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Original poster

Suspected herniated disc..any experience or advice?

35 replies

ukgot2pot · 06/03/2024 22:06

Saw sports therapist the other day. He told me to go straight to A&E as suspected herniated disc. I thought they would give me an MRI at the hospital and would have at least been seen by a doctor...I give the NHS far too much credit sometimes! Three hours later and a prescription for painkillers and off I go.

My GP will need to refer for an MRI apparently..that will most likely take months (weeks if lucky). I'm in a lot of pain. It's my leg/calf which is the most painful. The pain is unbearable when I stand up or start walking. I have been advised to keep active, so I've been going on short walks for 20 minutes. This has helped and the pain does ease off.

I don't know what the best route/course of action is. I have a busy job and I'm self-employed so taking time off isn't an option.

Would anyone be kind to share their experience? - I'm hearing conflicting things. My sports therapist said " keep active and give it time'. I'm not convinced. I feel this is going to be a long road to recovery, but want to get there in the shortest possible time, whether that is injections, surgery, physio, or drinking lots of wine!

OP posts:
Pemberleyprobs · 06/03/2024 22:21

Physio sorted mine in about half a dozen sessions - give it a go. I kicked myself for struggling on for quite a few months before deciding to just pay privately for physio - I was in agony, honestly had never felt pain like it, so I sympathise!

One exercise that they recommended, which did help, was to lie down with a hot water bottle on my back, then lift my top half up onto my elbows - sort of like sphinx pose, type of thing! Then just watch telly for 20 minutes or so like that. Really did help.

Lots of wine, also! Goes without saying 😉

Original poster
ukgot2pot · 06/03/2024 23:30

@Pemberleyprobs - Are you fully recovered now? I'm definitely going to give physio a go for sure. I think I'm going to go private for an MRI and see what the level of damage is first. The pain is dreadful I agree - very much like the pain I felt after having a C-Section.

OP posts:
DoubleOuch · 06/03/2024 23:43

Avoid sitting, short walks good, stretching exercises good. Discs are buggers, can take weeks, but they will often improve of their own accord. Didn't find painkillers did much, Solpadien was about the best. My slipped disc thirty years ago was only cured with an operation afer many months of doctors, physios, osteopaths, too much mucking about. Trouble is, it's a physical problem, the disc is bulging out and unless thatt stops the sciatic nerve is going to be hurting. Anyway, mine went again just before Christmas, so I'm going through all these hoops again, hopefully willget it fixed soon.

Don't know why you were advised to go straight to A&E, its not an emergency unless you have it in both legs and/or you have bladder/bowel problems. If that happens, don't delay, that is a potential emergency (but rare).

Good luck!

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butterfly0404 · 06/03/2024 23:50

I have a herniated disc in my thoracic spine, but it's gone 2 stages further, the disc material broke off (sequestered) and is now lodged in my spinal canal and impinging on my spinal.cord. This happened 25 years ago and the disc piece is still in situ and won't improve. Surgery is too risky so I'm stuck with pain, weakness, bowel issues and a risk of total paralysis if it moves further. I doubt yours is this crap but don't be afraid to push for the right help.

Aroundthewaygirl · 07/03/2024 00:59

Injections have helped me. I had two at the end of 2022 and haven’t had any major issues since.

PawsisShady · 07/03/2024 01:08

I had surgery. Wasn't really much option as I went from agony to foot drop to total numbness and cauda equina
Was back on a horse 8 weeks post op

ZekeZeke · 07/03/2024 07:01

I had physio, injections a microdiscetomy, Result of which caused disck lumbar loss, I then had a TLIF and I'm still in bloody bits post op.
Don't think I will ever be the same.

Original poster
ukgot2pot · 07/03/2024 12:37

I'm a bit worried as I have numbness in my foot already. My sports therapist advised A&E as I think he thought I could get an MRI there. If only...

OP posts:
Original poster
ukgot2pot · 07/03/2024 12:40

Aroundthewaygirl · 07/03/2024 00:59

Injections have helped me. I had two at the end of 2022 and haven’t had any major issues since.

Did you have to go private for these? And if so, what was the procedure if you don't mind me asking. I'm interested in starting on these and physio as soon as possible after the MRI.

OP posts:
Aroundthewaygirl · 08/03/2024 14:34

ukgot2pot · 07/03/2024 12:40

Did you have to go private for these? And if so, what was the procedure if you don't mind me asking. I'm interested in starting on these and physio as soon as possible after the MRI.

Show quote history

Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot to mention I live in the US so the process is different. 😕

MelonSmoothie · 08/03/2024 14:42

I would really recommend an osteopath for this. I get this semi regularly and end up pretty much not being able to walk at all. They use a mixture of manipulation and acupuncture and I'm usually feeling way better after 2 or 3 sessions. Good luck, it's horrible!

Waffleson · 08/03/2024 14:42

Hello, I have had similar with numbness in my foot, but at my worst I could barely walk at all. So I feel your pain. The NHS takes a conservative approach so will just keep reviewing you to make sure it isn't becoming an emergency.

I would not suggest doing any exercises suggested by randoms off the internet, because you don't want to make it worse. Normal activity within the limits of your pain and gentle exercise recommended by your physio is the way to go. Prescription painkillers to keep you moving and help you sleep. Most people get better without surgery. It can take a long time though and is a huge PITA.

Peeppuandpopo · 08/03/2024 15:25

I had this during lockdown. Initially really bad calf pain and then numbness/weird pins and needles that seemed to be over my toes and top of foot. Funnily enough although in the past I’ve had niggling and occasionally excruciating lower back pain on and off for years I had no back pain at all this time but GP said it was disc impingement and referred me to local NHS spinal team and to physio. The physio wasn’t great because there were no face to face consultations at that point but she advised me to go on YouTube where there are some NHS physio exercises for herniated discs. Spinal team offered me a scan but said it would only confirm the diagnosis and wouldn’t affect treatment. I had no symptoms of cauda equina which is the main issue. So in a nutshell treatment was very strong pain killers (codeine/paracetamol) and pregabalin, exercises to stretch the spine and gradually increasing mobility dependent on pain. Agree that much of the time it’s just a matter of letting it heal.
Fwiw I still have some degree of numbness to top of my toes on one foot but no back pain at all.

justasking111 · 08/03/2024 15:39

Went private, MRI and x-ray L 2 , L3. Been under a private physio since. The MRI showed scoliosis too. Had steroids lumbar injection that worked for a bit. It's a beast.

Numbness in foot loss of bowel, bladder control, hospital. That's very serious.

Original poster
ukgot2pot · 08/03/2024 19:17

Thank you all for replies. I have since spoken to a physio and she won't touch it until it has settled. I'm aware of cauda equina and the severity of this, so luckily for now no symptoms or indication of this. Apparently, GP has ordered me an emergency MRI. No idea of wait times for this. I have taken no painkillers since Tuesday as the ibuprofen made me want to vomit and I got gallbladder like pain which lasted a full day.

The pain is manageable if I keep busy, rest, short walks. I am finding the pain back isn't so much the issue now it's very much my leg which is frustrating.

Any idea of how long it will take for things to start to settle? I know everyone is different...I'm guessing it's not 'two to twelve weeks' as Google suggests though?

OP posts:
DoubleOuch · 08/03/2024 19:40

Unfortunately I would have said "two to twelve weeks" is likely a pretty good estimate. My latest problem has been there since before Christmas, seeing the consultant on Monday. Its only just improved a bit over this last week or so. Last week it was absolute hell.

WhatsTheEffingPoint · 08/03/2024 20:33

I was told I had sciatica, given lots of painkillers by gp. I popped my back putting a dish in the dishwasher, I laid on the floor all weekend, my sports therapist wouldn't touch me either.
Tried chiropractor who did lots of x-rays told I had a compressed lower spine. A few weeks of chiropractor treatments and it just wasn't getting better, gp sent me for an emergency MRI, turns out it was a herniated disc.
The consultant was furious i went to a chiropractor as they could have done more damage. I ended up with surgery within a month, and omg it was like I was a new person. The pain/numbness in my legs went straight away and could walk properly again. Full recovery after surgery is about 6wks and I would say it is about right but I was cautious for a couple more months.

What used to easy my back for a while was laying with my bum against a flat wall, with my legs up the wall, keeping my back flat i would then slide my legs left and right.
Another one was on hands and knees, with you knees squared to your shoulders and then straighten your left arm out front and your right leg behind, hold it for a while, then swap so your doing the opposite arm/leg.
I was advised swimming would also help before and after the surgery (I ended up having hydro therapy as opposed to normal physio)

Get the MRI is my advice and then take it from there. Good luck.

justasking111 · 08/03/2024 21:58

Absolutely agree get the diagnosis and MRI scan first. Consultant recommended physiotherapist so off I trotted with my consultant letter written report of my MRI scan which the physio read and put into their computer system. I only have to do four exercises up to three times a day, little but often is better apparently.

NotOutWoods · 15/05/2024 17:05

ukgot2pot · 08/03/2024 19:17

Thank you all for replies. I have since spoken to a physio and she won't touch it until it has settled. I'm aware of cauda equina and the severity of this, so luckily for now no symptoms or indication of this. Apparently, GP has ordered me an emergency MRI. No idea of wait times for this. I have taken no painkillers since Tuesday as the ibuprofen made me want to vomit and I got gallbladder like pain which lasted a full day.

The pain is manageable if I keep busy, rest, short walks. I am finding the pain back isn't so much the issue now it's very much my leg which is frustrating.

Any idea of how long it will take for things to start to settle? I know everyone is different...I'm guessing it's not 'two to twelve weeks' as Google suggests though?

How you getting on?

Bearpawk · 15/05/2024 17:22

My partner had the same symptoms (but it got so bad literally couldn't walk most of the time) ended up going private and paying almost 10k for surgery. Turned out it was a severely prolapsed disc and he was on a 9m wait list even to see a consultant with the NHS. I don't think he could have survived that long in so much pain.

Bearpawk · 15/05/2024 17:25

Oh and avoid coedine (a lot of ignorant gp's will prescribe it for disk issues) but if you have a lower disc issue the last thing you need is to be straining for the loo.

Womanofcustard · 15/05/2024 17:37

I had a herniated disc about 25 years ago. Doctor said complete bed rest, no physio or osteopath until the inflammation had gone. He said any manipulation at this stage would make it worse, possibly much worse. So your physio was correct to say he wouldn’t treat until the inflammation had cleared.
While it’s good to keep active with a sore back, a herniated disc is not a ‘sore back’, it’s more serious. Besides which I was unable to stand!
It took about 10 days to right itself and has been fine since then.
Good luck op.

Deedoo · 12/01/2025 15:22

@Pemberleyprobs what pose is this please

AnxiousRose · 12/01/2025 15:35

Womanofcustard · 15/05/2024 17:37

I had a herniated disc about 25 years ago. Doctor said complete bed rest, no physio or osteopath until the inflammation had gone. He said any manipulation at this stage would make it worse, possibly much worse. So your physio was correct to say he wouldn’t treat until the inflammation had cleared.
While it’s good to keep active with a sore back, a herniated disc is not a ‘sore back’, it’s more serious. Besides which I was unable to stand!
It took about 10 days to right itself and has been fine since then.
Good luck op.

I found rest (lying down) was the best thing when I had a herniated disc too but it's not recommended now.

Most importantly avoid sitting and bending if you can.

Deedoo · 04/02/2025 14:23

@butterfly0404 did they spot this on an mri