lower back pain & spasms

[Digger031145]

can you take a look at this mri report and tell me what you think and treatments please.

Pain in lower back that sometimes comes with spasms. Can be pain free for a while then it just goes into pain . Walking difficult when this happens

[piglette]

The desiccation process is part of the natural aging of the spine, where the discs lose moisture, height, and elasticity.

[Digger031145 in reply to piglette]

How is this treated when you’re in severe pain?

[piglette in reply to Digger031145]

There are various painkillers for various levels of pain, opiates are the best for severe pain. You would need to talk to your doctor though.

[Digger031145 in reply to piglette]

I’ve had OxyContin in the past but it didn’t touch the pain

[piglette in reply to Digger031145]

OxyContin is definitely a strong painkiller! There are some things that painkillers do not touch. I have Polymyalgia Rheumatica an autoimmune disease and even opiods do not touch it.

[Digger031145 in reply to piglette]

I had to take the OxyContin twice a day but as it didn’t touch the oaun or Dia snd I stopped it after a week

[piglette in reply to Digger031145]

It must have been a while ago you took the Oxycontin as they changed the name after the Oxycontin fiasco. How long have you had the pain?

[Digger031145 in reply to piglette]

I had OxyContin prescribed last year.

I don’t need pain meds all the time. Just when I get these awful flares

[piglette in reply to Digger031145]

I am surprised they still called it Oxycontin, I thought they had changed the name to Oxycodone. Does it help the flares at all?

[Digger031145 in reply to piglette]

It’s OxyContin calked here. As I said it didn’t touch the pain at all.

I didn’t kihe the way it made my head feel either so as it didn’t work I stopped it

[Runrig01]

desiccated just suggests that these issues have been there a while, as the discs are dehydrated. They usually need no treatment, other than physio, unless you are getting neurological symptoms, but there is no mention of pressure on the cord. Discectomy is normally only performed for leg symptoms and not for back pain, but is rarely needed. Most cases will settle on their own. I have 3 slipped discs, 2 in my lumbar spine I’ve had 12+yrs, and one in my neck, which has calcified and turned to bone, and is pressing on the outer layer of the spinal cord. I do get tingling and numbness in the hand, but it doesn’t require surgery yet,I’ve had it for 13yr.

[Digger031145 in reply to Runrig01]

so how do you stop the pain?

[Runrig01 in reply to Digger031145]

Your GP can prescribe things like muscle relaxants, such as Diazepam or baclofen, or painkillers like amitriptyline or gabapentin which specifically help nerve related pain. That then allows you to do gentle stretches and exercises which should help. Some areas you can self refer to physio, otherwise your gp can refer you

[Digger031145 in reply to Runrig01]

Thank you. I do get 2mg diazepam from him when I get a flare but don’t get nerve pains.

I cabt take Amitriptyline as horrific side effects. And hate pregabalin anyway .

So I get Celecoxib for the inflammation that happens when I get a flare

Saw phtsuo today and she said my sacriloic joint was out of line

[Estellemac in reply to Digger031145]

I take Gabapentin for this it took time to get used to as it was strong but a different pain relief to co-codamol? I also have caudal injections under x-ray for sacroiliac pain that works for a while.

[Digger031145]

What dose of diazepam do you take?

My Gp will give them to me when I ask but I don’t take them long enough to get addicted

[Digger031145]

oh…. I only have 2mg tablets 3 times a day. Maybe that’s why they take so long to work.

I don’t have nerve pain & wouldn’t touch pregabalin

[Digger031145]

I was thinking maybe that’s where I’ve gone wrong by taking 2mg 3 times a day when it starts.

Perhaps it’s better to hit it hard to start with for 2/3 days then back off when spasming stops.

What do you take for inflammation?

[Digger031145]

I’m not allowed to take ibuprofen as on warfarin

[GSD23]

An Osteopath could help. But I would see if you could find one on recommendation or at least talk to the Osteopath first, based on this report and ask do they think they can help and how would they help?. Any doubts find another one.

My Osteopath has kept me mobile and has helped me keep my pain under better control. Meds wont be the complete answer for joint pain. You may also want to look at acupuncture and Microcurrent machines may also be worth looking at.

[Digger031145 in reply to GSD23]

I saw my sports physio yesterday and sge examined me and said my sacriloic joint was out of line. She did some massage and nudging and today so far I feel much better

[Lulu_Lollipop]

I'm no expert, can't even understand the report after MRI on my osteoarthritis, from neck, down spine, in knees. Ruptured thing in right shoulder too. What's helping me is physio and amitriptyline. Pain used to keep me "kicking out" and squirming about in my sleep (according to my fiancé) and I used to wake with awful pain in my hips several times every night. Since physio and amitriptyline my fiancé has noticed that I don't thrash about and wake him so much. Pain is with me most of the time, but it's more bearable (fingers crossed, touch wood). Other wise suggestions here from others, I know a chiropractor has helped me in the past and I would think an osteopath would help too. I might save up and have a go with them myself.

Best wishes and good luck to you and everyone else here suffering with pain.

[Digger031145 in reply to Lulu_Lollipop]

I can’t take Amitriptyline it gave me horrendous side effects.

I’ve been seeing chiropractor and physio got13 years and spent a fortune therefore I’m looking to ask pain consultant to give me nerve block and possibly burning the nerves

[Lulu_Lollipop in reply to Digger031145]

Well, I'm very sorry to hear that. My whole spine is affected by osteo arthritis and I am grateful for the amitriptyline taking the edge off so I can sleep. Worrying to hear you had horrendous side-effects from it. May I ask what those side-effects are?

[Digger031145 in reply to Lulu_Lollipop]

The side effects I had were horrendous anxiety. Dripping in sweat. Packing the floor. No sleeping. Pounding heart. Agoraphobia.

[Lulu_Lollipop in reply to Digger031145]

Dreadful. I hope you do find something that helps. Loads of helpful advice and suggestions from fellow sufferers here. Let us know as and when you get something that helps.

[Afibflipper]

Hi, Apologies for the long message but hope it helps & advises you - I have a really painful lower back from slipped discs, sciatica & degenerative arthritis

DISCLAIMER - Check everything out with your own doctors about anything I’ve written here as they may not be suitable for you personally or any pre existing problems you may have - these are ideas based on my own conditions and food for thought for you - not medically advising you or anyone else to go out & do before checking first.

If the pain is ‘nerve pain’ it’s hard to get relief with pain meds but I was on codiene & Tramadol until I got medications that in effect stop the brain recognising that you’re in pain ,which if tolerated can give excellent results (can be addictive) such as Gabapentin, Pregabalin, Nefopam which are taken on a regular basis rather then as & when. The first one Gaba worked for me but needed big doses then it got to a point - if I missed a dose, I would get hot like a furnace which would induce panic in me needing to get cool - this went when I took a dose - this was the withdrawal for me & took months to get off it. Never had the Praga but now on Nefopam 3 times a day and often only need regular paracetamol & the odd doses of pain relief. A TENS machine, as long as the pads are placed near the nerves giving the issue I found pretty helpful (a physio needs to show you which nerves affected & where to place the electrodes (check it’s safe on you - especially if you have any internal devices such a ICD or PM loop recorder or any heart rhythm issues

There is also a plastic ball with dull a pikes on, if you put the ball on the area with pain then stand against a tiled wall (not painted or papered as will ruin) then you roll the ball over your pain up, down & round by bending & straightening knees, sway from side to side - thus breaks down muscle tension and gets blood to the area for any healing (if you are very thin with little flesh this may not be suitable or if on Blood Thinners check with a GP first as done too hard can cause bruising)

Physio as movement is important despite pain - but obviously when better controlled you can do more but they’ll show you specific exercises for your specific issues. They may massage the are or some are trained in acupuncture

Ask you consultant or GP for a referrals & also maybe a referral to a ‘Pain Management Clinic’

Further down the line there are other interventions such as joint injections / surgery but try to relax, get pain under control then you won’t hold yourself stiff guarding the back pain as that may give tension issues elsewhere

Hope you get relief soon x

[Trill]

I have something going on on L5 but no treatment, but, hope this is not silly, find that a hot water bottle on it at night is very soothing.

[CazFlute]

After acute lower back pain and muscular spasms I ended up in A&E. by that time I couldn’t walk & was in a wheelchair. Can’t begin to describe the pain. They gave me Voltarol, Codeine, Diazepam and Morphine. I had an MRI scan. Bulging L4 and L5.

Saw a really good Rheumatologist.

He said I have inflammatory Osteo Arthritis. I was having a flare, the pain was probably caused by inflammation in my facet joints. Now on a trial of 10mg Prednisolone, dropping to 5mg in a couple of weeks.

If your pain is caused by inflammation, you could try Prednisolone. My Rheumatologist prefers not to use the artificial types, which can hurt your stomach and cause kidney problems.

My advice would be to see a Consultant Rheumatologist asap.

Good luck

[Digger031145 in reply to CazFlute]

Trying to get an appointment with any consultant is nye impossible.

Apparently this flare has been caused by sacriloic joint being out of lind.

I’m seeing pain specialist in narch abd going to ask for nerve block

[CazFlute]

I went private and it cost me £150 as not insured and no joy via my GP.

[Fj65]

I would suggest discussing with your GP and getting them to explain in simple terms

[13cats-lives]

I don’t know if you have been offered Pain Management at your local hospital, but they seem to be the best people to help you. They have an excellent service to help people who have chronic pain. Anything lasting longer than 3 months is in that category.

[Digger031145 in reply to 13cats-lives]

That’s who I’ve been seeing and it was he who ordered the mri

[13cats-lives in reply to Digger031145]

They should be offering you whatever they think is tailored to your needs. They should also be liaising with you about the findings in person, not just a letter. Please don’t feel discouraged and please tell them if your pain is affecting you and how. I know that it’s very depressing having to keep asking questions, but I have taken my case to NHS England when I was not listened to.