Severe back pain again....any help or tips please

[Bluemoon1]

Please could someone help with some advice or tips.
I have extremely severe back pain which seems to have gotten worse in the last 5 years. Last year I had to go to out of hours at the hospital because I was crying in agony and the consultant said that another disc had prolapsed.

I think there is one at lumbar 5 (bra strap region) and the recent one lower back just above my bum.
I cant work out which is worse....although the upper comes and goes and is more bearable whilst when the lower back pain is at its worst it is absolutely horrendous. It almost feels like soneone sticking a very large needle in your back.

It makes me so depressed and when it is at its worst I can hardly move.
I am on a lot of medication which I take regularly, the GP has just increased the Gapapentin to 600mg per day, I also take Naproxen 1000mg per day and I top up with paracetamol.
When it 'goes' which means it gets very, very severe which happens approx 3 or 4x every year and lasts anything up to 5 weeks but seem to be increasing in frequency, I also get sharp shooting pain up and down my legs and back and it is usually the lower back that is the most painful.

Anyone have any idea what the heck is going on with my body? (I also have a slight prolapse of uterus which is not at the operable stage?)

I am so fed up.... does anyone have any tips or advice please. I need to go to the walk in physio that my GP has given me details of, but the pain is so bad that I can not tolerate any worse and I am so scared.
The pain today has me in floods of tears.

What a year.

Back pain but mild, and minor loss of sensation in one leg. I get calf and hamstring cramps but I'm only 7 months post op so it's fairly normal! Bladder and bowels were both saved by the early intervention

I didn't realise how serious it was, well I did but at my post op check I was moaning asking about back pain and the neurosurgeon said "you aren't paralysed, you aren't incontinent, and you're bloody lucky as that's the biggest disc herniation I've seen in a few years"

This was the MRI, where the arrow (cursor thing) is, that's where you can see the disc has lost all integrity and is distorting

bluemoon sympathies, I've similar and had a flair up earlier this year that left me literally floored. I've private healthcare and still had a long road, had two months of physio with pain meds and then the physio referred me for an MRI with a consultant spinal specialist, he referred me for nerve root injections at two sites which I had on Friday. Next stage is surgery if the injections don't work. Injections put steroids right in at the root of the nerve Beside the herniation and are supposed to take the inflammation out and allow the disc to heal. Could you go back to your gp and demand an MRI / steroid injection? Could you afford to see a physio privately? Maybe that if they se you a couple of times privately they'd be able to recommend an Mei which might help push the cause with your gp iyswim
It's hateful, I cried solid for two days when it went the last time, it's the fear that it's not going to get better on its own not just the actual pain.

Unmumsnetty hugs

Sorry wall of text

Great MRI image @Oliver but you have me slightly worried now as my issues are on Lunbar 5 predominantly I think....also I have the same sort of symptoms...the pain and a real odd sensation in my leg. It sort of feels very heavy but hot and numb If that makes sense?

It's really odd because I almost recognise the start and when it's going to get really bad as it's happened so many times.
It usually starts with a awful continual ache in the low down back area (feels a little like a bad period type cramp in the back) then shooting pain up and down the back and leg/s then the hot poker type feeling which is agony.
Yesterday I was at a shop and I felt a sort of electric shock type pain down my leg, made me limp.... It went fairly quick but the ache in lower back got worse and I immediately thought no, not again, please.

I'd agree with earlier advice to go back to the GP emphasising the incontinence, just in case.

I've had a disc prolapse with severe cord compression in my neck and now have chronic pain despite surgery. Gabapentin and amitriptyline both help greatly, so might be worth mentioning. The GP has advised against long term Naproxen use if possible.

Awwwww @badweek your username sounds just how I feel atm expect it's been a bad year and this pain is the last thing I need

You have my sympathy too. It is the most awful pain ever....it is so depressing and awful. I hope that you get better soon and don't have a flare up.
I am going to ring the self referal number of physio tomorrow. It's come at such a bad time though and is the last of my priorities but I am going to have to ensure I do go

Lots of walking. Also Youtube videos for back pain - type in "Physiotherapy for back pain"

Definitely go back, and make sure to list all the symptoms. Don't panic though, by the time mine was bad, I knew it was! I'm talking completely numb, having to drag my foot, and unable to lift it

You need a repeat MRI. You have worsening symptoms and would meet criteria for urgent MRI. TBH I don't understand GPs reluctance to investigate - MRIs are cheaper than before, there's no radiation, plus everyone wants to avoid missing something serious.

Sadly quite a few people here can relate to this pain. I had the "in and out" bulging disc issue for a few years (taking around a month to resolve each time) then it came out and never went back in. I was on the waiting list for an op when I lost the plot and went blubbing to my GP (a bloke). I was put nearer the top of the list and had my op the same year (unusual). The NHS prefer a wait and see approach but I was told I had no choice but surgery this time. 10 years on I still get lots of pain but not often that horrible nerve pain just a weak back and have to be cautious (I don't work anymore as just couldn't hack it).

Try the blubbing/hysteria - not hard when you are in pain. The longer it is left the more likely nerve damage is.

Go back and insist on another MRI. It's a long while since your last.
I've just had one and had a L5-S1 disc protrusion diagnosed. It's very low down and gives me terrible sciatica down one leg.
I ended up in A&E screaming with pain and frighteningly a numb leg and foot. I thought I was going to be permanently paralysed.
They gave me oramorph, ibuprofen, codeine, naproxen and Valium and it only took the edge off the pain.
Mine has improved slowly with the aid of amytriptyline (sp) which helps with nerve pain.

I second what a pp said, walking is one of the best things. I struggle with it due to a weak leg and numb toes but the next day is much improved.

My hobby of church bellringing is also really beneficial! Lots of stretching, core strength to support the spine, it's like mild traction!!
My physio and doctor recommended I stick at the bellringing!!

You have my every sympathy, it can be agony. I'd rather give birth.

My consultant referred me to pain clinic (1st appointment in January) but suggest you mention it to gp and push for further investigation at the same time. My gp prescribed my meds though but obviously they are just helping with the pain not solving the problem. Poor you.

I really don't know what to do this eve. I don't want to make a fuss or be carted off to hospital tbh but I am getting so worried about the numbness in one leg. It's a very odd sensation - it feels heavy and numb at the same time and now and then I get a kind of shooting pain a bit like a electric shock down it.
The back pain isn't that bad that I can not mobilise at the moment...... sort of feels like bad period type cramp in your back. It's also lower than it is usually (just above my bottom where the upper bikini line is)
No pain anywhere else atm....its got a little better because I have rested a lot today.
I tried to ring physio earlier but tried and tried and was in a queue.
What would happen if I ring 111??

Give them a ring. Or OOH GP if you have one. They will triage you a bit more
Don't ever worry about making a fuss, I went into a&e just for leg/back pain and they were SO lovely. Worst that can happen is they send you home as everything ok!

Ring 111. I did and they alerted my GP to expect my call. She came out on a home visit, but then again I couldn't move at that point.
But ring 111.
Your L5-S1 is low down where you describe and affects the sciatic nerve hence the numbness down your leg. I have the same. The numbness has largely gone except for 2 toes. But ring 111 and tell them you're scared about the numbness.

Hey, long term chronic pain girl here with nerve damage in back.

Some things have seriously helped me:

• lidocaine patches. They are very expensive and I had to get them prescribed privately before asking GP to prescribe them. I'm praying the pain team don't withdraw them.

I was in hospital 21 times in 29 days for pain management, couldn't move. These patches have stopped me using Tramadol now. Fab

• Diazepam with varying levels of success

• steroid injections & local anaesthetic

• Botox injections

• pethidine tablets

• I'm titrating down off Gabapentin: I was on 1200 mg x 3 daily and now take 600mg x 3 daily

• amatryptaline 75mg / night time

Have you put a hot water bottle on your back. I find it distracts me from the pain. You poor poor thing xxx

Ive just realised I have replied here already. I was so sick when writing the original posts I forgot this.

Have you phoned 111
They will probably send an ambulance if you are numb.

Say you want someone to come and give you an injection so you can stay at home until tomorrow and go to see your GP first thing?

Anyone tried a back brace? I did and it was so wonderful. Just saying.
Boots have them. I was in agony after falling down six steps. On every drug on the planet, but that brace saved me.

And keep moving. I know the instinct is to stop, but it is not the solution either.