Back issues

Options
ouchpotato
ouchpotato Member Posts: 453
edited 3. Apr 2014, 11:13 in Living with Arthritis archive
As in my back, and not back issues of horse and hound, or the beano!

I have OA of the spine, disc degeneration, spinal stenosis and facet joint OA. And hip OA too as I have just found out.
I woke up on Saturday and knew it would be a bad day; I had been in pain all night and when I got up it just got worse. The pain was horrendous, the sort that makes you yell out, sharp and severe. Low down in my back/SI joints. It lasted until yesterday, but even today, as it eases off, if I move the wrong way, or suddenly it floors me, my legs buckle and if I have nothing to grab hold of I will fall.
What I wanted to ask was this...does it sound like the arthritis, or the disc, or the stenosis? I have nerve root compression at L5/S1 but I read that both that and disc problems cause pain in the back of the thigh...I don't have that. It is confined to my back. I do have front of thigh pain a lot but this doesn't happen with this particular pain.
With so many issues with my back it's hard to know what is causing which!

Comments

  • Francie7532
    Francie7532 Member Posts: 40
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Options
    I am sorry you are suffering so much. And yes all of those diagnoses can cause your symptoms together or each by itself. Managing the pain seems like your best course of action. Try to improve your quality of life so you can enjoy life a bit more. I am hoping you are on pain meds? If not, get to the doctor and get some. If you are you need a better combination. Can you see a pain management specialist? Have you tried acupuncture? Good luck!!
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Options
    I like the opening sentence - a nice delivery of the punch line!

    I don't know and cannot help and I suspect none of us can because we are not practising doctors, just practising arthritics. I know this though - it sounds very uncomfortable (I'm sure you understand that my comment was moderated for bad language :wink: ) and I am sorry. I hope you gain some relief soon, somehow and somewhere. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • frogmella
    frogmella Member Posts: 1,111
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Options
    Have you looked at a dermatome map? It shows which particular nerve roots cause pain. I had a disc go at l5s1 and that caused back of leg pain but when I got arthritis at l4l5 that caused front of thigh pain. If you have stenosis that is likely causing all of your leg pains. The back pain is down to the arthritis. I think I have said before but I really think you should push for a surgeon consultation. With all of those things going on a solution might be available.
  • 19smp59
    19smp59 Member Posts: 105
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Options
    I have cervical spine stenosis caused by OA. I think my pain is caused by a culmination of things. Arthritis in the facet joints, the stenosis putting pressure on nerves etc. Have you asked for a referral to a pain clinic? I was referred to a neuro-surgeon, but I had already told my doctor that I didn't want surgery and she actually said that luckily they are very reluctant to operate and only do it when absolutely necessary. I think pain relief is the best way to go.

    Suzanne x
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Options
    Hello ouch
    Sorry about your back pain, I feel for you has I have the dice degeneration and the stenosis..my back man doesn't like going down the op root ..its is so hard to know what is causing most of the pain, I have has many injections in my spine and sadly they have not worked but other find relief for a year or so..not sure if you read tjt ie Tonys thread on his nerve block it was his second one and the first gave him a year of relief so I am going to ask about this...x
    Love
    Barbara
  • ouchpotato
    ouchpotato Member Posts: 453
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Options
    19...I have a referral to the pain clinic on 29th May. I think this is with a view to having a spinal injection, but after yesterday's experience with an elbow jab I will be very reluctant to go down that road!

    Frogmella, yes I have looked at the dermatone map. I think my confusion comes from having so many things wrong with my back, it's so hard to know what causes what! At first they said it was only L5/S1 that was affected (disc and OA) but my second scan picked upL4/L5...God only knows what is going on further up my spine as they haven't checked that yet! If surgery would help this I would jump at the chance.

    DD...we have to keep our sense of humour!!!

    Francie...I am on cocodamol 30/500 but hate them as they cause constipation, and amitriptyline 10mg, which helps with sleep but does nothing for the pain.
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Options
    I take the 30/500 cocos and also have docusate capsules (prescribed by my GP) to help ease my 'blocked drain'. I don't usually need recourse but they are there if required. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
Back to top

Categories