i would suggest you get a mri scan and expert opinion, to get pain on both sides and in the groin is a red flag issue plus numbness which indicates compression of the nerves somewhere, not to worry you but get it checked out could be nothing to serious. Don't try any gadgets until you get a proper medical evaluation because it might make it alot worse!
I will probably have to see my GP next week (my Sick Line runs out by the end of next week but barring miracles there is no way I will be able to return to work by then). I can ask about an MRI scan but suspect that even if he agrees to request one it would be weeks or months. Then either it shows nothing wrong, or does show the position of 1 or more prolapsed discs, but that just raises the question of what to do. There was an article in the Sunday Life (a Sunday Newspaper in Northern Ireland) on Sunday 28th September which mentioned Back Care Awareness Week (4th-10th October) and also the Advanced Back Care Clinic www.advancedbackcare.co.uk, and a technique using computerised equipment which (among other things) measures the "posture number"; apparently anything over 30 is serious (the journalist who wrote the article and who suffers from scoliosis had a measurement of 41).
I rang the number and found the person willing to listen, although he did mention the possible need for surgery (which I do not feel I am ready for yet).
I have been using the "Backswing" available from "Health at Home" in Cornwall more frequently in the last couple of days, and have adjusted it so that I am lying at 90 degrees to the horizontal, i.e. completely upside down. I feel this is giving significant though temporary relief, but am worried that the weight of my body pulling down on my knees, hips and feet could cause problems (I have "dropped arches" and a tendency to sore feet) so have not kept this position for too long, though lying at about 30 degrees below the horizontal is fairly comfortable for longer periods.
I mean to say in the post of 23.9.2008 4.02 pm that until the recent flare-up I spent a lot of time walking (less so in the winter months) in connection with my hobby of natural history, though this was often on rough, wet or uneven ground. I also at times had a rucksack on my back which contained a significant amount of gear (a few kilos or sometimes more). Perhaps all this over the years has contributed to wear and tear on the discs (I suspect it also caused the dropped arches in 2002). I have just had a new set of heel supports (costing £225) made, which I will have to wear for 20 minutes for the first day, 40 the 2nd and so on, until my feet get used to them. Whether this will help indirectly I dont know. I have also ordered a TENS machine from www.lloydspharmacy.com (after seeing it advertised on TV on Monday 6.10.2008 - I think we are in "Back Awareness Week*" or some similar name!) and am considering visiting a 2nd physiotherapist.
I also have responded to another posting where someone asked about the "Flexibaki" ( https://www.healthypages.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=35251 ). I would indeed be keen to hear of the experience of people with painful backs (especially prolapsed discs) with gadgets and machines such as the Flexibak, the Backswing (or other anticompression devices), the Mobiliser (from www.backinaction.co.uk), the Theraflex Back Care System from www.advancedbackcare.co.uk etc.
* = Perhaps it is Weak Back Awareness!
I have just noticed that my astrological sign "Libra" comes up beside each post. I'd just like to point out that this must have been calculated automatically from my birth date (I can't remember whether when registering for this forum one enters one's date of birth, but presumably I must have). As a believe in science rather than the pseudoscience of Astrology, please do not read anything into this! I notice that some other people at least do not have the birth sign beside their posts).
l have suffered with a pro lapse disc an sciatica for a whole year.l was told l need an operation l did not want that so tried physio it did not help an the strong medication made me even more ill.so a friend told me of a cupping therapy were the cups are applied onto your back an its like a suction even gywneth paltrow tried it it helps with ur blood circulation an gets rid of sciatica after a few treatments l got better before l ended up in a wheelchair now l can walk run an dont take any medication at all.its worth a try an it definetly works.you can google cupping therapy an you will get all the information.
Back again. I had some more injections in December 09 and they are keeping me off painkillers still. I had a different consultant this time and they were almost pain free when he did them, the numbing injections were the most painful. They are working quite well because i have been able to clear my 50ft drive of ice today and no back pain afterwards. I get the occasional ache but thats mainly when ive been bent over the computer for a bit too long, i must really get a better chair and desk.I know its been a while since anyone posted on here but it seems a lot of people have viewed this thread, must be my highest viewed thread on the net, over 11000 views.
Kev
I too had a prolapsed disc and had surgery last month. You say you need a better chair - I bought a "back friend" which is a portable seat which can be used with any type of chair. I have to say that it's made a great deal of difference - especially in the early days after my surgery. I now use it a work on my office chair however if I know that I'm going to be going on a long car journey or having a few days off then its easy to bring home as it just folds in half and has its own carrying handle. It fits in one of the recycleable supermarket carrier bags so its not at all cumbersome.
Hope I'm not breaching any rules by telling you about it but I truely believe that anyone with back problems should have at least one of these as they force you to sit in the correct position.
Discomfort
I am hoping that someone can be so kind as to explain this to me:
There is a central disk prolapse at L5-S1 slightly extending in the lateral foramen on the left side causing nerve root compression. The rest of the disk spaces are intact. The spine is straight due to muscle muscular spasm. The spinal alignment is normal and no spinal canal stenosis Is seen.
I've paid money - but the professor doesnt seem to have time to explain, except dont bend down to lift or stretch out to lift. And to be careful otherwise i'd end up needing an op. Waste of time and money!
Unfortunately I've been suffering for this for 10 years now. Im 34. I cannot say i've been in long periods of pain, but i get good periods and periods of discomfort. Right now I've been on a on year or consistent discomfort. Mostly when I sit - burning sensation round the disc, tighness in the buttock and down my legs. I've tried physio, massages, achupuncture, ciropractioner, pain killers, exercise, pilates.
The discomfort is worse when I sit down. Driving is a nightmare!
I've changed by bed to a £3000 state of the art - a bit better. Bought a re-cliner for in front of TV - waste of money.
I'd give up all I have to get rid of this discomfort and live a normal life. Maybe run a bit 🙁
I'm really miserable!
Regards
Butra
Hi, I suffer from sciatica and have done for the last 9 months - nothing like your 10 years - I am about to have an operation to remove the disc pressing on the nerve and although this was a last resort I have had the oseteopath (no joy) 3 sets of nerve root and epidural injections (did help the pain) but I don't want this pain anymore - I have a desk job and like you sitting is a nightmare and lying down. Im constantly getting up to walk around. Although I am not an expert on the subject has no-one mentioned surgery to you or injections?
Thanks for your reply. Yes, the professor told me that they only operate when the pain is unbearable. As is I am not usually in pain, only in serious discomfort. Like you i have to wake up every fifteen minutes to walk around. Sitting seems to be the culprit. Lately I was feeling a bit better and tried to hit the gym - just some light exercise - but that brought me back to square one! I'd really wish I normal life again, but apparently it seems there is no hope 🙁
Did your professor told that after 4 months of pain and nerve/structures compression you have less and less chance to have long-term surgery success rate?
Hiya Butra!
You appear to have done, all that can be reasonably expected Butra, without success. The symptoms you describe, I believe, show a degeneration of your condition and a worstening of your symptoms, and it is therefore reasonable to suppose that you are getting worse. I therefore believe, that it is time that you start looking at surgical options, as all of the non-invasive ones have yeilded no benefit for you.
As you are in more pain when sitting and bending, the symptoms you describe match a disc impingement of your nerve root, if you were in 'more pain' when 'standing up' that would suggest a bone impngement of you facet joints.
The pains & tightness down the back of you legs would also confirm the
L 5/S1 level as the source of the problem.
I am so sorry Butra, but your Proffessor sounds unhelpful!
You are still young, so I would suggest you start researching now. I have the same condition and am 50 years of age and its a lot hard to cope with the older you get, trust me!
Look through all the posts on this forum, there are loads of good advice and links to treatments and clinics.
I am sorry that you have now joined our club for the chroniclly unfortunate, but you are amongst friends here, you are not alone!! 
Best wishes.
SPINELF
Thanks for your support.
hope my story helps some of you sufferers
Hi Butragenio
Having read your post, I can offer my experience but know that everyone is different - for what it's worth I am almost better.
I have suffered quietly for 10 years with lower back pain, it is in my family also. At the end of 2009 I became suddenly overnight unable to walk - reduced to crawling and the only two positions that were not excruciatingly painful were on my hands and knees and on my back with legs ball like in my stomach. It was desperate and I couldn't look after my kids. My GP couldn't see me for 4 days so I blagged an appointment for an MRI scan at a private clinic - I needed to know what was wrong and said that the GP would forward his referral - I know not ideal but as it turned out he did and they scanned me the next day after my phone call. I was lucky that my work provides Aviva Health insurance so all I had to do was pay the first £100.
Diagnosis
Large posterial disc protrusion L5/S1 centrally and on right with significant narrowing in relation to the S1 nerve root. The major concern was cauda equina compression which would have resulted in incontinence.
Consultants
First went to see Mr Hammid at The Priory, Birmingham. Got an appointment the same week. He wanted to operate the next day, and another fussion operation would be necessary in 10 years. As mentioned my family suffer with backs and I have grown up with the consequence of surgery gone wrong - I was wanting a non surgery route if at all possible.
Luckily, I decided to get a second opinion - it upset my GP and Mr H but Aviva said I could. Nightmare research into who I should see - GP basically left it up to me and said to let them know who I wanted them to write to - confidence in GP at this point - zero. I had heard of Jackowski in Birmingham and ended up seeing his colleague Mr Ishaque 2 weeks later.
In the interim my GP and Mr H had put me on Decloflex, Tramadol, Pregabalin and paracetamol - I was in constant pain, awake all night as couldn't lie down at all.
First appointment with Mr I (who does NHS at ROH Birmingham), he gave the impression that he didn't believe me, I guess it was all in my notes that I had been to Mr H but then he took a look at the scan and began to appreciate the size of the disc buldge. Mantra from Mr I that I failed to appreciate at the time was that 60% of disc herniations get better within 4 months and then others may take a little longer and a few never get better (I think he said only 2%).
One month later I met Mr I again and he performed the following:
Dorsal root ganglian block (done with x-ray to make sure he got the right place)
Epidurogram
Lumbar epidural
The pain relief was immediate but only lasted for a few days, however after this period the pain didn't ever come back as bad as it had been.
I started walking again - everyday - small walks, stopping when I had to, stretching forward when I had leg cramps. 2 months on, I don't even need the paracetamol. I still know that I had a problem, and if I pick things up my body tells me that I shouldn't have but I would say that I no longer have the chronic problem that I had - knowing real pain, I know that I am better and will be 100% given more time and more walking. I even skied 1 month after the injections! and I think that this exercise really helped strengthen the core muscles.
Hope this helps, I know in the depths of my illness I was desperate for some success stories to grasp onto.
mumof2 x
Me too!!
Hi,
Just been reading your woes, and i feel i want to tell you mine too.....
About 3 months ago i sneezed twice and have been in agony ever since. GP and Osteopath think i have a prolapsed disc - am waiting for an MRI to confirm - I am 34 yrs old.
My problem is that i spend most of my time in complete agony, unable to sit, stand or lay for any amount of time, but i work fulltime(computer based role in office). I have not managed to work a full week for 3 months. Work are being really good about it, but of course that will not last. My main problem is like this morning, i woke up and got out of bed feeling that today (as far as my back is concerned) going to be a slightly better day. Then i come into work and sit on this chair and within 20 minutes im in terrible pain again. Work know that they need to replace my chair, but they are leaving it up to me to choose and sort out. I have no idea what kind of chair i need and i was wondering if any of you guys have got any advice. I need something that is basically not going to make me feel like i have got a red hot poker digging in my lower spine and buttocks etc.
Wishing all you guys well,
Bert
x