has moved to my back now.

Hi Celebgran the dr should put you on a stomach protector called Omeprazole . they usually do that when you take strong painkillers . It is more likely to be the pregabalin causing the upset tummy btw . It also annoys me that the first port of call is the physiotherapist , such a waste of time and I am sure that it is just a stalling tactic . I have never met one person who has benefitted from physiotherapy with back pain .

Thanks for reminding me ftw I did get prescribed stomach protector when on diclofennac which could not take o stopped protector too better restart

My GP thought I had sciatica but the pain got worse and an orthpaedic consuktant arranged for an MRI which showed I had spinal stenosis. I found acupuncture really good and it improved the pain a lot. I manage the pain at the moment but have been told I will need injections at some point and probably an operation in the long term which I dread. The MRI also showed that a disc was compressed on the right side which makes the problem worse. I was told the injections won't work forever so was advised to wait until it was too bad to cope with. It restricts how far I can walk some days and I have to stop and rest or stretch which helps. I would recommend acupuncture if you are happy to try it.

Thanks twice as nice I am waiting for consultant appt have quite bad osteoarthritis in knees also ? Bit back far worse hate relying on morphine and high codeine
Never tried acupuncture thanks for sharing your experience