will they or won't they?
Morning all
I have been reading all your threads for the last couple of weeks and have found them really useful. My story so far is.. Back in March I hurt my back , was off work for a week and then went back managed to struggle on until May when I virtually crawled into see my GP, fortunately for me she reffered me for an MRI which revealed that I have a L4/5 extruded disc herniation . If I hadn't experienced it myself I don't think I would have ever believed how painful it is. I have been off work for 12 weeks now and like most of you am on a cocotail of painkillers. Rather than wait months to see a consultant on the NHS I have decided to go private and I see him on Tuesday, I think my biggest fear at the moment is that he is going to send me away and tell me time will heal. Has that happened to any of you ?? I really sympathise with those of you who have had to wait months even years for surgery, I am counting down the days until Tuesday and if I don't get anywhere I may have to ask hubby to take an axe to my legs, I'm that desperate.
Best wishes to all of you who are post op for a speedy recovery, and for those who are still waiting for answers , keep banging on the door of our wonderfull NHS.
viv
Hi Viv
If you have a prolapsed diisk that shown on MRI and is causing great pain and disability the surgeon will offer you the option of an op or 'conservative treatment' ie do bugger all and wait. I think it very unlikely that he wont offer surgery particularly as you are paying remember it is you that has all the choices in this situation. Don't waste time worrying about this potential outcome which is very very unlikely and focus on some objectives for after the op - say the first victory lap around the block! The key phrase to use with the surgeon is that your quality of life has been significantly diminshed and you are unable to undertake the vast majority of tasks you used to. Aslo emphasize how important exercise is to you and how being demobilise is affecting you badly.
Rod
hi viv..
hope your appointment goes well! i was in the same situation just over a week ago. i found it helpful going in with knowledge about my options and being upfront with the consultant about what i wanted to happen. like rod said, you are paying for the treatment so should have a say in what is happening. but i guess all consultants are different. don't leave til you get what you want though!! and you can realistically expect to be in surgery within a week of your appointment, so fight for that too!
good luck! keep us posted! xx
Jess/Rod
Thanks for that advise. It's true about quality of life , you don't realise how much you take it for granted until something like this happens and you can't even manage the basics. I will go to my appointment armed with a list of things I am unable to do and also stress the importance of my need to return to work not only for the money but for my sanity! I will keep you posted..Thanks again
Glad it went well jess. You will be surprised how quickly you improve but take it easy regardless.
I went out with my mates at the weekend for the first time in months and took it easy but had no probs so well happy.
Good luck viv.
i am now 6 days post op and feeling really mixed... drug withdrawal is still a bit of a problem. still feeling sick most of the time and am awake ALL night with restless legs which is driving me insane!
i was feeling so positive about the leg/back pain until this morning, when i got a bit of a nerve-type ache in my leg and now have pins and needles in the sole of my foot. not really bad ones, but i am panicking about having done too much and caused a further prolapse. do you think i have?? or is it just inflammation on the nerve or something?
i am kind of an emotional headcase at the moment and am just so worried cos i can't go through this all again!! my husband just keeps telling me i need to be strong and it'll all be fine, but i am really worried....
have any of you been through this??
jess xx
Hi Jess,
Relax and rest for a week or so try not to do anything. I had the restless legs for a long time and i still get a bit now. The withdrawals are poo and i had them for 3/4 weeks and then got a bad cold. I think the pains are going to come and go for a while yet, i still pains in my legs if i sit for too long and my bum and calf muscles are still very tight. I think after a week my right leg went into cramp and i felt the same as you infact i still do sometimes when i get a pulse of pain or i get any little ache.
You need to try and do a couple of 10min walks and a bit of stretching a day to keep you moving but other than that just relax.
Fact: A damaged nerve will heal 1mm everyday, if you have had pain in your foot then it has to heal all the way up your leg. For your nerve to fully recover it may take a year and i bet there will be a few aches and pains in that year.
If the problem gets worse then go to your doctor but i am sure you will be fine. I know you may not like taking the pain killers but the hospital and the physio i see told me to take them for the first 4 weeks just so i could relax and get a could restful sleep, believe me it all helps and you will feel a bit less knackered.
Hope this helps.
Olli;)
thanks olli! i wish my printer worked so i could have that taped to the wall beside my bed for constant reassurance!
thanks olli! i wish my printer worked so i could have that taped to the wall for constant reassurance!!
when people say to do nothing, does that literally mean lie down or sit down and only get up to go to the loo?? i am really struggling with that, in part because i am home alone quite a bit (and bored and stubborn) but also more so in the middle of the night when i really can't sleep. last night i was up and down like a yoyo and back and forwards to the living room and bedroom, standing up, sitting down, lying down, even watching the olympic archery. i think i over-did it and my body is telling me just that... hopefully that's all it is.
might try some nytol tonight.....
jess xx
jess,
Yes that means do nothing.:)
reply jess olli
Things are getting really bad - watching the olympic archery is a serious condition it involves more permanent nerve damage than even the Judge Judy repetative episode syndrome. Worth a trip to A&E just to be sure...............
Doubting your recovery is natural. Due to severe post op pain, that the surgeon said rarely ocurrs, I was really really convinced that the prolapse had come back and that I was heading for another op. My mind obsessed about this for a while ie three weeks. Basically surgery is sophisticated but at the same time basically butchery that does knock you sideways for a while. Your body recovers but fairly slowly. Dont expect miracles at first.As Olli will no doubt testify it does take some working at. Dont worry about your self doubt but try to remain positive on a consistent basis. I believe you can affect the whole ting by your state of mind. I am now into my 13th week and would consider myself pretty much fully recovered. Still some way to go with stamina but pretty good.
I was told that exercise is critical. I still believe that this is the case but woudl suggest that if you are in pain, usually caused by swelling you shoudl chill until you feel ready. The first week post op apparently needs to be mainly bedrest with some walking and 20 mins sitting plus gentle physio. Thereafter little walks and physio can increase if you feel up to it.
Keep pushing, keep the faith you will recover. I am going to bore everyone (again) but for me acupuncture hastened my recovery significantly. Not cheap at £45 a go but worth every penny.
Rod
Rod,
Are you totally pain free now or do you still get some leg and back pain???. I am 5 weeks behind you with recovery and at the moment i am getting a lot of pulsing and muscle twitching in my legs, i think it from doing more and sitting more i also have a new stretch to do which has told me just hoew tight my legs are. Its funny because i have forgoten what it feels like to have a muscle ache and i think everything is nerve pain:confused:. I know the nerve may get angry sometimes but i always seem to think the worst.:eek:
Olli:cool:
Stay positive jess its ok
I to had the leg muscles that felt like they wanted to flex and get going again for the first few days. I sometimes think theres an ache or pins and needles coming back but I think I may be laying slightly twisted on my side as I am more relaxed and when I correct this or lay on my back it seems to go away. It was probably irritating the nerve that is repairing. I think the nerve can be quite swollen or even stuck to muscle tissue because it hasn't been moving through them. The surgery can damage the nerve a little to but its all normal.
Keep your back supported when sitting and do a few short walks (200yds) through out the day plus the physio. Although don't walk up and down to many stairs just yet, I know you live on the third floor!
Jay:)
Update
Just thought I would update you after seeing my consultant. Although he was very matter of fact he said my only option is surgery and all being well I should have the op next Thursday (21st). Am really relieved and also very nervous. I will now have to go back and read all the post op threads and hopefully start planning my life again...
Reply Viv Olli
Viv well done. The op if fine nothing to be afraid of...trust me.
Olli. Frankly I think acupuncture is essential at your stage. I hit a plateau and didnt improve with twitches and great pain. I know you have tried it and it aoint cheap but I really think it helped. Also dont try to push yourself too much physically...all in its own time. Keep taking the sodium diclofenac, it is essential.Just keep beileving the pain reduces and slowly gets less every day. Keep your confidence up.
Rod