MRI SHOWS DISC PROTRUSION

[NewMeNewUs]

Hi all,

I have been suffering with excruciating lower back pain since Monday. It got so bad I ended up in a&e. Anyway MRI today has shown general wear and tear but also a disc protrusion at L5.
on standing the muscles are spasming to protect the area apparently.

I’ve been prescribed muscles relaxants and analgesia, told to take a week off work to rest but to keep moving.

does anyone else have this problem or similar I’d love to hear any tips, advice, things that work for you etc.

im a midwife so really hoping i wont have to give up the job i love because if this 😔

I've had 3 discs like this. Keep moving after the initial acute phase. It really does help. When mine starts again I take it easy on the first day. Shuffle about as I can't walk. 2nd day move around a bit but I can't sit as straightening up is excruciating. 3rd day start sitting a bit. Getting up regularly Walking easier. 4/5 days I'm usually almost ok. If this is the first time this has happened your acute phase will be longer. My first acute phase was 15 years ago. I get an acute phase about 4 times a year now. Having one at the mo. I have co codamol and naproxen prescribed

Thank you so much for your reply. Yes this is my first episode of this, today is day 3 and it’s the worst day by far!

thanks for the recommendation for naproxen.
do you seen a physio or chiropractor?

4 times a year oh gosh! Makes me worry how i will work if it happens this regularly

I had surgery the first time it happened, and painkillers the second. Gabapentin was the only one that helped. And diazepam for the spasms.
Sorry, it's awful pain, but should get better. I rarely have relapses ten years on.

I had a prolapsed disc 5 years ago, causing almost complete compression of spinal cord so ended up with urgent surgery but the initial pain, trying physio etc was like nothing I've ever had before, absolutely agonising down both legs. It was like a miracle when the pressure was relieved during surgery & I woke with it gone. I really feel for you, it's a horrendous pain.

I forgot to say I'm also on Amitriptyline which really helps the nerve pain. Especially at night. Gets a bit of getting used to but I've been taking it for years. A chiropractor won't touch me. And especially not when i had my first episode. She sent me away and said she could make it worse.

NHS physio sent me exercises in the post!! I didn't do them as I hadn't had any investigations at that point. My consultant said "thank god you didn't do them as they would have made it worse". I've had no faith in NHS physios from then. How can you prescribe exercises without even seeing someone!

I've had 34yrs of back pain including a herniated disc at L4/5. I can't stand or walk when the pain is really bad.

I take naproxen, amitripline and tramadol. Heat pads can be helpful too.

Unfortunately, because I've lived with this for so long, it's developed into centralised pain syndrome. That's similar to fibromyalgia but is caused by a spinal injury rather than being an autoimmune condition.

I'm 53, unable to work and have various mental health conditions. They make the pain worse and the worsened pain causes my mental health to deteriorate. So a catch 22 really.

Sorry, this probably isn't what you want to hear.

I've had 34yrs of back pain including a herniated disc at L4/5. I can't stand or walk when the pain is really bad.

I take naproxen, amitripline and tramadol. Heat pads can be helpful too.

Unfortunately, because I've lived with this for so long, it's developed into centralised pain syndrome. That's similar to fibromyalgia but is caused by a spinal injury rather than being an autoimmune condition.

I'm 53, unable to work and have various mental health conditions. They make the pain worse and the worsened pain causes my mental health to deteriorate. So a catch 22 really.

Sorry, this probably isn't what you want to hear.

Thanks for your reply! Oh gosh I hope I don’t have to go down the surgery route tbh

Interesting about the chiropractor I’ll bare that in mind thank you. I’ve got an appointment tomorrow with a local company to assess me to see if I need a physio or a chiropractor

This is just terrible!! I think NHS physios are well known for being rubbish tbh

Have a look at this thread.
It's not something that will go away quickly but most people improve with the right exercises and surgery is a last resort.
Personally I wouldn't go to a chiropractor as they made me worse when I went with another problem. Physios vary. I've seen brilliant NHS ones and rubbish private and the other way round.

Every sympathy, I have had very bad back pain.