Injections? gabapentin ?or an op for disc pain and osteo/fibro

[Eddie1]

Hi all looking for advice please my back is complaint wildly ,and seeing consultant in September has any one tried these options or combination of them would like your opinions cheers

[BlueMermaid3]

Hi there

I will start in the order that you have written them.

I have had steroid injections, but not for my back. I found they worked really well and am hoping to have another one soon. However, I don't know what injections there are for back pain? Have you been offered them?

I currently take Gabapentin. It is a good medication for Fibro pain. The downsides for some people is that it can make them feel very drowsy and spaced out when they start taking it (personally I didn't experience that). Another side effect is that many people can experience weight gain on this med.

I don't know what the op is that you are talking about and as I don't have any experience of having one on my back, cannot help with that part of your question.

Wishing you less pain and more peace

Lu x

[Hayesider]

Hi Eddie1,

Sounds like we are both in a similar boat. Along with; Fibro, RA, IBS, Sleep Apnoea, I now have two prolapsed discs at L1 and L5. MRI confirmed location, seeing Spinal Consultant Thursday 4pm, and Spinal Team Physio on 25th August.

Had an OH referral for work 2 weeks ago, with highly respected and experienced RheumCon, who explained the various options open to treat this.

First would be to try an injection of an anti-inflammatory drug, to gently ease the irritation around the prolapse, to let it heal over time.

Second may be micro-surgery to remove the bulging part of the disc, and reduce the pressure on the nerves in that area.

Third may be major sugery, a friend has just had her second of these operations, where they plate several vertebrae together to prevent the downward pressure that aggravates the nerves.

Not a clinician, so may not be medically correct, but some indication of the options available. I too take Gabapentin along with Tramadol, and found gentle back stretching really helps. I explained the best way in a post 12 hours ago in the pain community, Look for the post "Overdone it" by Jenharri, and scroll some way down.

Only you can say whether any drug works, or the cost in side effects is too high. I can cope with 2x 50mg Tramadol every 4hrs, upto 8 a day. A friend can't even take 1, becomes disorientated and can't focus properly. As with any medication, start off on a low dose and build up, because if you need to come off it, you have to reduce the same way.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Hayesider, always here to support.

[Bambamsnan]

Hi I tried gabapentin and I also tried tramadol but couldn't take either so now on pregabalin and morphine it's true over the weight gain I myself put a lot of weight on so quickly when I read up its states rapid weight gain hope you get something sorted out to help you Carol ☺

[Hidden]

Hello Eddie from Nurse Gladys Emanuel (open all hours) I have OA as well as fibro and so I need "therapies" to help relieve pain, I find aquatics help, I have hydrotherapy under the care of a special physio and I sometimes just go to the local swimming pool and sit in the Jacuzzi- warm water aquatics as I find cold water isn,t ascceptable on my muscles.

[TheAuthor]

Hi Eddie1

I have not had these sorts of treatments for a disc problem but I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck with your outcome. Please take care of yourself.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken