Hip,Knee and Lumbar pain

[charlie007]

just got the answer to my back pain,I have 3 bulging discs.Just wondering if anyone else had this problem,and what treatment was given,along with anti inflammatory medication?I have a bit of back spasm and have difficulty sleeping at night.

[Bonnie39]

My son slipped two discs amd fractured his spine in two places last year. He was

in agony for some time but once inflation went down he started physio concentrating on core strength. Physio said avoid all activities which make you lean back, like throwing and do certain exercises like the yogic cat etc. May help?

[charlie007 in reply to Bonnie39]

Hi Bonnie39,

Thanks for the reply I will ask the GP about physio,The MRI result was 3 mild bulging discs but the pain is far from mild!

[Bonnie39]

I can imagine. I saw how bad it was for my son. A twelve year old sports nuy rendered immobile! I find high dose ibuprofen is the only thing that helps me with these kind of injuries.

[EOLHPC]

What sort of consultant organised your MRI? In my experience, the consultant explains the implications of the MRI report. If your consultant hasn't recommended surgery, this is good. For instance, usually surgery will only be considered if your spinal cord or spinal nerve root/s are actually "directly impinged" by the bulging discs ((meaning directly affected by the bulges). So, hopefully you are avoiding surgery.

I have been managing persistent severe pain from bulging discs in my new & lumbar spine all my life. And also foot, ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, wrist pain. But, so far my spinal cord & spinal nerve roots are not directly impinged by my bulging discs Before my SLE was dignosed & treated in 2010, i had spent years on Rx analgesics + NSAIDs which really barely were any help at all, and a top NHS neurosurgeon at a leading Brit university hosp signed me up for a double discectomy because "this was all he could offer me"....at the last minute I walked out on the op because i felt the risk wasn't worth it. Instead i was referred to a pain consultant who did diagnostic facet joint nerve blocks, to which i responded positively. On that basis, the PC went on to give me a series of permanent facet joint denervations, which really really worked & helped me turn my life around via lifestyle management, but this is an ongoing project which I'll have to keep up all my days I believe

Now my rheumatologist differentiates between my spine pain & my other joint pain by explaining that lupus mainly only affects synovial joints, so in the spine only the very top joint at the skull, and the sacrum joints at the very bottom of the spine are synovial and affected by Lupus, BUT untreated systemic Lupus can & does, more or less depending on the individual, gradually affect all ligaments throughout the body, making them increasingly lax (loose) which becomes a pain issues because joints are more unstable. ALL My lupus meds have helped a lot generally with ALL the joint pain I have due to ligamentous laxity. BUT lifestyle management has been KEY to keeping my spine & joint pain down to a reasonable level

Other than the denervations & lupus meds, the most effective treatments I have had over the years involve life style management: learning to pace activity & resting, meditation, posture retraining (the alexander technique) and gentle stretching exercise (Pilates yoga, tai chi). Others with disc trouble find similar things help them manage. During a flare of spine pain, I go extra gently and use heat packs (cool packs don't work for my version of this prob). you can get excellent heat adhesive & wrap round heat pads online & at pharmacies. Sleeping is a big prob...I love my temperpedic mattress, and prob myself into good positions by wedging small pillows against & under my bod. In my experience, a carefully judged regime of rest & gentle exercise for weeks & even months is usually necessary to help reduce a big flare or pain event.

I could go on & on...this subject means a lot to me & i have decades of tril & error experience of coping with this sort of pain & treatement or it. We are all different, but perhaps my experience can be useful to you

Take care & good luck

[charlie007 in reply to EOLHPC]

Thanks so much for your reply, its been very helpful.It was the GP that ordered the MRI,but I am due to bring the results to my Rhemy next week.To be honest the GP suggested very little to me,so your suggestions have been great and I know it will be trial and error,and getting the right balance!

[EOLHPC in reply to charlie007]

Any help I can give: it's yours. Just let me know. I v much like your attitude!