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  3. Disc Prolapse

L4/L5 Central Disk Herniation

  1. I am so happy I have found this website. I am also suffering from slipped disk problem. It all started April 2010 when walking or standing I constantly kept getting pins and needles on my left foot, once that happens my leg starts to hurt and my buttock. Once I sit down somewhere it eventually eases off. My MRI results confirm L4/L5 Central Disk Herniation. My doctor first gave me Ibuprofen then Dicloflex.

    I am very concerned for the future as am only 26 years old and married with 2 young kids.

    I have been referred by my GP to a Orthopaedic Hospital near Stanmore.

    They have told me that it takes about 13 weeks before I can be seen.

    What I would like to know is

    -What is the next stage at hospital and options?

    -Anybody with similar problem?

    -Advice?

    I would really appreciate with any information posted.

    Thanks

    [color=green:d181123c1c][size=9:d181123c1c][i:d181123c1c][b:d181123c1c](Sorry but Patient Admin have removed a Doctor, Consultant and or Hospital name from this posting, as it is the policy of Patient UK not to publish these on this forum.) [/b:d181123c1c][/i:d181123c1c][/size:d181123c1c][/color:d181123c1c]

  2. Hi

    I totally understand how you feel. I have a prolapsed disc L4/L5 too. I have had this on and off for 10 years. After a fall last year my symptoms worsened and I had pins and needles, numbness in my left toes, pain down my legs. I am now due to have an operation any time.

    My advice is that when you see your consultant, you should have an MRI scan, usually they will test to see how far you can raise your legs without pain when lying down. Depending on the result from the scan will determine what your consultant will do. If you have any problems with your bowels etc contact your consultant immediately dont wait for them to contact you.

    Try to keep active but just do what makes you feel most comfortable. I have a tens machine sometimes it helps, plus ibuprofen gel and hot water bottles. Its no fun but it will get easier as time goes on.

    Wish you all the luck with your consultation and I hope that you have some relief from the pain. Take care

  3. Hi there,

    I really appreciate the advice you have given me. I am really sorry to hear that you have had a fall and now that you need an operation. I hope that goes well for you. Please keep me posted.

    I wanted to know over the 10 years that you have been experiencing this what treatment did you have and how successful it is?

    I am asking this because when I am walking or standing I feel within minutes that I am in agony and I must sit down. When that happens it makes me feel so down and helpless.

  4. Hi

    Over the past 10 years I have had very varying experiences. Up until I had my little girl who's 4 my back went into spasm on almost a yearly basis, and treatment varied from physio to traction infact I had everything, I used to go into hospital screaming in agony so I know how you feel all they did was pump me with strong drugs that did nothing, to be honest nothing worked for me, but everyone is different.

    I only had it diagnosed when I went private and was told I needed an op, but by time the op came round I was pregnant with my little girl which helped the condition.

    My specialist at the time said the only thing to help with the pain was epidural, maybe something to ask for if the pain isnt being helped.

    You said you started in April with the symptoms and you sound like your still really bad I would imagine your consultant may advise an op but depends how significant the prolapse is. It will get better just keep doing what you are doing, if you find it hard to walk get a wheelchair trust me I've been there infact I was being pushed around at christmas cos I couldn't walk or stand for more than 5 mins. Now 7 months on I can do normal things but feel limited, but not taking pain killers.

    Its nice talking to someone of similar age going through same sort of thing cos it gets so lonely, noone truly understands the impact it has. Keep in touch and if you want any more info dont hestitate. smile

  5. Hi

    I wanted to know with the problem I have, can I claim esa benefit? If so which one -

    ESA with a work-related activity component or

    Support group?

  6. Hi

    To be honest with you I don't know if you can claim any benefits, I've never heard of ESA, you can always try and see what happens. I have just had my back operated on and actually wasn't as bad as I anticipated. Hopefully i will be fully recovered and be able to do so many more things without being scared. :lol:

  7. Hi

    I went to my first consultation at the referred hospital. The doctor gave me 3 options -

    -Leave it and hope it sorts it self out

    -Epidural Injection

    -Operation

    I decided on epidural as leaving it won't help as am already in severe pain and have difficulty in walking. And not having normal life.

    The doctor also thinks we should give this a try as operation should be used as last resort.

    I will be attending the assessment at the hospital on Monday and then they will put in the waiting list. :shock:

    The told me it can take upto 8 weeks before treatment!

    At least I am getting somewhere with this now.

  8. Hi

    I'm so glad you are getting somewhere. I think epidural is a good option I never had that as an option, but I know my previous consultant mentioned it for pain management. Let me know how you get on, on Monday. I hope it sorts the problem out and your disc is ok. Some consultants don't look at the affect it has on your daily lives and it's so hard when you have little ones cos your forever bending and carrying. Just keep emphasising that fact take it from someone who knows.

    Take care

    speak soon.

  9. I am female 54 years old and have a lot of experience of managing low back pain and resultant disability. I have had 3 operations on the Lumbar disc between L4/L5. Currently I am waiting for an MRI result and an appointment with a consultant. I am unable to work. Have debilitating pain all down my right leg. Keep feeling depressed and frustrated about how long it all takes. First lesson. If you have agonising sciatic pain (see below) and have been suffering more than 8 weeks you will probably need an MRI scan and an appointment with a consultant. This will take a very long time. The first time it happened to me I waited six months after first seeing my GP before getting a scan and then two weeks later an operation.

    First It is important in both helping yourself and in communicating with your doctors and physio therapists if you do a bit of homework and familiarise yourself with the basic anatomy of the spine, how it moves and the terminology they use. Please believe me when I tell you that this is not difficult stuff to grasp. Use the internet. Use simple search terms like How does the lumbar spine work? What does the spine look like? Go for drawings not x ray images. Avoid getting drawn into anything too complicated - it will only confuse and confound you. Be disciplined and stick with the simple stuff.

    My experience;

    20 years ago I suffered occasional low back pain and stiffness. Ignored these warning signs. Did not change my lifestyle habits; carrying a heavy camera bag on one shoulder, and very importantly slumping a lot when sitting down: I call this banana back syndrome because if you looked at it from the side my low back was curved backwards. I did not sit up straight. This is very very bad. The discs between the bones in your spine are like a fruit gum with a tough outer casing and a jelly like substance inside. Contained in the middle of this jelly substance is a hard pea shaped object. When you sit slumped the pressure down the spine pushes the jelly substance backwards distorting the shape of the disc, the pea shaped object is also pushed backwards against the outer casing of the disc. Now then when this pea pushes hard enough up against this casing it bulges it outwards then you are in trouble because this can then make contact with nerves running behind the disc and when this happens you can get pain, pins and needles, and numbness in the leg or legs depending on which nerve is being irritated. ( there are other reasons a nerve can be effected; look it up, but this is the most common cause). Like I say I ignored it. I was young and fit and my body like all bodies sorted it self out. Bodies always want to be well, they will work away at keeping us healthy and operational despite our best efforts to undermine this process - like continuing to slump when seated and carrying a heavy bag one sided on a daily basis. Then in the mid 90's I had a really bad experience. I'd been swinging small children, arms outstretched, spinning around, upper body leaning backwards. then went to pick up a a bit of paper from the floor - Agonising, couldn't straighten up. Sorted it with massage and stretches. Still I ignored the warnings and didn't change my lifestyle. It happened a few more times. I was careful about lifting heavy weights and stopped carrying my heavy bag. I did not stop slumping. I did not train myself to sit up straight. Then in 2001 I collapsed in agony. The pain in my right leg was unbelievable. I could not sit ( try going to the loo when you cant sit, my loving partner had to help me) I could not lie on my right side or back, I could barely stand for more than a few minutes. I spent three months lying on my left side, the slightest movement was agony. I was prescribed Diclofenic to tackle the inflammation, and dyhydracodeine to help with pain. Neither was effective. It took five months to get an MRI scan but the upshot was that when I did get scanned I had not only bulged the disc I had actually split

  10. Hi,

    Update on my situation, I will be given treatment in 2 weeks time(epidural injection). Fingers cross, I hope I will be ok after treatment.

    Anyone who have had epidural, if you don't mind, can you please post your experience so I can understand what you have been through.

    Many thanks

  11. Hi

    Just an update really. I have now had my surgery 6 weeks ago and feel fantastic except for a bruised kind of feeling near where the surgery was.

    I am taking heed of the advice mentioned by Susan about no slouching. I have been doing a bit of this since feeling better, but I wont risk it anymore. I see my consultant tomorrow which hopefully will sign me off. I am also still having physio and I will be contacting my pilates instructor to help strengthen the all important core muscles. I am determined to get fit as I have now wasted 10 years of my life through back pain.

    My heart and thoughts are with all who suffer this because its not always your fault, I know in my case it was part of my job at a young age to pull very heavy trolleys often against gravity on trains, this is what I believe caused my problems.

    I hope everyone who is posted on here gets speady treatment and a pain free life.

    Take care smile

  12. Hi

    I wanted to know with the problem I have, can I claim esa benefit? If so which one -

    ESA with a work-related activity component or

    Support group?

    Hi if you were working and no longer get ssp then you can claim esa it all depends on your income and whether you have paid enough NI, because if your household income is too much is contributory based if not its income based.

  13. Hi everyone.

    Yesterday I had my epidural injection which was L4-L5 Codal injection and nerve root injection. It only took 10 min. They first put a needle in my left hand vein so that the can insert the fluid to put me to sleep. Then the next thing I knew treatment was complete. Since then my lower back been very sore. Difficult to bend down(they told me this will be normal and that if it all to work it will possibly take more then 3 days to to gets some pain releive). I suffer from constant pins and needles on left foot and when that happens my buttock hurts. I hope this works and works for everyone.

    I will keep you guys posted if success.

  14. Hi Guys,

    I am actually \"Guest\" I can't remember password so opened new account as \"Bablegpain\".

    An update since last September when I had the Epidural done. I did not get any relieve from that at all. Still have the same symptons. Since then my left leg has got weaker, my knee and ankle feels so sore all the time. I always feel some sort of sensation down my leg even sitting and laying down now. I sometimes need to use crutches to get to places.

    I have decided to have Discectomy done as the back problem has affected my mobilaty. The consultant advice this will be the best option as no releive from pysio and epidural

    I wanted to know if anyone here had surgery and was successful and anyone with no succces as well.

    Apprieciate any replies!

    Hope everyone is pain free!

  15. Hi

    This is my last post a few months ago.

    I had an op, spinal canal decompression and removal of L5/S1 disc protrusion ( or something like that) anyway, you could always fiond my other posts on here too but here is my last post

    Two and a half years since my post about the op and the pain t[size=18:01171530f2][color=blue:01171530f2]ree weeks after, thought it might help to roughly update should anyone have any concerns....

    I did have one more injection In feb 2008 (I believe) and from that day to this I have been as good as pain free, I do have the odd ache and once in the blue moon a slight pain in the lower back, never ever like the pre op pain though, and I have attended a gym two to three times a week from (probably) May 2008, I do upper body workouts including weights and machines and I am therefore not surprised that I get the occassional ache.

    For anyone with any concerns about an op..... remember there are good reviews as well as bad

    Hope everyone is well

    Best regards

    Wuffy[/color:01171530f2][/size:01171530f2]

  16. hi

    Ive had problems for about 10 years with my L4/L5, all happening on my left side hands, leg and toes, ive tried the injections, tens machine, and nothing has worked, i have a wheel chair, walking stick, im 42 years old, a care manager, an im still determend to not use anything, and my consultant sent me to the pain managment department, its been another year down the line, and still no further farward, they sent me back to our spinal dpartment, which i ended up seeing another consultant, which on my first appointment he asked me after looking at my MRI and the time its gone on, "why havnt you had sugary before now" well everyone, times come i go in on the 10th aug..... im dreading it, they putting spacers at my L4-L5 and L2-L3 fingers crossed all goes well xx

  17. Has anyone been offered or looked into Stem Cell research yet? I heard of some positive results in the USA.

    I have a mild slipped disc between L4-L5. The drug prescribed to me is Pregabalin (Pre-gab-a-lynn) and was also told to stay active, never sit down, keep blood flowing to the disc as much as possible. Nothing strenuous but swimming, walking and light jogging.

    Online are mild core strengthening exercises too. If you can slowly build up the muscles around your spine without causing more damage then the muscles will start taking more of the weight and ease off your spine.

    Planks and the superman are good exercises with no jolting or twisting involved.

  18. Help!

    Hope you guys are doing great.

    It has been 3 months I had pain sometimes light some times average in my left leg. Two weeks ago it became worst so I went and got my lumbar spine MRI. Found out that I have herniation or dislocation of a disc between L4 AND L5 just near the hip. The report says;

    Loss of normal lumbar lordosis is seen, which may be secondary to muscles spasm. Disc dehydration seen at L5 - S1. At this level there is a left posterolateral and central diffuse disc protrusion causing a moderate to severe left lateral recess stenosis with the left forminal stenosis with thecal compression and a right forminal narrowing.

    Mild diffused disc bulge seen at L4 - L5 causing thecal indentation with encroachment and narrowing of the neural formina on either side.

    The caudae equina and filum terminale are normal. The paravertebral soft tissues are normal. No facet joint abnormality is seen. The vertebral bodies show no abnormal signal to indicate bone marrow replacement.

    So, I went to a good doctor adviced by few of my relatives. He said it could get worst if I would not take it seriously. The medicines he prescribed are as follows; 5 day plan

    Neubrol Forte 1+0+1

    Otek 1+0+0

    Rizik 1+0+0

    Alp 0.25 mg 1+0+1

    He also gave me an injection called Depomedrol for the inflamation caused due to dislocation.

    Third day of this above aforesaid prescription and a complete rest gave me a complete overhaul and I felt just normal. But that day again I went on with my normal routine and when I came back I had this back pain again. Someone from my family adviced to keep a hot bag on my leg and I started using it for which I guess it has got worst. Now I can hardly take 20 to 25 steps and I cannot further move on or lift my left leg due to intense pressure, pain, and numbness in my left foot.

    Please advice or help me what is happening with me and how severe it is?

  19. New to this site so not really sure how everything works. Wanted to post my own discussion, but not sure how. Had a fall not long ago at work and due to pain of lower back and leg pain I had an MRI done and here are the results..There is mild degenerative disc disease at L4-L5 with disc space and narrowing and disc desiccation. At L4-L5 there is a small central disc herniation with slight compression of the thecal sac and possible compression of the L5 nerve roots. This is slightly more to the left than the right. MY QUESTIONS: Do I need to see an Otho doctor for this? I am having mild to moderate pain depending on what I do. Does this condition cause nerve pain in the legs? Please let me know something.

  20. HI THAT WOULD DEFINATLEY CAUSE NERVE PAIN IN THE LEGS ESPECIALY IF THE NERVE ROOT IS COMPRESSED. YOUR GP WILL REFER YOU TO A ORTHOPEDIC DOCTOR OR A NERO SURGEON FOR TREATMENT IF THEY FEEL ITS NEEDED. A WORD OF ADVICE IF YOU WOULD LIKE SOME MORE RESPONSES THEN START YOUR OWN THREAD OR POST IN A NEWER ON IS THIS THREAD STARTED IN 2010 SO NOT A LOT OFPEOPLE WILL BOTHER TO VIEW IT .

  21. Hi. I've just spoken to my consultant who has confirmed from my mri that I have a disc bulge at L4/L5. She has given me two options. The first being a nerve root block injection or secondly referral for surgery. She

    Says that the injection has a 33% chance of working completely 33% of relief for a while but then recurring

    and 33% of giving no relief at all. If she refers me for surgery then there will be a long waiting list for the

    actual operation. I was wondering which option you would go for. I have been off work now for 13 week and

    am on morphine and gabapentin. I can only walk a few steps and am only really pain free lying down, I can't

    even sit on a chair. I was just wondering which option others would go for following their own experiences.

    Thanks.

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