Lumbar decompression

[thenunn]

Hi all, Happy Christmas

im wondering when did you decide to go for decompression surgery, what symptoms made you say enough is enough ? im booked in but part of me is wondering am I sure I cant wait any longer

[Kels1974]

Hi my pain was just getting worse I'd been suffering for 7 years.I was in constant pain and taking 15 painkillers a day I couldn't be on my feet for more than half an hour at a time and couldn't get comfortable in bed.I had horrendous scaitica down both legs trapped nerve and leg spasms.I had operation in October.

[thenunn in reply to Kels1974]

how did the op go , how are you now ? your reasons are very similar to mine and why ive decided ..guess im just a chicken worrying about outcome being worse than now lol

[Kels1974 in reply to thenunn]

It went really well thanks.I had a discectomy and facetectomy,recovery was pretty fast and I didn't even stay in hospital over night.Every day got easier,I get a few niggles of pain now and then bit nothing like I had been.Its the best thing I've done,only wish I'd had it done sooner.

[thenunn in reply to Kels1974]

thank you so much for that . I know we don't all heal the same way but you've given me the nod I needed to see it through. The nurse at the pre-op did say 'you are still young,if you wait ten years youll be 70 and it will be have got worse and you will have lost those years of being more mobile' ..so with that and what you've said ,Im sticking with it and fingers crossed I have such an outcome . Thanks Kels and I wish you best on your new almost pain free life x

[Kels1974 in reply to thenunn]

That's the way to look at it.ive wasted half of my 40's and some of my 30's even,it's no life I was living I was just existing.Good luck for your operation.

[abellemed in reply to Kels1974]

Hi Kels1974 -

In similar situation to yours before your op.

Are you in UK? If so, how long did it take you to get from your GP to a spine surgeon to Pain Management and then to be put on waiting list for any nerve root blocks (which is where I am now), then on to an op? I can't afford private treatment to bypass any of that and indeed I work in NHS!

I am now furniture-walking round my house, can't go Xmas shopping and rely on horrid painkillers 4 times a day which have given me a bad stomach. I am 74 but young for age and used to be vigorous, walked everywhere and now feel frustrated and tired from constant pain (however Not Depressed). Can't get an appointment with GP till early Feb to discuss any of this. I've found this site and realise I am not alone! Sorry to go on, but would appreciate a reply when you can! You sound very brave. xx

E

[Kels1974 in reply to abellemed]

Hi I was back and forth to doctors for different pain medications for 7 years.I also went for lots of physiotherapy over the years and had several mri scans.I was n been referred for pain management and also never had root block injections either as they told me they wouldn't work for me,as my pain had been going on too long and my last MRI earlier this year showed a large bulge which was compressing the nerve and L5S1.I had to have the opera ton pretty urgently after that as physiotherapy referred me to spinal consultant as physio wasn't helping and aggravating it and I was having cauda equina symptoms.

[Kels1974 in reply to Kels1974]

Yes I am in the UK.Im 45 yrs old.

[abellemed in reply to Kels1974]

Oh dear, Kels - you are so young!

I know at my age I shouldn't moan about back pain but I see my friends happily marching about joining walking groups for the retired and going round the shops and just feel so frustrated. My pain is now constant as soon as I get out of bed or get up from sitting. I don't want to sit for another week, let alone months, so am ranting about waiting lists for something to help me get mobile again. I am very slim, have no other co-morbidities luckily (except treated family-inherited high blood pressure), so should be OK for operative treatment if any more injections were to be offered (which they haven't been as yet). So I am in limbo and getting worse.

I am glad they diagnosed the possibility of cauda equina in you and acted quickly for your sake, hope it sorted things out. Meanwhile, being a medical secretary (!) I know about that and I suspect I am going down that lane, ie newly acquired stress incontinence, numbness/spasms in legs/buttocks etc, but cannot get anyone to listen! My GP thinks they've done their bit by referral to spinal surgeon/pain management last year, but they can't give me even a telephone consultation till mid January, even about upping my painkiller meds (they've probably crossed me off as too old to help).

My son has just said "the creaking hinge gets the oil", so I'll ring them again on Monday (if I ever get through) and "lay it on thick" about any treatment (BTW I have been taking ibuprofen 400mg, paracetamol 1g, dihydrocodeine 300mg three times a day and have just stopped the ibuprofen as it gave me severe gastritis last weekend and was in bed for 2 days+on the loo (if you know what I mean).

Sorry to go on, but I can't seem to get any anwers from anywhere else! (BTW I am definitely not depressed by my back pain, I could have lots of other things to get depressed about, ie the electricity bill, politics, my inability to buy lavish Xmas presents for everyone despite Amazon etc as I don't earn much - but hah, that is everyone's problem at this time of year, isn't it?)