RE: Living with degenerative disc disease pain

Fordy75

Hi,

My names Lee and I have degenerative disc disease, I had ACDF surgery about 3-years ago. Unfortunately it didn't heal my condition but did alleviate some of the pain. However I'm not pain free, I experience any certain degree of pain every day, whereas sometimes it spikes and I have what can only be described as chronic pain.

I have tried to do everything I can within my capabilities to manage my pain. I work full time, have a family and try and get on with things the best I can.

Predominantly my pain is in my neck, travels down both radial nerves in my arms, into my knuckles and then my fingertips. I am currently experiencing a bad flair up where it's doing its usual pain thing but its added pain to my lower back and rota joints of my arms.

Years ago I was on a shed loads of pain meds, which seemed to stop working so I came off them, managed withdrawal (not pleasant) and was prescribed the stronger cocodamol. This didn't manage my pain during flair ups, so I have to take tramadol and Ibuprofen. Sometimes it works and sometimes not so much. This is the longest flair up I've had post op and it's lasted 2-weeks.

I'm trying to continue working and not being off sick, I've been working from home but its looking increasingly likely I'll have to ring in sick. I've a GP appointment tomorrow but I'm not sure there's anything they can do. From what I've read my flair up will stop at some point and this is just a bad one.

Heat therapy, tens machine and tramadol seem the best fix even though thats mega effective at times.

As you cant see my pain it also feels like i need to.justify and explained myself as I'm concerned that people, particularly some people at work think it's made up.

I've never joined a forum for this sort of thing so I thought I'd just put my story out there to see what people might think.

Sandy_123

Hi there @Fordy75 welcome to the forum. I have the same condition and know how you are feeling. It varies on flare ups from person to person, I've had it last nearly month in the past. Good luck at the drs

Fordy75

Hi,

Thank you for your reply. I think my anxiety about my condition has risen because it's been the longest flair up I've had.

Best wishes,

Lee