Back Pain and finally getting an MRI
Discussion
I bought a weight lifting belt for moving house a couple of years ago to stabilse my lower back; I was a bit concerned I'd get a flair up/ relapse but i was too stuborn to pay the money the moving men wanted. I was knackered by the end of the day but my back held up just fine.. It was just a cheapo fabric one that does up with velcro; this allows you to loosen off or adjust easily and they aren't that bulky.. might be worth a try, if you've been doing lighter work your stabilising muscles will have lost some strength. Might be worth asking if you can ease into it rather than going in 5 full days a week to give your body time to adapt.
Badda said:
So the GP (consultant) was right and gave the same advice as the consultant?
Funnily enough I've since managed to get the full report from the radiologist and not the summarised one from the consultant as I've been struggling a lot recently (think the cold is exacerbating it). This report has highlighted osteoarthritis changes and detailed which vertebrae are affected. So, without the MRI I would be none the wiser as to what is happening. Just a quick update, as suggested I spoke to a Pilates teacher, but due to the location of my pain it was decided that it wouldn't be a good fit for me at the moment as it's at a pressure point that will be used for most exercises. She suggested getting an appoinment with a highly rated local Osteopath. I think it was money well spent with it being the first time I've actually been able to talk with someone that I feel had more of a speciality than a doctor at my local surgery and was able to spend more time discussing the symptoms.
The result was that he felt I was on the right path and that the pain clinic was the correct next step, so that was a great help. The manipulation done also seems beneficial, perhaps not to the main issue but just for general comfort.
Frustratingly it's still about 3 weeks before I can even get the referral to the pain clinic, the doctor wanted to see if it would resolve the issue in the 6-8 weeks it's supposed to take to work but for me its benefits actually seemed to level out after only about 3 days.
The result was that he felt I was on the right path and that the pain clinic was the correct next step, so that was a great help. The manipulation done also seems beneficial, perhaps not to the main issue but just for general comfort.
Frustratingly it's still about 3 weeks before I can even get the referral to the pain clinic, the doctor wanted to see if it would resolve the issue in the 6-8 weeks it's supposed to take to work but for me its benefits actually seemed to level out after only about 3 days.
My recent activity has been MRI 6 October. MRI result appointment 6 November, results show a minor bulge at L4 and L5, but nothing of concern or that requires further intervention. During this appointment I again talked about my symptoms, they checked me over and then referred back to my hip x-Ray that was taken in May. The end result is that today I have just received my options for hip replacement surgery due to moderate arthritis, I’ve got a choice from 8 hospitals - NHS and private.
So now I have to review my options and book my consultation with the surgeon.
I think I always knew something wasn’t right with my hip, I said as much at my first very short appointment with the NHS physio back in January. Looks like I’ll be the theatre early next year going off the 14-22 week wait time on the booking portal.
So now I have to review my options and book my consultation with the surgeon.
I think I always knew something wasn’t right with my hip, I said as much at my first very short appointment with the NHS physio back in January. Looks like I’ll be the theatre early next year going off the 14-22 week wait time on the booking portal.
8 weeks post injection.
I've certainly noticed over the last month that my pain has been creeping back.
Whereas I could grit my teeth and walk through the pain the need to rest frequently has returned. Having said that, my pain levels are much lower. Oddly my worst pain comes about when I stand still! I can take a shower but am relieved when I can sit down. That's the timeframe, minutes not hours.
I was a conference for work earlier in the week and knew I'd be standing for a couple of hours in the afternoon. I dosed up on painkillers (hello old friend) but they achieved little and I needed frequent short walks or a quick sit down to relieve the pain. A four hour drive home, tea and bed where I curled in a ball - it was agony.
I was already thinking it and this week has confirmed it... I go back in a couple of weeks time for another steroid injection.
I've certainly noticed over the last month that my pain has been creeping back.
Whereas I could grit my teeth and walk through the pain the need to rest frequently has returned. Having said that, my pain levels are much lower. Oddly my worst pain comes about when I stand still! I can take a shower but am relieved when I can sit down. That's the timeframe, minutes not hours.
I was a conference for work earlier in the week and knew I'd be standing for a couple of hours in the afternoon. I dosed up on painkillers (hello old friend) but they achieved little and I needed frequent short walks or a quick sit down to relieve the pain. A four hour drive home, tea and bed where I curled in a ball - it was agony.
I was already thinking it and this week has confirmed it... I go back in a couple of weeks time for another steroid injection.
Thought I’d check in and see how everyone has been doing as we head to end of the year.
It’s slow and steady progress for me. Continuing to work with the physio adding new exercises and progressing slowly in the gym. She is hoping she can get me running a bit again in the new year.
Pilates continues to help as well although I’m finding the basic routines a bit easy now and intermediate ones a bit tough so trying to find a balance. I have to be careful that I don’t over do it.
Overall in a much better place than the summer months but still work to do. I still have some days my back is really stiff and get tingling in my legs but it’s far more manageable. As long as I listen to my body and rest the pain doesn’t last to long and I can get going again.
Never really got a definitive diagnosis the Physio thinks it’s some form of nerve irritation but can’t pin point source. Thinks it’s partly been caused by pushing myself too hard in the past. I’m just happy she has been able to help me.
Hope everyone who has been struggling is managing to make some progress and can enjoy Christmas & the New Year.
It’s slow and steady progress for me. Continuing to work with the physio adding new exercises and progressing slowly in the gym. She is hoping she can get me running a bit again in the new year.
Pilates continues to help as well although I’m finding the basic routines a bit easy now and intermediate ones a bit tough so trying to find a balance. I have to be careful that I don’t over do it.
Overall in a much better place than the summer months but still work to do. I still have some days my back is really stiff and get tingling in my legs but it’s far more manageable. As long as I listen to my body and rest the pain doesn’t last to long and I can get going again.
Never really got a definitive diagnosis the Physio thinks it’s some form of nerve irritation but can’t pin point source. Thinks it’s partly been caused by pushing myself too hard in the past. I’m just happy she has been able to help me.
Hope everyone who has been struggling is managing to make some progress and can enjoy Christmas & the New Year.
Good to hear there's some good progress.
Not a huge amount to report on mine, I’ve had my medication increased and finally been put on the referral list to the pain clinic. However it looks like it’s going to be a long wait, my case is to be reviewed before the end of January, then the average is 28 weeks to see a consultant and then 26 weeks for treatment. So it looks like I’ve got no option but to go private, as I can’t stand another year like this.
Today I had a second appointment with the Osteopath and also had some acupuncture for the first time, I’ll doubtless know if this has helped in a few days (there might be a small reduction in senstivity at the nerve point but I've had a day off so have been able to take it very easy and not excite it).
Not a huge amount to report on mine, I’ve had my medication increased and finally been put on the referral list to the pain clinic. However it looks like it’s going to be a long wait, my case is to be reviewed before the end of January, then the average is 28 weeks to see a consultant and then 26 weeks for treatment. So it looks like I’ve got no option but to go private, as I can’t stand another year like this.
Today I had a second appointment with the Osteopath and also had some acupuncture for the first time, I’ll doubtless know if this has helped in a few days (there might be a small reduction in senstivity at the nerve point but I've had a day off so have been able to take it very easy and not excite it).
I know it's a first world problem but I'm grumpy this evening but I don't know who I'm grumpy with!
For my first injection at private hospital A I was admitted at 11:00, I was last on the list and didn't have the injection until 17:00 and wasn't discharged until 19:30.
Today at private hospital B, with the same consultant, I arrived at 12:00, had the injection at 12:15 and was sent on my merry way by 12:45. I wouldn't have minded but the hospital was still 25 miles from home, Mrs J dropped me off en route to work having rejigged her work pattern for the day / week and couldn't leave so soon after arriving. Fortunately my mother lives close by, I ordered up a taxi and she had a surprise visitor for the afternoon.
For my first injection at private hospital A I was admitted at 11:00, I was last on the list and didn't have the injection until 17:00 and wasn't discharged until 19:30.
Today at private hospital B, with the same consultant, I arrived at 12:00, had the injection at 12:15 and was sent on my merry way by 12:45. I wouldn't have minded but the hospital was still 25 miles from home, Mrs J dropped me off en route to work having rejigged her work pattern for the day / week and couldn't leave so soon after arriving. Fortunately my mother lives close by, I ordered up a taxi and she had a surprise visitor for the afternoon.
gulls said:
Good to hear there's some good progress.
Not a huge amount to report on mine, I’ve had my medication increased and finally been put on the referral list to the pain clinic. However it looks like it’s going to be a long wait, my case is to be reviewed before the end of January, then the average is 28 weeks to see a consultant and then 26 weeks for treatment. So it looks like I’ve got no option but to go private, as I can’t stand another year like this.
If it helps in anyway - the cost of my first caudal epidural injection, including pre and post consultations was less than a grand. It was all covered by BUPA but I can view the invoices that they've paid to the private hospital and consultant.Not a huge amount to report on mine, I’ve had my medication increased and finally been put on the referral list to the pain clinic. However it looks like it’s going to be a long wait, my case is to be reviewed before the end of January, then the average is 28 weeks to see a consultant and then 26 weeks for treatment. So it looks like I’ve got no option but to go private, as I can’t stand another year like this.
Off the top of my head :
Initial consultation £140
Hospital fees £500
Surgical cost and post injection consultation £170
DT1975 said:
Life changing, career ruining back pain. In 2008 I suffered a L5/S1 disc prolapse, I was literally floored for 3 months with sciatica. Despite physio, 3 nerve root blocks (back then they did it unguided, just bent you over a hospital bed), pilates everything I eventually underwent surgery (discectomy) in early 2012, the surgeon said he could 'fix me'.
The disc reherniated during my rehabilitation period, this time on the other side so had severe sciatica in the other leg. More spinal injections (this time under a short general anesthetic) - no joy. Another operation followed in 2013 at which point I was pensioned out of my job, ill health.
The disc reherniated again around 2015, I forget now its just a blur of painkillers. I was told I needed a fusion but there was only a 60% chance of success so I said no. I continued my life with regular spinal Injections but almost permanent sciatica controlled by Naproxen (diclofenac was so much better). Another MRI in 2023, another offer of a fusion, another painful Injection . A close friend went down the fusion route and now has incontinence issues plus numbness where it counts down there which isn't good.
My last Injection was March 2024 and things have improved somewhat. There is a secret though, if you complain of back pain within 6 months of your last injection you won't get another, the only option is surgery. They did a study and found so many injections weren't working but they will still knocking them out costing the NHS millions.
In hindsight I would never have initially gone under the knife in 2012, its just been down hill since then.
Best of luck to other sufferers. It's so complicated, everyone has a different pain threshold there's no one solution to fit all.
Just stumbled across this thread - thanks DT - Its SO useful to hear from someone who has gone to the next stage.The disc reherniated during my rehabilitation period, this time on the other side so had severe sciatica in the other leg. More spinal injections (this time under a short general anesthetic) - no joy. Another operation followed in 2013 at which point I was pensioned out of my job, ill health.
The disc reherniated again around 2015, I forget now its just a blur of painkillers. I was told I needed a fusion but there was only a 60% chance of success so I said no. I continued my life with regular spinal Injections but almost permanent sciatica controlled by Naproxen (diclofenac was so much better). Another MRI in 2023, another offer of a fusion, another painful Injection . A close friend went down the fusion route and now has incontinence issues plus numbness where it counts down there which isn't good.
My last Injection was March 2024 and things have improved somewhat. There is a secret though, if you complain of back pain within 6 months of your last injection you won't get another, the only option is surgery. They did a study and found so many injections weren't working but they will still knocking them out costing the NHS millions.
In hindsight I would never have initially gone under the knife in 2012, its just been down hill since then.
Best of luck to other sufferers. It's so complicated, everyone has a different pain threshold there's no one solution to fit all.
I had a herniated L5/S1 disc too which work physios declared was a soft tissue injury and called me 'fixed' after 4 manipulation sessions despite me saying 'mate its no better'. Fortunately my GP was on the ball and did the MRI route and there it was.
That was 15 years ago and it has dogged me ever since to the point where I recently saw a physio because i walk like robocop as i subconsciously protect my back in every thing I do. I know its still 'there' as it still whinges if I do too much and i have to back off hence the question does come up - work with it or try surgery.
Jeez - I see my cat slinking around every day in a very lithe cat like fashion - I am jealous every time I see her mooching around....
Mr_J said:
If it helps in anyway - the cost of my first caudal epidural injection, including pre and post consultations was less than a grand. It was all covered by BUPA but I can view the invoices that they've paid to the private hospital and consultant.
Off the top of my head :
Initial consultation £140
Hospital fees £500
Surgical cost and post injection consultation £170
Thanks, that's very helpful. It was suggested that my consultation could be circa £250-280, the hope is I can then get the option to take the results back into the NHS if I can't run to the cost of the treatment, but it's early days yet on this front. Off the top of my head :
Initial consultation £140
Hospital fees £500
Surgical cost and post injection consultation £170
Time for an update.
My injection in early December had very little effect. Knowing I had a follow up appointment with my consultant in the latter half of January lots of thought was given over Christmas to what I wanted to do next. In the end the decision was pretty easy because pain was starting to come back - surgery.
Then the strangest thing happened, those brief periods of no pain and odd feelings that are maybe normal started to get longer. And longer. And longer. I still get funny feelings in my leg and foot, twitches and spasms in my back but I feel good. After 8 months I actually believe I'm getting better. The consultant reminded me that discs can and should heal on their own and the injections were to help manage pain. The second injection didn't achieve anything but it hasn't mattered. I'm healing.
What's happened? What's helped?
We'll never know for certain but I've tried bloody hard to complete my physio every single day. I can feel and see that I've got strength and muscle back, particularly in my legs. Mrs J has built on some of my physio and got me lifting weights with her. It is embarrassing that she lifts way more than me but I've been stunned by how much strength I'd lost.
The consultant appointment went well and we agreed to do nothing. I'm back to the hospital tomorrow for my 4th physio appointment and am looking forward to what she gets me to do next.
My injection in early December had very little effect. Knowing I had a follow up appointment with my consultant in the latter half of January lots of thought was given over Christmas to what I wanted to do next. In the end the decision was pretty easy because pain was starting to come back - surgery.
Then the strangest thing happened, those brief periods of no pain and odd feelings that are maybe normal started to get longer. And longer. And longer. I still get funny feelings in my leg and foot, twitches and spasms in my back but I feel good. After 8 months I actually believe I'm getting better. The consultant reminded me that discs can and should heal on their own and the injections were to help manage pain. The second injection didn't achieve anything but it hasn't mattered. I'm healing.
What's happened? What's helped?
We'll never know for certain but I've tried bloody hard to complete my physio every single day. I can feel and see that I've got strength and muscle back, particularly in my legs. Mrs J has built on some of my physio and got me lifting weights with her. It is embarrassing that she lifts way more than me but I've been stunned by how much strength I'd lost.
The consultant appointment went well and we agreed to do nothing. I'm back to the hospital tomorrow for my 4th physio appointment and am looking forward to what she gets me to do next.
Mr_J said:
Time for an update.
After 8 months I actually believe I'm getting better. The consultant reminded me that discs can and should heal on their own and the injections were to help manage pain. The second injection didn't achieve anything but it hasn't mattered. I'm healing.
What's happened? What's helped?
.
Wow, brilliant, really so pleased for you. You must be incredibly made up now!After 8 months I actually believe I'm getting better. The consultant reminded me that discs can and should heal on their own and the injections were to help manage pain. The second injection didn't achieve anything but it hasn't mattered. I'm healing.
What's happened? What's helped?
.
This post is so timely for me, to hear some positive news as I’m on the decline and mentally ‘falling apart’, so good news that people recover is very welcome. Thank you and well done!!!
I hurt my back, or it ‘gave way’ 3 years ago whilst cycling. I was very fit, well very cycling fit. I recovered, and was on / off the bike for the next 2 years trying to get better, saw a physio and then been doing Pilates twice a week. Last feb I called it a day as I couldn’t do more than 30mins on the bike without pain but in everyday life I was fine so didn’t worry unduly. I started running instead and that was going well. I was feeling in a good place overall.
Anyway, I felt my back would heal naturally but mid summer whenever I bent over my back twinges got increasingly worse. I noticed I was started to compensating with differing movements. I then saw an NHS physio who prescribed some simple exercises for the lumbar region but it didn’t help at all. The pain increased and by mid Dec ‘24 I was in agony whilst sitting at my desk.
I went to a private physio who had a different take on things (all muscular issues) but anxiety was now kicking in and all sorts of wild thoughts were going through my head. Cancer etc. I pushed for a referral for a private MRI to rule out anything untoward, knowing that there will be lots of crap shown that is normal for my middle age. I’m due the scan in a few weeks and the Dr (ortho surgeon) said that he knows what’s normal and can gloss over all the regular defects and only review big issues with me if he finds anything that needs attention.
I’m fairly certain there won’t be anything wrong, as the original specific back issues have now subsided. How ever the pain I do suffer from is heavy aches across large areas of my back, which changes by the day. It’s like I’m storing unbelievable tension in my back muscles that I just can’t turn off.
Several major things have gone on in my life over the years and a lot more recently. I heavily suspect my original back pain was actually minor, but was enough to start major anxiety, and now I’m caught in a circle of worrying that the pain will never go, which then brings on more pain.
The day after new year I unexpectedly broke down in tears, just a wreck, and have been very up/ down emotionally since then. I start counselling this week with a chronic health specialist to try and unpick the root of my problems. I described to her that I feel hyper sensitive to everything my body feels and thinks and need the volume to be turned down.
I swing from being really optimistic that my own diagnoses is correct and feeling this will be sorted in a year, to, ‘this is it lad, this is how your life is to be lived’, or worse.
I’ve read a huge amount recently that in 95% of people back pain will heal and need no surgical intervention. It’s incredibly strong and resilient and discs can heal well. The issues come when you start to hold yourself differently or your body is tricked into protecting itself because of anxiety / fear of further damage even after the spine has healed. The brain has inadvertently reprogrammed itself to continually send out pain signals. The good news is the brain is very plastic and can be reprogrammed back.
And that’s where I think I’m at (negative thoughts aside). Facing a challenge to somehow reprogram my head!
Anyone been through something like this?
thepritch said:
Anyone been through something like this?
Yes.I really struggled with my mental health last year, that's quite hard to say. Everyone around me told me I'd had a really tough year with my father's dementia and his death.
It took me a long time to realise it was my back.
I over compensated to extreme levels in a sub conscious effort to protect my back. The physio helped me realise it and I lived by a mantra of 'overcome the fear' for a month or two. Talking about the stupid things I did helped. Picking up a dropped pen or lifting the toilet seat had become a manual handling exercise. A colleague commented that it must have been mentally exhausting. He was right.
I've said for a long time that my injury has !##*:!* with my head. I questioned every feeling, every twinge, every new pain in an attempt to understand it.
Perhaps accepting my injury and deciding to go for a surgical approach was some sort of phycological release and I'd been getting better all along!
Just a quick update which might be useful for anyone else on an extended waiting list.
According to the NHS app and the NHS website the waiting list for my Chronic Pain Clinic consultation at Stoke Mandeville was running at about 24 weeks with treatment around the same time again on top (so a year all in).
Approaching nearly 30 weeks in I chased it up only to be told that it was a year for the consultation and a similar length of time again for treatment. Apparently they knew the app was wrong and didn't know where it was getting its data from...
One good thing did come from the conversation however, apparently you can ask to be put on waiting lists at other trusts who have much shorter waiting list (from looking on the net it appears you can request this after 18 weeks). I did through my doctor and have just had the date through for my consultation in about 7 weeks at Milton Keynes - I wish I'd known this ages ago.
I'm pretty close to maxing out the medication I'm on (2,700mg of Gabapentin day) as its benefits seem to wear off, so I wasn't looking forward to it going on for too much longer.
I hope everyone else is doing well, any updates?
According to the NHS app and the NHS website the waiting list for my Chronic Pain Clinic consultation at Stoke Mandeville was running at about 24 weeks with treatment around the same time again on top (so a year all in).
Approaching nearly 30 weeks in I chased it up only to be told that it was a year for the consultation and a similar length of time again for treatment. Apparently they knew the app was wrong and didn't know where it was getting its data from...
One good thing did come from the conversation however, apparently you can ask to be put on waiting lists at other trusts who have much shorter waiting list (from looking on the net it appears you can request this after 18 weeks). I did through my doctor and have just had the date through for my consultation in about 7 weeks at Milton Keynes - I wish I'd known this ages ago.
I'm pretty close to maxing out the medication I'm on (2,700mg of Gabapentin day) as its benefits seem to wear off, so I wasn't looking forward to it going on for too much longer.
I hope everyone else is doing well, any updates?
Mr_J said:
thepritch said:
Anyone been through something like this?
Yes.I really struggled with my mental health last year, that's quite hard to say. Everyone around me told me I'd had a really tough year with my father's dementia and his death.
It took me a long time to realise it was my back.
I over compensated to extreme levels in a sub conscious effort to protect my back. The physio helped me realise it and I lived by a mantra of 'overcome the fear' for a month or two. Talking about the stupid things I did helped. Picking up a dropped pen or lifting the toilet seat had become a manual handling exercise. A colleague commented that it must have been mentally exhausting. He was right.
I've said for a long time that my injury has !##*:!* with my head. I questioned every feeling, every twinge, every new pain in an attempt to understand it.
Perhaps accepting my injury and deciding to go for a surgical approach was some sort of phycological release and I'd been getting better all along!
But, touch wood, I'm now pretty much pain free, in the gym every day, lifting decent weights again, still being a bit careful about what I do as the fear of f
king myself up again is strong e.g. i'll use a leg press machine rather than squats with free weights so i dont have to worry about form so much, and playing badminton 1 to 2 times a week ( more of a social session as ive pretty much shut myself off outside of work), i've dropped about 1.5 stone over the last 6 weeks with probably another 2 or 3 to go. Head still isn't right tbh but ive gone down the route of seeking help with that having had a bit of a wobble over the last couple of weeks ( the trigger not back related although that still plays on my mind in the background )Keep going guys, I know it doesn't seem like it when you are in it, but you'll get through it, unfortunately you do need to make a nuisance of yourself to get treatment..
A reminder that back pain isn't always orthopedic.
Back in 2017, my mother developed a sore back, and like most people tried usual OTC pain medication. But it wasn't getting any better. A 2 weeks, she was running a fever and went to the GP. The GP prescribed oral morphine. 72 hours, she was sitting in hr conservatory and realised her legs didn't work anymore. And that was it, she was paraplegic.
What actually happened. 30 years before, she had been treated for cancer, and was "cancer free", but was rendered immuno-compromised. An infection developed in a cyst near her spinal cord. By the time she went to the GP, at least two vertebrae had disrupted blood supply and were basically dead. The GP, who was new, failed to check her notes, and failed to make a full diagnosis, ie. didn't take note of the fever. If she did, she would have recommended admission, for emergency spinal decompression, which might have preserved things. Morphine depresses the immune system, and was essentially the coup de grace. Pus built up alongside the spinal cord cutting off the blood supply. Her surgeon called it a spinal cord infarction, and it was the first one he had seen. Another term is spinal cord stroke.
Afterwards, she had to undergo a number of life threatening procedures where, if things hadn't gone right, I would have had to take a difficult decision. Afterwards was a year in hospital, supposedly to learn new life skills as a wheelchair user, but in reality, rehab never happened due to a need for various surgical procedures. With plates in the spine, she has been in constant pain ever since, with pain killers unable to fully remove it. As a result, her brain vascularisation has changed, meaning how she reacts to pain is different; now pain presents as delusional behaviour. While for a while she had enough movement in the legs to transfer herself into bed, that has gone now, and she will need a hoist for her remaining years.
While this is rare, it does happen. In most cases, the infection can be dealt with by antibiotics, and infection cleared before resulting damage. My late father was a army pathologist. he recalled his CO, Col. Joe Gatt, expressing that in his view there was no such as a simple back ache, and anything lasting more than a few days needed to be checked by a doctor, and ideally a blood test ordered to rule out infection.
Back in 2017, my mother developed a sore back, and like most people tried usual OTC pain medication. But it wasn't getting any better. A 2 weeks, she was running a fever and went to the GP. The GP prescribed oral morphine. 72 hours, she was sitting in hr conservatory and realised her legs didn't work anymore. And that was it, she was paraplegic.
What actually happened. 30 years before, she had been treated for cancer, and was "cancer free", but was rendered immuno-compromised. An infection developed in a cyst near her spinal cord. By the time she went to the GP, at least two vertebrae had disrupted blood supply and were basically dead. The GP, who was new, failed to check her notes, and failed to make a full diagnosis, ie. didn't take note of the fever. If she did, she would have recommended admission, for emergency spinal decompression, which might have preserved things. Morphine depresses the immune system, and was essentially the coup de grace. Pus built up alongside the spinal cord cutting off the blood supply. Her surgeon called it a spinal cord infarction, and it was the first one he had seen. Another term is spinal cord stroke.
Afterwards, she had to undergo a number of life threatening procedures where, if things hadn't gone right, I would have had to take a difficult decision. Afterwards was a year in hospital, supposedly to learn new life skills as a wheelchair user, but in reality, rehab never happened due to a need for various surgical procedures. With plates in the spine, she has been in constant pain ever since, with pain killers unable to fully remove it. As a result, her brain vascularisation has changed, meaning how she reacts to pain is different; now pain presents as delusional behaviour. While for a while she had enough movement in the legs to transfer herself into bed, that has gone now, and she will need a hoist for her remaining years.
While this is rare, it does happen. In most cases, the infection can be dealt with by antibiotics, and infection cleared before resulting damage. My late father was a army pathologist. he recalled his CO, Col. Joe Gatt, expressing that in his view there was no such as a simple back ache, and anything lasting more than a few days needed to be checked by a doctor, and ideally a blood test ordered to rule out infection.
I messed up a disc in my lower back 2 Saturdays ago doing deadlifts at the gym. Honestly felt like everyone wants to do the bare minimum when it comes to helping you, or relieving the pain. The first Sunday the day after it happened, I was in such pain I called 111. Told them I couldn't sit, stand or walk. Their response? "Go to the pharmacy in Tesco, they'll help you." Cool so I can't move from my bed but you want me to drive. Thanks. Saw a chiro on the Monday, who sent a letter to my GP for an MRI referral and confirmed I've ruptured the disc in my lower back. The next day I got an appointment with my GP, went in and after a few minutes of repeating the same thing I'd already told 3 other people up until this point, was told they'd push through the referral and I was proscribed lidocaine patches which done naff all. I checked the MRI referral I was given, excited I'd be going straight in for a scan, nope just a telephone consultation on the 9th July. I swear by the time the MRI comes around, I'll be fine and it will have been all pointless.
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