- Joined
- Dec 25, 2011
- Messages
- 5,456
- Reaction score
- 69
In response to Blue Duck's "has anybody else had it". FFS if you're young don't ignore the warning signs: I did! Sorry if it's a bit wordy but it might make somebody else think about what they're doing............unless they're really stupid like me! :lol:
I'd had "back" issues for years, since my early 20's so probably something I'd done as an apprentice. It would come and go to various degrees. It would generally come on slowly having done some heavy lifting at work but the short, sharp "without warning" episodes were the worst . Once I was simply filing conduit in a Hilmor and bent backwards to check it was square and the next minute I was on the floor. Site manager happened to walk in literally as it happened. As far a I was concerned my back had simply "gone" and didn't want to make a fuss.
Pain at it's worst? Like someone has slit your leg open from top to bottom and is "pinging" the strings inside! Can't find a comfortable position and even sleeping is an issue. Rolling over in bed can be a proper trial as you KNOW it's going to hurt! Getting dressed I'd have to do what the missus referred to as "the sock and underpants" dance.
I carried on like this for around 20 years. I'd visit the same GP who would prescribe Neurofen, rest and sign me off for a week. Occasionally something a bit stronger like Co-codamol. Took the edge off maybe but nothing more. Sneezing, coughing would be accompanied by the short, sharp agonising pains. Chuck in the beginnings of incontinence and constipation round the back together with numbness in the legs but of course like an idiot you DON'T mention that to the GP etc! It's just back ache right?
On and off I was doing karate. Warming up and my movement was very limited. Then during the lesson I'd find I couldn't extend my left leg fully without the shooting pains up the leg. The guys there kept suggesting I visit their favoured chiropractor but I just thought that quack medicine. In the end I just gave up.
A later episode was much worse and I was given leave to work at home on some final account stuff on a big job. Couldn't sit at the pc or stand etc and my concentration was shot. In desperation I rang my old karate instructor and got the chiropractor's number. I can honestly say I walked in like a cripple and came out "fixed". Absolute revelation! Painful (but in a good way if you like that sort of thing). So, now I had the solution if it happened again?
Carried on at work with maybe it going once a year. It would "go" and a couple of hundred quid to the chiropractor for 4 or 5 sessions and off I'd go again.
Then what should have been the wake up call: Had been lifting cable drums on the Friday. Saturday morning and I thought I'd have a hot bath to ease my back. In the bath I slipped down and my straightened left leg hit the end of the bath, and pop went my back. I was back then 19st. I'm now soaking wet and soapy and stuck in the bath in agony. My missus with one youngster and the baby is asking whether to call the ambulance/neighbour/her Dad/her brother to help get me out. I somehow got out and was quite literally climbing the walls. Into the back of the car and off to A&E. A very nice nurse practitioner said he'd gone through similar and suggested I see my GP to arrange an MRI as he suspected a "slipped disc". I was given Tramadol and Naproxen which you take with Paracetamol to enhance the effect. It works BUT you can't work/drive etc.
The usual GP was a bit dismissive saying that I'd come in walking and MRIs were expensive etc. So I ditched the drugs and went back to work after 2 days off.
Cue the second time the disc went properly 18 months later. Clearing up in the garage one weekend. A small chest of draws the missus wanted to keep was in the way. I decided I'd lift it above my head into the rafters. A short time later and I saw the same guy in A&E. This time I went back to my GP and saw a locum who arranged an MRI. Confirmed disc rupture etc. The consultant said if it had been any worse they may have considered me for an op. Did mention that should I have any bladder problems etc then to come back straight away!
The way it was best described to me was the disc is like a Rollo sweet covered in a satsuma net. You have the "squishy" stuff inside the shell of the Rollo. An injury tears the net and the shell ruptures. The squishy bit then protrudes through the hole and presses on whatever nerves are at that point affecting legs, feet, bladder etc. You can if you're lucky "encourage" it all back into place by strengthening your core muscles or have it gently pushed back in by manipulation etc.
TBH, rest is the absolute worst thing for it. After 20+ years of this I've got it sussed: If you feel a "twinge" STOP. Working in the same position for a long time seems to start mine off now. The fix for me is plain old fashioned WALKING. If I feel it coming on now I'll go for a 4 or 5 mile walk for a few days and everything must sort of tighten your core and re-align everything. If I'd have realised that I could have saved myself a couple of grand etc! I'm assuming regular walking might even prevent it!
I'd had "back" issues for years, since my early 20's so probably something I'd done as an apprentice. It would come and go to various degrees. It would generally come on slowly having done some heavy lifting at work but the short, sharp "without warning" episodes were the worst . Once I was simply filing conduit in a Hilmor and bent backwards to check it was square and the next minute I was on the floor. Site manager happened to walk in literally as it happened. As far a I was concerned my back had simply "gone" and didn't want to make a fuss.
Pain at it's worst? Like someone has slit your leg open from top to bottom and is "pinging" the strings inside! Can't find a comfortable position and even sleeping is an issue. Rolling over in bed can be a proper trial as you KNOW it's going to hurt! Getting dressed I'd have to do what the missus referred to as "the sock and underpants" dance.
I carried on like this for around 20 years. I'd visit the same GP who would prescribe Neurofen, rest and sign me off for a week. Occasionally something a bit stronger like Co-codamol. Took the edge off maybe but nothing more. Sneezing, coughing would be accompanied by the short, sharp agonising pains. Chuck in the beginnings of incontinence and constipation round the back together with numbness in the legs but of course like an idiot you DON'T mention that to the GP etc! It's just back ache right?
On and off I was doing karate. Warming up and my movement was very limited. Then during the lesson I'd find I couldn't extend my left leg fully without the shooting pains up the leg. The guys there kept suggesting I visit their favoured chiropractor but I just thought that quack medicine. In the end I just gave up.
A later episode was much worse and I was given leave to work at home on some final account stuff on a big job. Couldn't sit at the pc or stand etc and my concentration was shot. In desperation I rang my old karate instructor and got the chiropractor's number. I can honestly say I walked in like a cripple and came out "fixed". Absolute revelation! Painful (but in a good way if you like that sort of thing). So, now I had the solution if it happened again?
Carried on at work with maybe it going once a year. It would "go" and a couple of hundred quid to the chiropractor for 4 or 5 sessions and off I'd go again.
Then what should have been the wake up call: Had been lifting cable drums on the Friday. Saturday morning and I thought I'd have a hot bath to ease my back. In the bath I slipped down and my straightened left leg hit the end of the bath, and pop went my back. I was back then 19st. I'm now soaking wet and soapy and stuck in the bath in agony. My missus with one youngster and the baby is asking whether to call the ambulance/neighbour/her Dad/her brother to help get me out. I somehow got out and was quite literally climbing the walls. Into the back of the car and off to A&E. A very nice nurse practitioner said he'd gone through similar and suggested I see my GP to arrange an MRI as he suspected a "slipped disc". I was given Tramadol and Naproxen which you take with Paracetamol to enhance the effect. It works BUT you can't work/drive etc.
The usual GP was a bit dismissive saying that I'd come in walking and MRIs were expensive etc. So I ditched the drugs and went back to work after 2 days off.
Cue the second time the disc went properly 18 months later. Clearing up in the garage one weekend. A small chest of draws the missus wanted to keep was in the way. I decided I'd lift it above my head into the rafters. A short time later and I saw the same guy in A&E. This time I went back to my GP and saw a locum who arranged an MRI. Confirmed disc rupture etc. The consultant said if it had been any worse they may have considered me for an op. Did mention that should I have any bladder problems etc then to come back straight away!
The way it was best described to me was the disc is like a Rollo sweet covered in a satsuma net. You have the "squishy" stuff inside the shell of the Rollo. An injury tears the net and the shell ruptures. The squishy bit then protrudes through the hole and presses on whatever nerves are at that point affecting legs, feet, bladder etc. You can if you're lucky "encourage" it all back into place by strengthening your core muscles or have it gently pushed back in by manipulation etc.
TBH, rest is the absolute worst thing for it. After 20+ years of this I've got it sussed: If you feel a "twinge" STOP. Working in the same position for a long time seems to start mine off now. The fix for me is plain old fashioned WALKING. If I feel it coming on now I'll go for a 4 or 5 mile walk for a few days and everything must sort of tighten your core and re-align everything. If I'd have realised that I could have saved myself a couple of grand etc! I'm assuming regular walking might even prevent it!
