Sciatica & low back pain

[Horseshoebeach]

I was hoping all this would be gone by now or at least easing a bit. But several weeks on the low right back pain, buttock (rump area), sciatica in leg down to the ankle, is quite literally making life hell. First off I thought it was down to a fall I had. The x-ray I had confirmed there was no fracture with a little additional info re osteophytes lower down in the spine. Sitting for longer than 10 minutes is difficult to say the least. Then there's getting up from sitting with muscle type spasm, then finding a comfortable position to sleep. It's always there. Had an MRI (don't know results yet) & I'm so embarrassed to admit I barely made it through (felt panicky). Then at the end when it was over I asked the radiographer if he had all he needed and to take longer if he wanted (had calmed down by then) but he said he had all he needed. Now I'm worried in case he felt the need to rush it because of my anxiety. Many people have it so much worse with pain and illness and I know that. I just feel in such a mess with this and want this thing to start feeling just a little bit better. Has anyone been through something similar that seemed to go on? This is my first time posting so apologies if I'm on the wrong thread (& so sorry for the moody rant) X

Red just saw your post bless you at least your getting sorted and in the right place, poor you the pain of not being able to go is awful hope your on the mend though small steps I know it must be so frustrating you will get there let us know how you are getting on, I have just had new mattress delivered it looks lovely but I have been on sofa face down for weeks husband thinks this is going to solve everything 🤣I wish. Hope your home soon

User, I went from having good days to terrible so many times. I became obsessed with measuring how high i could lift my leg doing straight leg raise test and whether it was improving, then that would make it hurt more. But it was so hard to know whether I was actually improving because it was not a noticable recovery, very up and down. Sometimes I felt worse then ever after a relatively good week or a good (ish!) night etc. Sure I mentioned this but my physio used to make me so much worse and in all honestly I didn't start to really recover until I stopped going. Not recommending everyone do this! I know it's a personal thing but if after several months of physio you aren't improving I'd be likely to think it's just not ready for the particular exercises they are offering. I heard same thing as you though that none of.the exercise should make the nerve pain worse, if it does then stop. So I did. After months and months and after she gave me crutches and said I wasn't responding to physio so wait for surgery. I stopped all efforts at McKenzie stretches, stopped all exercises, rested and took my gabapentin, went to acupuncture. Still don't know what worked. But so far so good. Still no sciatic pain now. Very stiff at night and still sleeping shit but my life it good on the whole and no pain still feels amazing to me haha.

Local, let us know how you get on with surgery. I am crossing my fingers for a quick recovery for you! Unless you opted not to go for surgery, either way hope you're feeling good!

Thanks for all your support - I'm heading in later this morning. It's so strange that I am in very little pain but still can't lift my foot or walk on my heels so these things haven't improved. It feels wrong to be having surgery while not in pain but it's what 2 surgeons plus physio have recommended so I'm putting myself in their hands..... I'm just terrified I'll regret it.
Red - your situation sounds awful but you're in the right place to get it sorted. The Unit you're in sounds incredible. I hope the bowel issues are improving - nothing worse than being so bunged up and trying to get a poo out when your back hurts 😳 it's bizarre they give us codeine for the pain when all it really does is constipate you!!!
Anyways - see you all on the other side xx

Good luck hero keep us posted hugs to you for today. Princess thanks again I really needed to hear this, have started the Gabapentin admittedly very slowly over 3 weeks so I’m really hoping this is going to be the saver like you I have stopped everything else as after doing some stretches the other day felt like I ruined all progress it just brought me to my knees and mentally I’m struggling especially with little sleep, so pleased you have got over this, it’s soul destroying keep enjoying everything I’m slowly following hopefully

@Localher0

Hi darling. My experience of surgery is the first 48 hours are the worst, after that you'll be surprised how much better you feel!!

Thinking of you 💐

Hope your feeling more comfortable red thinking of you, bloody meds, bloody backs 🤨 I’m coming back as a man in my next life I swear they don’t get how complicated a women’s body is and what it goes through my husband barely gets a sniffle and I get full on flu 😂 just eaten very large bar of Cadbury’s feeling a bit queasy but well flu as well come on what’s a girl to do, couldn’t really taste it but nope that didn’t stop me 🤪 really hope your on the road to getting home lots of luck and best wishes

Thanks so much @user1497873278 I'm doing ok thank you. VERY fed up of catheters up me hoohaa every 4 hours but I've got good at doing them now!

Hopefully home in the next week or so xx

Also, to add, I agree about coming back as a man. A wee hole is far easier to locate as a bloke for a start 😁 xx

@RedDhalia You're not kidding. Apparently all went well but am pretty sore now and wondering why I did this in the first place! I'll hold you to that first 48 hrs thing 😉
Well done in the catheter thingy - you're amazing to have gone through so much and still be able to see the funny side (I think 🤔)
Will check in again tomorrow and let you all know how I am xx

Great local all over lovely to hear from you hope your not to uncomfortable sending hugs

Ohh red every 4 hours bless you, but you will get there just keep thinking ahead home sweet home, yep definitely a man they have such an easy ride hugs to you tonight

Well done @Localher0 you're a superstar!!

They will want you up ASAP. Go at your own pace my love. Feel free to serve my ass on a plate of it goes over 48 hours. 😁 also - demand drugs on time - it really helps!!

@user1497873278 hugs right back sweetheart

Xx

Localher0 yay you will feel so much better after first 2 days or so... everyone told me the first 48 hours are extremely uncomfortable. Even at the pre- op I went to in December the doctors explained it would be very sore afterwards. Fingers crossed you are up and put of hospital soon and you can get on with life (slowly!) Get well soon and we are thinking of you!

I may well be joining you in having surgery as my little boy thought it would be hilarious to make me jump while I was carrying a few bits of shopping in yesterday evening and somehow I twisted round to look at him whilst being tensed up cos he scared the shit out of me and it was so bloody painful right down my leg again :( Needless to say DS2 was very apologetic and did feel terrible but I was rather cross. Can't believe how something so silly can set you back so much. He genuinely didn't mean to hurt me and rationally I know this but ffs I am so scared of pain coming and staying now!

Morning @PrincessAnnaOfArundale sorry to hear you've had a set back. Please make sure you take it as easy as you can over the next couple of weeks to see if it will settle. I feel for you. I had my last op because I stretched a little bit in bed 5 days after the 2nd op. It's a very heart sinking moment when you realise that it's gone again.

I now appear to be running a low grade temp ranging from 37.4 to 38. Winning xx

🍾🍸🍷🥂🧉🍹🥃 to all xx

Oh no princess are you in pain? Really hope not makes you realise how delicate it still is fingers crossed for you. Red how’s your temperature now hope it’s settled that’s all you need thinking of you and hoping it’s resolved and your not needing any more bloody drugs 😲 local hope your not in to much pain today and everything is as should be early days I know but really hoping your ok especially as you went in with no pain must be a bit hard mentally to go through this bit sending warmest wishes

Princess - please let us know how you are when you feel you're able. Sometimes it's hard to relive it all by writing it down but know that we're all hoping you've just had a little tweak that'll resolve rather than a set back.
Red - how're you doing today. Hope your infection is not making you feel worse? You're incredibly brave going through what you have. I just can't imagine having 3 ops on the bounce.
User - you sound like you're slowly improving? But take it easy still - especially with your little one.
I am feeling way better than yesterday. The nausea & diarrhoea as the sedative wore off was horrible and because I couldn't sleep at all I was totally wrecked yesterday. The surgeon reassured me that they'd had to move my nerve around a lot to get to the bits of disc so an already inflamed nerve was aggravated even more hence the return of all the nerve pain and being crooked. He also said I had some large blood vessels they had to cauterise so the actual incision area would also be more sore. So it all makes sense even though it doesn't help when you're in lots of pain. Anyways I slept loads yesterday, was tortured by the physio and then had a good night. I am walking better today and don't need my Zimmer frame as much !! Hoping I get to go home later xx

Hi all. Local, are you home yet? Hope you are feeling ok and healing well. Must be so horrid being in hospital, not sure I'd be able to sleep at all in a hospital bed... struggle enough even at home to sleep nowadays 🥺 Anyway, sending you lots of love and hope you're feeling less sore.

RedDhalia, how are you feeling? The temoerature doesn't sound fun. So sending you some get well vibes too!

User, how is your pain level now? Have you been managing to drive any more?

I am doing ok thanks to everyone for concern :) I had constant nerve pain yesterday, not horrific but there all the time, really disheartening. Managed to sleep comfortably for a few hours last night and although I woke up this morning very, very stiff in back but nerve pain is gone again thankfully so hopefully I've just tweaked it and twisted it a bit. So fragile still but hoping I'm back on the road to recovery :)

Evening ladies,

@Localher0 how you doing sweetheart? I really hope that you are starting to feel better.

@PrincessAnnaOfArundale I'm really pleased to hear that things touchwood are settling down for you pretty quickly.

@user1497873278 how are you doing atm?

I have E-Coli in my bladder so am now on antibiotics etc. I'm actually pleased about this as I've been told for 2 days that I'm in a hot room therefore that explains my temps. My house is hotter than this place, and with a 3 year old who spikes high temps i constantly take my temp to check against here's and I never had one at home 🙄

I slept with a wet pad in last night, it was the only way I could cope!

I'm hopeful that the pooping will slow down soon. It's not been a pleasant week so far in all honesty! That said, I'm pretty much the only person in this entire unit that is walking. A humbling thought.

Lots of love xxx

Red really feel for you, why don’t they ever listen to us umm think we know our own bodies better than them so frustrating for you hope you have a better day today everything crossed for you. Not my legs obviously 😜

Local sounds like your doing well considering, good to know though that you obviously needed it done as it’s a tough decision to make hope your home soon nothing like your own bed.
Princess glad your ok after your little set back, you just never know do you. I’m doing ok day in car for hours on Sunday my son had a flat in London that I haven’t seen he’s been there months so was determined to get there, it was awful almost broke down at lunch as the pain was so bad. But couldn’t believed it Monday as I was in very little pain so god knows cos I can’t get my head round it. Went to osteopath last night for the first time wasn’t sure about going as I have had 2 good days but went she seems good but feels so sore now and had a bad night I step forward 30 back 😂 best wishes to you all thinking of you often and hoping by the summer we are all doing back flips on the beach 👍😲

Ahh back flips on the beach sounds good 😂 Honestly just making it to the beach and being able to sit or lay comfortably would be great and more than I managed last summer haha. Just such a long process isn't it? I had no idea that when I first hurt my back last June that I would still be suffering the consequences 8 months later! I understand your frustration though User, it's so up and down and the constant changes used to drive me mad.

I still have no idea why some days the pain in my ankle and foot would be unbearable, then the next day my thigh would feel stabby, then my calf, then the next day raging cramp down whole leg, then my back got tighter and tighter and unable to stand up straight, hideous contraction like feelings in my entire leg and butt. I still don't understand how it would feel slightly better one day and worse than ever the next. It's baffling.

We've all said it before but I think the mental challenge of it is as torturous as the physical and the constant fear that it will never get better. I know all too well just from this week that my back is not 'healed'. I feel like I'm made of porcelain. I'm still scared to bend, carry too much, any sudden jolts or pulls can be disastrous. Thankfully all the pain and stiffness is localised in my lower back now and usually only when I first wake up or if I have sat for a length of time, nothing nerve related down the leg since my little set back this week (thanks to ds2 🙄)...I know he's young and he didn't mean any harm but going back to that pain even for a day or 2 was terrifying! Feel like I'm overreacting but I am still feeling the effects of it mentally!

Anyway, hope everyone is on the path to recovery. Red, i hope the e.coli situation is getting sorted! And yes, a humbling thought indeed. We are all lucky to be mobile (to varying degrees!) And I never will take it for granted that just before Christmas I could barely shuffle to the bathroom without crutches and now I am walking 10,000 steps a day unaided and largely without pain.

Localher0, how are you getting on?

Hello ladies - fingers crossed that you're all doing better? @RedDhalia I hope your infection is under control? It must be so hard dealing with that on top of everything else. Have you got any idea when you might finally get to go home? @PrincessAnnaofArundel has yours settled down now? It is so horrible thinking that every little setback will land us right back where we were months ago. @user1497873278 well done for challenging yourself with long journeys even though you feel bad. It's worth it for being able to know you did it!!
So I did come home last Wednesday. The first couple fo days were horrible. It really felt like I'd gone back at least 6 weeks in terms of both pain and mobility. But...... over the last day or so I think there been a little improvement. Even though I'm currently lying on the sofa! Here's hoping for a a little bit more tomorrow. I just keep telling myself that tomorrow is a new day 😬

Local been thinking of you, glad you are home, sounds like they had to do more on you than originally thought so I suppose it’s going to take time for eve to settle stop trying to run before you can walk 😁😂 as if. It seems that we are all different with this bloody thing and there are no straight answers. Be careful not to turn or twist awkwardly and let it take its time to heal, you will get there. I keep having goodish bits then bad bits it’s a total mind fuck I’m scared to move and dream of being pain free, hope you have a good nights sleep sending you virtual hugs and praying your on the road to recovery even if it so slow and long have heard nerves can take ages to settle so hang in there, keep updating when you can everything crossed for you

Hi all. After years of being refused an MRI on my lower back agony which worsened last August after "ripping" my right sacro iliac joint just moving around in bed and having had 33 sessions of Radiotherapy for Bladder Cancer, I had my long awaiteed MRI scan on the 20th Feb. last week.
5 days later I got a call from GP's secretary telling me there was nothing wrong with by lower back., and was, as they told me in 2016, a normal stiff wear and tear back requiring no attention only Physio.
How can nothing show on the MRI scan.
I had an x-ray in 2017 which showed slipped discs L4/5 and one had disappeared, disintegrated facets, but the added injury last August when my pain increased enormously and had sciatic shooting pains down to my ankle as well as the lumber region which turned into stone was not seen or ignored? How can that be?