L4 & L5 disc bulges / pins&needles
I began suffering with initial lower back pain in April 2018. This was not caused by anything such as fall, accident or lifting. I had no previous back pain (or any pain) issues & was in good health.
It was a sharp pain as I sat down.
This has now progressed to worsened lower back pain & pins & needles to my left hand and foot. Which are now in my right hand and foot sometimes, too. Ironically, they’ve been really bad tonight on my left side only. The pins & needles started in December. Initially lower back for short while then left leg. Then spread.
I had results from a full spinal MRI scan last week & was informed I have a minor disc bulge at L4 and L5.
The hospital said it may be a slight pressure on the nerves, but nothing major. I’m not a candidate for surgery (too minor/surgeons won’t touch) or nerve block (for block as I have pins & needles on both side of my body) I have been left to it. They cannot help me. They said to see GP for different meds & that I won’t always be like this. Easy for them to say.
From the MRI, the hospital said my thyroid needs an ultrasound so I’m getting that done next week. I’m also getting a thyroid blood test too.
I feel at the end of my tether.
I felt honestly the happiest I have ever been in my life before this happened.
I have been signed off by the doctors since two months ago. I am a person who goes to work no matter what.
I am struggling mentally. This is really, really bringing me down. My whole life is on hold.
Could anything I’m experiencing be caused by a faulty thyroid or am I just clutching at straws?!
I’ve ordered some special cushions online - hopefully they will help. I’m trying to stay positive. But that’s easier said than done!
I was on medication but I’ve stopped in the last week as too many symptoms & mental fog. They were only taking the tiniest edge off the pain anyway.
I’ve started doing back exercises to try and strengthen my back. I’ll be trying some Pilates and to walk more, too.
I just want my “normal” life back.
Comments
-
Welcome to the community @putmebacktogether
I am sorry to hear this, how are you doing today?
Are you getting any emotional support at the moment? I can understand why you feel this way, so please do not feel alone. It can be challenging dealing with a chronic pain. I hope your appointment goes well next week, and it will bring some clarity to your question.
I am happy to hear you have found some ways to help your back, how is it going? You may be interested in asking your GP to refer you to a pain clinic: and may offer pain management programmes.
Please keep us updated.
Best wishes
1 -
Welcome to the community @putmebacktogether
It sounds like you are having a really tough time, Im sorry to hear you are struggling. Lots of our members live with chronic pain and understand just how devastating it can be on your life.
The NHS have some ideas to try to help you with dealing with pain:Ways to manage chronic pain
The old-fashioned treatment for persistent pain, also known as chronic pain, was bed rest for weeks or months on end. We now know this is the worst possible approach. Exercise and continuing to work are key to recovery.
Forget resting if you have a painful condition like back pain.
Lying in bed for long periods may actually make the pain last longer because inactivity makes you stiffen up, your muscles and bones get weaker, you don't sleep well, you become lonely and depressed, and the pain feels worse.
You'll also find that it becomes harder and harder to get going again.
A better approach to reducing pain is a combination of:
- exercise
- staying at work
- physical therapy
- painkillers
Exercise
Choose an exercise that won't put too much strain on yourself.
Good options include:
Activity and stretching needs to become part of your lifestyle so you routinely do exercise a little and often.
Try to be active every day instead of only on the good days when you're not in so much pain. This may reduce the number of bad days you have and help you feel more in control.
But try to avoid overdoing it on good days and paying for this by having more bad days.
Try these flexibility exercises and sitting exercises you can do at home.
Read the beginner's guide to swimming and beginner's guide to dancing.
Go to work despite the pain
It's important to try to stay in work even though you're in pain. Research shows that people become less active and more depressed when they don't work.
Being at work will distract you from the pain, and in most cases, won't make your pain worse.
Talk to your supervisor or boss about the parts of your job that may be difficult to begin with, but stress that you want to be at work.
If you have to stay off work for a while, try to get back as soon as possible.
If you have been off work for 4 to 6 weeks, plan with your doctor, therapist or employer how and when you can return.
You could go back to work gradually. For instance, you might start with 1 day a week and gradually increase the time you spend at work.
You could also agree changes to your job or pattern of work if it helps – a health and safety rep or occupational health department may be useful here.
Physical therapy
Pain experts often recommend a short course of physical therapy.
This helps you to move better, relieves your pain, and makes daily tasks and activities like walking, going up stairs or getting in and out of bed easier.
Physical therapy for persistent pain can involve manipulation, stretching exercises and pain-relief exercises.
Physical therapy is usually delivered by a physiotherapist, chiropractor or osteopath, or in some cases, an occupational therapist.
Physiotherapists can give you advice on the right type of exercise and activity. Occupational therapists can support you with environmental changes that can help you remain in work and function better at home.
If you have physical therapy, you should begin to feel the benefits after a few sessions.
Your GP may be able to refer you for physical therapy on the NHS, although physical therapy is only available privately in some areas.
In others, there's direct access to NHS physiotherapy without the need for a GP referral.
Find physiotherapy services in your area.
Your GP can also refer you for exercise referral classes, and some centres have specific classes for lower back pain.
Painkillers for long-term pain
It's safe to use over-the-counter painkillers to reduce your pain so you can be more active.
But it's important to use painkillers carefully, as they have side effects. Paracetamol is the simplest and safest painkiller.
You could also try anti-inflammatory tablets like ibuprofen as long as you don't have a condition (such as a stomach ulcer) that prevents you using them.
It's important to take painkillers at the recommended dose and to take them regularly every 4 to 6 hours, preferably to overcome a flare-up of your pain or help get you through an impending activity.
Don't wait until your pain is severe before you start taking painkillers, as they won't work as well.
If a 2-week course of over-the-counter painkillers does not work, ask for help from your GP or pharmacist.
Read more about choosing a painkiller.
Online help for pain
There's a lot of online information if you're living with pain.
General pain websites
Self-help tips
The Pain Toolkit is a collection of helpful tips and strategies for persistent pain, put together by someone with long-term pain:
Meditation for pain
This 20-minute guided meditation course from Meditainment is free, easy to follow and proven to help people cope with chronic pain.
It's part of the Pathway through Pain online course, which is provided by the NHS in some areas for people with persistent pain.
Ask your GP or pain specialist how to access the course.
1
Categories
- All Categories
- 14K Start here and say hello!
- 6.9K Coffee lounge
- 59 Games den
- 1.6K People power
- 73 Community noticeboard
- 21.5K Talk about life
- 4.9K Everyday life
- 29 Current affairs
- 2.2K Families and carers
- 811 Education and skills
- 1.7K Work
- 424 Money and bills
- 3.3K Housing and independent living
- 853 Transport and travel
- 650 Relationships
- 58 Sex and intimacy
- 1.3K Mental health and wellbeing
- 2.3K Talk about your impairment
- 842 Rare, invisible, and undiagnosed conditions
- 891 Neurological impairments and pain
- 1.9K Cerebral Palsy Network
- 1.1K Autism and neurodiversity
- 34.7K Talk about your benefits
- 5.5K Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- 18.2K PIP, DLA, and AA
- 6.1K Universal Credit (UC)
- 4.9K Benefits and income