Bulging discs/sciatica/general back pain

[Dollydaydream12]

Hi everyone just after some advice on back issues. Recently had an MRI which showed I have some bulging discs in my back. I've had back pain for years on and off but a couple of weeks ago I ended up unable to move which prompted the MRI. Since then I'm now able to move around but have today woken up with sciatica which is all down one leg. I've took more time off work as my job involves a lot of walking but obviously I can't keep taking time off.

Does anyone have any experience of these kind of back problems? GP has referred me for physio but they've just sent me some exercise videos which that doesn't really solve the problem.. can it even be solved? I'm only 28 and it's getting me down, I feel like I have the back of a 70 year old! Are there any alternative treatments people have done or anything that can help? I'm desperate now! Thanks

I loved being invited out and saying I'll have to come in my trackies because of my back. Hehe. People are so accommodating when you're ill.

It's excellent news that she's got good musculature. So good core, clothes laid out. Even in the kitchen I put things I'd be using, including the microwave at waist height so no bending or stretching. It's very easy to twist if you're pulling things out and putting it to one side! The other thing she needs is a bedside cabinet or table that she can push herself into a sitting position when she's getting up from bed. (It's called a log roll - look it up on YouTube and practise before the operation so she has it perfected.) And a grabber for picking up things from the floor.

That's all pre-op. I had my op at 11.00 and was out about 3 and discharged the next morning at 11. I had to walk up and down a few stairs to prove I was mobile and then I was good to go. With my painkillers of cocodomol. We do it tough in the nhs.

I've got loads of post op advice but I know you want to know healing times.

First few days I just stayed in the house. You can't sit on soft settees because they cause your back to bending and it's too much strain to get off. I sat on a high hard chair so I could rise from my knees and pushing the harms. No stress on the back. Was only allowed to sit for half an hour at a time and back to bed to lie down. Start with short walks and build up. By two weeks I could walk a mile. First do several shorter walks then build up to fewer longer walks. Regular, steady walking is crucial. No driving for 6 weeks.
But no bending, twisting and lifting for 3 months. After that some people go back to work. The fusion will have started but it won't be fully formed. (Although she's younger so it might be quicker for her.) The longer she can restrain herself the better. But she'll find it hard because she's young, lively and will get bored. So just tell her to be careful. I'd say it took about 6 months for me to feel that I was back to normal but was still cautious. I was discharged at 1 year and told my back would withstand bungee jumping if I wanted (followed by a serious talk why bungee jumping is never a good idea! I love my surgeon.)

Tell her this is a marathon not a sprint. The more care she takes now, the better the likelihood of a good outcome and a great future.

Pilates helps massively and yoga. Physio does help just keep at it. I came across a method called the Mackenzie method online so I bought the book, which has really helped my back. I also bought a lumber support for sleeping. I saw a chiropractor but that didn't really help.

What this thread tells me is that people have different experiences and what helps one hurts another.
Walking helps some. Makes me worse.
I have done pilates for many years and it has helped my rheumatoid arthritis but really made my back worse.

I’m just recovering from a bout of back pain. I’ve been seeing a chiropractor. About this time last year my back packed up, and it’s happened again. I also asked to be referred for physio by the doctor. I got an appointment three months later. They were useless. Gave me a couple of exercises to do. If I hadn’t been to the chiropractor God know where I would have been by that point.

I have been told that private physiotherapists are very good , but equally that they rarely do any manipulation now .

I am interested to hear about MRI scans . I might asked to be referred for one. One of my discs is quite worn and I have slight curvature of the spine according to the X-ray the chiropractor took. I have seen several different chiropractors over about fifteen years . They did sort the problem.

Don't think anyone has recommended a TENS machine readily available, not too expensive, non invasive and easy to use. That and gas and air, only thing that stopped the pain in its tracks! and I was on a lot of drugs. Good luck.

@MarshaMelrose thank you so much its really helpful to have a handle on what she'll need as she's so young for this. I was planning on getting her a grabber and a long handled shoe horn as shoes are her big thing. High hard chairs are fine although I guess she will want to sit up in bed. She's been told she'll be in hospital for a week post op so I guess they suspect she'll be off doing what she shouldn't if she isn't under obs. Her consultant has said she''ll be in a soft brace for a while just to remind her to behave but yes no twisting and bending or lifting is likely to be tough for her.

Ive had pain for years off and on too OP, starting in early 20s, ranging from neck, sciatica and now lower back. Keeping on top of things with walking, pilates, stretching, yoga etc may be beneficial for some but obviously there are many types of back pain/injuries/conditions and it can be really difficult to get to the bottom of things.

I've tried everything - osteopathy, chiropractor, regular Thai massages. Chiro made me worse. I have to constantly move/exercise otherwise I cease up! I follow a few Youtubers now that have really helped. As well as the usual yoga/pilates (Adrienne/Move with Nicole) I recently found the Feldenkrais technique which are very slow/gentle movements that aim to realign your body. Never imagined it would help but I have been very pleased so far.

https://www.youtube.com/c/TaroIwamoto

I would second this.

Mine just won't budge and painkillers do nothing but the worst thing is I now have near constant pins and needles in my toes/feet

I didn't find private physios or osteos useful for my bulging discs and sciatica, it has been consisten, regular pilates (and generally being more mobile day-to-day) that has fixed it and kept the pain away, but it took a good year and a half.

Osteo and co codamol. Just been through this and now out the other side.

I've just been prescribed 25mg Amitriptyline to try as the damn sciatica wakes me up at night. Anyone any experience of this? Cocodamol and Tramadol did sweet FA. Going to continue with Naproxen too. Physio in 2 weeks.

I saw a physio on Tues and have a series of exercises. She suggested a heat pack and sitting with a rolled towel in the small of the back. I found this and it does both. Quite soothing if nothing else.

@CornishGem1975 I get numbness followed by pain down my leg and foot. It's not acutely painfull but really annoying.

I'm struggling so much with my back, people that paid private, around how much did you pay if you don't mind me asking. Thankyou

Yes, and in my case it will probably never get solved, you will just eventually learn to live differently. I had to reduce my hour and find a different type of job

Chiropractor is £55 to £60 for first consultation that may include an x Ray. Then about £36 per session afterwards. I have needed about six to eight treatments to resolve it. I find yoga invaluable when I start to get twinges. Specifically the Cat, Cobra and Bridge positions.

I was told to use ice on mine. I find heat makes it worse. If you have inflammation heat does not help. I used a cool gel pack from Boots that you can put in the freezer. Or a bag of peas wrapped in a tea towel.

@MidnightConstellation I've been using ice for six months to no avail so heat is new and it works for me.
It used to be that physios suggested ice for all swelling and inflammation but in many cases they now say use ice immediately after injury and then heat for a long term condition.

@merlotlover I've had physio of many kinds in recent years and would always choose a qualified physio first over ostepath or chiropractor. A private physio near me would cost around £40 - £50 a session.

I was told by my osteopath, heat for muscle pain, ice for nerve pain.

I was told alternate between heat and ice but ice does nothing for my butt cheek - heat works far better. Ice did work really well on my dental abscess though!

Be careful with a chiropractor for sciatic or back pain, I've been before for other areas of the body, but I've been told it's not massively recommend as can do more damage if you've got a slipped disc or similar.

@merlotlover I had a private MRI (£350 per scan- I had lumbar and pelivis), I had a consultation with a private back surgeon (£250 Plus£9:50 for a prescription for cocodamol) I had an epidural spinal block injection, this was done in theatre with guided x ray £1250.

I'm now on the nhs pathway but continuing with the same surgeon. And same hospital for microdiscectomy on 16 Nov. This will be all paid for by the nhs.

I hate to say this, but the route I took has meant I've got to this stage much faster than if I'd relied on the nhs from the start. I suspect I might still be waiting for an MRI. I don't want there to be a fast track for people with money, I don't have money, I have no job am on ESA T £79 a week, but I had savings and figured this was something that savings are there for.

Good luck Merlot. Private hospitals all offer payment plans btw.

That’s really helpful to know.

I'd say that if you have some money to spare then a private consultation with as good a specialist as you can find is probably the best way to lay out funds (but factor in that they will probably want an xray and MRI). Fortunately DH's job provides insurance for all the family as DD has been seeing a surgeon at £250 a pop for 2 years to manage pain over her sixth form years. This weeks private spinal fusion was the best part of £20k - the operation itself was the least part of that. There's no way we'd have had that surgeon on the NHS as our PCT doesn't have a contract with their NHS hospital.

Meant to mention that Voltarol in suppository form has been the best painkiller in DD's experience as it delivers pretty close to where its needed.

Surgery for me tomorrow, I'm terrified, and strangely calm at the same time.