[Hardfeather]

AengusOg,

MRI results are back, i have a bulging disc that is pressing on my sciatic nerve, the part of my scaitic nerve that it is pressing on is the part that controls my foot, the doc has said there is nothing i can do to help myself with this, i.e, exercises or anything. he is referring me to the hosp to see a consultant to discuss surgery, not really what i wanted to hear, but least we know.  

if anyone has any advice or anything that can help me please feel free to post your views

im gutted at the min, but will get my head round it, and fight,  

That's precisely what was the case with a near neighbour of mine. He is a butcher, working in a busy shop, and was crippled and bent double much of the time. He went under the same surgeon as did my wife.

In his case, the surgeon made a neat incision (about three inches long) just to one side of his spine, about an inch above his belt level, and shaved the protruding disc back a bit to take the pressure off the sciatic nerve. He was in hospital for three days, partly because his op was late in the afternoon of the first day, and was walking his dog the day he got out.

He should have had more time off work, but went back after a fortnight, although he got the younger butchers to do the heavy lifting for him. Now, four months on, he is pain-free and straight as a rod.

I'll get some details from him about it.

Try not to worry. Stay

[faith0504]

hi thanks so much for this, i will be ok tomorrow once my little head has gone over everything, i said to my doc today if surgery is what it takes then i must have it done, i have no quality of life (as im used too) at the minute, i cant sit, cant drive, cant lift, cant walk far even though im building my distance up every day, but im in between sciatic attacks at the min, its like living with a time bomb wondering when the scaitica is going to strike again, when it does i cant walk, cant get out of bed, its so bloody painful,

im such a busy active person usually from getting up to going to bed im usually always doing something, its awful not being able to just get on and do stuff, at the moment im managing to do the basics with my horses, feed, skip out, water with a hose, and short walks with the dogs, then rest on my bed the rest of the time, its mind numbingly boring.

the real problem we have is my OH starts a new job working away the middle of march, so im on my own, he will be away 4 months at a time, which is a bit scary, to say the least.

we have got alot of thinking and sorting out to do i think,

How is your wife doing?

i really appreciate this THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH 

[ser3dan]

Faith,
Not much to offer you really, but as a fellow bad back sufferer I can sympathise. I ruptured a disc and it took about 18 months to heal completely. Unfortunately, whilst the disc was ruptured, the vertebrae used to trap the nerves for my ( if you'll excuse the language ) balls, so every step I took felt like I'd knocked myself quite badly.
As I said though, you have my utmost sympathy!

Dan.

[Sandy]

Another bad back suffererererere!!! I hate it too but no op for mine, I have Arthritus and it is narrowing the space where the nerves pass through so I get loads of strange things including pins and needles most of the time, wobbly legs from time to time and like you, I cannot sit, stand,, drive for long periods of time but I find walking helps as it opens up the gap in my spine (talking rubbish here) I hate hills though but if I did not go out to walk I would cease up completly, I do some times......FIngers crossed, you will make a wonderful and pain free recovery and be that active person you used to be!!!!

[faith0504]

Dan and Sandy thank you both very much, its nice to be able to talk about it with people that understand  talking about walking sandy a freind of mine has said tonight to try walking backwards as that is ment to open your discs up and build muscles up in a different way to normal walking, just do it for short distances and build yourself up, so backwards walking it is, from tomorrow, it cant hurt to try 

I also have a tens machine that can help with some of the discomfort,

least i know there is a light at the end of the tunnel

Thank you 

[ser3dan]

Just a thought, but I had problems over a few years with a bulging disc at my SI joint. I ended up having physio which helped ease, and eventually got it back into place.
Might be worth asking a question to see if it's an option though!

[Sandy]

  faith0504 , I can see people wondering what sort of nut walks around backwards    probably best to do it around the house but sounds worth a try!!!! When  am bad I feel like I have a bolt from my groin to my back and almost have to start my legs swinging into a momnetum!!!!   well then, walking backwards it is then  Oh, must get a tens machine!!

[faith0504]

Dan my doctor said physio would not help, he is going down the line that i cant do anything to help it, i asked about exercises to strengthen my back, swimming, ect, and he said no there was nothing i can do, nothing well help, well now i have had time to think i going to go down the line off im going to try gentle exercises, and walking backwards, and anything else that folk might think will help as surely it cant do any harm so long as im careful and dont over do it,

I need something to focus on its either that or i vegetate and just wait for the hosp appointment and feel sorry for myself, thats not my style, so i will try self help you never know i might succeed and be able to keep away from surgery,

Its got to be worth ago eh, doctors are not always right,

positive thinking starts here

Sandy folk think im strange anyhow, so whats a little walking backwards  if it helps then im not a***d what folk think, i used to assist a 94 year old lady who had bad arthritus in her knees she swore by her tens machine, i got mine of e b** it was about £20.00, if i feel my back aching i just spend half an hour with it on and it does help, better than popping pills all the time, good luck 

[Sandy]

  a Tens machine it is then!! I went swimming and liked it, must start again but I love going out with our dogs, I take my time but I can walk quite far when its flat!!!! My brother likes going around shops like ASDA for his walks as he can lean on the trolly and walk all around the store......I too hate being like this....some times it gets you down and then I over eat or over drink!!! well, good luck anyway, at least my brain is just about working 

[doganjo]

Sandy, I have a massage chair if you want to try that?

[Sandy]

I tried one that some freecyler had and it made me feel worse when i got off but I can have a go!!! I am stiff again today, feel like I have those moon walking boots on!!! and my back is stiff, I would love a bath but we have a load of men in and I hate the idea of laying in a bath with men all around me 

[doganjo]

This one has a range of sequences varying in strength and length of time.  The kids love it so it would only be a loan but if Steve can give me a hand we can take it up in my car.  It's black faux leather with a stool and reclines - I have been known to fall asleep in it.

[silver swan]

Hi Faith,

I'm down the road from you so if there's anything I can do on a practical level, especially when it's op., time let me know, please...

Know how debilitating spasmodic pain is - had an emergency hernia op which left me with an adhesion. Well, don't care to remember that and what I couldn't do then.  I only concentrate on what I CAN do now and HOPE to do tomorrow.

Hang in there. 

[Cinderhills]

Thinking of you Faith.  It does sound horrendous for you.  I suffer from back probs too but compared to what you are going through I feel a bit of a fraud. 

[faith0504]

Thanks everyone, knowing there is support and folk to chat to helps a huge amount, I LOVE THIS SITE, your all great, 

Thanks WHITE SWAN, might take you up on that offer, im going to ring round some dog walkers, and horse minders today get some prices, i have also decided that my big mare is going on loan to stay at home, realistically riding is out of the question for a few months, she has not done much in the last 12 months due to me losing my confidence, so even more time off for her will do her no good in the long run, even though she my beg to differ!!
so i think  loaning her out is an answer, my two minis can go and spend some time with my other mini that is out on loan, if needs be, so hopefully thats the horses sorted.

The scary thing for me is the inbetween time waiting to see the consultant, and my OH going away its scary thinking i will be home alone and a scaitic attack could happen at anytime, which means bed for 3 or 4 days, not good when all the animals depend on me, but we will work something out.


Positive thinking only in this house now, done some light exercises this morning, done my horses, walked the dogs, done some backwards walking, tens machine is on now.

CINDERHILLS i think any back pain is awful i sympathies with you, i hope you get can yours sorted, keep everything crossed for you 

SANDY i hope you feel better soon,