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Suggestions to alleviate nerve pain from back injury?
Hello all.
In August of 2009 my life was changed due to discovering that I had a protruding and an extruding disk in my lower back, the L5/S1 area. I was bedridden for 3 weeks, and then it took 3-4 more weeks after this to be able to walk without massive pain, and even longer to be able to walk without limping. I was sent for an MRI, which confirmed the two disk problems. After all of this, my back seemed to heal and I was doing better.... that is, until about 5 weeks ago.
I woke up early in the morning 5 weeks ago with agonising pain in my lower back. I was completely bedridden for a week and had a GP come to my home to examine me. My right foot was numb for a few days, but that soon subsided along with the back pain. I felt I was recovering, and was working on walking again, though it was with a constant limp and my right calf muscle felt constantly cramped and painful. Four days ago, I began to have terrible nerve spasms in my right foot and they have continued since. I have found no pain killer that helps alleviate this nerve pain. I have never experienced this before and I am totally in the dark for what to expect, or what I could possibly do to alleviate this most aggravating pain or to help my nerves heal as soon as possible.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get some relief from this pain as it is causing me considerable sleep loss and pain? Also, should I be worried that I am having this pain in the first place, or is it a normal part of the healing process?
In August of 2009 my life was changed due to discovering that I had a protruding and an extruding disk in my lower back, the L5/S1 area. I was bedridden for 3 weeks, and then it took 3-4 more weeks after this to be able to walk without massive pain, and even longer to be able to walk without limping. I was sent for an MRI, which confirmed the two disk problems. After all of this, my back seemed to heal and I was doing better.... that is, until about 5 weeks ago.
I woke up early in the morning 5 weeks ago with agonising pain in my lower back. I was completely bedridden for a week and had a GP come to my home to examine me. My right foot was numb for a few days, but that soon subsided along with the back pain. I felt I was recovering, and was working on walking again, though it was with a constant limp and my right calf muscle felt constantly cramped and painful. Four days ago, I began to have terrible nerve spasms in my right foot and they have continued since. I have found no pain killer that helps alleviate this nerve pain. I have never experienced this before and I am totally in the dark for what to expect, or what I could possibly do to alleviate this most aggravating pain or to help my nerves heal as soon as possible.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get some relief from this pain as it is causing me considerable sleep loss and pain? Also, should I be worried that I am having this pain in the first place, or is it a normal part of the healing process?
I live in the UK. My saving grace so far has been my fiance, he has taken such good care of me and has made sure that I don't have to do a lot of things around the house. I like my GP, he seems pretty good, and is concerned about getting me to an orthapedic specialist. Though I am still waiting on the referral for an NHS one, as there is no way I can afford a private doc.
I've been put on Amitriptyline, but it doesn't really seem to help. Given, I've only been taking it for 4 days, but it honestly seems to make my nerve pain feel worse when I take it. Any idea why that would be? I thought this stuff was supposed to supress nerve pain?
I've bought some Deep Freeze gel, and it seems to help a lot when I rub in on my foot. But like everthing else, it's not a permanent solution, just something to help alleviate pain for a little while.
Tomorrow will mark 6 weeks since this episode started, and I've not had a single day without pain since. I know 6 weeks isn't a long time compared to what some people have suffered, or are suffering currently, but it still feels like such a long time to not feel like myself and to constantly feel sad and scared that I'm never going to get back to my normal life.
Also, in the foot that is having the nerve pain, I've noticed that the vein in my foot seems to swell a bit, so that it obviously sticks out. It doesn't do it all of the time, just after periods of propping it up. Should I be worried about this?
Thanks so much for listening guys!
I've been put on Amitriptyline, but it doesn't really seem to help. Given, I've only been taking it for 4 days, but it honestly seems to make my nerve pain feel worse when I take it. Any idea why that would be? I thought this stuff was supposed to supress nerve pain?
I've bought some Deep Freeze gel, and it seems to help a lot when I rub in on my foot. But like everthing else, it's not a permanent solution, just something to help alleviate pain for a little while.
Tomorrow will mark 6 weeks since this episode started, and I've not had a single day without pain since. I know 6 weeks isn't a long time compared to what some people have suffered, or are suffering currently, but it still feels like such a long time to not feel like myself and to constantly feel sad and scared that I'm never going to get back to my normal life.
Also, in the foot that is having the nerve pain, I've noticed that the vein in my foot seems to swell a bit, so that it obviously sticks out. It doesn't do it all of the time, just after periods of propping it up. Should I be worried about this?
Thanks so much for listening guys!
Hi Sweetheart,
I'm so sorry for your pain and upset. I agree with squirtatious in welocoming you to the world of chronic pain L5s1. Listen, right now, even though it started in August, you are still in the acute phase of all this. Surgery must be the last ditch effort in all of this. Leave the GP, they dont have the tools to deal with this sort of pain. You need to see a pain management specialist. These guys, if you pick the right ones, won't just drug you up and leave you an addict for life. The good ones like mine will do the proper testing and the proper procedures like injections and such to ease your pain. Epidural and nerve root injections are so important because they bathe the nerves with anti inflammatory medicine to calm or block the pain. They will prescribe narcotics too which in the acute phase like you are in are important now. Don't worry about taking them and working, if you take a low enough dose to get you thru the day, that's all that matters. Just don't tell anyone, it's not their business.
Now, way down the road there are great treatments. I have a Spinal Cord Stimulator. My life was like yours and now I'm a normal member of society again. This is a little device that sits low in my back that has wires that run along my spine and sent electrical impulses that block nerve pain. It's like having an internal TENS unit, if you have ever had one of those in physical therapy. That's way down the road for you. Just know that you will be ok if you get into the right hands of a good pain management group. Where do you live?
God bless you in your journey back to pain free living.
Val
I'm so sorry for your pain and upset. I agree with squirtatious in welocoming you to the world of chronic pain L5s1. Listen, right now, even though it started in August, you are still in the acute phase of all this. Surgery must be the last ditch effort in all of this. Leave the GP, they dont have the tools to deal with this sort of pain. You need to see a pain management specialist. These guys, if you pick the right ones, won't just drug you up and leave you an addict for life. The good ones like mine will do the proper testing and the proper procedures like injections and such to ease your pain. Epidural and nerve root injections are so important because they bathe the nerves with anti inflammatory medicine to calm or block the pain. They will prescribe narcotics too which in the acute phase like you are in are important now. Don't worry about taking them and working, if you take a low enough dose to get you thru the day, that's all that matters. Just don't tell anyone, it's not their business.
Now, way down the road there are great treatments. I have a Spinal Cord Stimulator. My life was like yours and now I'm a normal member of society again. This is a little device that sits low in my back that has wires that run along my spine and sent electrical impulses that block nerve pain. It's like having an internal TENS unit, if you have ever had one of those in physical therapy. That's way down the road for you. Just know that you will be ok if you get into the right hands of a good pain management group. Where do you live?
God bless you in your journey back to pain free living.
Val
They said I could only see the specialist at the AE/ER if I was showing symptoms such as loss of bladder/bowel control, which I wasn't, thankfully.
Skey I hope it works out for u and it helps u reduce ur pain!!! *hugs* how come u didn't get to see a specialist?
Skey I hope it works out for u and it helps u reduce ur pain!!! *hugs* how come u didn't get to see a specialist?
Skey I hope it works out for u and it helps u reduce ur pain!!! *hugs* how come u didn't get to see a specialist?
Skey I hope it works out for u and it helps u reduce ur pain!!! *hugs* how come u didn't get to see a specialist?
Skey I hope it works out for u and it helps u reduce ur pain!!! *hugs* how come u didn't get to see a specialist?
Skey I hope it works out for u and it helps u reduce ur pain!!! *hugs* how come u didn't get to see a specialist?
I didn't get to see a specialist with I went to AE/ER, however they prescribed me something called Amitriptyline. Apparently these are tricylic anti-depressants that have a specific use for targeting nerve pain. I've only take 2 doses thus far, so am waiting to see what the results really will be. Yesterday I felt really good and had less pain, but last night after taking the second dose, the pain in my foot became unbearably constant and worse, causing me to loose sleep. However, I'm being patient and giving the meds a few days to get into my system and start to settle down.
Figures..... GP has told me to go to A&E. I really need to stop jinxing myself by saying stuff......
Anyway, my GP says I should be able to see an orthapedic specialist today if I go to A&E, so off I go. Will post an update later about what happens.
Anyway, my GP says I should be able to see an orthapedic specialist today if I go to A&E, so off I go. Will post an update later about what happens.
I was considering asking my GP for another MRI to see if the damage has changed or gotten worse, as the symptoms this time have been very different from the ones I had last August when the injury first occurred.
What is an EMG study? I haven't heard of this yet, I don't think. Does it involve eletrical current?
The maim thing that is scaring me is that I don't want this nerve pain to start ascending from my foot into my leg. So far, it seems to be located only in my ankle and foot... I really hope it stays there.
I am due to have a phone consultation with my GP today to talk about this. Hopefully they will give me some positive news, and not tell me to get to the A&E or something... :S
What is an EMG study? I haven't heard of this yet, I don't think. Does it involve eletrical current?
The maim thing that is scaring me is that I don't want this nerve pain to start ascending from my foot into my leg. So far, it seems to be located only in my ankle and foot... I really hope it stays there.
I am due to have a phone consultation with my GP today to talk about this. Hopefully they will give me some positive news, and not tell me to get to the A&E or something... :S
I have nerve damage in my legs and the pain in them far surpassed any pain that was in my lower back!! There wasn't anything that could take my pain away. Have u had an emg study done? Id recommend getting one as it will difintively point out a l5/s1 radiculopathy if u have one. At least it did with me. I have choronic and acute l5/s1 radiculopathy along with motor nerve damage in my legs.
Oh u poor dear!!!! *hugs* sounds like I should welcome u to l5/s1 radiculopathy in ur legs...nerve damage pain. If the hernia's don't go away on their wpown, then u'll possibly be looking at physical therapy, spine injections, pain management, exercising, alternative healing methods (if ur into that), chiro care etc b4 surgery will be done. I hope u CAN find relief thru one of these methods as back surgery is serious and forever changes your life. God bless:)
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