Herniated disc :(

[woopwoop]

This week has been my toughest ever, and I have a herniated disc that painkillers and steroids aren't really working to help... my lower back and left leg to my knee are in such agony, I cant get anything done...

Has anyone here experienced this or have advice?

The docs see the problem with the disc on the xray, they will give me a steroid shot around my spine/the disc on Mon/Tues after an MRI but until then I just have steroid tablets and pain killers.

My work involves standing up for hours and hours and at home sat typing for hours. I'm thinking that even if the pain eventually goes away and the disc realigns (don't know how unless surgery) then what can I do to never have this happen again? (or at least reduce all chances)

 

[redbird]

Hi,

I have experience of exactly that, almost 30 years ago but still remember the pain. Only immediate pain relief I found was lying in a hot bath. I also had an infra red lamp that helped a bit.

EDIT: I had physio for a while but in my case didn't help, but for many it can. I ended up having surgery,but things may have improved 30 years on.

Dave

 

[Nova]

I've had it several times. The first time was the worse, felt like a sniper shot me in the lower back. It gets better and once every so many years I'll twist when carting heavy bags or something and boom. I was told an ice pack rather to heat helps because it reduces the protrusion in the area. I was also told to sleep on the floor as a soft bed doesn't help.

Depending on the severity or how long it lasts I think they can operate. If it happens to me now it is much more bare able, I don't think I bother with painkillers anymore. It seems to clear up in 3-4 days time.

 

[woopwoop]

Thanks for the tips Dave and Nova...

The pain is a little easier to cope with today (it was so intense that I shed a tear because I couldn't escape the pain... I have changed my perspective on a lot of things since going through this)

 

[redbird]

As nova said cold can be just as effective and I remember using a "pain relief spray" which is very cold. I found it only offered very temporary relief, not sure if it just replaces the pain with a different type of pain (cold) but I suspect it does more than that.

I remember one day I had to drive 35 miles to a very important exam and had to stop every few miles to use the can of pain refielf spray! Something I don't think I'll ever forget.

Hope it eases up soon....

 

[aZooZa]

If what you're suffering from is sciatica as a result of the injury, I have had this three times in my life. It is indeed some of the worst pain imaginable. The only way I was ever able to get relief (and I mean REAL relief) was as much codeine as the doctor would prescribe, and then lying on my side with my knees curled up towards my stomach - for a complete week.

Caveat: I'm not a doctor, but you could ask yours about my suggestion.

 

[redbird]

Yes totally agree, the pain I believe is caused by the disc pressing on the sciatic nerve which I assume (I'm also not a doctor) must go all way down legs as at one point my toes went numb which is part of the same symptoms.

Finding the right position to lie in is also a good idea, experiment and find the least painful position as it may be different for you.

Personally I never had any relief from painkillers and stopped taking them, what I didn't however realise at the time was what I was prescribed was also an anti inflamatory which probably would have had some effect over a longer term if I had taken them.

 

[Edwin]

Does it hurt as much when you're lying down?

If not, you could consider getting a special tray to hold your laptop on so that you can use it while lying down in bed. Not the kind that you put on your lap, because that involves sitting up, but there are some I believe that kind of clip the laptop almost over your head.

 

[retired_member34]

My tally so far, 3 herniated dics, 3 nerve root blocks, 2 MRIs, 1 discectomy.

When the disc is herniated a nerve root block you are going to have will help (anaesthetic and steriod injected directly into the nerve as it leaves the spine). How long it will help will depend upon the extend of the hernia. My first lasted 2 days, the second a month, the third long enough to recover.

Painkillers from the doc, mostly likely co-codamol or similar (a mixture of paracetamol and codeine). A 30/500 on prescription (so contains 30Mg of codeine, 500mg para) taken 8 times a day gives pretty strong relief, but beware the codeine is rapidly addictive. I took them for 4 or 5 months prior to my discectomy then stopped abruptly the day after the op. I was very depressed for around a week and couldn't understand why, it was the doc that later stated I had just stopped an addiction overnight without realising!

NSAIDS help a lot (non-steroid anti inflammatories) and will provide additional pain relief, I used to take diclocflenac but that has had some horror stories attached with regard to heart disease so have now stopped.

My first disc had me unable to walk for 2 months or drive for 6. The second I was more clued up and so had a private MRI then a referral straight to the surgeon who performed the discectomy after the first disc. Thankfully the nerve root block and anti-inflammatories were sufficient for recovery. My last one I simply went privately for the nerve root block immediately, and that was all I needed.

For prevention, go to a physio and ask for an ongoing programme. Get a good work chair and a sit-stand desk, research the proper method for sitting, standing, lifting, etc. It is very easy to become complacent though (hence my 3!), but normally your discs harden with age and each subsequent hernia becomes less severe.

You will get through it!

 

[woopwoop]

Does it hurt as much when you're lying down?

It does unless I find a perfect position - last night that was impossible.

My tally so far, 3 herniated dics, 3 nerve root blocks, 2 MRIs, 1 discectomy...

You will get through it!

Geo I can now really feel for you and anyone else who has gone through this or anything like it.

I'm numb below my left knee but excruciating pain from my lower back to my left knee cap. The pain meds are starting to help with the steroids.

After recovery (hopefully soon) I know I'm going to have to change my life a bit to reduce the risk of it happening again. I carry things that are too heavy, throw my son in the air and have a terrible desk chair...

 

[Nova]

Once you recover you tend to forget about it and that's the danger. The last time it happened to me I was carrying my daughter on my shoulders and I could remember asking her to stop leaning forward on my head. Pushing my neck forward must of loosened my lower back off which caused the problem. The thing is it was okay at the time but the next morning I could hardly get out of bed. My legs were numb and I while I was okay sitting at my computer at work for the most part I did feel it when I moved much or tried to stand up. I have quite a high pain tolerance but there's nothing more debilitating than a sore back.

You just have to soldier on and remember it will get better.

I still go to the gym to do weights and go to boxing training, so don't worry about it too much. You just have to be sensible about your posture, especially with weights and watch you don't bend or twist too quickly.

 

[lee]

I felt something go in my lower back in April and have survived on Codeine and now Diazapam for a while.

I saw my GP just yesterday and told her to refer me to someone that can sort it out. I've had a letter from a specialist today and Im going in on Tuesday to have it looked at.

Hot bath and the Diazapam are keeping it at bay at the moment.

 

[woopwoop]

Good luck with it Lee. I had the MRI a few days ago and I have 2 herniated discs and 2 torn discs (not sure what that means).

I've been walking with a stick for over a week. NSAIDs definitely help, Dr suggested the epidural, I've heard a few people say that turned out badly (bed ridden for 2 months) so am.just doing physio for now.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk

 

[Skinner]

I haven't damaged any discs (thankfully) but I have worked my erectors far too hard, when I do lowerbody/leg day in the gym.

If the pain I get for a few days after is a small percentage of your constant pain, I can sympathise totally.

I find hot water, def helps, like really hot, as hot as I can stand, this helps more than most the drugs for me. Stretching and mild activity helps a lot too, as resting it makes me stiff and cease up which is painful to get moving again.

 

[lee]

Good luck with it Lee. I had the MRI a few days ago and I have 2 herniated discs and 2 torn discs (not sure what that means).

I've been walking with a stick for over a week. NSAIDs definitely help, Dr suggested the epidural, I've heard a few people say that turned out badly (bed ridden for 2 months) so am.just doing physio for now.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk

It sounds like you have it a lot worse than me, so keep the luck for yourself

If I could tell my younger self anything I have learnt from life it would be,

A) Dont buy women in nightclubs drinks
and
B) Posture, posture, posture. Sit up you slouchy twat.