For the past 6 months I have had very bad back pain which is impacting daily life. I have no idea what triggered it but my physio says she sees it all the time and it is degenerative disc disease.
I have paid for a dozen physio sessions and several osteopath sessions which have not been helpful unfortunately and now at a loss as to what to do next.
I cannot take NSAID pain killers due to IBD so am on the lowest dose of cocodemol available over the counter at the pharmacy (not on prescription). I use hot water bottles and TENS machine.
If anyone has experience of lower back pain L5 region please could you answer the following from experience.
Which pain medication helped?
Did physio eventually help or exercises?
Is it worth getting an MRI? they are quite expensive privately here in UK
Did you have or consider having a pain injection and was it worth it?
Thanks
Written by
Jo198919
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It is extremely important to keep moving and exercise.
Check out YouTube for correct and easy exercises.
NSAIDs rubs or gels can help. I use a prescription one called Etoflam, but I'm sure others OTC are as good.
Taichi, Pilates and yoga are all good- but tell the instructor your condition.
Above all, keep moving and don't get locked up.
Oh yes- the injection. I got one for lower back. Lasted for about 2 years, pain back again as bad as ever. I'm waiting for the pain clinic, to get another one.
I have had lower back pain for about 30 years this has been diagnosed as degenerative lumbar disc disease and spinal stenosis. I had a spinal fusion of L4/L5 about 20 years ago, I had a posterior and anterior fusion. It has certainly made my life more bearable. Unfortunately one of the screws intermittently touches one of the nerves which causes sciatica type pain down my left leg and awful sharp pain in my back.The consultant did consider taking some of the metal work out but we decided that it would probably cause more problems. I have tried a number of medications and alternative treatments during that time. I always use heat pads rather than hot water bottles as they are safer and find them really effective. Like other people have said it is really important to keep moving and not take to your bed. I do lots of walking and also stretching exercises.
I’m currently taking OxyContin, Oxycodone, Nortriptyline and Pregablin for my pain and a JAK inhibitor called Rinvoq.. I can’t take NSAIDS due to gastric irritation I also have rheumatoid arthritis and ulnar nerve neuropathy so not treating back pain on its own.
I am currently waiting for another spinal injection, these really vary in effectiveness from lasting a few weeks to a few months.
Could your GP not send you for a MRI scan so you don’t have to pay privately?
Hope you manage to get things sorted living with pain is very difficult and really quite miserable.
hi, I have seen various pain clinics, I have a disc that has deteriorated so it’s bone on bone in the lumber area and have growths (bone)on my upper spine but they never had an answer for my pain. What I was told was if the pain is localised and sharp injection is the way to go but if it’s a dull continuous pain over a large area or different areas then medication can help. I have reflux so cannot take certain medication, after a lot of experimenting with my gp we settled on pain patches for me . Started on 5mg patch worked up to 35mg found that was to much back down to 30mg and that works for me. It doesn’t get rid of the pain but it does dull the pain so it’s bearable (it’s called Bunov). As others have said exercise/movement is good if you are able(I am not) get a referral to MCATTs from your doctor and they will arrange for imaging and physio either normal or hydro. I also take paracetamol and have codeine as a backup for extreme pain (rarely used). Good luck. Kevin
Many thanks for your reply Kevin. It is always good to hear other peoples experiences so I am better informed when speaking to a GP as quite frankly, sometimes it is difficult to tell how knowledgeable they are!
I had a similar problem last year. I got to the stage where i couldn't live a normal life due to the pain. I originally went to a physio which helped a little. After a few treatments she suggested an MRI which I had to pay for privately. This showed stenosis at L4-L5. I had a pain killing injection which did not work. In March I had a hemi laminectomy to enlarge the opening where the nerve exits the vertebra. This gave initial relief, but things then reverted to the original pain. Another scan showed a piece of disc wedged under one of the lumbar nerves. Ii had a second op in August which again relieved the pain instantly. I still have a problem with pain especially first thing in the morning but it is not the acute pain I was in.
I still go to the physio which helps, but i am beginning to wonder if I will ever get back to normal. My advice is to get an MRI if you can afford it as it is the only way to know for sure what is going on. I was fortunate to have just downsized my home which gave me the cash to afford to go privately.
Hi , First of all Jo198919, you should not have to pay for your MRI scan , this should beavailable on the NHS , that’s if you’re happy to wait a couple of months. If you’re having your Physio on the NHS, badger your Physio saying your concern, and also the deterioration in your physical condition due to your lower back problems, you also need to let your GP know the same, even say it’s effecting your mental wellbeing, which I imagine it is . I know from my own Chronic back problems this is so. I take a small dose of morphine which helps with pain management, I won’t go into details of my condition, I’ll bore you to death. Like others have said keeping mobile is probably the most important thing. I’ve got a far infrared heated mat that helps relieve my pain, but it’s only transient, like most heat pads , it doesn’t cure. Okay they’re not cheap but I’ve found it worth every penny I paid for it and find it more helpful than a normal heat pad . Most important push for the MRI scan it’s so important in getting a proper diagnosis of the problem you’re experiencing and suffering. Good luck 🤞, hope it turns out that it’s nothing too serious.
Hi Jo198919 My disc collapsed between L4 L5 long story loads of physio .after 2 years of it lost movement in left foot then got an MIR should not have been doing the physio they were doing have to wear a back brace and calliper on left leg I’m in pain still after 7 years I’m on morphine pregabaline and many more if you have that sort of pain get to the doctors and demand an MRI scan try keep moving tense machine x 2 helps me good luck hope you get it sorted I can sincerely feel for you
I have had various ops and ended with a fusion of the L5/S1. It helped but did not take away all the pain. It is very important to keep moving and do stretch exercises daily. I got rid of all the meds with the exception of the odd dihydrocodeine at night. Besides that I found that the alexander technique helped me a lot which focuses on the correct posture.
It basically focuses on your correct posture. My A T teacher gave me stretch exercises too which help to loosen you up. Its kind of a gentler form of pilates and really stresses the posture which often lets us down.
It does help as we invariably go into the wrong posture for various reasons, one being to relieve pain but of course it just ends up getting worse then.
Insist your GP refers you to an orthopaedic consultant, who will expect/order an MRI (all free under NHS so no need to pay for one). Then the orthopaedic consultant will evaluate you for either surgery or a referral to the Pain Clinic who will direct you to nerve impingement investigations and recommend radiofrequency nerve ablations eventually. This is the path I have gone down so far, am still in pain but await a sacroiliac nerve ablation (after 3 yrs pain, Covid delays etc, which might happen in next 6 months). In meantime I barely am existing on paracetamol as the dihydrocodeine hasn't worked for months. I am only 78 and used to be a keen gardener and walker but now I cannot do either. Sorry to hear of your pain, know how it feels, but keep waiting and pressing for the treatment you deserve.
I wont go into my back pain but I have had it. I would fully recommend an MRI scan and then you would be able to know your next action. Find out from your doctor what the wait time is for NHS, its sometimes not so long as you think. Otherwise google hospitals with MRI scans. phone them up and check their prices. Where I live there is a Chiropractic Training Clinic and they have an MRI and its the cheapest. I am not a medical person so canmt help you with medication. Hope this helps.
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