Herniated disc- suffering 6 months

Shinbin223

I'm posting here in the hopes someone is experiencing same or similar or has gone through and come out the other side. I'm early 30s female and have always had issues with my back, ranging from just twinges to an instance where I couldn't lift my legs to get in and out of the car. That episode passed within a week.

The latest episode has me suffering since November. It started off as bearable except I couldn't walk or stand for longer than a minute without pain. Physio referred me on to Martin Murphy and I had an MRI done which showed moderate disc herniation at l4/l5 which was pressing on the sciatic nerve. At the time he felt it wouldn't need surgery and that Physio and maybe a nerve root/facet injection would solve my problems. Physio didn't help and I had the injection in February which helped for maybe 9 days and the pain came back as bad as ever. It has gradually gotten worse and worse. I can't walk/stand or sit for very long and my quality of life is at zero. I made an appointment to see him again and I am due to see him next week as I feel next step is an operation.
Yesterday and today the pain has been excruciating. I'm not good with strong painkillers as they make me nauseous but to be honest I would actually prefer getting sick over the pain I'm in right now so am going to the doctor later.

My VHI covers nothing in the Mater Private,Hermitage or Blackrock which are the clinics Martin Murphy works from. So I actually don't think I'll be able to get an operation under him after all. Has anyone any recommendations of a neurosurgeon that is not working out of the above clinics? I went to the Santry Surgery Clinic for the injection so as far as I know I am covered there. It's one of these things that has gone on so long but I feel like going out of my mind with pain at this stage and I need to try get it sorted and quick.

irishlady29

I could have written your post myself. Scary! I too have bulging disc and same ones as you. Have had the last 3 months of hell. MRI showed l5 sitting right on sciatic nerve. L4 bulging also. Have lost power in leg and foot. Mobility very slow and painful. In the horrors at night time and not sleeping.
Met with my surgeon. He is slow to go down surgery route as he feels this will sort itself out. Will do nerve blockers but I believe they are very temporary and that's if they work at all.
I have been going to a chiropractor which I found helpful. Disc seems to behaving itself now but my glute muscle and leg muscles in a constant spasm which in turn is putting pressure on the nerve.
Have been advised to go and get a sports massage. Will look into this.
I really know how your feeling and sympathise with you. It's an awful thing to go through.

horsey63

Yes, I have experience of Michael Kelleher in Santry Sports Clinic, my history is a microdiskectomy in 09 & 13 for herniated disks at l4/5 and then due to severe facet arthritis/reherniation/synovial cysts etc I had a fusion last year. The relief from the pain was amazing, if there are any specific questions I can help with, ask away

Shinbin223

Thanks for the replies. I'm off work now as the pain just got too much on Monday. The doctor prescribed my lyrica and tramadol. They are definitely taking the edge off except for the fact that I seem to be having nightmares/hallucinations the past couple of nights. I need to go to my own GP tomorrow to get a referral letter done up for Michael Kelleher so will ask him if this is normal.
I rang Michael Kelleher's secretary yesterday and she said the waiting list is about four weeks. I am really hoping at this stage it will be a discectomy. Is he slow to operate or if it's the final option like in my case is he happy to do it?

horsey63

Firstly Lyrica is well known for causing very unpleasant side effects and personally I could not take them at all. If your mri shows clear herniations etc, he will be very quick to offer you surgery, just make sure he knows you've tried physio/nerve injections etc. I do see your last mri was in November so be prepared that he may want you to get another one done, so my advice would be that after you get your referral letter from your GP, that you tell his secretary (its normally Ann that I speak to) that your mri is nearly 6 months old, and does she think he would like a new one and if so, could she arrange it in Santry before your first consultation.

Redman1805

Hello Horsey,
Apologies for gate crashing the thread!
Can you recommend Michael Kelleher in Santry Sports Clinic, I've had 2 microdisectomy surgeries in the past, L5 & C7 with Padraig O'Neill in the Mater, he has since retired, anyway those lovely people in Irish Life tell me my policy no longer covers the Mater, nice!
While I have multiple bulges, the latest at L5 is out of control, pain is unreal.
I need to find a new surgeon and quick, any feedback on Mr. Kellerher would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

Beasty

Mr Kelleher's reputation is excellent. I saw him earlier in the year and had a follow-up few months ago. I've suffered with serious back issues for over 25 years and have had 4 operations on the bottom two discs. The last one was 15 years ago and I've had a flare up over the past year or so. I sought some feedback before seeing him, and when I did see him was impressed with his understanding of the issues, as well as his recommendation for further attention.

horsey63

Redman1805 wrote: »

Hello Horsey,
Apologies for gate crashing the thread!
Can you recommend Michael Kelleher in Santry Sports Clinic, I've had 2 microdisectomy surgeries in the past, L5 & C7 with Padraig O'Neill in the Mater, he has since retired, anyway those lovely people in Irish Life tell me my policy no longer covers the Mater, nice!
While I have multiple bulges, the latest at L5 is out of control, pain is unreal.
I need to find a new surgeon and quick, any feedback on Mr. Kellerher would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

Hiya, both my microdiskectomies were with Padraig O'Neill in 2009 & 2013 and when I was in trouble again early in 2016, I too found that he had retired, and obviously was sent to Michael Kelleher. I can highly recommend him, personality wise, he's very like Padraig !! He's very straight to the point and tells it like it is. Just make sure you have a very recent mri before you go to him, if needs be, ask his lovely secretary to order a new one before your appointment. I have had a lumbar fusion with him and the outcome has been fantastic. Ask away if there's anything else I can help you with

_Brian

Redman1805 wrote: »

Hello Horsey,
Apologies for gate crashing the thread!
Can you recommend Michael Kelleher in Santry Sports Clinic, I've had 2 microdisectomy surgeries in the past, L5 & C7 with Padraig O'Neill in the Mater, he has since retired, anyway those lovely people in Irish Life tell me my policy no longer covers the Mater, nice!
While I have multiple bulges, the latest at L5 is out of control, pain is unreal.
I need to find a new surgeon and quick, any feedback on Mr. Kellerher would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

I dealt with Mr Kellerher over a few years and found him very good. Easy to talk with and a genuine interest in positive outcomes. The SSC is a good facility.

beauf

I've found pilates with a physio very good. Hard work but worked well for me. Not always an option for everyone. I've lapsed lately and suffering again.

Redman1805

Thank you guys, really appreciate the feedback, sounds like I need to get myself in front of Mr. Kelleher asap.

Like the idea of him being as straight as O'Neill, you knew exactly where you stood with him!
Once I get over this one, it will be pilates all the way.
Thanks again, will keep you posted!

Missyelliot2

Hi there,
I've just spotted this thread and your issue is a mirror of the state my back was in 2 years age. I was tempted to go down the surgery route, but decided to try the nerve blocker first. The surgeon I attended in Cork, said that the body can repair itself, but it needs time- and you need to be pain free too.
I went for the epidural steroid injection and I am so happy that I did. It worked for me and the relief is amazing. My back is 100% better. I am so glad that I didn't need further surgery.

Just thought I'd offer my two cents

The best of luck with it!

Redman1805

Hi All
So I visited Ashley Pyntons clinic yesterday, Mr. Fournier reviewed my scans, enough there for an op but encouraged me to go get the root nerve injection for now - even if the last one was not a success for me, it could be different this time, different bulge.
Got the injection this morning with Prof. Stephen Eustace in Cappagh, arranged gratefully by Poynton Clinic. Mr. Eustace was great, very personable, asked I take my time over deciding whether to op and get myself into Pilates ASAP. Will see if I get benefit from the injection, if so I'll be booking myself into Pilates immediately.
Fingers crossed!

beauf

I'd find a physio who does a pilates class and get them to assess you first. The one I attend is all core work. Others I've been to aren't.