Hello

Love2Draw

Hello all .
I joined a couple of weeks ago, but I'm quite shy so have only just had the confidence to post now.
I have OA of my lumbar spine and both SI joints, and BOY does it hurt . Diagnosed by X-Ray, November 2007, and MRI, March 2008. I also suffer from depression. I'll be 46 in just over a week.
The X-Ray Results -
Loss of disc space at L5/S1, secondary degenerative changes of the L5/S1 facet joints, minor degenerative changes of the L4/L5 facet joints, degenerative change and loss of clarity of the SI joints.
Opinion - Degenerative disc and facet joint disease of the lower lumbar spine and sacroiliac junction. Degenerative change and inflamation at the SI joints.
The radiology report was completed by a clinical specialist/consultant radiologist, and verified by a second consultant radiologist. The degenerative changes seen on the X-Rays didn't account for my severe leg pain.

I was off work for the next 3 months, my employer's occy health wouldn't let me return until I'd had a MRI scan. Due to the NHS taking too long to give me a scan appointment, occy health recommended that my employer paid for a private MRI. My employer agreed to this and I had my MRI shortly afterwards. I returned to work on shortened hours and light duties.
MRI Result -
At L5/S1, a significant, right paracentral disc protrusion with right S1 root compression. Minor degenerative retrolisthesis at L5/S1 - 2mm, (a backwards vertebral slip - opposite of spondylolisthesis where the vertebra slips forwards). Small vertebral haemangiomas, most prominent at L1 and L3. Central canal spacious throughout. Distal cord, conus and cauda equina appear normal. No foraminal stenosis.
This report was completed by a (BUPA) consultant radiologist.

My next appointment was with an orthopaedic consultant, who referred me on to a neurosurgeon.
When the neurosurgeon showed me my MRI scan image, practically the entire disc at L5/S1 had prolapsed and was severely crushing my sciatic nerve. I had back surgery, (microdiscectomy), in May 2008 to remove the prolapsed disc. I had a weeks holiday from work leading up to my surgery, went in on the Friday morning and went down to theatre at 8am. I woke up at around 1pm in a small ward.
The sciatic pain had gone, I just had a very sore back now. I was given morphine in addition to my pain meds, and was back home on the Monday afternoon. I was off work for just 6 weeks after surgery, then went back on rehab to build my hours back up. My employer provided me with a "made to measure/built for my needs" orthopaedic chair, and changed my duty to light work only. I was back on full time hours (8 hour shifts/5 days per week) 5 months after having surgery.
I do still, to this day, have permanent nerve damage in my right leg and foot, as a result of the disc prolapse having crushed my sciatic nerve.

Over time, my joint pain was worsening, so I was given ill health retirement in August 2011.
My joint pain has continued to get worse since then, and I'm now feeling pain & numbness again in my right leg and foot. Also now having wierd tingling sensations in my lower back, my bottom, back of my thighs. The tingling isn't there constantly, it comes and goes, but I'm also having bladder problems where I don't feel it when its full. This has resulted in me wetting myself a number of times :oops: . The pain in my SI joints and lower back is getting worse, constant burning pain & sometimes with sharp pain in my SI joints. Lumbar joints are burning and my back muscles are in spasm almost constantly.
My GP took blood samples last Thurs and I got the results back yesterday. All normal, but there is inflamation there. (Sorry, I don't know much about blood tests concerning arthritis). My GP didn't go into any detail re my blood tests though, probably because I'm having a bad bout of depression too right now. He is doing a report for me (for ESA appeal :x, but THAT is another story ), and he is going to arrange a new MRI scan to try find out whats going on with my very painful joints.
Meds I'm on currently are 2 x 500mg paracetomol 4 times daily, 1 x 400mg ibuprofen 4 times daily, 1 or 2 x 30mg dihydrocodeine 4 times daily (I was managing on 4 dihydrocodeine daily, but with the big increase in joint pain I'm now needing 8 daily), plus 20mg citalopram once daily for my depression. I also have Voltarol (1% diclofenac) gel.
My GP did try me on Naproxen back in 2008, but it gave me severe stomach pains. I can't take oral diclofenac for the same reason. The meds I'm on were working fine until my back pain started going through the roof recently.

So, that's my arthritis history so far.
Sorry it was so long.

ShulaArcher

Hello and welcome

That's quite a story. I'm going to be brief myself. I also suffer from OA, but mainly in my hands and I've also had to give up work. I'm waiting for the result of my ATOS appeal too, so sympathise.

I'm concerned to hear about your bladder problems. Have you told your GP about this?

Also, I know you've got a lot on your plate at the moment but Arthritis Care run Challenging Pain workshops which may help.

Hope to hear from you again soon
Shula

campaigningsurfer

Hello everyone
I have just joined this forum as living with Osteoarthritis since my 30's but now approaching 64 I was looking for people to chat with with an understanding of the issues.
My condition has been made worse by having very agressive treatment for cancer back then when little was known of the side effects of the treatments.
Catch 22 have the treatments and live but suffer in later years or don't have them and die - a no brainer for me then.
I now have two fused hips, a knee reconstruction and Busitis which is causing me agony and there does not appear to be any relief from it.
Like many on this forum I now have an intollerance to most meds so roll on summer when we all feel a bit better.
Other than that I am kept busy as I am the chairperson of a Pensioners Campaign with 3.5 million members so that keeps my mind focussed on things other than me.

dreamdaisy

Hello Love2Draw, firstly congratulations on summoning the confidence to post, it is a big first step and I hope that you will be able to keep in touch with us a little more often. Not many people look in on this part of the forum, most tend to hang around the Living with Arthritis bit, 'cos that's where issues such as meds, treatments, doctors, appointments etc are dealt with.

That was a very detailed first post and, not being fluent in medic, I didn't understand much of it. I have psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and the joint damage from that has led to severe OA in my knees and not-quite-so-severe-but-getting-there OA in my ankles. I too an on a daily dose of Citalopram, I was hoping to come off it but my rheumatologist quite reasonably pointed out that a brighter mind helps one cope better with pain. I'm also on injected methotrexate, humira injections (I do both myself), sulphasalazine, diclofenac and omeprazole tummy protector. I am in constant pain from the SI joints down and the upper part's a bit ropey too, I had a double carpal tunnel op last November and I'm not quite healed yet thanks to the meds for the PsA. The pain duller of choice for me is co-co 30/500, they take off a sufficient edge allowoing to me to function as much as I can. I am self-employed and working less and less with each passing year.

I hope to see your name here-and-there as time goes on, don't be afraid to join in any conversation as new voices and experiences are always welcome. I wish you well. DD

stickywicket

Hello Love2Draw and welcome from me, too. Please don’t be shy around here. Everyone is friendly. All you need to do is join in on any other thread anywhere, or start one of your own. That’s how we all got going.

I have RA mostly and I’ve had it for so long that I’m from an era before consultants gave long written explanations of scans, procedures etc. Like DD, I don’t ‘speak medic’. I’m fortunate in having very few spinal problems but yours sound to have wreaked a fair bit of havoc if you’re having bladder difficulties. That’s tough.

Please don’t be afraid to join in anywhere. Between us we have a fair bit of knowledge and a lot of sympathy

barbara12

Hello lovetodraw and a warm welcome from me
You do seem to have a good GP and consultant, they seem to be on the ball when it comes to xrays and MRIs..some people on here wait for ever.
I am sorry the pain is spreading, this is one thing that has shocked me about arhtur...he dosn't know where to stop.
Like you I suffer with sciatic pain, but also my hips want replacing so they are debating which is giving the most pain.
I do hope you stay with us, anything you want to ask post in LWA there is always someone around that comes up with some answers
I do hope to see you posting more very more.
Take care x

ShulaArcher

Hello again Love2Draw

In my first message, I meant to ask you about your user name? Are you still able to enjoy drawing, even with everything that's going on for you?

Shula

Love2Draw

Thank you all for your very warm welcome .
I know, it's not in the best of circumstances, but we are all fighting similar battles....Us against arthur in his many guises. It's great to be able to have some moral support and understanding. I've had a bit of a hard time over the last 6 years, not only my battle with arthur and coming to terms with it, but have also received a lot of very negative behaviour and remarks because of my back problem. I've often felt like chopping an arm or leg off so that people could SEE my disability. I was bullied/harassed at work because of my back condition.
That's the reason why I had the detailed radiology and MRI reports. I needed them for my employer, their occy health (ATOS), and now for the DWP. I fit in with many people's perception....I have a "bad back" so I must be faking it... The difference being, MY "bad back" was properly diagnosed by X-Ray and MRI, and I have an excellent GP who is very knowledgeable and experienced regarding orthopaedics.
I've spent a fair amount of time researching online to find out as much as I can about OA and other forms of arthritis, and finding out about the various medical terms used in my radiology and MRI reports. My X-Rays were done through a chiropracter. I had made an appointment to see him, he examined me and referred me for X-Rays which I had the following day. My X-Rays were done privately (£60) and images put on a CD to give back to my chiropracter. He then sent the CD to a consultant radiologist to be evaluated and have a report written. I had the results back the day after my X-Rays were taken, and my chiropracter went over them with me in great detail. I was given a copy of the CD X-Ray images and a copy of the report, I printed out copies of the report to give to my GP and my employer.
The MRI was, again, done privately and paid for by my employer. Copies of the report were sent to me, my employer and my GP, and I printed a copy to give to my chiropracter. I hope that explains the speed of the process and my use of medical terminology in my Op.

Regarding my ESA appeal, I was passed "fit for work" after my "medical examination" last August. I didn't get a letter telling me this until the end of October, (letter was dated 29th Sept and I received it on 31st Oct 2012), which said that my money would be stopped at the end of September. I rang the DWP to ask for an appeal form as soon as I received that letter, filled it out and posted it back that day, received a letter from the DWP on 14th November to say they would look at the decision again, then heard nothing more from them until I went to the CAB about it in December. I'd been left with no money at all for 12 weeks, even though I was still sending in GP medical statements. Trying to call the DWP about this wasn't getting me anywhere, some of the people I spoke to were downright rude and very condescending. Being in a lot of pain, left with no money and no help or explanation, having recently lost my Dad and suffering with depression really wasn't a nice place to be. The CAB even arranged for a food parcel to be delivered to me...things REALLY were that bad.
With the help from the CAB, I received a payment of £710 on 21st December (this doesn't add up, 29th Sept - 21st Dec is 12 weeks. £71 x 12 = £852. £710 divided by 12 weeks = £59.16/week, which means they underpaid me by £11.84/week for the 12 weeks - that's £142.08 that I have not received). I have had no more money paid since this, so contacted my MP at the end of last week. He wrote to the DWP about it, I had a telephone call this morning from the DWP, and hopefully it will now be sorted. I was told that my ESA would be reinstated at the assessment rate of £71/week, backdated to the date I was last paid, and paid until my appeal decision. I also received a letter from the Independant Tribunals Service, and my appeals bundle from the DWP on Monday morning, there are quite a lot of false statements on my ESA85, the report from the ATOS NURSE who carried out my assessment. I have given my GP a copy of this report.

Shula, yes, I'm concerned about my bladder problems too and have spoken to my GP about it. He is making a referral for a MRI scan.
About the drawing (and hence, my user name). With the last 6 years involving having to make changes because of my OA, I went through some very negative spells where I was struggling to cope mentally. I learned to turn things around by looking for positive solutions to cope with my "new" lifestyle.
I'd had to give up dog agility classes because I couldn't run with my dog anymore. She was very fast and accurate but I couldn't keep up with her on the training courses. My right leg gave way a few times and I fell over, so I had to stop. I trained her instead to help me around the house, picking things up from floor level because I find it difficult and painful. She will pick up and bring anything I ask her to, or anything I drop. She is an 8 1/2 year old Staffie and is the most amazing dog I have ever known. She also has a huge repertoire of tricks, and makes me laugh at some of her antics. Missy is the best medicine ever when I'm feeling really down.
I had to give up horse riding, it hurt too much. Then, I found another positive. I looked into which breeds of British Native pony would suit my needs. I needed one that wasn't too tall or wide, had smooth paces - not too long or too short a stride, one that had a gentle temperament but without being lazy, one that doesn't need to be stabled and is hardy enough to live outside all year round. I bought a New Forest Pony.
I've had to give up most of the things I enjoyed doing, cycling, swimming, gardening, hillwalking....and got very down about it all. I felt trapped in a world of pain with no escape, so decided to try drawing and painting. I'm teaching myself to paint with acrylics, but have spells where I can't focus on what I'm doing. I decided to leave the painting for now and try drawing instead. I LOVE it ! I'm still learning, and have to pace myself around my back pain by taking regular breaks. I have been attempting to draw portraits of horses, dogs, cats and other small animals and am pretty pleased with my efforts so far. I've never had any formal lessons other than art classes at school nearly 30 years ago. I only picked up a pencil again with the intention of drawing less than a year ago. I now have graphite pencils from very a soft grade (9B) through to the harder grade ( to 5H at the moment), and some good quality drawing paper. It helps to take my mind off the negative things in my life.

dreamdaisy

Hello again, I'm not sure why your post has been moved to this part of the forum but it's good to see that you have replied to our replies . I've had a rough day and cannot properly answer but I sincerely hope you will stay with us. DD

Numptydumpty

Hello Love2 Draw, I just wanted to say welcome to the forum.

Wishing you well,
Numpty

hileena111

Hello Love2draw
Welcome to the forum
I have OA in my ankle, hips {one has been replaced} lower spine and neck.
I have spinal stenosis and kypho-scoliosis
Glad you posted....you'll get plenty of support from the forum

Love
hileena

frogmella

Hi Love2Draw,

I am a spiney too. I wondered if you had been back to see your surgeon or any spinal surgeon since your micro d? There are some treatment options out there, as I am sure you know. I had fusion of L5S1, not the greatest experience due to complications but it did resolve my pain from that nerve root. I now have facet joint OA at l4l5 and had injections into those joints last May which provided me with massive relief for 3 months and another 3 of some relief. I am now back in pain but am mulling over another fusion at that level.

I suppose, what I am saying (sorry drugs are addling my brain a lot at the moment) is can you ask your GP for a referal to a spinal surgeon.

I have managed to keep up my swimming and some gentle walking, but like you have had to give up hillwalking. I don't swim as far or as fast at the moment but I think some is better than none although I have a massive battle in my brain because I think I should be swimming my mile a day but can't!!

I hope someone can help you find some relief.

Helen

dachshund

Hello Love2draw
i hope you are having a reasonly good day.
i haveoa in quite a few places to help me i have a mobility scoota for getting me around and taking my dog for a walk i used to have my own horse.
take care
joan xx