Disk

[Cheekaboo]

Old post written about this before just been told they are not going to do nothing about my bulging disk as it’s not sitting on a nerves so at my wits end as I am in pain all the time and sick off wearing pain pads and can’t sit for long any one got any advice thanks

[cyberbarn]

You must feel so frustrated right now.

Many years ago when MRIs first started to be used for back pain, they scanned a load of people that had back pain, noticed that they had things like bulging disks, and assumed that that was causing the pain. So they operated.

Only the pain didn't stop.

So some bright spark decided to scan a load of people that were the same age, sex, and so on, as the ones with pain, only these ones didn't have pain. And it turned out that everyone of a certain age has these anomalies, just that some have pain and others don't!

So that explained why the surgery either didn't work or made things worse. Since then there has been a lot more research into what causes pain.

It isn't that the pain doesn't exist, it is certainly real, it is just that it might not be caused by what you think it is caused by.

Did you go to the pain clinic that you asked about two months ago?

[Cheekaboo in reply to cyberbarn]

I am waiting on appointment

[ssdw1958]

I wish they could or would do more for you so you wouldn't be in such pain.

[colliedog2]

I'm sorry I can't help with any advice, as I'm in exactly in the same boat, suffering with back pain and waiting for Pain Clinic appointments. Today I've actually got a face to face appointment with a doctor (To get more Pregabalin, which doesn't seem to do much for me). I haven't actually seen a doctor since last December-3 week wait for appts, see the nurse practitioner instead for painkillers. They are the ones who have sent me for a scan, X rays and referred to a Consultant who expressed her shock at the Gps lack of action. Telephone appts to discuss her recommendation of Pregabalin. So no doctor has seen me hobbling about, having to sit down for relief every other minute etc This should be good this afternoon! So all I can offer is sympathy, and hope we get somewhere with the clinic appointments. You sound how I feel-desperate!

I suppose we're all on this forum, which I've just found, because of pain and feeling alone .Good luck with your clinic.

[cyberbarn in reply to colliedog2]

Just a word about pregabalin and something called the number needed to treat. The NNT for pregabalin is 3.7, that means 3.7 people have to take it for one person to get benefit.

In layman's terms that means that for every three people given pregablin it will work well for one, but not so well for the other two.

So it might be a good idea if you could ask to try another drug.

[Jake69]

I feel your pain,literally.the same thing happened to me many years ago but they!!! in all their wisdom!!!left it that late to do anything I now have no feeling in my right leg from the knee down and can't move my toes so I urge you to try and press them for something to be done.ive had surgery twice now and had to give up my job of 24 years in 2010 and I'm now in constant pain and take about 30 pills a day.hope they help you soon my friend.

[Cheekaboo in reply to Jake69]

Thanks so sorry to hear about ur pain they are just going to give me more physio

[Bea61]

Hi..I take pregabalin for nerve pain along with solpadol when i can't tolerate the lower back pain which is daily...am also waiting on nerve block injection at local pain clinic which boasts on the website that referrals to them are dealt with in a 4 week timeframe but usually in a 2 week timeframe....Soo not true....have been waiting since June!!

Feel your pain and others on here too!

Praying for better days and appointments that are given ant not cancelled!!

Bea😞

[Cheekaboo in reply to Bea61]

Thanks how you get better soon

[Bea61 in reply to Cheekaboo]

UPDATE..have received a 2nd cancellation appointment letter...Give me strength please....

[Krawlins in reply to Bea61]

Hi Bea61, like you I'm awaiting freezing of the nerves since my appt in June. Since then I saw the spinal surgeons and was offered more surgery on recurring disc prolapse together with fusion. Got the letter confirming my last appt in days. Two days later the appt for the pre op assessment in 22 December, wondering if I'll even get the denervation appt at all? Spinal surgeon couldn't understand why I hadn't already had further surgery as the disc starting bulging one year after the original surgery in April 2012, confirmed on MRIs in 2014 and 17. He was my original surgeon just so happens I didn't get to see him at my other appts, in fact the last surgeon said they couldn't offer any more surgery and to stick with pain management which hasn't helped me yet, I've been in pain since 2013 in my upper and lower back, neck, shoulders, hips and pelvis, left ankle and heels. Good luck to all on their journey with pain xx

[Bea61]

Hi Krawlins, hope you are having a better day...sent another email to NHS Trust to complain about the cancellations and i actually got a response within an hour...response was, the Trust do not manage the appointments for the Pain Management Clinic!!! How is this correct when the clinic operates from the hospital treatment centre managed by the NHS Trust. I am unbelievably frustrated with the NHS but cannot afford the 1440.00 pounds for a nerve block treatment privately.

Bea 😩

[Krawlins]

Hi Bea61, how are things with you? I got a call last week from the pain management clinic to see how I was getting on with Gabapentin and if I still required the denervation procedure. I said I most certainly did as I wanted to avoid the fusion operation next year if at all possible. She said I'd been waiting 22 weeks and was now 10th on the list so I'm waiting for the call that tells me I'm first. She said they had lost so much operating theatre time which is why I have waited so long. I do wonder if I have to be sorted within 26 weeks, I think that is the max waiting time. I'll let you know how I am afterwards

Kay x

[Neldine]

Meanwhile stateside after getting everything together at home for the husband to survive easier, he lost his lower right leg at work, dragging trash bins for us and a neighbor, loading the car and driving through horrendous traffic for sixty miles my compression fractures, stenosis and arthritis have me struggling to not scream out loud. I'm here to support and try to help my Mom after a hernia repair and rerouting her colostomy back to normal instead of using the bag she's had for 3years now. I am so terrified of the agonizing pain that's ahead. Don't feel alone my prettys, we're all in a really messed up boat. My ex son in law told me to take an "extra" pain pill, yes I did laugh at the thought. 3 pills a day now a days, used to get up to 7 if needed. Ho ho ha hee. Used to have "extra" pills, now pound so much aspirin my ears never stop howling. What a ... life??