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[day-break53]

Hi, I have had severe spinal problems since I was in my twenties,it started in my neck and lumbar region.Unfortunately i didn't have a very good G.P. at that time,his stock answer was always I was too young to have arthritis,it took me ten years of dogged determination to see a back specialist,i finally got a diagnosis of spondylosis in my neck and lumbar spine,the saddest thing was he told me he would have operated if i'd have seen him ten years earlier,but it was too late the damage had been done.I have bulging discs in my lumbar area,which has made my leg partially paralysed.I also have osteoarthritis in both my knees.this awful condition has limited my life in many ways,but I wasn't letting it ruin my life,I have worked,brought up a child on my own.I find going for a walk really helps,it's a great way of getting exercise,and my pain levels go down.tc all

[Slivia]

Hi. How difficult for you. I hope the Gp who said you were too young to have arthritis is no longer practicing. Has he never heard of Perthes disease. Children DO get rheumatic conditions.You are doing v well. Keep going on with the exercise. I have 2 bulging discs in L4&5 & find walking plus back stretching exercises good. My son in law has ankolising spondylosis for many years. He finds exercise &

swimming helps a lot. My daughter frequently helps him get up & dressed in the morning, ready for work. He is an electrician, So it’s a v physical job.

Has steroid injection ever been suggested?

[day-break53 in reply to Slivia]

Hi slivia, thank you for your kind reply,yes the GP i has left medicine,he's a photographer now. I have had all sorts of treatments, including steroid injections, epidural( which was impossible to do),I have been on every opiate,which came with severe addiction,which my GP didn't warn me about which long term affected my mental health,I went cold turkey off all meds 10 years ago, the withdrawals were bad, shaking feeling sick,panic,anxiety.after a month of withdrawal it was amazing though, my head was clear i was lucid,full of energy my pain is still there but my mental health is no longer affected.Has anyone else been affected by pain killers/opiates? tc all