I have suffered with back problems for the past 25years which over the last 7/8 years have gradually got worse. It started of with pain in my lower back which was helped by regular trips to a Chiropractor.
This allowed me to continue walking with my local walking group. But slowly over the past 7 years the pain has gradually worse with pain in my lower back, down my right leg plus both feet are numb.
I had an MRI scan November 2015 which showed problems at L5/S1 which causes moderate stenosis compressing the L5 nerve root. Feb/2016 had a nerve block injection, this had no effect.
Pain management tried Pregabalin and Gabapentin, both did not help.
Pain was so bad now that I could only walk comfortably for 10mins, therefore walking group came to a stop.
Had a private consultation with a spinal consultant who made his own diagnosis of the MRI scan, which was that degenerative scoliosis was producing narrowing @ L4/5 and L5/S1 plus grade 1 spondylolisthesis @ L4/5 level. He suggested a lateral recess decompression surgery which I had December 2017. Result being that the surgery made no difference and the specialist said that I would have to learn to live with it!
Have tried living with it but GP sent me for a further MRI scan June 2019, followed by another nerve block injection, which also has had no effect. GP has tried all sorts of pain medication and non of it has helped therefore he now also says that I will have to live with it.
The pain is slowly getting worse sometimes stops me sleeping.
It seems the Chiro, Hospital, GP, Physio have all given up just live with it !!
What should I do know?
By the way I am 85 years old and reasonable fit and find it very frustrating that I can no longer go for a country walk?
A friend suggested a Sciaticalm machine, would that help, I have tried a 'Tens' machine' some years ago but that did not help.
Any advice ways forward would be very welcome.