Ongoing back issues /sciatica. Feel like doctors not taking me seriously

[XoxoScouser1999]

I've had ongoing back issues since May

Haa physio and paid for osteopath who both think slipped disc (none of these helped with pain)

Finally sent for MRI but awaiting results

I am in pain all day every day can only walk for a few mins before I'm in agony from the sciatica

I've had numerous appointments with doctors and all they do it prescribe medication

Finally seen a doctor in person yesterday, he could see I can barley walk and i am hunched over as this is the only way I can stand do to the pressure.

He basically told me 'it will get better" even though its been 6 months. He then started to tell me how he has sciatica which was caused by Piriformis syndrome and suggested it may be these I'm pretty sure it isn't but I could br wrong )

I asked if he could chase the results as I am really struggling and his response was 'they will be back when they're back'

I feel like nine of these doctors are taking my pain seriously and it is seriously impacting my mental health.

My parents have offered to pay to see a private consultant to look at my MRI Results and suggest further action

Not sure what I'm expecting from this post, just some reassurance that I'm not the only one who feels doctors don't take back pain seriously. I know many people experience back pain and it usually gets getter but this is literally taking over my life

What do you want them to do? Medication is the right course of action until they know what it is. It it's a slipped disc physio is the best treatment and if it's piriformis syndrome physio is the best treatment.

I have had sciatica a couple of times it is incredibly painful. It was helped by physio and walking. Walking and the stretching however painful and I used to joke I was the Little Mermaid really helped.

Let your parents pay for you
and in the
meantime engage with whatever physio you can have , pain meds , tens machine

I’ve seen so many people have this and come out the other side , really

bit when it’s in flow it’s horrific and depressing

Don't your exercises for the sciatica relive some of the pain?
You'll need to do them regularly ...
Also, however painful, you'll need to keep moving, like taking a regular walk and gently build up core muscles. This can take weeks.

If this does not help, I would say it's not sciatica and related issues but something else. There are 101 reasons for back pain so you'll need to keep going back to the doctors. They are already doing what they can... but wheels are turning slowly in the NHS.

Are you sure that none of the doctors you saw suggested seeing a physio? That would be my first option as doctors can only prescribe painkillers and further tests that are mostly inconclusive. MRIs and other scans often don't show what is causing back pain.

If it is piriformis syndrome the only cure is physio and exercise.

The piriformis muscle is a big thick muscle deep across the lower back. If is spasms it can cause lower back pain that can radiate down the buttock and leg.

I have a mild case on my left side (thanks lockdown home working!) and the only thing that works is daily yoga and regular physio exercises. It does actually get better with movement so I notice a definite difference days I do a lot of walking.

I got it diagnosed and treated by seeing a private physio via my work health plan.

@MagpiePi I have had a number of physio sessions as stated . They are the ones who sent me for the MRI due to no improvement

@NameHopper2000 I understand medication is the only thing GPS can due until results are back but I am in a significant amount of pain, and I asked them what the course of action would be if it is a slipped disc (which physio is pretty certain it is) and the doctor basically told me there is nothing they will do.

I have been doing physio for 6 months, and I know I.need to build my muscles my my back keeps going so this is hard to do

I have asked if a spinal injection is possible once results are back but he basically said no without even giving it a possibility when the results are back

So sorry you're in so much pain OP. I completely understand and relate (I have a different chronic pain condition).

I'm also so sorry that you have had a dismissive attitude from your GP and other doctors. I do understand that GPs are under a lot of pressure, but a warm and understanding approach goes a long way. It was only when I had a kind and interested GP that I was referred to the appropriate specialist and had a diagnosis. Knowing what the issue is made the world of difference to me mentally.

Once your MRI results are back, your options will hopefully be clearer. It's kind of your parents to offer to help you out financially and definitely worth taking them up on this.

I ended up on an excellent pain management course (there's no cure for my condition) which changed my life, mentally more than anything.

Wishing you all the best OP. Mental health and physical health are so closely related and I do understand.

I sympathise greatly with you, OP. I was born with scoliosis and, for most of my life, it didn't really bother me. Other than my bum sticking further than normal and the inability to lie on my back for any length of time, it wasn't a worry.

Until I hit my 40s. Long story short, I had an accident in my early 40s - slip and fall that split my entire knee open and almost severed my quad - and that needed emergency surgery, months of full leg splints, crutches and rehab etc. I favoured one side of my body to compensate for the leg and that side happened to be the opposite of my scoliosis curve. It affected my back so badly that by the time I reached my late 40s, I was in constant pain and taking painkillers four-hourly every day. I also developed arthritis in one of my knees and by the beginning of this year, I was basically in excruciating pain 24/7.

I had the Influenza A virus late last year and unbeknownst to me until I sought treatment, I coughed my way into a compression fracture in two vertebrae.

Like you, I felt nobody would listen to me. Life was getting really hard because I was finding it increasingly difficult to do everyday household chores, shower properly etc. I was terribly depressed by it, too.

One night while surfing the internet, I suddenly thought about a chiropractor. I have always been extremely suspicious of chiropractic care and have read multiple terrible things about it, particularly over the years when the profession was largely unregulated. But I was in so much pain, nobody would listen to me in the medical fraternity and so I thought, "well, it can't get much worse".

Six months down the track, I am almost pain free (except for arthritic knee, but that's not chiropractic). I never thought I would ever get this much better! It's literally changed my life. I couldn't believe how bad my scoliosis had gotten when I saw the x-rays after my assessment and I was actually thrilled to find out about the fractures, because finally I could say, "See? I wasn't faking or being a wuss!"

I would definitely recommend you give it some serious thought and at least go for an assessment. It may not be right for you, but if it is, I think it could possibly help you enormously.

I hope things get better for you!

@CushionStack thank you so much for your kind response

Yes exactly, I understand the NHS is under immense pressure but I don't think it would hurt them to be a bit compassionate. I spoke with a lovely nurse last week from my surgery and she was so understanding but unfortunately she could not offer much help, but the doctors just don't seem bothered unfortunately.

I'm glad you managed to get the right treatment dor yourself.

I'm hoping the private consultant can at least tell me what my options going forward may be

Hi @XoxoScouser1999

Unless anyone has experienced severe daily pain, I don’t think it’s possible to understand just how debilitating it is.

One of my lumbar discs completely collapsed and I had two fractured vertebrae following an accident. To cut a long story short, I had surgery (a lot of rods and screws) to fix my spine.

While I was waiting for my operation, what saved my sanity was a medical corset. They are not like the ones in pharmacies/online. All your measurements are taken and the six steel rods are formed to your shape. It took about 2 weeks to be made (but this was back in 2004).

It might be worth contacting your physio/osteopath to see if they can recommend a medical corset company in your area? In my case, a person from the company came to the hospital my consultant was based in to take my measurements. I went back when it was ready and the same person showed me how to wear/adjust it properly.

It's not the most glamorous of garments (under boobs, to over hips/top of thighs) but I didn’t care, it was amazing at its job.

I hope you feel better soon

I do understand OP. I remember GPs saying "you're young, you don't have a problem" and "take some ibuprofen" when I was in agonising pain and couldn't sit down. I will always be grateful to the lovely GP who actually listened, considered my situation carefully, looked it up on his computer, and referred me to a rheumatologist who set me on the path to diagnosis.

In my experience a private consultant will take the time to examine you properly, talk to you about your results and your options, and recommend the appropriate treatment. They can do this as you're paying. They may recommend a specialist physio for example. I know you have done physio so far but, like GPs, physios vary hugely in terms of how they approach things and what they can offer you. (I speak from experience!)

I do hope the MRI results are helpful. I'd continue to gently chase the surgery for the results as I find things sometimes get missed or mislaid.

All the best OP.

@XoxoScouser1999 i had severe back pain for years, saw everyone and his dog for a fix, nothing worked and i became depressed.

I was down for surgery and fusing bones together but then i started Shiatsu, i admit at the time i thought it was a load of rubbish but the treatment was £25 per session, so i went for it, that started my return to normality, i never needed the back op, al to do with unblocking energy pathways to enable healing....

I ve been pain free for many years now and have done 1/2 marathons, european cycling trips and kayaking, can even split logs!

So don't give up hope, shiatsu might not work for you but something will.

Because there is little to be done other than physio, unless there is a severe issue such as cauda equina syndrome. Physio and good pain relief really is the best thing for you

@goldierocks @Trailstunning thank you for your kind response. I will definitely be looking into your suggestions.

@CushionStack thank you for your response. So pleased you finally got someone to take you seriously! I'm really hoping the private consultant will at least make me feel like I'm not going crazy.

Unfortunately, just because some testaments work for some people, they don't work for everyone 😕 and painkillers barley do anything for me, as well at the amatraptlin that I am on

I had sciatica and I think it was something to do with the piriformis muscle. I couldn't walk and was in so much pain from my hip to the tips of my toes.

I had steroid injection in my piriformis muscle and it was miraculous. Cured me.

Physio and osteopath made me worse.

The chiropractor severely bruised me and left me in tears. I had tried everything and was so relieved.

Also, do you wear a tens machine? They advised that for me before the injunction cured me. It may be worth a try as I was on in so many drugs that did not work.

Update, just had a phone call from doctors to say MRI results are back which show L4 AND L5 herniated discs

I have a slipped disc in my neck. It showed up on a MRI scan. I was already having physio, which actually made the pain worse. The orthopaedic consultant told me no physio or osteopath can get a slipped disc back in, but he could refer me to neurosurgeons in London, to have an artificial disc inserted - although if it went wrong, the risk was paralysis. He personally wouldn’t risk it, but he’d rather take whatever painkillers it took (that was what he did himself). I was referred to a pain clinic. I had cervical epidurals for a few years, plus tried any number of painkillers - NSAIDs, amitriptiline, etc. Eventually, I was referred to a neurologist and diagnosed with another problem.

That was 15 years ago. I dare say things have moved on, and disc replacements are probably more routine now? Are epidurals not used any more?

Poor you op. Honestly pay for the private consultation to find out what your options are. 6 months is a very long time to be in the sort of agony you have been in. They will also be able to tell you whether you are likely to get better with conservative pain managment (including spinal block) or whether you should consider surgery. You need to be referred to pain managment in the meantime.

@Quisquam I believe they do sti offer epidurals , I've now got an appointment to discuss next steps. As I've been doing physio for months with no improvement, I'm hoping the injection is something they may offer, even just to ease the pain temporarily!

Update- had private consultation. He said as this has been going on for months it is unlikely to get better on its own unfortunately. He does no recommend the injection as it is only about 65% chance of working , and it won't fix the problem it will only temporarily help the pain. He's suggested my best option would be surgery for microdiscrctomy 😔 he's writing a letter to my GP informing them of this.