Hi all.
Hope everyone is well. Not really sure what I'm asking for here - some advice or just need a whinge. Long story abbreviated: Badly burst my L4/L5 disc in my back about 6 years ago. I have some nerve damage to my right leg because of it (although that doesn't really bother me that much - it's just numbness in some areas). Spent several months in agony living on strong co-codamol, ibuprofen and diazepam just to get through each day. Things have gradually improved although I've been in chronic pain ever since, although I have better and worse phases. In my worst flare ups I get severe back spasms and end up 'tilted' to one side. I've been to a doctor several times over the years (including 2 different consultants in back pain) and I've had 3 steroid injections in my back, done physio (and still do physio exercises every day now) and I'm still in pain. It's manageable on a daily basis most days with physio exercises and OTC pain-killers but it's not ideal. I was pregnant last year which obviously didn't help, and now that DD is getting heavy (she's nearly 1 now) things are just getting harder. I refuse to let it stop me doing things, and have only had a handful of days off work the past 6 years (and they've been days where I pretty much can't move) otherwise I just take pain-killers and get on with it. I don't even talk about it much with friends or family as I don't want them to think I'm just whinging. However I do a physical job and my maternity leave ends in just over 2 weeks and I'm dreading that aspect of it. I'd be lying if said I wasn't fed up now. It just seems never ending and after 6 years I feel I've reached a point where this is going to be life-long and I'm only 30 so that's a pretty depressing thought. I've considered going back to my GP but honestly not sure if it's worth it (plus getting an appointment there is a nightmare). I'm not sure there's not really much more they can offer me. I can't afford to see a chiropractor / osteopath right now (scraping the last few saved pence of my maternity pay) and I just don't know where to go from here. Has anyone else been in the same boat? Did anything help?
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General health
Chronically fed up with chronic back pain.
26 replies
KitKat1985 · 27/08/2015 09:43
OP posts:
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