OA and Degenerative disc disease

[Jojohope]

Good morning everyone and thank you for allowing me to post here. I was diagnosed finally last year after MRI scan as having OA in facet joints and bulging discs S1, L4/5 and OA in those latter discs too. I have suffered back issues on and off over the years since horse riding accident when I was 19 (28 years ago). For the most part I have just got on with it but these last two years have been unbearable.

As a coincidental, I have recently undergone hysterectomy to remove a huge fibroid attached to my womb which was likened to the size of a 24/25 week foetus. Prior to surgery my doc (who has been brilliant) suggested trying nerve branch root block injections. Am terrified of needles, not helped by his actual description of what would happen) but declined at that time as I was unsure whether fibroid removal would reduce the pain and stiffness in my lower back.

I am now 5 month post op surgery and sadly for me, fibroid removal has not made any difference at all in pain levels. It's there from the minute I wake up until the minute I knock myself out with diazepam and get onto bed. I have seen doc recently and been referred to pain management clinic on NHS.

To cut a long story shorter, I had my appointment last week and was on a high on journey up there, feeling like something was going to be done. When I arrived,I was told I had been referred to pain management triage in error as I already have a diagnosis. I was being transferred on to the right team but warned it was a ten to twelve week wait to be assessed for injections and if accepted, another three months for the actual procedure. Having been on the end of NHS incompetence before (had to self fund hysterectomy privately) my partner and I decided we would go private for these injections rather than prolonging pain even more.

After being messed around very badly re hysterectomy, as a family we decided to take out private life cover which I did in November 2017. Obviously they will not cover my lower spine as it is pre existing condition.

For around two or three months now,I have been experiencing severe pain in hip joints and also in my left knee. Both are more apparent when rising from sitting or climbing stairs.

Can I see someone under my health care insurance re hip and knee as these have never been an issue for me before. Or will they say it's linked to discs and OA in lower back and duck out of paying? I have obviously no diagnosis in these areas as they are relatively recent symptoms and wondered what people's thoughts were or whether anyone has been through anything similar?

My friends keep nagging me to apply for a blue badge as I often cry off social events as I struggle to walk most days . don't know if I would be eligible with this? And PIP gets mentioned a lot. I'm a qualified social worker so probably should know what this is but haven't a clue!

Going back to degenerative discs in lower back, can anyone recommend a decent pain reliever in the interim until I can find £1500 to pay for nerve branch block injections privately. My doc has just swapped me from 400mgs Tramadol a day to 30mgs Zomorph (controlled release morphine) twice a day with oral morphine to be used as breakthrough med. Reason for change was that Tramadol were not effective anymore.

Many thanks for listening to me drone on. I appreciate any help or advice. Jo

[Slivia]

So sorry to hear about the pain your experiencing. Hope my experience helps you.

After years of chronic back pain, I was at last referred to a wonderful Rheumatologist at Christchurch Hospital. Dorset. He wanted an MRI scan which was nearly a 3 month wait. Went privately, was seen the following week. The scan showed bulging & degenerative discs at L3 4 &5. I then saw a v good physio. at the hospital, who showed me, with an actual skeleton of the spinal column, what was was happening to my lower spine. I then attended a physio class at the hospital, for pts. with back problems. There were about10 pts. In class. I was entitled to go to this class for 8 sessions. Then expected to continue these back exercises daily at home. I also saw the Rheumatologist again. He had the results of the blood tests, which showed inflammation levels were above normal. He prescribed

Prednisilone, starting at 15mgs. daily, reducing each month by l mg. I also bought a tens machine. Plus rubbed voltorol into my back area & down the sciatic nerve. This enabled me to start to have decent sleep at night. Plus putting a pillow between my knees, & sleeping on my side. I still frequently awaken at night due to the pain, but get up, walk about, do a few jobs in the kitchen. Up for half an hour, then return to bed & continue my sleep.I have learnt to adapt to this new routine. Iam now down to 1 mg. of Prednisilone. Have avoided opiates (prescribed by my GP), as they are addictive, & can cause constipation etc. Currently, after years of pain, getting increasingly worse, I now feel so much better. I am aware that it can deteriorate, but at present, all OK. Hope this helps. I am also a retired qualified social worker.

Slivia