Anyone any info?

debatat

Hi all, my doc has just phoned with my lumbar mri results. It is my cervical spine one I am awaiting, they have lost them!! :x Anyway she told me I have degenerative disc disease in L5-S1 which is pressing on the sciatic nerve :shock: She said I must be in a lot of pain and will need surgery! :shock: I asked if that is what is causing the weakness in my leg and she said yes. She asked who was seeing me at hosp and I asked about my neck mri, she will chase it and that was it. Conversation over!!

What do I do now? I am a bit bewildered. Anyone else have this and have any tips, info or experiences. I would be grateful.

Thanks

Deb

tanith

Hi Deb I went through this a few years ago with several bouts of sciatica and leg weakness, I had various physio therapys and also paid for acupuncture and chiropractic therapy but in the end the only thing that cured it was surgery, it turned out I had O/A in L4/L5 which was pressing on the nerve. A laparoscopy and scrape out gave me relief and I haven't had a problem with sciatica since, although I have since had THR in right hip and probably need the left doing before too long...
I guess from the start of the problems till the surgery was actually 4 or 5 yrs not very encouraging but surgery really is a last resort I guess and no one wants to put you through that if there is an alternative that might work for you...

skezier

Hi Deb,

I was wondering how you were doing. As Tanith said there maybe other alternatives to surgery but for me there wasn't so I went for surgery and had a total decompression from L2 down. It worked really well except for now L3/L4 disc (they trimmed it and put it back) has bulged and now thankfully dehydrated. The lumber jabs help me a bit with that one as does the pregabalin but if you do go down the surgical route I promise you its not so bad. In my case it gave me back my legs so was worth it and I had my spinal cord bent in two places so really mine was easy there was no choice. A ((( ))) for you and hope you get your neck results soon. Luv Cris x

debatat

Thanks for your replies. I was a bit freaked out by the thought of surgery. I was expecting to be offered physio or something. She immediately said it was severe and I needed surgery, which suprised me as I expected that to be a last resort. I have had it a long time though and it has just got worse and worse, kind of crept up on me really. Must be nearly 8 years now, it started off as flares, now it is constant. Will it get worse or does it stay the same?

Sorry am very ignorant on this subject!!

Thanks Deb x

tanith

debatat wrote:

Thanks for your replies. I was a bit freaked out by the thought of surgery. I was expecting to be offered physio or something. She immediately said it was severe and I needed surgery, which suprised me as I expected that to be a last resort. I have had it a long time though and it has just got worse and worse, kind of crept up on me really. Must be nearly 8 years now, it started off as flares, now it is constant. Will it get worse or does it stay the same?

Sorry am very ignorant on this subject!!

Thanks Deb x

Deb if you've had it that long you'd think by now they would of offered you at least physio, seems odd they haven't. I was told if It started to affect my bladder or bowel (difficulty controlling either) then it would be treated as urgent. Only you will know if its affecting you enough to want the surgery but it sounds like your doctor is willing to put you on a list.. you really need to diiscuss it with the doctor.

skezier

Hi Deb,

It does come as a shock and also a huge fear cus its your spine. I remember the turmoil especially the night before. Was it a laminectomy she was talking about? They are fairly straightforward and the benefits could be huge. I think it sounds like its simular to my only lumber disc. That certainly is one I wish they had removed as it really has been a constant problem since it bulged. It sounds like it could get worst but it might just stay constant, I wish I could tell you it will get better though it might as I am not sure what they do cus mine were removed.

If I were you I would ask to see the consultant. I imagine it would be an Orthopedic (mine certainly was) and then have a long chat with them before you decide. I wish I could help you more but if there are any questions write them down and take them with you. When I had mine done I had a few shocks....... BUT the opp sorted it and I got another 8 pain free years and then maybe 5 with moderate pain so it really did help so much. Best of all for me I got my legs back. I really had no choice and if I had I honestly don't know what I would have done. Sorry I can't help more but A ((( ))) and maybe if you talk it over with the consultant it will help you to decide? Luv Cris x

debatat

Thanks both, to be honest although I have had it for such a long time, I have not really mentioned it to the docs, I have been caught up with other health issues, over the last few months it has got worse. So thats why I haven't been offered physio, I have had bladder probs so I wonder if that is why they are recommending surgery? She didn't say what type or offer to refer me to anyone!!!

I am in the dark is it the same thing as OA, could it be causing my neck problem? I am going to get a copy of the report tomorrow.

I suppose if I get referred to a spec they might say different and offer me something else?

Thanks DEb x

skezier

Hi Deb,

Its likely cus of the problems you have had that the doctor called it urgent. You really do need to talk to a consultant as you need to know whats wrong, and what they can do for it before you make up your mind. Its unlikely they will offer you something else though purely cus its putting pressure on the nerves to the point of it effecting your bladder. Could you ask her to send you to a consultant asap? I would wait for the results on your neck before you start to worry cus it may well not be as bad. I wish I could help you more but a ((( ))) for you. Luv Cris x

frogmorton

debatat wrote:

Thanks for your replies. I was a bit freaked out by the thought of surgery. I was expecting to be offered physio or something. She immediately said it was severe and I needed surgery, which suprised me as I expected that to be a last resort. I have had it a long time though and it has just got worse and worse, kind of crept up on me really. Must be nearly 8 years now, it started off as flares, now it is constant. Will it get worse or does it stay the same?

Sorry am very ignorant on this subject!!

Thanks Deb x

Deb
It might well get worse.
My back used to 'go' and get better and 'go' and get better so I ignored it for about 20 years.
When I went it was because I couldn't feel my leg AT ALL and couldn't walk on it as it didn't work.
I had surgery and am ok now - just can't feel part of foot, back of knee and bit of bum-cheek!
This is permanet, but I could have lost the feeling in whole of my leg!
There are other things they could try, like when they do keyhole and sort of deflate disscs that way etc.
Chat to the surgeon and look at your options then
BUT don't worry - all will be well
Take care
Toni x

woodbon

Hi Deb,
At least now you know whats been causing you all the pain. Surgery is something I think we'd all rather do without, (me anyway)! :roll: I'm a coward. At least they are offering you something positive and not just sending you away with tablets.

Sorry they lost your results; thats a black mark for someone! Bet they blame the office staff! :? Hope they come to light.

Love Sue

debatat

Hi, thanks for replies. I have got copies of both of the mri results now, just trying to understand all the technical jargon. End stage OA in lower back as well as marked severe disc degeneration in neck and back. Scolios of neck, narrowing of spinal column, chronic end stage changes etc etc etc, not good news, but at least I know what it is now. Mri showed the neck spasms, and bulging protuding discs on nerves in neck and lower back.

Anyone else have this? Who do I ask to be referred to?

Deb

skezier

Hi Debs,

mine is very simular except my original decompression is still somehow holding and my back is chucking out bits of extra bone all over the place and fusing its self up quite well in the lower end. I honestly do think you need to see a consultant and very likely the pain clinic. There are things that can help you and its the consultants job to know what those things are.

I just am sending you a ((( ))) and hang in there cus they can do a lot to minimize its impact and well ask to see a specialist. Luv Cris x

debatat

Thanks Cris, I am going to make an appt and ask to be referred to physio, a pain clinic and a specialist! I need to be brave!

Wish me well!!

Deb x

woodbon

Hi Sort of, but nothing like as bad as you by the sound of it. My lumber spine has damage to L1 & L2 Causing some of the leg pain and my cervical spine has a small bone spur touching a nerve which causes the muscles to go into spasm when it touches the spine. I also have problems with the inward bend of my lumber spine, it move too much and the disks have collapsed, causing a disk to narrow the space in the cord. (slipped disk). I hope that makes sense! Glad you've got your results, I now what you mean about reading them, though! Love Sue