To wonder if it’s age or my back?

[Halfwaytothesky]

I’m 44.

Several years ago I slipped a disc in my lower back , and it’s never really healed. General advice I had at the time was that there wasn’t much that could be done.

Two pregnancies and it’s exacerbated my problems. I’ve realised recently how bad it is.

I can’t run. I don’t mean as in going for a run - I can’t run at all. Even walking is difficult, if I slip slightly or walk on an uneven surface it jars my back horribly. If I cough or sneeze I have to hold onto something. I feel old and tired.

I don’t know how normal it is. I know it can’t be completely normal. I’m getting worried about how it’s going to effect my life going forwards, and if there is anything at all I can do.

See another one.

Ah well, I can always get sympathy and understanding here 😂

You need to have an MRI and see a surgeon to see if you need any surgical treatment for the slipped disc. My OH slipped a disc and had the disc removed and the difference it has made to her life has been amazing.

I think you've seen a really rubbish GP. I understand private physio is not possible at the moment so you really need to push this with the GP. Go back and say its hugely impacting your quality of life and you want further investigations.

I had horrendous back problems from pregnancy from the age of 28 to 33. I did absolutely everything under the sun to fix it and I learned so much about pain. I do really recommend the curable app but it's hard to follow this until you've ruled out the medical route in my experience.

Please go back to your doctor and push for further investigation. Herniated discs don't always mean pain, it's usually when it's pressing on nerves.

Slipped disc here which if I'm not doing my physio and going to the gym as well can cause immense pain to the point of struggling to walk and get up. The key although you don't seem to want to hear this, really is physio and exercises. It's for life. You don't do them for 8 weeks and you're cured, it's a long term condition which can be well managed and relieved by doing the exercises regularly and improving your muscle strength in order to support your spine.

That's sort of why I am trying to get to the bottom of it because clearly you are severely affected by this. And yes, there may not be very much they can do for you in terms of "fixing" your spine but this doesn't mean there is no way to support your quality of life. Please don't take it as a personal attack. I am genuinely trying to help you to figure out where the next step might be.
So the pain clinic looks at chronic pain. It can be pain for any reason from spinal injuries to fibromyalgia. They essentially look at medication and therapies. So some of the things they can offer are physio, hydrotherapy, acupuncture etc. They can also have a look at giving you medication to manage the symptoms. The next step after that can be a pain management programme which focuses on improving the quality of life despite having the symptoms. PMP is usually staffed by occupational therapists who can have a look at activities of daily living, physios who can support you with mobility and psychologist who can help with emotional side of coping with symptoms.
A lot of GPs don't routinely refer to the pain clinic. I don't know if they just don't know about it. So it is worth asking them for a referral because the sooner you get some support the better your chances to stop deterioration and regain some quality of life.

I’m in the same boat. First happened in 2003 so over 20yrs ago. More of my life has now been spent in pain than not. Doctors don’t tend to take me very seriously. Just been back to them and seen a physio. She identified my hip muscles are weak so I have exercises to work on that and I have got a treadmill at home as gentle walking seems to do me a lot of good.

Other things I have found that have made a big difference- amitriptyline from the doctor. It helps with nerve pain. Over the counter stuff does absolutely nothing. But it does take months to kick in properly and it makes me so drowsy at times.

The chiropractor - I see her every 4 weeks or so and that has made a big difference.

I also have a chiropractic pressure point ball - it’s the size of a tennis ball but more solid. I put this under the muscles that are sore and it does relieve a lot of the pressure/tightness. I don’t go anywhere without one now. I have one beside my bed and another always in my suitcase.

Thanks @Catza

I do appreciate the time you took to explain that

Thanks @ClockworkDisaster

I'm 53 and had the same problems at 45 .. but totally eradicated all back issues with Pilates . Have moved my kids into uni accommodation and up flights of stairs and was worried I would hurt myself but the Pilates has built my core up and strengthened the muscles around the back - it's amazing

Chronic pain is exhausting and if you do nothing it will get worse.

Please get physio referral and do your exercises as if your life depends on it.

Tom Morrison’s Simplistic Mobility Method is brilliant to follow. Hard work but worth it.

I had similar pain; an MRI revealed spondylolisthesis (slipped verterbra rather than slipped disc) and I was offered surgery (spinal fusion). Pre- and post-surgery were the worst 18 months of my life, but I have since been pain-free and mobile for almost 20 years. I get quite impatient with people on the “surgery is a last resort”, “strengthen your core” team. Some of us have actual conditions that require the medical interventions available. Without surgery, I would have spent the last 20 years in a wheelchair, quite possibly incontinent (cauda equina).

Just to be clear, I was indicating that surgery wasn't usually the best option for a herniated disc issue, which the OP said was their problem.