Slipped discs and injections - anyone had it done?

[Count Steer]

Yeah L5 injection with X ray guidance.

Don't remember anything after being initially dosed up into "Twilight Sedation". Woke up in recovery already flipped back over with no clue what happened. Apparently that's normal.

Sounds like an epidural.

Be interesting to see how it goes, having an iffy L4/L5 too. Touch wood, the exercise regime is helping.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Yeah that's what it is. The take home advice even mentions that term several times.

[gremlin]

Yeah L5 injection with X ray guidance.

Don't remember anything after being initially dosed up into "Twilight Sedation". Woke up in recovery already flipped back over with no clue what happened. Apparently that's normal.

When I had mine done it was a case of, 'Brace yourself....this is going to be uncomfortable'. Fuck me, was it?! Like a bloody horse being stood on my lower back, only for about 10 seconds or so, but enough to wind me. Like you, I was feeling like a new man after an hour or so. Fair danced out of the hospital, I did.

Glad you're feeling the benefit.

[JackyJoll]

Woke up in recovery already flipped back over with no clue what happened. Apparently that's normal.

Don’t know about “normal,” but they say a lot of it goes on.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Like a bloody horse being stood on my lower back, only for about 10 seconds or so, but enough to wind me. Like you, I was feeling like a new man after an hour or so. Fair danced out of the hospital, I did.

They said to me before hand "you'll just feel sleepy and you'll feel a pressure on your back". Honestly...I put the O2 mask on and boom out I went . I was already feeling pretty snoozy before they started so maybe the drugs went a bit too hard.

Two days later this morning I just got up out of bed without thinking. Normally for the past couple of years I've had to so a sort of knees up a roll over manoeuvre to avoid aggravating myself, but I didn't even hesitate to just sit straight up. I can sneeze with impunity too now

I'm keeping a pain journal for now so the consultant can see how effective the jabs were. Based on my results he can determine if and what kind of surgery might work more permanently.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Update FYI.

Injection has totally worn off now, back to how I was before. Currently laid out flat having been on my feet for all of 15 minutes this morning

This was always a strong possibility. Luckily BUPA are on it though, already had another more detailed MRI (have you ever tried laying perfectly still for an hour? ) which included a second set of coils placed on top of me.

Surgery is about £5-10k, honestly if BUPA won't pay that I'm strongly considering coughing up for it myself

[Count Steer]

Update FYI.

Injection has totally worn off now, back to how I was before. Currently laid out flat having been on my feet for all of 15 minutes this morning

This was always a strong possibility. Luckily BUPA are on it though, already had another more detailed MRI (have you ever tried laying perfectly still for an hour? ) which included a second set of coils placed on top of me.

Surgery is about £5-10k, honestly if BUPA won't pay that I'm strongly considering coughing up for it myself

Shame.

I've been meaning to ask how it was going.

What sort of op are they contemplating?

[Mr. Dazzle]

Microdiscectomy.

Pretty much literally just snip out the bit of disc which is impinging on the nerve. "Micro" because they do it with a keyhole cut and tools on the end of bendy probey thing and only cut away a small bit of disc.

The biggest issue for me would actually be the logistics of being laid up for a while, doing the school run etc

[Count Steer]

Microdiscectomy.

Pretty much literally just snip out the bit of disc which is impinging on the nerve. "Micro" because they do it with a keyhole cut and tools on the end of bendy probey thing and only cut away a small bit of disc.

The biggest issue for me would actually be the logistics of being laid up for a while, doing the school run etc

Ah, right, not one of those where they put stuff in to pull the bobbins apart to relieve the pressure.

(Waiting to see someone that had that ^^^ done three of weeks ago. They were supposed to be back at Pilates last week(!) - they'd seen the physio/instructor and sounded all set to restart).

[Taipan]

Update FYI.

Injection has totally worn off now, back to how I was before. Currently laid out flat having been on my feet for all of 15 minutes this morning

This was always a strong possibility. Luckily BUPA are on it though, already had another more detailed MRI (have you ever tried laying perfectly still for an hour? ) which included a second set of coils placed on top of me.

Surgery is about £5-10k, honestly if BUPA won't pay that I'm strongly considering coughing up for it myself

Do it. Healthy bodies are much more important than healthy bank accounts. This is your rainy day!

[Horse]

Ah, right, not one of those where they put stuff in to pull the bobbins apart to relieve the pressure.

Filly has a prosthetic disc fitted in her neck. Unfortunately, bone grew and fused the joint.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Do it. Healthy bodies are much more important than healthy bank accounts. This is your rainy day!

Don't need to, BUPA have it covered.

Went back to see consultant today, looked at MRIs, nothing much has changed - if anything it's even more "slipped" now. So I'm in the ~20% of cases where injections don't give any lasting improvement and I'm back where I was.

Next step is chop (very small) bits of me out. Spoke to BUPA when I got home, all covered, could have it done as soon as next Thursday. Sadly I'm not going to available to be "offline" that soon 'cause of home logistics The procedure only takes you off your feet for a couple of days, but Mrs. D is away for work and I have to do the school run

Thank heavens for work health cover though.

[Mr. Dazzle]

All booked in for a couple of weeks from now.

Nominally have to stay in hozzy for a night but that's not a given. I have to prove I can walk before they'll let me go, so it's not like you have to be laid out for 5 weeks.

Pre-op screening confirms I'm not pregnant.

[Mussels]

All booked in for a couple of weeks from now.

Nominally have to stay in hozzy for a night but that's not a given. I have to prove I can walk before they'll let me go, so it's not like you have to be laid out for 5 weeks.

Pre-op screening confirms I'm not pregnant.

Are they stil letting you choose your gender then?

[Mr. Dazzle]

You know...come to think of it, I don't recall ever having to specify on any paperwork

[Mr. Dazzle]

Currently in hospital post op.

Woke up and immediately wiggled my toes to prove I can. Which I can

The constant tingle/electric pain I've had in my legs for the last few years is gone. Zip, zilch, nada. He said that was likely the happen, but its still a nice outcome.

My lower back on the other hand feels like a man has cut it open and poked some metal in there.

Convinced the Anaesthetist to test drive a new EV.

[Skub]

Get well soon man. A sore back is an embuggerance.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Nearly passed out going for a piss

I was with the nurse cause it was the first time back on my feet. She insisted I had to be put into my PJs following said piss collapse. No-one has put me in my jammies since I was about 4.

[the_priest]

How is the progress going? I've had my pain relief appt cancelled and now on the back burner again awaiting an appt. Also for the rheumatology blood tests. So NHS have been waiting another few months....

[Mr. Dazzle]

Yesterday in hospital, day after the surgery, I felt like I could have jogged home. Physio actually insisted on bringing Mrs D in to give strict instructions that I take it easy.

I feel it a bit more today, I had one dose of Morphine during surgery itself and then dihydrocodeine for a few doses too. Just paracetamol now. And fibre tablets

Obviously have a bunch of stitches in me too, which I can feel. I have instructions to lay on my back as much as possible but also have a load of stitches there

Honestly surprised how much better I feel, reading up on it before hand and speaking to Drs I was expecting to be laid out. I'm in less pain today than I was before being cut open. I do have some sciatica today, which I didn't yesterday, but apparently that's normal. Even the Physio was surprised how quick I was back on my feet, hence why she dragged Mrs D in.