Discectomy - After the Operation

[DaveC]

melaniecomp, good to hear you're doing so well and working on a new 'you'. Just want to make you aware that some very very fit and healthy people have been hit with these disc problems, in case you think the unfit 'you' had caused it. And remember not to overdo things! Or have I said that before somewhere?

Hi Ali and Jess...this is just like old times! I guess we can claim to have a one out of three success rate girls. Ali, really sorry things have gone bad again, but what joy to see my friend Mr H again. So long as you don't read the local papers you'll be just fine! Send him my love.

Jess, what are you doing in the US? Tell me more in a private message won't you.

Love to all

Melza

 

[HELP!]

Hey everyone - just wanted to ask you all if anyone's suffering a kind of weird feeling in their back after discectomy - don't really know how to explain! - ten weeks after my op and its a sort of semi numb feeling in your lower back and buttocks and then goes round your sides and between your legs!! makes me feel really sicky and makes my legs jerk around quite a bit - i asked the consultant about it at my follow up and i suggested was it just my nerves acting up or something and basically he ignored me!!! I never had this problem before the op, and now I'm wishing i never had the op as feel totally no energy when this happens and am miserable and am sure its rubbing off on my poor husband who's been absolutely brilliant - trouble is i never know when its gonna happen, am planning on trying to go back to work in a couple of weeks but if I'm still getting this flare up i won't be able to do my job and i can't see them being very impressed if i have to go off sick again! have to go back to work soon anyway as now on half pay and pretty soon will only be on SSP !! isn't life cruel ! - don't seem to get any sympathy from anyone else except my hubbie - family don't bother asking how I am too wrapped up in themselves! - anyway enough moans - just wanted to know if anyone else experiences this weird sicky feeling?? Shirl XX

 

[Campong T]

Hi red, don't recall that feeling myself but your doc could be right, nerves are very complicated things. Maybe theres a particular thing you do to irritate it but no doubt you've considered all that, I guess patience is your only solution.

Most of us know how family 'switch off' after a while, you get loads of sympathy if your leg is in a cast...but no one can see the back problems so it gets ignored. I'm sure my kids are fed up with my constant whingeing and they are nowhere near as helpful as they used to be....even I feel like a hypochondriac now! Its an awful game of 'waiting and seeing' that seems to go on forever, you need the patience of a saint I think.

Had to fill in the claim forms for Incapacity Benefit again so know how you feel about finances. Just remember your mobility and pain levels are much more important in the end. Oh, and does anyone else know theres a disability tax credit payment you can claim for. Don't know if anyone is eligible but its worth checking out.

Good luck red, hope the nerves settle down soon.

 

[Kung Fu]

Hi Melza

Is the disability tax claim that you mention 'disability living allowance'? If so it is VERY difficult to get now due to changes by the government, unless you are unable to walk at all, have a loss of a limb, or.......suffer with depression.

I tried to claim last year at the advice of three people who already claim it (one with degenerative disc disease), and filled in a massive booklet. I was refused on the grounds that I am still mobile, even though that varies by the day and I amunable to walk any distance. MY nephew is now 'retired' from work with the same thing, and he too has been unsuccessful in claiming.

Apparantly so many people were claiming the allowance that the governement tightened up the regulations, affecting the very people who need it most.

If you have heard of another allowance, can you please provide more details? I am no longer getting paid and trying to find out what I am entitled to is a nightmare. It seems that no one department exists to give advice on what is available.

Thanks

Maz

 

[Pompal 09.]

so i hope this is of help to some people. i am on what is called employment and support allowance, apparently this is to replace incapacity benefit. there is a standard for under 25s and over 25s. after 13 weeks you are given a medical assessment and you are placed in one of two groups. those unable to work long term are put in a support group and those thought able to return to work into a work related activity group, either way the money increases in week 14. it seems like a long time but it passes quickly. it starts as about £50 a week so not much but it helps my sister and me so it something. hope this helps, ive also got a claim in for disablilty living alowance and have been awaiting a discision for months. anyway, healthwise im still waiting to see a surgeon after being diagnosed with prolapsed disc L4/L5. still mostly confined to bed,able to venture out a couple times a day but cant sit at all. been having pain since last summer and hope ill be able to get a quick surgery as im only 23 and am really scared of long term nerve damage. thanks to everyone for their posts.
lisa

 

[Tothepoint]

hi keep applying for your disability living allowance iwas turned down for it three times ive had two back op s ive had to give up work nliving on benefits but the dla helps .i get the higher rate mobility .my last op was only 4 weeks ago .and im in agony .

 

[Happy007]

Hi folks, hopefully this link will work! http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/tc956.pdf

I'm still, just about, in employment (on sick leave)and work over 16 hours. I'm going to claim for the weakness in legs but mainly my hands and arms. Even though surgery is expected I don't know, and nobody else knows, what the outcome will be. In which case it can be agreed it may last for 6 months. You're right about the DLA, think you have to be on your deathbed! And I might have missed a crucial point in this tax credit thing...but what the hell!

Things are bad enough without having to stress about money, and boy do I stress! Have a good day people. x

 

[Patrick Star]

Sympathies to quarr4bank, hope the pain eases soon. All the best.

 

[Gnoll Gnerd]

I 'was' able to claim the higher rate of the mobility component of DLA, but, because I had the 'cheek' to research, source, fund and undergo a partial cure to to my disability, and help my walking and improve my condition for 50% of the time, the people (and I use that word very loosely) at the DLA decided to withdraw 100% of my benefits. Even though I am just as disabled as before, for half of the time!!

The result is, that I can no longer fund the physical therapy at my local sport centre, the extra 'over the counter drugs and creams' to ease the pain when walking, and I now have to reduce the amount of times I visit the Osteopath per month by at least half. All of this will probably mean, that my overall condition will begin to deteriorate and then it's only a matter of time, before I will be back where I started!!

There is a hardening of DLA rules, they seem to be based on reduction, efficiency and bonus factors rather than supporting those who are trying to get better!! I have been finacially punished becuse of my determind efforts to regain full fitness, is it any wonder then, that so many people simply don't bother!!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr

SPINELF

 

[Top of the Dude-chain]

I know what you're saying spinelf, I've been keeping my wieght down, taking a walk and just trying to keep some normality in my life....because of that I've had to beg for treatment. If I'd laid down and given up someone would have seen I needed help...I think. Helping yourself is just not acceptable! At the end of 2008 I saw a consultant who told me I needed a cervical laminectomy to ease the pressure on my spinal cord...and that was it. The lumbar discectomy has gone wrong and no one has even investigated that. Lost my job now and not seeing a very good future...so why did I try and help myself? Bit depressed at the moment, my case has gone to the ombudsman and if he doesn't find in my favour....I don't know what I'm going to do. I really, really can't live with all this pain....but then what?

Another day tomorrow of course, hope its a better one.

Did you look at the tax credits form, you can get it if you have problems getting a job cause of your condition...and if you struggle to work.

 

[lozzielaws]

I am so sorry to see that you on a down period Melza, it's natural to feel that way, given your position, it's so unfair!!

I sincerely wish you all the very best with the Ombudsman

No, I havent looked at the tax credits yet, because I am still trying to get a referral & funding for another 'key hole' lumber decompression operation, which should then allow me to return to full time & well payed work.
I am to see a Nuerosurgeon/Spine Surgeon soon and if he can't offer me a cutting edge MISS procedure or will not refer me for funding at the Spinal Foundation, I will then have to consider all possible funding & job prospects because the system would have won!! And I'm screwed!!

 

[Noey]

Melza, so sorry to hear things aren't going so well. Best of luck for a good outcome with the ombudsman.

 

[ptp]

hi all,new here.i had 4 prolapsed discs in my back,discovered after severe pain from april last year.in july same year 2009 i had to swallow the bullet and go off work.after seeing the consultant and being told by him my back was a mess and he could only repair one disc.i had the op in october,absolute agony.i attended the physio etc enrolled on 6week volantary back to action course etc..in march this year i was sacked by royal mail on the say so of atos.for those of you who dont know they do the assesments for dwp also.in march again i saw atos nurse through the dwp as you have an assesment after 13weeks i think it is.my benefit was esa at £64 a week.guess what,she scored me 6pts and said i was fit to work.i am a man who has worked 33yrs and never claimed anything in my life.so i have an atos consultant telling royal mail i cant work,and atos nurse telling dwp i can.what a system eh we have no chance folks,so i now have no job and no money coming in what so ever.i still have 3 prolapsed discs numbness in my foot,and have fell 8 times since xmas through the numbness.i got my atos report today,and the nurse says this is normal.can anyone offer any advice,so not only do we all have to suffer,but i now find myself getting depressed and worried.im affraid of loosing my house and everything i worked for ,for 33years.

 

[inlet]

Hi Robbie, ATOS is new to me so don't know how much power they have....but its still typical behaviour of many large employers. I have also been chucked out with the rubbish and I work for the NHS, apparently I have a good claim under the disability act but can't find anyone to help me explore whether I have a case. Is it possible you've been declared unfit to carry out your regular work? Have you actually lost your job now? Have your employers tried to find you another post in the company? They should have done. What does your consultant say? You need someone to clarify your situation.

I'm able to work a few hours on light duties, but (surprise surprise) there isn't any other work available at the same hospital...I've now been sent off to apply for posts at other hospitals..that I don't have a chance of travelling to. Its a bitter pill to swallow! (Ha! I just made a joke). I've been battling with managers for nearly 3 years now, I should have a lot more advice to offer but don't. What about the union? I didn't get a lot of help from them myself, but its worth a try.

Really sorry you're in this mess but don't give up looking for solutions.....Ever! I think we both have to accept that some things are going to change, whether we like it or not. ...but you still don't give up! Whatever you do now will decide the rest of your life...so keep asking questions. Will be thinking about you.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Welcome to my world! I've sent you a private message robbie.

Hope everyone else is getting on okay.

 

[Gua]

Hi, I am new to this forum but I have been searching to find other people who are going through the same situation that I am. Two years ago I woke up in extreme pain and was barely able to walk. After a year of constant back pain it started to give me pins and needles down my left leg. I finally found out that I had spinal stenosis and a herniated disc at l4/l5 and a bulged disc at l5/s1. The numbers were different for me though because i have an extra vertebrae in my spine. I still have no idea how this happened. I had no accident just woke up one day in pain.

In December I had a lumbar discectomy on the ruptured disc but the other affected disc was left alone. I am still in severe pain. The leg tingling and pain has gone but the back pain is really bad still. Its hard to decide if it is worse or the same but definately not any better.

I was wondering if anyone else has had this experience to still be in pain? Does it get any better? I go to the neurosurgeon every month and my last check up he said that this has been too long to be in pain so he is sending me to get a follow up MRI but I haven't had that yet. He is worried the bulged disc has now ruptured.

I havent been able to work since last august also...

Anyways, if anyone could give me any insight as to your recovery I would appreciate it.

Thank you.

 

[Susanna M]

Low-back pain after traditional discectomy is very often (in 10-30% of cases after surgery). Your surgeon gave you right advice, follow up MRI is important, but try to get MRI with contrast that can be more precises in diagnosis discogenic source of pain.

 

[Wallace]

Hello Shell, what a good neurosurgeon you have! Most of us have continued pain after surgery and often calms down after a while. As your neurosurgeon has agreed to another MRI I would follow that up through his secretary or your GP, any damage is excacerbated by a delayed response to investigation.

Apart from chasing the MRI I suggest you take it easy to avoid aggravating it further, until you know whats happening in there. Really sorry you're unable to work, same for me, but theres nothing you can do about that as yet....hopefully you'll get sorted out soon and finally get your life back.

Good luck

 

[DonnaT]

Doctor has given up five months after surgery says it is unlikely to get much better. Anyone surpass the doctors expectations by much?

 

[aFautepheptdap25]

Its been a while since I last posted, but I have occasionally popped on to see how everyone is coming on. (thats when the meds i'm on havn't made my eyesight blurry, or put me into a deep sleep. Only last week I fell to sleep during 2 telephone conversations)

Well, i'm still on crutches, still in pain (despite taking diazepam three times a day, gabapentin, diclofenac, tramadol, fentanyl patches & oromorph for the breakthrough pain)

I can't remember if my last post said it but i've lost my job. Just like you Melz its that good old NHS looking after there own.

Also i've met the ATOS 'people' firstly for my medical (which I requested a copy of & found that lots of the information was not what we discussed at the medical) so I wrote & put that right! Then I had to go back for an interview with a nurse to assess my work capability which was pathetic as she could not mention any of the medical problems I have due to patient confidentiality!! It really p'd me off as the questions were the same as at the first medical. Then to top it all I found that within the nursing grades I would have been way more senior than her

Also as I was within the NHS they put me forward for ill health retirement in January. Guess who's dealing with it ..... Bloody ATOS healthcare again. Apparently its being held up as my surgeons registrar had the form to complete almost 2 months ago & still hasn't done. If I can stay awake long enough tomorrow it looks like yet another phone call to PALS!!


Oh yeah forgot to say I still have my catheter we have had trials without it which were huge failures & very humiliating as I always seemed to get the bed furthest from the toilet!!

Finally after 14 ops to my back since May 2008 my fusion hasn't fused so i'm off to see my surgeons colleague as he wants to go for another fusion this time through my abdomen. But unlike my first surgeon he doesn't want to play god & wants another opinion & also wants his colleague to assist him in theatre. I have so much scr tissue that they will not operate with their reg alone they always ensure its 2 surgeons.

I don't really know what i'm hoping for anymore as my consultant at the pain clinic has told me I will never be pain free. Its now a juggling act to find a level of pain i can tolerate without me being spaced out

Rant over
Take care

Tracey x