Discussion
This isn't for me although I do have my own back problems. My mate who I work with has had a back problem on and off for a few years now, at least once he has had to go by ambulance to the hospital as it has made him that immobile. Usually though after a few days he is back up and running as the pain has subsided, but when it goes it seems to happen suddenly and he says it affects hig leg as well
He has had a CAT scan on it a while ago and they said it looks like a bulging disk as opposed to a slipped disk. This time though its happened again and it seems to me to be a lot more severe this time, he's been in agony at least a week now but won't go to the hospital as he is convinced it will get better the next day like it has before. He is saying the pain is now mostly in his leg and not his back, he says his leg feels like ice cubes are running through his veins and he cant even put any pressure on it, however if he sits down for a while he can then hobble about a bit. He can also sit and drive and not experience much pain.
As he is reluctant to do anything about it, does the prognosis sound correct about a bulging disk? and is there any point in going to A&E for 10 hours or will they just tell him to go home and rest it.
when my back has gone in the past it feels like you will never walk again but I've always forced myself to carry on working as best I could and it always seems to get better after a few days, if I rest it seems to take longer to get better. If he has to have surgery on it does that mean you are out of action for a good while, years ago another mate had back surgery and he was crawling round on his living room floor for nearly a year afterwards.
He has had a CAT scan on it a while ago and they said it looks like a bulging disk as opposed to a slipped disk. This time though its happened again and it seems to me to be a lot more severe this time, he's been in agony at least a week now but won't go to the hospital as he is convinced it will get better the next day like it has before. He is saying the pain is now mostly in his leg and not his back, he says his leg feels like ice cubes are running through his veins and he cant even put any pressure on it, however if he sits down for a while he can then hobble about a bit. He can also sit and drive and not experience much pain.
As he is reluctant to do anything about it, does the prognosis sound correct about a bulging disk? and is there any point in going to A&E for 10 hours or will they just tell him to go home and rest it.
when my back has gone in the past it feels like you will never walk again but I've always forced myself to carry on working as best I could and it always seems to get better after a few days, if I rest it seems to take longer to get better. If he has to have surgery on it does that mean you are out of action for a good while, years ago another mate had back surgery and he was crawling round on his living room floor for nearly a year afterwards.
He could go to the GP to assess it and then they might refer him to hospital for a pre-arranged X-Ray and take it from there.
Whilst I am somewhat on the road to recovery, back to some training an physio, I've perhaps learned from experience it's not a good idea to leave it especially as in this case it could be something pressing on the spinal cord causing the leg issues.
My hospital visit didn't take 10hrs and it was very thorough.
When you get warned about cauda equina syndrome you could be in deep s
t.
Whilst I am somewhat on the road to recovery, back to some training an physio, I've perhaps learned from experience it's not a good idea to leave it especially as in this case it could be something pressing on the spinal cord causing the leg issues.
My hospital visit didn't take 10hrs and it was very thorough.
When you get warned about cauda equina syndrome you could be in deep s
t.I had a disc replaced with a prosthetic a few years back. The drive home was horrible as I felt every bump in the road go right through me. I had a few weeks afterwards just taking it easy, but since then it's been fine. Definately glad I had it done, although it was originally misdiagnosed as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, as it's opposite ends of the same nerve apparently. Took two ops on my wrist before it was correctly diagnosed.
If it is a bulging disk do they go back in by themselves or is it deffo an operation? If so what's the lead time on stuff like this and what's the recovery rate, if he is off work for more than a couple of months then I can see it being quite a sticky situation.
He's only 38, that's young to be having back problems isn't it. I'm 54 and although I do suffer from a bad back occasionally I must be so lucky to still be able to do stuff like fill skips with soil, climb up scaffolding, crawl under floors etc etc. So many people must just be immobile couch potatoes these days judging by the stories I hear of various people.
He's only 38, that's young to be having back problems isn't it. I'm 54 and although I do suffer from a bad back occasionally I must be so lucky to still be able to do stuff like fill skips with soil, climb up scaffolding, crawl under floors etc etc. So many people must just be immobile couch potatoes these days judging by the stories I hear of various people.
Before contemplating any surgery, I'd investigate ALL other options until they are tried and exhausted.
My B-I-L had surgery last year, must be 5 months now and hes still unable to drive, sit properly, pain killers to sleep etc
Up until the surgery he was sill able to go skiiing every year.
My B-I-L had surgery last year, must be 5 months now and hes still unable to drive, sit properly, pain killers to sleep etc
Up until the surgery he was sill able to go skiiing every year.
Surgery should only be considered as a last resort after all other treatments have been exhausted. Have a look at how they do things in Australia, particularly Prof. Peter O’Sullivan and his team https://evoolvepaincare.academy/
21TonyK said:
Not sure, will google, hes now scheduled for more surgery to get the use of his left leg back.
I had a disc go at L5, didn't have surgery because my brother did and is in a wheelchair, back goes about every 18 months these days and doing those exercises for a couple of days sorts it right out.Sheets Tabuer said:
I had a disc go at L5, didn't have surgery because my brother did and is in a wheelchair, back goes about every 18 months these days and doing those exercises for a couple of days sorts it right out.
The risk of becoming wheelchair bound is brought to my attention each time I undergo spinal surgery, it makes one consider if the surgery is really necessary. Sorry to hear about your brother.Scrump said:
Sheets Tabuer said:
I had a disc go at L5, didn't have surgery because my brother did and is in a wheelchair, back goes about every 18 months these days and doing those exercises for a couple of days sorts it right out.
The risk of becoming wheelchair bound is brought to my attention each time I undergo spinal surgery, it makes one consider if the surgery is really necessary. Sorry to hear about your brother.k me it was painful !OP at the very least he should see a physio. There is a good chance they will help him repair it through exercise. He needs help soon though (see below).
I ve suffered with herniated discs for many years. 20 years ago I saw a physio who identified one leg was about an inch shorter the other. Obviously it wasn t shorter but my back was misaligned. She sorted me, I kept up the exercises without another occurrence.
Until earlier this year when I had a herniated disc with the plasma sitting on my sciatic nerve (sciatica) resulting in acute pain down my leg. Sounds like your friend might have this too? I m older now and I couldn t repair this disc issue even with a physio s help, so after 7 months I had surgery on my spine to resolve the issue.
If your (young ish) friend doesn t get the right exercises soon he may end up like me and require surgery after months of really bad pain.
I ve suffered with herniated discs for many years. 20 years ago I saw a physio who identified one leg was about an inch shorter the other. Obviously it wasn t shorter but my back was misaligned. She sorted me, I kept up the exercises without another occurrence.
Until earlier this year when I had a herniated disc with the plasma sitting on my sciatic nerve (sciatica) resulting in acute pain down my leg. Sounds like your friend might have this too? I m older now and I couldn t repair this disc issue even with a physio s help, so after 7 months I had surgery on my spine to resolve the issue.
If your (young ish) friend doesn t get the right exercises soon he may end up like me and require surgery after months of really bad pain.
Edited by Phil. on Saturday 24th January 14:50
I've had back issues since my mid 20s. It is due to a spinal defect that wasn't discovered at birth.
I spent loads on osteopaths and chiropractors. I saw a physio who recommended swimming.
As long as I swim at least once a week, I keep mobile.
If I don't, the pain comes back. I've had pain so bad that it prevented me from being able to relax so I could have a pee.
When it gets bad, I literally drag myself to the pool and try to swim. After a few days it does ease.
I spent loads on osteopaths and chiropractors. I saw a physio who recommended swimming.
As long as I swim at least once a week, I keep mobile.
If I don't, the pain comes back. I've had pain so bad that it prevented me from being able to relax so I could have a pee.
When it gets bad, I literally drag myself to the pool and try to swim. After a few days it does ease.
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