excrutiating pai from nerve squashed lower back

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.

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.

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!!

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

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.

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 .

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.

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.

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.

Sorry f77ms that u too in pain isnit back related?

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.

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 .

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.

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

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

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've just remembered, 3 years ago husband had a terrible pain down one leg, Xrays showed he had squashed spinal nerves. Turned out to be pressure on the crural nerve, never heard of it, it's right behind the sciatic nerve.
He had a cortisone injection which helped - he's had it twice. It's usually better in the summer when he's more active.

LadyGracie it sounds as though you had a spinal fusion. Not every spinal operation works and it is very difficult to treat somebody who has lower back pain without pain radiating down one or both legs.

Sound wonderful in end ladygracie

I do hope won't. need an op we will have to see

Was it your discs out place?

I suffered with sciatica for many years and had to finally succumb to surgery 11 years ago for decompression, I had relief for a short period, then had injections and physio then finally had another operation 12 months after the first op, I woke up in such pain, I was told it was probably bruising and muscle spasm, it never really passed, I saw the surgeon 4 months after 2nd op and had 3rd op 2 weeks later, where they fitted titanium 'scaffolding' to my lower back. I would still recommend surgery, I've been completely pain free since my last op, it was an horrific 16 months but I've got my life back and can walk for miles.

I never realised how nerves linked up until I had back pain. The pain just takes over. Good luck with the op celebgran if you go for it.

I suffer from a dodgy lower back, which can seize up if I have been gardening for a long time, or just sitting awkwardly. It is horribly painful and the pain radiates around the whole abdomen. I have managed to cope with it by visiting an osteopath when it flares up who can immediately identify which bit of the spine has less mobility, manipulating that area, and using acupuncture. I find the heat pads useful, ibuprofen gel, and Pilates. I also have one of those springy back cushions for my work chair and a good mattress. I had a bit of a flare up recently but it is got much better after 2 weeks doing the above. I hope your operation, if you have it, is successful, celebgran as back pain is awful.

Thanks Anya that's so wonderful to hear some positive feedback

My poor Sister in Law has excruciating back pain for nearly 6 months in 2015 and it took forever to get something done about it. Her GP kept giving her various pain killlers but they gradually affected her stomach.

Eventually she was referred to a consultant and had some kind of operation to ease the pressure on her sciatic nerve. She was also told to lose weight, which she did, and it was suggested goldengirl that she take up Pilates, as you mentioned.

Anyway the moral if this story is that, with help, the correct treatment and a follow up back-care régime things can get better. She's been pain-free now for over 12 months.

I had excruciating back pain last summer - my back kept going into spasm. Urgent Care said to take 2 paracetamol. The GP was puzzled and I had a CT scan to rule out ovarian cancer. I booked an appointment with an injuries specialist at my Pilates studio and it turned out I've got one leg 3cm shorter than the other! Since then I've seen an orthotist, do special exercises at Pilates and swim. It will take about a year for my spine to adjust and I have monthly sessions to loosen the tight muscles. It never occurred to me that I had a short leg so it was worth having my body looked at as a whole and not just the bit that was hurting.