chronic pain

[Carolo70]

I have trapped lumbar nerve with severe pain down my right leg and around my knee. The pain meds I am in do not help that much. It is very difficult at times. Any help out there

[cyberbarn]

It sounds like this could be neuropathic pain which needs to be treated by a different kind of pain med. What health professionals do you have involved so far? Have they tried different pain medications?

I am sorry you have this and so close to christmas too. This kind of pain can be really hard to deal with. Last time I had something similar I had three hot water bottles at the same time, one for my back, one for my hip and one for my thigh. That and resting was all that worked.

[arvine in reply to cyberbarn]

I can relate, had nerve root impingement last May showed on MRI, went for spinal decompression treatments, 20, first 2 weeks every day, finally relieved pain upper right thigh and groin, at that time, L2, L3 targeted, this clinic uuses machine, stretches spine, takes pressure off nerve, however over 2 wks ago, stabbing pain right front thigh, and into groin, started up again, telling me its the Si joint causing problems this time, have now hsd 4 treatments in last 2 weeks, may be getting slightly better, knife like stabbing pain upper right thigh, little relief on and off., no painkillers I take have helped, csn only take tylenol, as I am still on prednisone, for pmr diagnosed , Oct 2016, , nerve pain hard to treat although was prescribed gabepentin, read up side effects didnt take

[Carolo70 in reply to cyberbarn]

thanks. The trouble is the pain is so

Intense I cant walk far now. I started off on one crutch, then 2, then rollator but for any distance I need a wheelchair. I simply can’t walk because if the pain. I hzvd had previous spinal surgery but this is really getting to me this time

[Bevvy]

Do you know for definite that it is a trapped nerve? If so then it may be that something such as physiotherapy or osteopath treatment would help you. From personal experience I would avoid a chiropractor. I used one some years ago and felt she actually made things worse!

There are different types of medication for pain and for nerve pain. If you are finding regularly painkiller aren’t helping then it would be worth discussing with your gp other options.

[strongmouse]

Sorry to hear that the pain meds aren't helping.

I have pain down my leg from trapped nerve, alongside other pain. I'm on cocodamol and the doctor added nortrptaline at night which made a lot of difference, the pain is much better controlled.

Is the pain from your knee related to the trapped nerve or different? I get hip pain and joint pain from osteoarthritis. It can be hard finding a regime which makes it managaeable, but do go back to your doctor. I had physiotherapy for the back pain and it helped. The physiotherapist said it was important to strenghten my core muscles to help support the back (spine). It took quite a while and I didn't think it was helping at first, but after several weeks it did. I find heat can make a difference. I had an MRI scan to investigate the spine and the disc causing the problem is between lumbar 2 and lumbar 3.

Make a note of the type of pain you get, where it is and when and go back to your doctor.

[Carolo70 in reply to strongmouse]

mine is L4/L5 related and I take gabapentin plus butec patches . I have done core strenghtening exercises znd tai chi but I now can’t stand to do them I can only do them sitting down. I’ve had previous spinal surgery and been here before with the pain but this is just so

Intense and I can’t walk properly. Thank you for your advice

[Mitch48]

Hi there,

I’m sorry to hear that you are struggling but I can empathise with you. I have severe chronic pain from cervical and lumbar spinal injuries, I have had several surgeries (ACDF’s x 2, Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion, Laminectomies x 3, Foraminotomies x 3, Discectomies x 2) for impending cauda equina & Spondylolisthesis of 2 vertebrae). I have so many symptoms post surgery for both areas of my spine and use heat such as hot baths, heated pad or throw or cold gel such as Biofreeze, a Tens Machine is the best that I can find for blocking the debilitating nerve pains that I have, sometimes Oramorph helps but I do despair at the amount of breakthrough pain that I have.

Have you tried a pain clinic? I’ve found that radiofrequency ablation is the best treatment for nerve pain and will be having it for the first time early next year in my lumbar spine, it helps in my cervical spine and I’ve had it four times there previously.

There’s also stretching, yoga, mindfulness, meditation and trying to get plenty of sleep, distraction techniques can help to take our minds off of the pain that we have.

I wish you the best of luck,

Kind Regards

Mitch.

[Hidden]

I have the same symptoms as you. There is one thing that has worked for me on occasion. I will lay on my stomach across the bottom of our bed. My wife will put her hand on the small of my back and rock back and forth vigorously and many times has gotten the vertebrae to move enough to take the pressure off the nerve. I also see a pain management doctor and I have had several steroid injections but better yet, she has done several RFAs on me. The first time was in the L4-L5 region and then we did the L2-L3 region. It help ed very much.

[Carolo70]

thank you I have had steroid injections and decompression I think I am looking at more extensive work now I would just like to get a break from the pain