Disc Prolapse :: Surgery? Epidural Injection Didn't Work
Dec 1, 2014
I opened a heavy window at work in April this year 2014 (twice in a matter of a few days) I've had 11 sessions of physio to which this didn't respond to. I've had horrendous pain over the months and now had a scan to show a prolapse disk. On Thurs 27 November I had an epidural injection which doesn't seem to have made any difference and I am currently off work this is my 5th week off. Prior to this had four weeks off intermittently. I am due to see the Neurosurgeon again on 17 Dec to discuss surgery that he said he can offer me. I keep as active as possible but to walk sometimes if really painful and I can't work with this. This has gone on for so long, any advice on how to treat this? Should this have gone off for this long? The L5 S1 disk is prolapsed.
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Hello, I read about root nerve block and the like, what I was offered is an epidural steroid injection, is that the same?? And X-ray led or without X-ray (?)The doctor said he would give me a steroid injection around my tailbone as it is safer (further away from spinal cord) and it is without X-ray.
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Just had my procedure and in recovery now, waiting to be discharged!
I have severe prolapse of L4/L5 with bilateral impingement of nerve roots. This results in severe back pain and constant sciatica. Worse on my right side.
Whole process took less than half an hour and I feel just fine after. Was offered sedative, but refused as I'm personally cool with stuff like this and very relaxed/able to keep still.
Very little pain during the actual procedure. In fact the worst bit was the initial injection of local anaesthetic!
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so today I saw the consultant, what a let down! The guy went through what happened first, then asked me some questions about the pain etc and got me to walk, tip toes, etc etc. then em said he won't operate. Instead will give me a root nerve injection. I'm totally terrified of needles and the thought of this is driving me mad my my fiancée who was with me didn't like him too much and neither did I. He didn't seem like he was on this planet! he kept asking me questions I couldn't answer. The pain killers mask virtually all my pain. The only pain I get is in my back and if I try to come down a dose, I get horrendous pain in my leg down to my heel and back. His attitude was, you're obviously not in that much pain today so we won't even think about an operation!
He was reading a letter from the pain clinic doctor who said I'm not a suitable candidate for an operation, yet the Orthopedic specialist I saw said I need an operation without a shadow of a doubt!
i have a friend who has had an l5s1 fusion, and he said don't have the nerve root injection. Someone who had one at the same time of him hasn't walked properly ever again.
So if I don't do the nerve root, can I take anti inflammatories instead? He said he wants to do it as a diagnosis.
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I recently had facet joint and caudal injections for an L5/S1 herniation with nerve compression. It blissfully worked for 5 days but now back to the same state as before the injections (classic symptoms of this type of herniation). I have my follow up appointment tomorrow and wondered what the chances are of a 2nd round of injections working? Would be good to know others' experience of this.
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steroid injections in spine do they work on prolapsed discs
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I have a 'notable' disc bulge at C6 C7, plus a minor bulge above, which is trapping a nerve root and causing impingement on the spinal cord. I have been in extreme pain for over 12 weeks and have been prescribed numerous medications which, apart from OxyContin, have provided little relief. I have had physio but they've said there's nothing more they can do for me. Arm pain is especially bad, pins/needles and thumb & 1st two fingers numb. My urine flow is compromised as it is very slow, esp in the morning / at night. I have now developed 'heavy' legs with pain in the left one (affected side) and occasional bad headaches with visual disturbance. The neck itself has become more painful at late and there is also more noticeable pain in the centre of my back which feels like someone is sticking a knife in. I am generally very tired as the meds affect my sleep - getting no more than 4 hours a night.
Been off work sick for about 8 weeks now but am on an absence monitoring procedure, so if I have any more time off following this long term absence my teaching job is at risk - this is causing much anxiety.
Been referred 'urgently' by my doctor to a consultant and am awaiting an appt any time.
Has anyone had similar symptoms and, if so, What treatment is likely to be recommended?
If injection, it worries me that it may not work for long then I'm off work again and will probably lose it. However, surgery carries it's own risks too.
I just can't go on like this. The pain is really affecting my quality of life now.
Sorry for the long post. I'm a newbie and wanted to provide as much background info as possible in the hope that someone else may have had a similar experience. What treatment was offered and how effective was it please?
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I was diagnosed with SVT from an early age, and spent most of my childhood going to and from appointments at the children's hospital. Eventually, after many many episodes (and of increasing length!) I was suitable for an ablation. I had the ablation at aged 17, however, unfortunately it did not work and I had an episode 6 weeks later - frustrating! However, it has somewhat modified it and my episodes are less frequent and the length of episodes has decreased substantially from 3 hours to just 5 minutes! So I would definitely recommend the ablation surgery, although it didn't quite have the desired effect for me it has improved the condition and the effect on my life. I now control my episodes through the various maneuvers suggested (and with success thankfully.
My question is, how do people with SVT get on with exercise? I have always been keen to compete in sports, especially during school - however the severity and frequency of my episodes before the operation meant that this tailed off a little. I am now 22 and I am keen to get back into running, moreover, running distances for charity etc.! I am just a bit apprehensive about overexertion and effects on my heart! I would thoroughly appreciate any help/advice about how much exercise people tend to do! especially those who have been diagnosed with SVT from birth or a young age.
I am due to run the race for life in a few weeks, and have been running a little in preparation for that. But I am keen to get back into running longer distances with a view to doing half-marathons/marathons. Has anyone run these kind of distances with SVT?
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I am crying with pain as I write this had an mri yesterday which revealed prolapsed L3 ,4 and 5 . wet myself and the other as had no feeling in that area , they wanted to do surgery but I discharged myself to be reviewed in 6 weeks , I have a very physical job , I ride and compete horses , is the surgery worth it ?
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I am in complete pain ! Am on hydrocodone. Effexor. And morphine but in seeing if natural ways would help trying to keep from surgery any advice
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I have been experiencing the lower back pain which is local from last 5 years. My MRI reports says that there is a central disc bulge at l5/s1. Where outer annular tear is intact.
I have seen a chiropractor who has recommended spinal disc decompression sessions on Hill DT.
As per the doctor, it will relocate the disc back to its normal position and make the disc healthier as before.
Just would like to know if someone has gone for the similar treatment for the similar problem. If yes kindly share your experience.
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I have an herniated disc between L4 and L5 .A massive disc fragment broke and moved away and is pressing the dural sac.I have pains only when I walk.I can not stand up more than 10 minutes because of the pain.How dangerous it is and how can I be sure that a surgery will solve my problem?
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I had an accident in work a year ago and have finally been diagnosed with a disc bulge and 3 very stretched ligaments in my ankle but since my last physio I have started to get a pain in my right buttock and gradually it has been getting worse I'm in pain sitting walking standing going the toilet and the pain is that unbearable at times that I can cry. And now 4 days into this pain I have a large lump I can feel under the skin about the size of a 10p its about 3cm from the bum crack and is extremely sore to touch has anyone any idea if this is related to my other problems or something else as I don't know weather to go doctors or wait for my next physio.
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a disc bulge can return to normal shape ? i mean lower back disc.what can i do ?
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Hi all, before xmas my back started to get sore but i thought with 2 weeks rest during the holiday it would get better. Day before i was due to go back to work it was really bad. I went to the osteopath and it felt like he had fixed it so i was pleased. Few days after i started to get pains from the top of my buttock all the way down my leg into my foot, I then realized that i had sciatica. The pain is really nasty and i get pins and needles in some of my foot and calf. It has stopped me walking properly and i limp about. Week ago i had an MRI scan and it revealed that one of the discs is trapping the nerve. I have good and bad days but i cant walk properly and pain killers really help. I went back to the doctor today and he thinks from the results of the scan i should arrange to have surgery as it hasn't improved over 8 weeks. I really don't want to go to hospital as it seems extreme and i haven't tried any of the other options.
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I had a disc prolapse in january this year(08 ).i just thought i had severe back pain as i usually did have back pain.on the 2nd of january i went to hospital as the pain got so severe,i couldn't walk and the pain was in my left leg.the hospital gave me a pain killer told me it was siatica and sent me home.two days later my pain was unbearable so i went back to hospital who yet again examined me and told me to have accupuncture and was sent home.On the 23rd january i stood up and had lost control of my bladder the pain was so horrific i decided to go to a different hospital.when i arrived they examined me and told me i was to have an mri scan.where they tried to lay me in the mri scanner but could not so transferred me to a different hospital.at the hospital they took 4 hour to do my mri because i was in so much pain i could not lie on my back.when they finally did an mri they could see that my disc had broken off and was on my spinal cord,i had an emergancy operation and was told if i had left it another 24 hours i would never have walked again.i wish the first hospital would have examined me properly in the first instance.i never had suffered so much pain in my life i was in agony.i had the op and now 11 months on i'm still recovering but at least i can walk.
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I have been told that I have two disc bulges at c3-4 and c5-6 in my neck. There is also a large broad based posterior left paracentral and intraforaminal disc protrusion at c6-7 that is compressing the nerve.
I am being referred on to a specialist but that is ages away. I would be greatful for any advice in terms of
(1) what is the likely solution for this diagnosis i.e can physio sort this out or will it be an op?
(2) are there any immediate dangers ?
(3) can i still exercise?
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Had a disectomy 2 years ago on l3 l4 and worked wonders on my sciatica however lower back pain is always there. 2 years on I have a herniated disc at l4/l5. I have been off work for 8 weeks now and walk with a stick. I am going back to work on Monday for 2 hours to see how I go. I'm on tramadol naproxen paracetamol but still not finding any relief. I have had PT and didn't help. I am now being referred to the hospital pain management clinic in June. I can walk 15 mins with a stick before excruciating pain in my leg and back. I feel I have no life and this will never end.
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Basically in april 2015 i went to consultant for pile treatment, he advised me to have them treated by injection, i went ahead with this procedure, for a week i was fine then i noticed the itching and pile/pain had returned went back to my consultant he told me he thinks it was a fissure and to take creams and come back to him in 3 weeks time for further consultation.
alas 2 weeks later i was in severe pain and discomfort and phoned the consultants office that i was in bad pain and was told the consultant was on holidays and would not be back for a further week!
at this stage i was told by my doctor to attend hospital a+e for emergency
treatment ,this i did and was told to present myself at the hospital fasting from night before to see a new consultant---Phew it gets worse!
arrived at the hospital new consultant in fairness said he would put me under a full GA and see what is going on there
the following morning he told me yes indeed the piles were back there was one internal and one external and that i was better off going for the laser treatment called THD, which i booked in for the following week this was at this stage mid may had the procedure and for 2 weeks felt great
however on the third week i was in severe pain in the anal area and knew something was wrong (bearing in mind i was told the THD procedure has a 90%success rate..presented myself back to the consultant in hospital had to go under a full ga again he told me afterwards that the procedure had not worked for me for fu..s sake i was one of the 10% that it did not work for so i was booked in for the following week to have the piles which i was now told one of them was thrombosed removed by surgery so have had this done in mid june and have been in terrible pain since, especially after bm to the point where all i could do is sit/lie in the house all day taking pain killers stool softeners and baths every day. every time i phoned the consultant i was told it takes time to heal so after 7 weeks of severe pain id had enough, i went to my doctor got a letter of him to see the consultant urgently as i was in severe pain meet with the consultant am now booked in again for early next week this is what he said the wound is healing however it is a time thing, he will have a further look at me to see if there is something else causing this awful pain he said there is no fissure but wants to give me a botox injection in the anal area to help with the healing, can anyone please advise with this as i do not want to get any worse pain than i am in presently sorry for the long rant but this is actually what happened to me it has changed my life whereby in the last 6 months being in terrible pain and discomfort and am now wary about this botox injection
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I've had worms since last September which is almost 7 months. The worms are white and small. I've take ovex about 10-15 times in the past 6 months. I've taken pripsen about 4 times. Neither have worked.
My nose has been itching and really bad itching anus which is depressing me. Could this be anything other than threadworms(which I've sent a stool sample and sticky tape test off and all come back negative).
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I am healthy non smoking 65 year old, very active physically and overall healthy. I had the urolift procedure done May 23 2015 at which time the surgeon installed 5 clips. Prior to surgery I was on 8 mg of flomax which made it possible for me to urinate.I did wear a catheter bag for awhile then. After surgery I was on 4mg of flomax for approx. 1 month. I was able to urinate adequately for about 8 weeks. Never but once what you would consider a flow. At about the 9th week I started slowing down again until it got to the point (about 11 weeks) where it took me 8 minutes to start peeing and then it took two more times in the next half hour to finally eliminate somewhat completely. Now in the 14th week of post op I'm on 8mg of flomax right back where I was before surgery.I am now considering what options are available to me now.
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