To ask about gabapentin and nerve pain/sciatica success stories?

Yes core strength is key. Although I would like to think I have a reasonably strong core from working out and it still happened to me! Maybe it would have happened sooner if I didn’t work out though

Thanks so much for that info Bloody. It will be SO worth it not to be in pain anymore! Hopefully you can build up to exercise and be back running! Luckily I've never been into running so don't have that to worry about 🤣

It's definitely made me want to get a lot stronger. If I ever get better I'd like to join a gym and do some gentle weight training as my core strength is rubbish and probably contributed to the injury!

Hi @avocuddl sorry to hear this. August will come around soon.
Yes it was a microdiscectomy I had.
In terms of recovery, I have been signed off work for three weeks. After that I’ll probably start off working from home a bit, possibly a few half days. The main issue is sitting, the hospital physio said that I couldn’t really sit for longer than 30 minutes for the first 4 to 6 weeks, have to build up to that. So in a desk-based job that is not ideal. Also with driving I was told probably can’t drive for 4 to 6 weeks. I’m also not allowed to run for three months post the operation but I think I will be able to do maybe swimming and cycling and gym stuff. Seeing the physio next week for the first postop appointment so I will ask her more about that then.
The main issue is sitting, the hospital physio said that I couldn’t really sit for longer than 30 minutes for the first 4 to 6 weeks. So in a desk-based job that is not ideal. Also with driving I was told probably can’t drive for 4 to 6 weeks. I’m also not allowed to run for three months post the operation but I think I will be able to do maybe swimming and cycling and gym stuff. Seeing the physio next week for the first postop appointment so I will ask her more about that then.
In terms of risks, it seems to be the risk of the operation not working is around 10%. I decided that it was worth it for the chance of being pain-free. There obviously risks associated with surgery and general anaesthetic to. I think the specific risks in this operation were that the nerves could get bruised during the operation or they could be spinal fluid leaking but both of those risks seem to be fairly self limiting i.e. they would take longer recovery but wouldn’t cause permanent damage.

I'm so glad you're feeling better bloody!! That's really positive. Did they tell you roughly how long recovery will take?

I'm okay. Still struggling with the same pain but after the news of it possibly taking till August till I'm even seen, I have myself a talking to and I've decided to just try and get on with my life as much as possible and ignore/put up with the pain. Not ideal but I was going mad at home not doing anything. I am coping with the pain and the Amitriptyline is helping me sleep at night.

I've been seeing a private physio but have not seen any improvement from the sessions I've had. She called the nhs service on my behalf today and explained how bad it was and I had a phone call with someone clinical today who basically just explained what symptoms to look out for for cauda equina which I knew. But has put me on a list for the admin team to contact me if they have any cancellations which is better than me having to call every day. So that's positive I guess and hopefully they'll have an appointment soon. The appointment is basically to refer me to a surgeon. And I'm still undecided if that's what I want. Glad to hear that you'd recommend it Bloody, and interesting to hear from User because I would worry that if I didn't have it, the pain would return in the future. Was it a microdisectomy you had? How long was the procedure? I'll be glad to talk to the consultant for him to explain all of the risks etc. Sorry I'm rambling now!

I went to an osteopath. Payed out of my own pocket (wasnt that bad) and it helped a great deal.

@avocuddl and how are you? I am much better thank you for asking. Although progress is slow, I see an improvement everyday. Managed school run today (5 minute walk). If makes me realise how awful I felt pre operation.

If anyone has surgery suggested i would recommend going for it

I hope everyone else is doing ok?

Hey all! Sorry for radiosilence!

How are we all doing?? @Bloodybackpain how are you feeling post surgery?

@EggbertHeartsTina how are you getting on? When was your physio app?

@user1471433754 welcome! I'm sorry you're in pain again :( totally sucks! Has the pain got any better since last week?

@SpamChaudFroid how are you?

@bloodybackpain I’m breastfeeding so it’s all me in the night! Although DH will help to get him back down after a feed.

@user1471433754 welcome to the thread, so sorry to hear what a rough time you’re having of it. I’m quite new to sciatica (had this acute episode for two months now) and I can’t bear the thought of dealing with it for as long as you have. I hope you can manage your MRI and that it leads to some sort of resolution.

bloody I think the heat has relaxed my muscles a bit as today my pain has been quieter than usual. I went to a kid’ birthday party and couldn’t stand for long but otherwise been reasonably comfortable. Haven’t tried much walking.

Hope you’re recovering ok and be careful about overdoing it!

How is everyone doing in the heat today?
I’ve been mainly hiding in our bedroom, which is reasonably cool although hot now the sun has moved round.
Despite doing very little today, my back is quite sore, so I might have overdone it a bit, need to pin myself to the bed!

Yeah I still get back pain. The op was for leg pain and to stop paralysis

No **bloody I didn't as at the time they said as my back was worse than my leg they couldn't do it, a disectomy only works for leg pain. That's what I was told but this is going back 15 years. Hopefully your op will be good, have also heard good reports about it working nowadays x

@user1471433754 no problem at all. I hope the mri is helpful and not too painful for you.
Did you have surgery when you had the original prolapsed discs?(I am paranoid about my surgery not working!)

Sorry, I don't mean to de rail thread, just hope we can all support one another x

Hi ladies I have been lurking a lot and I hope you don't mind if I join in?
Prolapsed discs L5/S1 about 15 years ago, was left with a lot of weakness and stiffness in back and then developed fibromyalgia from that. Last November my back started getting really bad again. And the last few weeks it's been agony. Terrible spasms in back, can hardly move with pain which is now radiating down right leg.
Saw rheumatologist a few days ago and he is organising an MRI. Am not even sure how I will get in the machine tbh cos of the pain. Have been housebound for weeks. Was on naproxen, which did help but had to come off it as found I now have duodenal ulcer. Feel at my wit's end! Am on pregabalin, roboxin and paracetamol. Can't do much at all now.
Here's hoping we can all get this sorted. It's hell x

Oh no eggbert, helpful GP (not). Can your other half deal with baby in the night ? (Sorry I don’t know if you are breast feeding). Hopefully the osteopath will help a little.

Made it home today, the 30 minute car drive from hospital was pretty excruciating, I think in part due to our car seats which are a bit of a bucket shape. Could barely get out at the end.
It’s nice to be home though, my own bed feels good.

Hello all - hope you’re recovering well at home @Bloodybackpain

@avocuddl - so sorry nhs has been a bit shit. I’ve had a similar experience with a month wait until physio, I’m hoping the physio will consider further referrals as by the time I see him/her it will be 3 months.

I did see a private physio but it hurt so much after I didn’t return. Plus she was £60 per hour.

I’m continuing to see my osteo every two weeks in order to improve posture and straighten my back, it’s very wonky after compensating for the pain down my left leg.

On Tuesday and Wednesday I woke up in so much pain I was crawling the walls. I’ve now started taking the pregabalin closer to bedtime and Thursday / today the pain was not as bad when I woke.

I did a bit of walking yesterday, it started out ok but I soon had to keep sitting on the side of the road every few metres

I do find I feel better after a decent sleep as it relaxes my muscles- unfortunately my 6 week old wakes a lot in the night!

I saw my GP today for my 6 week postnatal check. He just said I will get better. I will wait for my physio and see what happens from there.

Manual evacuation
Have ordered prunes for breakfast tomorrow and have prune at home, fingers crossed!

@Bloodybackpain it gets easier. Get some senna or lactulose, you don't want to end up with manual evacuation as it's grim
Loads of water, and tinned pears in their juice bizarrely helped me. Don't worry if you are shattered when you get home, I watched box sets, napped and pottered about for 3 weeks, was SO tired

Everyone else who has had the same op seems to have been kept in a lot longer, I think I was 21hrs from waking up after to discharge. Maybe they wanted the bed

@avocuddl

Oh dear, that’s a bit shit. Have you had an MRI or anything that gives you an actual diagnosis?

I had pregabalin for trapped nerve/slipped disc in my neck.
It was very effective but I did have to increase the dose a couple of times as the pain returned/worsened so it was like I built up resistance to it or something.

Going home tomorrow. I feel quite nervous about it, feel quite safe in hospital with a call button for nurses. Mobilising has slowly got better during the day but it’s still a nightmare getting up and down.
Plus I feel really constipated!!

@avocuddl oh no poor you :( , sorry to hear but at least the physio was nice.
There are a few fb groups around for sciatica , I think I read on one that if you see a consultant privately but can’t afford operation with them, then sometimes they’ll just put you on their nhs list.

How are you feeling? Are you home now?

Thanks bloody - I did ask gp about bypassing physio and he said no. Tbf he was a bit of a twat about the whole thing so I'll probably ask someone else.

Private physio was great. She was shocked at what nhs treatment has been and felt sorry for me that I didn't have/now couldn't get health insurance 😔 said private consultant would cost around £250. Deffo can't afford that unfortunately. Have already spent hundreds on chiro/osteo/extra car parking cause I can't walk anywhere etc!

Gave me some exercises and worked on my back. Said she would know within 3 treatments if physio will work. I'll do it and hopefully it will work. I'll actually be £250 down after 3 treatments plus today's session but I guess the aim is to avoid surgery anyway. And I will continue to ring up daily to see the nhs physio sooner.

Feeling very sore and crap about it all but I'm sat in the garden and the sun is shining. Could be in the same position in August so I can't keep feeling sorry for myself. Life must go on I guess 😔