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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Herniated disc help - posting for traffic

40 replies

Booboostwo · 19/05/2018 15:16

Apologies posting for traffic.

I herniated L5 in February 2017 but things have been getting almost back to normal. Three weeks ago I started having pain again mainly in the lower back area but not as bad and have been treating with physio and pain killers. Last night the pain became horrific and this morning I struggled to get to a doctor. I am abroad and need to take two flights now to get home.

A local doctor gave me anti-inflammatoires so the pain is now manageable to get home but my buttocks and genital area are now numb. The NHS site suggests this needs urgent medical treatment. Should I try to get home or head to hospital here?

OP posts:
Blaablaablaa · 19/05/2018 15:24

You need to head to hospital now. I'm also suffering with a herniated disc and was told explicitly to go to A&E if the numbness spread to those areas.

flissfloss65 · 19/05/2018 15:25

I think you need medical help ASAP.

I had a bad back and was told to seek help if numb.

loopylou6 · 19/05/2018 15:59

Yes you need hospital NOW. My husband has had an op on his disc in a similar area, and his consultant told him, if he had those symptoms he's to call an ambulance.

Original poster
Booboostwo · 19/05/2018 16:05

Oh bloody hell I am at the airport. I have walked around a bit and feeling is returning a bit but not everywhere.

OP posts:
QueenArseClangers · 19/05/2018 16:44

Yeah, I slipped (yet another) disc and had numbness around bum/perineum. I couldn’t wee either.
Ended up having emergency surgery a few hours later as it was Cauda Equina, left any later and I could have lost bowel control and risked being paralysed from the waist down Shock

Please see someone ASAP Flowers

ChestyNut · 19/05/2018 17:09

Saddle numbness is a red flag in back pain, seek medical attention.

Original poster
Booboostwo · 19/05/2018 19:08

I've made it through the first flight, waiting for second one. The numb area I see much smaller now, but what you guys all say sounds very scary. I was hoping you'd say I was an idiot for panicking. I'll try to go to hospital as soon as I land.

OP posts:
Candlelight123 · 19/05/2018 19:12

Please get help as soon as you could, I had this at l5/s1 and it progressed to loss of feeling around perinium when urinating I was taken to hospital in an ambulance. It was cauna equina and an emergency. I was operated on and the disc removed.

VladmirsPoutine · 19/05/2018 19:22

I hope to high heavens you have insurance!

Original poster
Booboostwo · 20/05/2018 01:48

I made it home, called the equivalent to our 111 and the doctor agreed with you lot so I went straight to A&E. A&E doctor said it wasn't that bad and to go back if I become incontinent so I am finally in my own bed!

VladimirsPutin thanks for your concern, yes I have international health insurance Hmm

OP posts:
Andromeida59 · 20/05/2018 07:57

Flowers to you OP. Glad you're back in your own bed and resting. I have the same thing and it's a nightmare! Have you had steroid injections yet? X

VladmirsPoutine · 20/05/2018 08:08

No need for the Hmm face. I was not being facetious. There was a very long running thread here about the horrors of not having insurance; it was after that thread that I now always take out insurance, prior to that I treated it as an unnecessary added expense. In anywise glad that you're getting some rest.

Original poster
Booboostwo · 20/05/2018 08:21

No steroid injections, just oral anti-inflammatoires and pain killers. I need to go for another MRI but Monday is a bank holiday here so the earliest I can start calling around for appointments in Tuesday.

OK Vladimir, fair enough.

OP posts:
Andromeida59 · 20/05/2018 08:24

OP. If you can get the injections, I would recommend them. It has dramatically reduced the pain (it's now almost non-existent). Best of luck with the MRI. However, if the numbness does happen again, definitely get emergency advice. Best to be safe than sorry.

Original poster
Booboostwo · 20/05/2018 08:53

The numbness hasn't stopped since it first started but the doctor said that unless I was also incontinent it was just a side effect of the slipped disc.

OP posts:
loopylou6 · 20/05/2018 18:33

I would seek a second opinion as a matter of urgency @Boobboostwo Flowers

Ollivander84 · 20/05/2018 18:38

Same ^^
I was never incontinent but couldn't lift my leg (when lay down) and was completely numb. I had cauda equina (15mm herniation L5/S1)

Original poster
Booboostwo · 20/05/2018 22:30

Thanks everyone. Things got worse today I had an area of numbness like I was wearing shorts, so I went back to A&E. I had a CT scan and it's not CE and they are changing my anti-inflammatoires to steroids. It took seven hours and I am shattered but it was worth it for peace of mind.

OP posts:
loopylou6 · 22/05/2018 11:48

That's great op :)

Andromeida59 · 22/05/2018 16:10

The numbness may be a side effect of the SD but it doesn't make it any less painful. During my worst time it's gone from numbness to pins and needles to feeling like I'm being stabbed in the side. Definitely get a second opinion. Are you on any painkillers? Tramodol does help with nerve pain.

Original poster
Booboostwo · 22/05/2018 20:42

I've done three days of full dose of codaine which is an enormous amount for me and the steroids have begun to kick in as well. Pain wise I am a lot better but the numbness is persisting and is very diconcerting. I had an MRI today and am still trying to find an ortho surgeon who can see me this week.

OP posts:
Ollivander84 · 22/05/2018 20:54

If you can then go neuro rather than ortho

Candlelight123 · 23/05/2018 18:42

Yes to ^ see neuro (spines) rather than ortho (bones) if you can.

PragmaticWench · 23/05/2018 18:46

I herniated my L5 at the beginning of March and just wanted to say that amitriptyline has been a godsend in helping with the nerve pain. Morphine, codeine and the usual anti-inflammatory drugs helped but didn't do much for the pain.

Glad you've had an MRI now and wishing you the best for recovery! It's a horrible thing to go through.

Original poster
Booboostwo · 23/05/2018 18:59

You guys are the best and, as it turns out, better informed than the A&E doctors in France. I saw the surgeon today, he thinks it is caudia equina, very urgent, he will operate on me first thing tomorrow and I am staying in hospital tonight. He was very annoyed this was not picked up at the weekend. He said that had he seen me on Saturday he would have operated immediately. Let's hope it's not too ate and there won't be any permanent damage. He is optimistic as I am not yet incontinent.

OP posts: