Back pain, damaged disks - what next?

[Didntwanttochangemyname]

I feel a bit lost. I've seen an Osteopath, Chiropractor, Physio, Surgeon and a GP and none of them have agreed with any of the others as to what I ought to do, and it's starting to defeat me.

I've had an MRI which shows a prolapsed disk L4/L5, and the one below is now going too. This is causing me a lot of pain in my lower back, and pain down my right leg.

The Consultant has recommended a microdiscectomy, which it seems will hopefully put an end to the leg pain. My worry is that the leg pain isn't the main problem. While it is very uncomfortable, it is my back that stops me from being able to move properly and the pain of that which causes me the distress. I've emailed the Consultant to ask more clearly what the surgery might do to help my back but he's away on holiday so everything is on hold until he comes back.

I saw the local NHS Physio for the first time last week (I got a referral when I last hurt my back in February) and he was really shocked that I'd been recommended surgery and said that 'I'm not there yet' and has arranged for me to see the NHS spinal consultant (which is likely to take 3/4 months), it has left me pretty confused.

I've got two small children and I'm a terrible mother right now because I'm in so much pain. I'm not even sure what anyone could say that could help, I'm jus really struggling.

Hi, I’ve had the same problem too, same discs, both herniated.

What has helped me:

1. Standing back straight against the wall bin to neck. For some reason that realigned me really fast when my back was locked
2. Don’t sit. I even used to eat standing up.
3. Thee are some great exercises that help,

One of them involved lying flat on the carpet and lying lower legs flat across a chair. Takes pressure off. 4, lose weight if you need to

1. Swimming!
2. Raise your cat seat as much as possible. I swapped mine for an 4x4

It does get better
I know what to do when the back pain kicks in

Sorry... which helps me to prevent much of it.

Also hauling a toddler around was hard and if your kids are young, this will also get the easier.

I’m confused. Who was the consultant you have already seen if not a spinal surgeon?

Oh @fannybawz thank you.

I'll try all those things, and hopefully it will get easier as the kids get older and need less lifting!

When swimming, what stroke would you suggest? I'm not the best swimmer but I'm happy to improve if it might help!

I've already got a 4x4, and I've recently lost all my excess weight, but I can definitely try to be less sedentary! When I'm not chasing the kids I love sitting down, but I will try to move more - I'll have a much cleaner house!

I've been in the same position, both discs and mine herniated twice, nine months apart. The second time I decided it was either shoot myself or have an MRI and spinal injections privately, whatever the cost. Have you tried spinal injections yet? It's considered a good step to try and prevent surgery.

My consultant (spinal surgeon) advised against surgery, he said the surgery is quite brutal despite being so tiny and the outcome is not always that great.

I did see a new-ish therapy being offered where you are basically stretched on a machine (all very technical and well controlled) to increase the space between discs. It takes about ten sessions and I think the cost was just over a thousand for the whole lot. I didn't go down that route but it might be worth looking at and my physio knew of it and recommended it over surgery.

@Montybojangles sorry for not being clear. My GP was very unhelpful and dismissive so I saw a private consultant who did the MRI and diagnosed the disk damage.
Now the Physio wants to refer me to the NHS consultant.

I had the surgery, I get some back pain still but my op was complex and I had cauda equina. Leg pain all gone

@PragmaticWench I've not been told about the spinal injections, but I have recently come across them while googling, I'll ask about them when I chase up the Consultant, thank you.
Being stretched out sounds a little like a rack, but I can actually see the appeal of that! I'm off to look it up!