prolapsed disc : recovery question

[Valintina]

37 year old male here. My first post. I have found this forum to be really useful in finding out more about back problems : so thanks to everyone who has written to it.

I have been signed off work since the end of May with a prolapsed disc/sciatica. Not really sure how I did it (football, working with a computer as well as manual handling, lifting and turning, looking after my kids, break dancing?) Ok I'm joking about the break dancing..but at times, the pain has been unbelievable. Although having read the accounts on these forums, I know some of you will believe!

I have been reviewed by an NHS Musculoskeletal specialist. Im having a scan tomorrow. I have had 2 caudual epidurals. Which gave me some pain relief. The last one was 2 weeks ago.

2 weeks ago it was looking likely in the opinion of my specialist that surgical decompression would be needed due to my lack of progress. I am not so sure now. Today has been the first day in months that I have not taken my painkillers for my "severe but intermittent right sided sciatica". I mean I didn't fall out of bed rush down stairs eat something hurriedly and take my dihydrocodeine to take the pain away. The need wasn't there. Which is a like a milestone. Obviuosly I don't feel 100% I still feel weak and there are twinges or tingles of nerves in my leg.

My question is this: what can I do (conservatively) to help my recovery?

I'm trying to keep moving. Any other dos or don'ts from people who know would be greatly appreciated . I suppose I am really scared that I am going to relapse! The specialist did say that 70% of cases heal themselves in 3 months so there is some hope. But after the ride I've been on - It is difficult to believe there is light at the end of the tunnel!!!

 

[tinhfoil]

Hi bravowhiskey5,

Hope your sciatica is manageable at the moment.
I am a 37 year old male who suffered from left leg sciatica and was told by a surgeon I had a 50% chance of success it would go having an epidural or a 95% chance of success with an operation.(L5 S1 discectomy).
I opted for an operation in this instance and 15 weeks post op, so far so good.
One thing you should definitely be able to do is swimming. I suffered from left leg sciatica from August 2008 to April 2009 before my op and I went swimming twice a week. One of the weekly swims was for lessons as my instructor had experiences of back operations. Since the op, I have gone back to the same classes and am enjoying myself very much.
Pilates may be something you can do although I would recommend you see a physio through the NHS or privately if you can afford it.
A physio will definitely be able to recommend exercises to strengthen your stomach which in turn will give you a strong back.
You may need to do all exercises recommended on a regular basis for the rest of your life. After your scan, your consultant will be able to tell you what part of your back is causing the sciatic pain in your leg. A physio can give you good advice and exercises to do to try to resolve your back problem causing a pain in your leg.
I normally do back strengthening/core strength exercises which give me a strong stomac every day of my life. If I miss a day, my back feels weak.
Walking is normally a good form of exercise as well and should not affect your sciatica.
Finally, you need to know what caused the problem in the first place.
I used to play football, hockey and go kickboxong every week sometimes getting a session in at the gym as well.
Too much exercise is not always good for your back. You must always warm up and cool down before and after exercise. I trapped a sciatic nerve when suffering a bad tackle whilst playing football which is why I had my op.
The bloke who tackled was twice as big as me and did not like running about which I most certainly do. It only highlighted the fact my back was going to fail at some stage.
If you suffer an injury, you must let it heal properly.
Both your consultant and a physio should have a picture of the human body showing where a pain in your leg relates to in your back.
I do hope you get on well with your scan.

best wishes

dalep115

 

[Robin donald]

dalep115 many thanks for the reply and I hope you are still recovering well.
Just as an update i saw my specialist today and we discussed the MRI results : prolapsed disc (as expected) specifically,
"L4/5 ...Right para central disc protrusion ... compressing right L5 nerve roots..
been referred to a surgeon in next 6 weeks.
coping better lately and pain has reduced slightly. going to try and do some swimming and some exercises.

best

BW5