Anyone had a slipped disc?

[Bellebella]

I have two slipped discs and comsequently a trapped nerve giving me pain doing the right side of my leg down to the ankle. It took ages for this to be diagnosed because I was wrongly told I had SPD during pregnancy and as a result told the pain would go away after childbirth. It took until my son was 18 months they finally agreed to give my a X-ray

Anyway I am losing track! Recently I have been in a lot more pain and am just not handling it well. Usually after 2 years of it, I am pretty good but now it is stopping me sleeping and I am exhausted and tearful. I am just so fed up of constant pain and not being able to run around after my toddler. Some days I have to use crutches.

I do have an operation due soon to cut away some of the disc that is leaning on the nerve but until then did anyone find any tips or tricks that helped?

I will be making a doctor's appointment ASAP because the pain meds I have are just no longer helping but that won't help until Monday.

[BelleBella]

Anyone?

[ElphabaTheGreen]

I'm a therapist working with patients who have had spinal surgery. Sounds like you're down for a microdiscectomy...?

You're presumably under a consultant? Are you in communication with the spinal specialist nurses attached to his/her team? Have you been referred for any physio for exercises to help with core stability, maintenance of normal gait patterns etc? Have you been introduced to pacing, pain management strategies, avoidance of 'boom and bust' cycles of activity? Could you ask for referral to a pain management programme to assist?

[ElphabaTheGreen]

Here is a good NHS website on pain management with further links which you may find helpful.

[Bellebella]

Yes I am down for that surgery. I have the pre-op on Tuesday so it should be soon.

My care has not been the greatest, I spent so much time being told it was something else that when it was discovered I had 2 slipped discs, surgery was put forward as the best option and that was that.

As a result no physio, no discussion on what to do in the meantime. Care is not the greatest where I live but I am happy with the decision of surgery.

Usually I cope with it but recently it has been too much and the pain has been worse. I am not sleeping and trying to cope with my toddler is a nightmare.

Will they be able to help me at my pre-op?

[ElphabaTheGreen]

There is usually a specialist nurse at a pre-op and at least a registrar, if not the consultant. Yes, definitely ask for outpatient physio referral then and there and ask specifically about referral to a pain management programme. They may say that they'll consider it after the surgery, but I would strongly suggest you push for the referral now as there is always a waiting list. If you find you don't need it after your op, you can ask to be taken off the list with no skin of anybody's nose. But if you find you do, then at least you won't have as long to wait as your name will already be down.

[MatildaTheCat]

Have you seen the Back Pain support thread on here? Lots of fellow sufferers and tips including pain management from a-z and surgery experiences.

Back Pain Support

Hope that helps. Feel free to join us and ask any questions once you've had a read.

[Bellebella]

Ah thanks Matilda, just posted on it so hopefully I'll get more advice there. Am starting to feel very down with it all at the moment so it would be great to talk to people who know the situation.