Lower Back Pain

[Spursboy]

I have suffered with back problems for the past 20years which over the last 7/8 years have gradually got worse.

It started of with pain in my lower back which was helped by regular trips to a Chiropractor.

This allowed me to continue walking with my local walking group.

But slowly over the past 7 years the pain has gradually worse with pain in my lower back, down my right leg plus both feel are numb.

I had an MRI scan November 2015 which showed problems at L5/S1 which causes moderate stenosis compressing the L5 nerve root. Feb/2016 had a nerve block injection, this had no effect.

Pain management tried Pregabalin, it did not help.

Pain was so bad now that I could only walk comfortably for 10mins, therefore walking group came to a stop.

Had a private consultation with a spinal consultant who made his own diagnosis of the MRI scan, which was that degenerative scoliosis was producing narrowing @ L4/5 and L5/S1 plus grade 1 spondyolisthesis @ L4/5 level. He suggested a lateral recess decompression surgery which I had December 2017.

Result being that the surgery made no difference and the specialist said that I would have to learn to live with it!

Have tried living with it but GP sent me for a further MRI scan June 2019, followed by another nerve block injection, which also has had no effect.

GP now also says that I will have to live with it.

The pain is slowly getting worse sometimes stops me sleeping.

have just been prescribed Gabapentin 300mg three times a day, having seen some of the side effects I'm having second thoughts.

Anyone been prescribed these for pain, did they help?

[Hidden]

Yes, I've been on Gabapentin 300mg four times daily for three years with no problems, no side effects.

[Hidden]

Hi

I'm sorry you are in so much pain. I had gabapentin, no side effects but it didn't work either!! I've had injections, not worked either. I should be seeing my consultant on 31st March but I'm on self isolation!!! Xxxx

[Barbola in reply to Hidden]

I hope to God the isolation ends soon and normal life resumes. Stay safe!

[RonSton7]

I'm on 3600mg per day of gabapentin which my GP says is the max dose allowed. Its very similar to pregabalin. Technically its not as strong as pregabalin, but the dose tends to be higher so maybe that evens out.

I found that I needed time to adjust to the side effects as initially they were too much for me and I wasn't seeing any benefits. That's changed over time - side effects are non exist ant now and it does help with the pain.

If you can, build your dose up gradually under your gp's guidance as this can help minimise the side effects if you get them. And I'd say that you need 3 months before you can say if it works for you.

[Barbola]

Same here, could not walk due to stenosis, disk herniation, spondyolisthesis (arthritis of spine), bone spurs, nerve compression. Morphine in emergency room did not kill pain.....sciatica and three xray guided epidural steroid injections and almost three years of physical therapy, 3x week, daily stretch exercises at home....it takes a long long time but no more pills no more pain and i resumed my daily hikes of one hour or longer.

I would not recommend chiropractor for spinal stenosis but rather physical therapy. Read this on a medical web page addressing spinal stenosis.

Was told to move as much as possible even when in pain, sitting longer period of time is bad for this condition......wishing you the best

[paintogo]

Hi Spursboy I like you have lower back pain and right leg painful all the time. Have had 1 back op and 2 cortisone injection which did not help.Also been on Gabapentin 300mgs 3x a day did not help but stopped because of depression.

Been prescribed Pregabalin but reluctant to try.

I find heat helps sometimes with foot pain. I too have to live with it.

All the best

Paintogo

[Spursboy]

Hi all,

Thanks very much for all the advice, still unsure about the gabapentin, perhaps will continue to live with it while I can at the moment.

Take care of yourselves.

[hosbay]

Hi Spursboy

I have a very similar history to you with my condition also getting very bad 6 to 7 years ago.

I am 77 years old.

Spent over 3 years with all kinds of procedures and medication non of which really helped much. I eventually decided to stop all medication because I felt it was counter-productive as it did not seem to help the pain and three and a half months of Gabapentin was affecting my cognitive functions. I now am able to manage my condition and, to a large extent, the pain, by being positive, "listening" to my body, exercising, pacing, relaxation and occasional resting. It was a gradual process but I persevered and now I am fairly active. Pain generally is very low when I rise in the morning and tends increase as the day goes on but a brief rest at dinner tine usually resets it to an acceptable level.

I wish you luck in your journey.

[Spursboy]

Have now been on Gabapentin 300mg x 3 times a day now for 4 weeks but no improvement whatsoever to my pain, what now??!! Back to the GP I suppose.