Effects of medication

squipper

Hi, my name is Kevin and I was diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis 6 years ago. I suffered with a herniated disc 3 times before I was diagnosed with my current condition. I take codeine, paracetamol and gabipentan dog nerve and pain relief but the amount of relief is debatable. On bad days I struggle to get downstairs but on a good day I can get to the kitchen before I need a rest. My medication is in the kitchen hence the walk. My question is, am I alone in thinking this is my life forever? I have several so called specialists say get physio, exercise more and don't remain immobile. No matter what I say the Doctors and experts say the same and ask me the same questions. I have had to buy a mobility scooter because I do not receive any mobility help. 
I still work full time because I am told this is not a disability as an operation would cure it. Really? Even though I have been told this is not an option for me. 
I suffer from depression but do not say anything for fear of having one medication. 
All I want is for someone to tell me yes this it for life, I can accept that and move on but no one will in case they upset me.

SueHeath

I would say no this is not how it will be "all the time" with mine with each movement it can take months before my body settles down, since i have had the last bad movement, they tried me on the nerve damage meds, woo they really mess me up and i have put loads of weight on. I can not have the opp because my spine is not stable enough, i have always been told it's not something that can be cured !!!!! any think the doc's give me or trial me on is just to help me sleep with the pain and move a bit more. The latest consultant i have been passed on to wants me to start walking more to push through the pain, this is to help with weight and mobility. If you don't mind me asking - how old are you ?

Cartini

Hi squipper,

I`ve had lumbar & cervical spondylosis for over 20 years; it`s only going to get worse as I get older.

I`ve recently (this year) been diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis; my surgery keeps banging on about physio and we also discussed surgery.  My sister has stenosis; she had an operation to fix it, but she is worse now than before, so I`m avoiding that.  Last time I did physio, I was worse after than I was when I went in, so I`m also avoiding physio.

As much as I would like to say yes, that is you for life, I can`t because I`m not medically qualified to do so.

What I will say is.... say something about your depression.

I`ve experienced some particularly nasty things over my life and they all came to a head one morning when I was leaving for a course.  I turned to my then wife and said "when I come back, I`m moving out. I don`t love you any more".  That was akin to pulling the pin from a family fragmentation grenade.

After the course I did move out. Shortly after I had a breakdown and was diagnosed as depressed, but the damage was done.

You recognise you are depressed, I didn`t.  I strongly advise that you do mention it and seek help to help yourself.

Andy

squipper

I have just read what I wrote....what an idiot I am! "DOG" should have been "FOR" so it would read "for nerve and pain relief". Also "one medication" should be "one more". I do apologise got to love the predictive text on a phone.
The one thing I will agree with is the consultants told me to push through the pain. So I did! I walked 5 miles, and it took me forever, I thought at the time this will help me, this will stretch muscles and loosen the spine. Did it heck as like!! I was screwed up for almost a week not being able to move and if I did, I had to do it gingerly. When I mentioned it to him on my next visit he said, "okay I shouldn't try that again in case of complications". How did some of these people get their jobs because I am sure I said I was struggling with movement and exercise.

SueHeath

I'm only on up to 2 miles a day at the moment @squipper perhaps you were trying to run before you could walk ha ha 

squipper

I only dream of doing 2 miles now. On one of my posts I said I was ex RAF Mountain Rescue, then a bad days walk was less than 15 miles. A good day now is to the end of the street and back without rest. I then need to squat down, curl up and stretch the back muscles as they go into spasm and seize up. I look a bit stupid curled up squatting down but they relief is essential because my legs won't move properly and I fall over. Sounds dramatic but at least I am able to still walk. My best investment was my mobility scooter, I can go everywhere and enjoy the freedom. I still use a walking stick for short walks as I find it changes my walking position and I can go further. 
As I write this I have realised I have never told anyone else about it. I have just kept quiet as I thought they would think I was moaning. So thank you.

SueHeath

That's the beauty of this fantastic forum @squipper we all have our demons and we are here for each other. So don't worry about having bad days or a good rant we forgive each other.
I used to love my walking but hey ho, my eldest son brought me one of those fit watch things, so i wear it all day and it's easy to see how many steps/miles i can manage through out the day, all be it i have to sit a lot but the doc is okay about that.

Adrian_Scope

We definitely don't think you're moaning @squipper. It must be a difficult adjustment with how active you used to be, but it's great that the mobility scooter has given you back that sense of freedom.

How long did you serve in RAF Mountain Rescue?