Hey Guys,
I thought I would try and create a fairly in depth daily/weekly log for you to gain some understanding of how a slipped disc and nerve compression affects you so you can hopefully gain some knowledge of do's and don'ts (from my experience anyway) whilst going through recovery and the operation procedure.
So back in November 2014 I was fit and strong and never had any problems relating to my back and never thought I would. I played cricket throughout the whole summer 3 times a week, I gymed and lifted heavy and never had a single problem....... but one day in November I was at work (I manage a Quarry) and myself and a colleague lifted a wear plate for a loading shovel bucket (this weighed upwards of 200kg)...... I thought I was lifting with correct technique, bending at the legs, straight back etc...but clearly not.... my back twinged, I shrugged it off and lifted it to where it needed to be. Then for the next couple of weeks we had a lot of hand shovelling to do, I did this for 2 days before I could no longer do any as my back was in agony.
Fast forward to January, cricket nets started, I am a massive cricket fan, love playing it. So my back was still aching but I went anyway for a few weeks. Then one day it was rather sore so I just took it steady and bowled slow, then all of a sudden I had a huge lightening bolt down my leg and I could barely move, I was so stiff.
Went to docs to request an MRI Scan cause I knew it was serious. It came back that I had bulged L5/S1 and it was rubbing my sciatic nerve.
So I saw a Chiropractor, had 3 cortisone injections from my physio and after about 8-10 sessions I was back up and running and no pain whatsoever, it was amazing.... so amazing that I went back to my old activities and sure enough It went again, but this time it was far worse, I could barely sit and struggled to sleep, had constant bum, thigh and calf pain, with numbness as well as pins and needles in my toes.
This has been going on now for 6 months, no matter how many chiropractor appointments, acupuncture, physio, massage, rest. It isn't getting better.
2 Tuesdays ago I had an epidural nerve block, when this kicked in, the pain relief was fantastic, I could move a lot better and bend a lot easier and more comfortable. This died a quick death though, it lasted for all of 5 days (these can last from 1 week up to 3 years so I have read) unfortunately I am in the 1 week category.
So now I am on the list for Spinal Discectomy, they will cut away the herniation and bulge so this frees up my nerve. I never thought I would say this but I just cannot wait to have it done. Earlier in the year I was dreading the thought of possibly having to get it done and getting really anxious and het up about it and being so negative thinking about everything that could go wrong, but now I just cannot wait to get it done........ I cannot even take a sh*t without having immense pain down my leg, it has got to the point now where it just needs to get done.
I am taking Gabapentin (nerve blockers), Codeine/Tramadol, Paracetamol, Naproxen and Diazepam (only when I am having a very bad day) day in day out, multiple times a day. Not am I only feeling spaced out and sometimes fairly sick because of these pills, I am worried about the long term side effects they can possibly have on your liver, kidneys and particularly stomach with Naproxen.
I should hopefully be having surgery within the next 6-8 weeks. I know it will be a long recovery and I will be in extreme pain at times, especially straight afterwards but in my eyes and from the many experiences I have read up on, this will be well worth it.
So there you are, that is my injury part and up to know the before surgery part, I will try keep it up to date often with how I am feeling and the struggles I am having before surgery and then go from there. Hope this is of some help to people...
If anyone has been through this before and has some tips or anything that can help me then please say.
Today 06/10/15
I woke up this morning feeling OK as I sometimes do if I have slept in a comfortable position all night and not tossed and turned. Got out of bed and within minutes the pain comes on in my leg down to my foot, I am currently unable to bend forward past 75degrees, it is very painful and tight if I try go any further.
I take a shower and get dressed etc, I struggle to put my socks on so sometimes I need help doing that. I go downstairs to take all my pills and have some breakfast and cannot sit down, I am in absolute agony when sitting so I had to eat breakfast stood up.
So I went on my decompression table for 5 minutes to try and relieve some pain, this does work but not for long. The only thing I have to do is wait for my pills to kick in and take away at least some of the excruciating pain.
My drive to work is about 20 minutes, luckily I have heated seats and a mckenzie role, so these help a little bit at least.
My morning has been quite painful though, I am currently on office duties only due to the meds, I have an orthopedic kneeling chair which does help a little, I have to get up for a stretch and walk every 15 mins or so.
Tonight I plan on going home and relaxing, they say rest is the worst thing for it but it takes so much pressure off your nerve after a long day of compression. I do try and add in a short walk if I can though.
Fingers crossed the rest of today will be kind to me!
**Update: so tonight has been ok, I have done lots of psoas stretching and it has actually relieved some of the long built up tension from the last few weeks that has prob been causing all my severe pain.
I have barely sat down tonight as still far to painful to do.
Hopefully will have a good nights sleep.
Cheers
Alex
I thought I would try and create a fairly in depth daily/weekly log for you to gain some understanding of how a slipped disc and nerve compression affects you so you can hopefully gain some knowledge of do's and don'ts (from my experience anyway) whilst going through recovery and the operation procedure.
So back in November 2014 I was fit and strong and never had any problems relating to my back and never thought I would. I played cricket throughout the whole summer 3 times a week, I gymed and lifted heavy and never had a single problem....... but one day in November I was at work (I manage a Quarry) and myself and a colleague lifted a wear plate for a loading shovel bucket (this weighed upwards of 200kg)...... I thought I was lifting with correct technique, bending at the legs, straight back etc...but clearly not.... my back twinged, I shrugged it off and lifted it to where it needed to be. Then for the next couple of weeks we had a lot of hand shovelling to do, I did this for 2 days before I could no longer do any as my back was in agony.
Fast forward to January, cricket nets started, I am a massive cricket fan, love playing it. So my back was still aching but I went anyway for a few weeks. Then one day it was rather sore so I just took it steady and bowled slow, then all of a sudden I had a huge lightening bolt down my leg and I could barely move, I was so stiff.
Went to docs to request an MRI Scan cause I knew it was serious. It came back that I had bulged L5/S1 and it was rubbing my sciatic nerve.
So I saw a Chiropractor, had 3 cortisone injections from my physio and after about 8-10 sessions I was back up and running and no pain whatsoever, it was amazing.... so amazing that I went back to my old activities and sure enough It went again, but this time it was far worse, I could barely sit and struggled to sleep, had constant bum, thigh and calf pain, with numbness as well as pins and needles in my toes.
This has been going on now for 6 months, no matter how many chiropractor appointments, acupuncture, physio, massage, rest. It isn't getting better.
2 Tuesdays ago I had an epidural nerve block, when this kicked in, the pain relief was fantastic, I could move a lot better and bend a lot easier and more comfortable. This died a quick death though, it lasted for all of 5 days (these can last from 1 week up to 3 years so I have read) unfortunately I am in the 1 week category.
So now I am on the list for Spinal Discectomy, they will cut away the herniation and bulge so this frees up my nerve. I never thought I would say this but I just cannot wait to have it done. Earlier in the year I was dreading the thought of possibly having to get it done and getting really anxious and het up about it and being so negative thinking about everything that could go wrong, but now I just cannot wait to get it done........ I cannot even take a sh*t without having immense pain down my leg, it has got to the point now where it just needs to get done.
I am taking Gabapentin (nerve blockers), Codeine/Tramadol, Paracetamol, Naproxen and Diazepam (only when I am having a very bad day) day in day out, multiple times a day. Not am I only feeling spaced out and sometimes fairly sick because of these pills, I am worried about the long term side effects they can possibly have on your liver, kidneys and particularly stomach with Naproxen.
I should hopefully be having surgery within the next 6-8 weeks. I know it will be a long recovery and I will be in extreme pain at times, especially straight afterwards but in my eyes and from the many experiences I have read up on, this will be well worth it.
So there you are, that is my injury part and up to know the before surgery part, I will try keep it up to date often with how I am feeling and the struggles I am having before surgery and then go from there. Hope this is of some help to people...
If anyone has been through this before and has some tips or anything that can help me then please say.
Today 06/10/15
I woke up this morning feeling OK as I sometimes do if I have slept in a comfortable position all night and not tossed and turned. Got out of bed and within minutes the pain comes on in my leg down to my foot, I am currently unable to bend forward past 75degrees, it is very painful and tight if I try go any further.
I take a shower and get dressed etc, I struggle to put my socks on so sometimes I need help doing that. I go downstairs to take all my pills and have some breakfast and cannot sit down, I am in absolute agony when sitting so I had to eat breakfast stood up.
So I went on my decompression table for 5 minutes to try and relieve some pain, this does work but not for long. The only thing I have to do is wait for my pills to kick in and take away at least some of the excruciating pain.
My drive to work is about 20 minutes, luckily I have heated seats and a mckenzie role, so these help a little bit at least.
My morning has been quite painful though, I am currently on office duties only due to the meds, I have an orthopedic kneeling chair which does help a little, I have to get up for a stretch and walk every 15 mins or so.
Tonight I plan on going home and relaxing, they say rest is the worst thing for it but it takes so much pressure off your nerve after a long day of compression. I do try and add in a short walk if I can though.
Fingers crossed the rest of today will be kind to me!
**Update: so tonight has been ok, I have done lots of psoas stretching and it has actually relieved some of the long built up tension from the last few weeks that has prob been causing all my severe pain.
I have barely sat down tonight as still far to painful to do.
Hopefully will have a good nights sleep.
Cheers
Alex