Chronic Lower Back Pain, Sciatica, Degenerative Disk L5,S1, Medical Debt

Luke Creed

hello I made a post regarding this, but decided to make a thread just cos i received no response. (Moderators, please delete my post in the thread before this thread please)
I have been suffering back pain for 5 years, i had steroidal injections on my facet joints and on my sciatic nerve but it only provided temporary relief.
AND ALSO, my Laya cover wont cover me, so i'm not fixed and have medical bills of over a grand, basically for nothing imo.
i have tried Chiropractors, osteopaths, acupuncturists, at least 8 different Physios, 2 neurosurgeons and obviously 1 pain management guy who gave me the useless injections.
i have zero quality of life have barely been outside the past 3 months, GP just keeps upping meds despite me saying they aren't working, now i honestly just want it to end, I'm a shadow of who i used to be. & am clutching at straws in the hope someone can help, but feels and seems as if its too late in the day, I'm 27 this started when i was 22, feel as though I'm missing the prime of my life, even my family have all but given up it feels, but to be fair its been going on so long what should i expect?

Anyway, generally i am really reserved regarding this and most of my issues (paddy problems).. Any advice, help or recommendations would be greatly appreciated

Edit: is this in the wrong place?, I feel like I shouldn't be comparing my illness to MS, but it is a massive problem for me and i consider it a long term illness, despite the fact i know there are people with worse issues then I

Edit 2: PM if you want Im watching my account, dire need of help!

Spook_ie

Firstly, what wont Laya cover ? and give us some insight as to what the Neurosurgeons have said ? I've had 2 microdiskectomies done with great results, but luckily I was covered by VHI

FluffyAngel

Nobody here can really give you what your searching for ..

my suggestion to you is to stand back from it all and ask your self the question ,what do i need from this ?

no doctor can fix you
the only person that can do that is you

i would suggest taking time out for you to decide how you need to go forward ..

have you tried talking to the guys in pieta house?

_Brian

Luke Creed wrote: »

hello I made a post regarding this, but decided to make a thread just cos i received no response. (Moderators, please delete my post in the thread before this thread please)
I have been suffering back pain for 5 years, i had steroidal injections on my facet joints and on my sciatic nerve but it only provided temporary relief.
AND ALSO, my Laya cover wont cover me, so i'm not fixed and have medical bills of over a grand, basically for nothing imo.
i have tried Chiropractors, osteopaths, acupuncturists, at least 8 different Physios, 2 neurosurgeons and obviously 1 pain management guy who gave me the useless injections.
i have zero quality of life have barely been outside the past 3 months, GP just keeps upping meds despite me saying they aren't working, now i honestly just want it to end, I'm a shadow of who i used to be. & am clutching at straws in the hope someone can help, but feels and seems as if its too late in the day, I'm 27 this started when i was 22, feel as though I'm missing the prime of my life, even my family have all but given up it feels, but to be fair its been going on so long what should i expect?

Anyway, generally i am really reserved regarding this and most of my issues (paddy problems).. Any advice, help or recommendations would be greatly appreciated

Edit: is this in the wrong place?, I feel like I shouldn't be comparing my illness to MS, but it is a massive problem for me and i consider it a long term illness, despite the fact i know there are people with worse issues then I

Edit 2: PM if you want Im watching my account, dire need of help!

Hi. I feel your pain.

I have 3 totally degenerated discs in my lower back, which were then further damaged in a motor accident. In the accident I also ruptured a disc in my neck which due to the risk can't be operated on.

I've had the facet joint injections in both my neck and lower back. It's a very expensive procedure and relief is only temporary , 2-3 months. A rhysiotamy will provide longer relief but costs more and is a more painful procedure.

Physio guided Pilates has been recommended I work on stretches and core strength exercises most nights.

One thing worth trying is omega3 supplements in high doses. I was using shield healthcare brand Platinum Omega 3 which was recommended. Taken at double dosage it definitely provided relief and your not taking medication. It also lowered my blood pressure to the stage where I came off my medication.

I'm 43 now and have been suffering badly since my accident in 2009. I lost one job as I was unable to keep up. I've had to change career which has had an impact on my earnings. The facet joint injections I got were ~€1550 of which I had to pay excess if about €300, I'm also with LEYA and had the procedure done in the Sports Surgury Clinic.

Chronic back pain is an awful affliction. Not really taken seriously by most people but it's terribly debilitating. .

skippy2

"i have tried Chiropractors, osteopaths, acupuncturists, at least 8 different Physios".........sounds familiar to me. I also had sciatica, lower back problems etc etc used to be in tears with the pain, sometimes could not even lift myself from a bed without help, tried all of the above over years and due to my job was really getting me down. Eventually one physio gave me a simple exercise that has helped me so much and as long as i am careful have very few relapses and if i do i just do the exercise continuously for a few days and bingo back comes good.
Lie down on floor pull both knees to chest,hold for a few secs, drop down and repeat. This used to give me so much relief.
Then i do alternate legs, pull to chest hold and release. When im good i just do this as daily exercise ans as mentioned if i have a relapse this sorts me out within a week. Build it into a routine and maybe get some advice from someone. Bu these simple exercises saved me from hellish pain. It can be painful at first trying to lift your legs but persevere and it pays off or did for me. Initially it took a while for the exercise to work but i kept at it. Hope this is of some help and might give you some relief.

cassid

Heya,

Sorry to hear you are having such a bad time.

Chronic Pain can change our lives not just physically but mentally.

Do you have any close friends you can talk to ? Chronic Pain Ireland or similar organisations might help.

I have arthritis in most places, had replacements and still young, I link in with follow people on FB, its a life saver having a place to moan and groan and try find humour again.

You are not alone xx

livemusic4life

I thought i had written this.

The pain specialist has to do everyting by trial and error if there is no very obvious cause for your pain. Wit me, he knew i had sciatica, but not exactly why. It had been ruled out as a case for surgical intervention. Eventually it was deemed an SI joint problem, and because the nerve blocks worked short term, they were able to do radio frequency denervation on the sciatic nerve. It bloody well hurt but 2 years later and the sciatica flares up for the odd day here and there, but a vast improvement on what it was. Now, if only they could figure out what is flipping causing this severe back pain and i'd be laughing. Good luck. Try not to give up. Pain management does offer some hope

cerise

I feel for you. Have been that soldier. It will improve overtime. Try swimming once or twice a week or some pilates classes when able. You have to build up your abdominal muscles to compensate for the dodgy back disks. Not a cure but will allow you a better quality of life so less meds etc in time.

Arbiter of Good Taste

OP, I have suffered terribly from herniated discs. For the first one I spent thousands on physio and medication and eventually ended up in surgery. Had relief for 9 months and then got another herniated disc - not as bad, but extremely painful nevertheless.

I have gotten great relief from micro current therapy. After about 3-4 sessions I was a new person. I still have my bad days, but nothing like before. I went into it very sceptical but figured it couldn't make me any worse than it already was. I am pleased with the results.

livemusic4life

Arbiter of Good Taste wrote: »

OP, I have suffered terribly from herniated discs. For the first one I spent thousands on physio and medication and eventually ended up in surgery. Had relief for 9 months and then got another herniated disc - not as bad, but extremely painful nevertheless.

I have gotten great relief from micro current therapy. After about 3-4 sessions I was a new person. I still have my bad days, but nothing like before. I went into it very sceptical but figured it couldn't make me any worse than it already was. I am pleased with the results.

I have never heard of micro current therapy. Is it like TENS but with less current? Was it expensive? Available in the hospital? Sorry for all the questions but I'm really desperate to try something new, and i go to my pain specialist next week.

Arbiter of Good Taste

I'm not really sure what exactly TENS is. Basically the therapist places these pads on your back and leg which blasts electric currents into the nerve. She also gives me a leg and foot massage to deal with the referred pain down the leg.

It's €60 per one hour session, and covered by some insurance plans.

Where are you based. I can PM you details if you are in/near Dublin

livemusic4life

Arbiter of Good Taste wrote: »

I'm not really sure what exactly TENS is. Basically the therapist places these pads on your back and leg which blasts electric currents into the nerve. She also gives me a leg and foot massage to deal with the referred pain down the leg.

It's €60 per one hour session, and covered by some insurance plans.

Where are you based. I can PM you details if you are in/near Dublin

I just looked into it. It is very like tens with less current. You can buy tens machines in boots and they are recommended by hospitals. A lot of people swear by them. I am in Cork but it's something for me to check

shamrock2004

Luke Creed wrote: »

GP just keeps upping meds despite me saying they aren't working

Hi luke.

First, if you have seen all those health experts and they have reported nothing seriously wrong with you (e.g. scans showed no tumour) then take it for what it is - there is nothing physically wrong with you. I developed sever back pain and sciatica at 28 and went down the same road. I was diagnosed with a "significant disc bulge at L4/L5". However it has now been scientifically proven that nearly everybody has disc degeneration - it's akin to having grey hair and is a normal part of the ageing process. And besides, if a disc does herniate, it heals within 3 - 6 months. I am now pain free. The problem is all the negative publicity with back pain and people "you need to strengthen your core", "you need to change your posture", "dont bend forward", "dont sit on a sofa" etc etc that people believe they are really broken and their healing is impeded. I'm telling you this from my own experiences and all the reading I did.

As fluffyangel mentioned, after having no luck from countless health professionals, at this point it's only you who can heal yourself. It is possible.

If the pain meds aren't working, do you not think that is a strong indication that there may not be a physical problem with your back? I had the same experience. You can heal yourself. It is possible. You need to start reprogramming yourself and not viewing yourself as broken. The mind is everything. The body goes where the mind wants it to. It takes time, but it works.

Start doing your research on the web for articles relating to back pain and the mental link. Start meditating to help you relax and feel at ease with any negative emotions you have with your pain.

You will get better.

How many of the professionals you saw told you that?