At Last!
Have been on the phone to the hospital and got quite upset which resulted in an appointment on the 29th August! Still a while off, but an appointment nontheless!
Reply Jayboy
Hi
Think you have done the right thing. Agree about NHS. How long has it been form injury til operation? Good luck with the op I am sure it will help you. Let us know how you get on.
The NHS give you bugger all physio and post op advice so make sure you get good physio and post op advice advice.
The post op pain is nothing to be afraid of compared with what you have already been through - a stroll in the park.
Good luck....
Rod
jay...so good to hear your success with private treatment. let us know how the op goes and good luck!
thought i would update you all on my situation. the pain in my leg became intolerable on sunday and i woke up in agony. my husband was so worried that he phoned nhs24 who sent out the emergency doctor, who was freakin useless (although very understanding), gave me diazepam, despite me telling him it doesn't affect my nerve pain and some dihydrocodeine (can't spell, sorry), which made me pretty sleepy, but still sore.
so on monday i had an occupational health appointment (nope, not ready to go back to work) so left my flat for the first time in a week. had to get a taxi home and was in so much pain, i didn't know how i would manage the 3 flights of stairs to my front door. so i asked the taxi driver to take me to a&e.
i was seen within 30 mins, which was great, but they tried to send me home with, you guessed it, diazepam! my hysteria was sufficient for them to get an orthopaedic doctor to examine me, including a traumatic finger up the bum test (sorry). they decided to admit me cos of the pain and the fact i couldn't walk, even with crutches.
on the ward, i was told by both a consultant and a registrar that i didn't need to be there and they couldn't do anything to help me. in spite of this, i was kept in overnight and given morphine...the first time in weeks that i was pain free, at least until i moved!
i have been sent home with a morphine-based tablet and told i just need to wait for my mri next monday. the only consultant i can then see is away until august so there is little chance of me getting an op before sept. so i think i will have to go private.
i am still struggling to get a private consultation for a nerve block injection though, so i'm not sure if they are as quick to respond here...
can anyone recommend a travel insurance company who have accepted a prolapsed disc as an existing medical condition?? if i'm offered surgery in august, then we will have to cancel 2 trips, which right now i couldn't manage anyway...
sorry for the kinda depressing post...
jess xx
Hi Jess, I know I've said this before (and probably getting boring with it) but you must try the Tramadol for nerve pain, it was a miracle drug for me. Before that I wasn't able to sleep and actually had a cold water bottle in bed to keep my legs cool. Luckily no partner to worry about.
I'm going to my pre clerking appointment today and I am really going to make myself very clear....maybe. Have already sent a complaint about the terrible service in orthopaedics, long waits and awful chairs...so you have no choice but to suffer more than you are already. Oh, and I asked why I have been referred to a consultant who is never there, those people are in a world of their own you know.
Really wish I could consider going private but not a chance unless I get an unexpected windfall (of cash).
Hi All,
Well i just wanted to let you all know how things are going.
I am now 6 weeks out of hospital after my op and things are great. I am back at work on light duties which is just doing a bit of paper work. I am walking and swimming every day. I had my first gym session today with the physio, I have been on the bike and the cross trainer and doing lots of stuff on the big gym balls. The side effects from coming off the pain killers has worn off so i feel much better for that.
I think i had a tear in my eye when i was in the gym as i could not believe i was there riding a bike or moving like i was with the gym ball. It is so easy to put the memory of all that pain to the back of your mind when you are feeling happy but i am also going to work hard to make sure i never go there again.
For all you lads and ladies that are suffering there is light at the end of the tunnel you just have to believe it and work hard for it, you will all get better, you may not get to be 100% but 80% or 90% is better than feeling -50%.
Keep thinking POSITIVE.:p
I will keep in touch, see ya soon
Olli:D;)
I have just got back from my appointment and have to tell you that if it was I test I have failed miserably. I had to wait 50 minutes to go in and was then told the pre clerking process will take 45 minutes. I told her I couldn't stay that long but just wanted to ask some questions. First, why did I have pre clerking now if the operation isn't meant to be till December? And could she tell me anything about the scan on my upper spine, the one I'm most concerned about. First answer was that they are trying to get through all the pre clerking. Second answer, she didn't know anything about the other scan as that wasn't her area. I got upset and told her I didn't want to go ahead with the pre clerking until somebody told me what was happening. The dear sweet girl put her hand on my shoulder and said she understood and suggested I made a formal complaint as I wasn't the first one to have this problem.
The real killer to this story is that my son took a call from the hospital admissions department while I was out....please don't tell me they've brought surgery forward when I blew out the pre clerking. Too much to expect of course but I have a real bad feeling about this one.
Really good news for you Olli, not sure what normal living is like anymore but I look forward to having a go at it some time soon.
meds...
olli!...i so look forward to your posts cos they really make me feel hopeful. so thank you again!!
a little update for those still pre-op and in pain. i am managing my pain so much better after my discharge from hospital. the new combination of drugs i am taking is diclofenac (150mgs per day), diazepam (i know, what a hypocrite i am!!..only 2mgs, twice a day though), dihydracodeine (30mgs 4 times a day) and amitriptyline at night. the big difference however comes from taking sevredol, which is morphine sulphate. just a tiny tablet, which i am taking only when absolutely necessary, so not to build up a tolerance. i basically take it first thing in the morning when the pain is at its worst and it knocks me out and pretty much numbs everything.
i have also done as little as possible and had people waiting on me constantly. this has really reduced the attacks of intense pain. unfortunately my husband has just disappeared on a business trip, but i am feeling much more positive and able to cope.
so i really recommend total rest and sevredol when needed to those of you still struggling.
i have been told i can't have the nerve block privately cos the doc is too busy! also will have at least 3 weeks to wait to see the consultant after my mri on monday. this is both privately and on the nhs cos the lucky guy is on holiday (i sense a theme here across the country!!).
thinking of you all,
jess xx
I have
I have been advised to have this surgery by two different doctors but I have delayed my decision as 1. I am not in any pain right now, just some loss of use in the muscles in my lower left leg and 2. I am a really big chicken when it comes to any kind of pain, esp pain from an operation. So, I am babying my back. I've stopped my running - I used to run half marathons and I really miss that, like when I see someone running and I want to run again.
I've decided to cancel my op and go for a nerve block instead. Listening to so many people on here who struggle to move around their own houses makes me think i might not be at the surgery stage yet.
I've stopped taking my pain killers and my pain is sporadic. Today it hasn't hurt at all and I feel there is definite improvement from a few months ago. Maybe my body is finally breaking down the disc material which was on the nerve? Yesterday I was able to go to the gym for the first time since Feb and went on the bike and did some leg weights - no back work yet. I'm hopeful that I might now be able to be back on full duties before Christmas if things continue to improve.
Wol
Tramadol
Hi All,
Over the last few weeks i have trouble coming off my painkillers and diazepam. I was still on tramadol until last night. I had my last tablet on wednesday and on thursday i stopped for good.
All i have to say is that tramadol is evil, i have the worst withdrawals ever. Last night i did not sleep and it felt like i had 10 bottles of coke. Today has been bad as well i have struggled to do my exericses and stretching and have felt very ill all day.
I think i its me, my body must love tablets and the chemicals that go with them.
Well i never thourght that i would have this trouble coming off tramadol. I can understand with the diazepam and the other morphine based tablets but not tramadol. Oh well i hope it ends soon so i can get back to feeling happy.:confused:
Cheers Olli;)
Hi Olli,
I was on Tramadol and never really thought of the side effects of coming off it, but I had weeks of little or no sleep. I never really put it down to the drug at the time but it makes so much sense now. I've always been able to sleep for Britain and I used to lie awake for hours just wishing I could sleep. However it does ease so keep going. Now I find I sleep brilliantly again!
I can report that almost five months on its still onwards and upwards. Yes a bit creaky in the morning - have to do my stretches to get going (but just nothing compared to how I was). Then after that I'm hill walking in the Brecons every day, I cycle and have one to one pilates once a week and do my exercises every day. I am not in pain AT ALL (unless I do something stupid like put my foot down a rabbit hole or lie flat out for too long when everything seizes up!). Hope that helps others, but don't have surgery lightly. You will always have a weakness in your back if you do. If you aren't in that much pain I would always recommend physios, chiros, osteos, anything like that. Surgery is a last resort. But its not the end of your life. I would just say again (sorry broken record moment) you have to keep moving and stretching - even if you feel you can't (and I know that feeling!) it makes such a difference. Also I've been told never to sit more than 20 minutes in one session too. Anyhow, sorry to be boring, just wanted to offer some hope to those who having a tough time - been there, know how it feels, it makes you so angry, thinking why me, reduced me to tears, yet I am so, so much better for having the op and I will never end up a victim of back pain again.
Sending huge, huge hugs to everyone who's going through it,
Oh no!!!
Ahhh Noooo!!!
I have just given in to my immense pain and have now gone on tramadol today cos everyone was telling me how good it is, then i come on here and hear that withdrawals are yucky, and gives people insomnia!!!!!!
The only other alternative i have is oramorph...i tolerated that and got on well with it. I had no trouble coming off it following my first op, and it did help (although the relief didn't last very long).
It was a funny one tho, sometimes it conked me out and other times i was ok!
I am going to give the tramadol a go, cos the codeine no longer touches the pain, doesn't even take the edge off and i am in the frustration period (it comes and goes!).
I am starting on the lowest dose to see how i tolerate it, i had it the day after my first op and it wasn't too bad.
I do feel disappointed tho, cos i have already had surgery and i am right back to square one and have tried to fight the pain but can't any more.
Ho hum, as i said, i DID get my appointment but had to cry on the phone to them before they gave it to me. I kinda thought that was cruel!
It went from no appointments, to me crying through sheer frustration then she said they can squeeze me in at the end of august.......she could have just given me the appointment instead of making me cry!!!! :confused:
I am feeling a bit more positive however, and try to keep that way....i know i will be helped, just need to be super patient!!!!!
Tramadol
Hi ALiH78,
Tramadol helped me a lot and it is good at pain killing but i just wish i didn't so poo with the withdrawals. Not sleeping is one thing but i have also been getting a funny feeling, its as if i need to tense up all the time when i try and sleep, its in my hands the worse.
I hope it goes soon as i am getting very grump and it doesn't help with exercises and work.
I will let you know how long it lasts the Doc has said anything up to a couple of weeks.
Olli;)
useful to know about the tramadol... i found it didn't help my pain at all, although only gave it a day and was considering trying it again, but will stick to the dihydracodeine.
i keep asking health professionals about the dangers of taking all these meds for a prolonged period of time and have found them to be consistently dismissive of the risks of addiction, given i am taking apparently low quantities. i am (when healthy) a social worker and encounter a lot of people with opiate (heroin mainly) and diazepam addiction and they are taking significantly more than most of us (300mgs of diazepam a day for example, compared to the 4-6mgs i take). but i am still worried about the long term effects. and the habitual aspect to it...the first thing i do in the morning is reach for my tablets!!
does painkiller withdrawal feature in the post-op aftercare provided??
hope you feel better soon olli.
jess x
Reply Re.Tramadol
Hey there.
Well, first day on it and i don't like it!!!
Olli, i noticed you said about the tensing thing, i had it in my legs, i couldn't sleep and i was completely out of it, it scared me to be honest and so am deliberating whether to continue.
It just made me very restless and felt totally drugged up!!! Not useful when i have a kid to look after!
Ho hum.....Still feeling positive though! 🙂