finally some kind of diagnosis! Thoughts?

[Starseed56]

I’ll try and compress this as much as I can. Lower back pain for many years, began after birth of third child 33 years ago, but got much worse lately. Had bad car accident rolling the car x 3 two years ago, May or may not have worsened it. I don’t know for sure. GP offered me a phone chat in two months time about the scan result! Same GP who’d marked my X-ray as satisfactory despite a comment from radiologist so I requested MRI scan. See result above.

Luckily I’ve found a free physio service and they are going to talk me thru treatment next week. Far better than GP and more knowledgable no doubt. I’ve started trying to remember some simple exercises daily, takes a long while to become a habit!

The worst pain is probably from the spondylolisthesis. I developed severe sciatica out of the blue in June whilst walking round London, maybe not in the best shoes. And it comes and goes in it’s severity. Burning pain and numbness. Sometime if I get up in the night it feels like my back has been sliced in two. I have always tried to lead as normal life as I can. I can only walk or swim gently, anything else is too much. I was diagnosed many years ago with fibro but I actually wonder if this was my body adapting to the back issues, as the pain apart from sciatica is mainly in all the soft tissues surrounding the back and pelvis. My body is quite reactive. I also have thyroid problems and low iron for most of my life which I’m currently working on too!

Viktor Frankl said the meaning of suffering is not that we suffer but how. So I try and lead my best life. I’m 68 and live alone so sometimes the future feels a little daunting!

I take pregabilin, just 75 mg at night maybe helps a tad. Reluctant to increase to daytime as can make me sleepy.

Just thought I’d post here in case anyone has similar. Physio has suggested I speak to a spinal specialist. I think I’d like to go for injections in my back to see if the nerve blocks would help.

Thanks for reading this 💜

[Alloagirl]

Hi, I too have spondylolisthesis, with stenosis and pinched nerves. My pain started a year ago , in my leg, it has progressed very quickly to my other leg and lower back. In July I too suffered sciatica. The most awful pain and could not walk. Since then I need a walker. I am on Gabapentin three times a day and cocodamol, these are a life saver for me as I am able to walk around and do most things though I need the walker for longer distances. Still have some aches and pains as I keep the cocodamol to twice a day. But it is bearable. I self referred for physio. Not been as good with it since the sciatica but have a face to face in November so will try to get back to the full set of exercises. In some ways I am lucky as the pains started when I was 75. Before that nothing. Never thought of arthritis, cannot believe that I need a walker when last August I was running around and doing allsorts. I know everyone is different and some meds do not work for some so I hope you can get some relief. Good luck.

[Starseed56 in reply to Alloagirl]

Thank you for your story. Im sorry you have this too, it’s rather a shock to know what it is after all this time but also helpful. I am doing my best to adjust. Am in my late 60s and now alone which makes it tougher! I will work hard at the physio programme when I get it and see if it helps me and to give it a good chance! 💜

[ZKJ69]

All very similar. I have injections through the pain team, who are in the hospital but also see patients in the community. I would insist on a referral to spinal, a physio report and recommendation may help force your Gp to do this. In our area all spinal and muscular skeletal referrals are via the muscular skeletal team in the community , the physio being the first point of call, in the pathway. Keep fighting, don't be quiet, if you don't think the pregabalin is that effective ask to try something else. I was on pregabalin but have found duloxatine a lot better for neuropathic pain, such as sciatica. If your not fully happy get it changed, don't be put off by GPS.

[Starseed56 in reply to ZKJ69]

Thanks for your encouragement ZKJ69. Am reluctant to take too many meds as I’m very sensitive to them. Nothing I’ve taken in the past helps much unless I take a big dose which knocks me out! I truly intend to fight for myself now, I’ve been side lined by GPS for years! So yes I’ll ask for a spinal referral and I’d definitely like to try the injections. I came off the pregabilin recently after taking for 15 years, (originally prescribed for fibro pain), but after a year of chronic insomnia I started taking it again as I really couldn’t function…clearly my brain needs it now and that’s what I hate .. that unknown addiction which I proved to myself!

My GP already has physio reports from the service I found and in surgery physio. Now she has the MRI report which the physios recommended and Id asked for. GPS can’t refer to MRI without a physio report, the patient request isn’t sufficient even tho it’s the patient who knows their body best. 🫣

💜

[Alloagirl]

just to add that it is wrong GPs cannot refer to MRI. My GP referred me and I then self referred to the muscular skeletal service after they found the spondy and stenosis etc. from the MRI. So I don’t know what is going on with your surgery but yes questions should be asked.

[Starseed56 in reply to Alloagirl]

Wow thanks for that! 💜

[MLATH]

I was intersted in your story. My gp just fobbed me off with useless painkillers. I all started when I fell downd the stairs a few years ago. I tried a Chiropracter. He identified where the problen was but was unable to do anymore. I have had serious pain in my back for years. I am unable to do any household tasks for more tha 5 minutes and then I have to sit down.

We had a new docter at my local GP practice and she had a wonderful idea .that was to try and find out what was wrong wth my back

I had anm MRI scan and subsequent follow up with doctor I was told that there is nothing they could do

I am 78 and live on my own,I do not know haw many rears I have left but I will have to put up with this pain forever.

Because of the complexity of the spine it seems that it is very difficult to diagnose problems and will not opoerate if it may cause other problems . I have a book from the hospital that if you stay active then the spine will heal itself.

[Starseed56 in reply to MLATH]

Goodness MLATH I’m so sorry to read this… stay gently active then seems to be a good idea. Have you tried spinal injections for the pain?

[MLATH in reply to Starseed56]

I I have not tried spinal injections but I have asked my gp if I can have this treatment.

Thank you for your interest

[Konagirl60]

I don’t think you’re being taken seriously by your doctors about your possible nerve pain . I could be wrong. Have you seen a neurologist?

You say you had sciatica. Sometimes nerves in the area get triggered to cause pain. Do you feel burning, tingling pain in your groin?

I have severe neuropathy. I get relief from Amytriptyline at 7pm every night. ( I’m 67 ) Have you tried it?

I hope you bought yourself some orthopaedic shoes or slippers. You deserve them.

Keep me posted.

[Starseed56 in reply to Konagirl60]

hello thanks for your reply. No they’re not taking me seriously but I’m not taking anything lying down now I have had the mri result. I had Amitriptyline many years ago, just at night but I was finding it harder and harder to wake up and function! I was working then tho and had children at home (68 now).

I do have orthotics for my walking boots.

I get the burning/tingling/numbness down my legs. Am going to get a referral to a spinal specialist for a chat/review too. Thanks again 🙏💜

[Konagirl60]

Keep me posted. I pray you can see the spine specialist asap.