Discectomy - After the Operation

[Priyal Bharuth]

PAMMS (Power Assisted Micro Manipulation). I have had the trained lady use 2 slightly different types of machine on my back. Working from neck down to base of spine. Very noisy machines but they WORK! Feels like deep pummelling. The machines are 'walked' down the spine. They get far deeper than simple hand pummelling. I assume the spine then opens up enough to ease the disc back in. When I first went, I was bent double, couldn't sleep, sit or walk. After the first 45mins session I was upright and went for a 10mins walk immediately after (recommended by specialist). No pain killers since, not even basic ones. Had a total of 3 treatments, then hope to go every 3months, then twice annually. It's worked soooo well for me and I don't think i need surgery now! The specialist at Kings, my own GP and the local hosp haven't heard of this PAMMS but it is on internet too and it really has 'saved' me! I was sooo depressed with pain. Oh yes, I'm a Mum of 5 too! Great to be nr human again! Going back for more PAMMS soon and will ask about more excercise as I am able to walk for miles and swim too. I still sleep without pillows but NO pain in leg at all and very very minimal pain in lower back. Wish I could have a 2nd MRI to see if all is well...I feel a fake at Kings!!

 

[lovemice]

PAMMS? Never heard of it, is it expensive? You will all be relieved to hear that I am now drugged up again, I don't think I'll attempt to go without prescribed piils again. The Diazepam will hopefully relax my shoulders and that will make a lot of difference. For once I'm in a happy place and I don't care about anything at all.......Cheers!

 

[murabiflowers]

PAMMS cost me £135 for three treatments, so I don't count that as expensive seeing as I am not on any medication now and 99.99% pain free. This treatment is easy to research thru the internet, just type in PAMMS. I HONESTLY recommend it and am not in 'shares' from it!!! I was at the end of my tether and this treatment was mentioned to my OH at work...we researched it and actually chatted to the specialist. Wonderful, PLEASE give it a try...

 

[Guess]

Treatment of PAMMS: Use by Specialist of Spinal Mouse, computerised & assesses spinal problems (like an x-ra would) The PAMMS machine stabalises the spine and aims to give long lasting effect within 3-5 treatments ( It certainly has with my back). This type of treatment can help with scoliosis (I have that slightly), dowages hump AND can help post op cases too. Surgery may remove your symptons but not necessarily the cause and therefore the pain may reappear at another level in the spine. This is non invasive treatment too. Hope that helps answer a bit more.

 

[kyeoeuksikpipseel]

Thank you for informing us about PAMMS although I don't think it would help me at all. Surely you would have to be sure what disc problems there are before taking up that kind of treatement, I know where one of my discs is and there's no way I'm going to do anything to aggravate it. And I may sound too much like a little pauper but as I only have £250 a week to support my family and I, £135 is just a bit more than I can afford. (Okay, I confess they are also paying half my rent and half my council tax....but even so).

So how is everyone doing? My tale of woe seems never ending as I've contacted Southampton hospital, 3 weeks after my referral was sent, and they don't seem to have any information on me....I give up!

 

[WAKE UP SHEEPLE]

Hi Melza, Yes it's an expensive treatment, especially if you really have other priorities. I have 5 children, so they all needed Mum back to normal. I struggled for over a year and am just on waiting list at hosp to have op...but even they agree, I am so much more mobile.

No, it's not to be entered into blindly...I had my MRI put on dvd, so any professional I visit can see and be 100% sure of my situation. The PAMMS specialist saw these before any treatment was offered. Anyone can contact a PAMMS specialist and simply 'chat' to them FREE. They are very approachable people.

I am no longer taking any medication and walk, swim etc fine. I have minimal pain in lower back but that may be my 'prompt' to have another single session. Plus, I get half my costs back thru an mediacl health plan (only a few pence per month outlay).

I only came on to see if any one else knew of this treatment and did they actually have an op or not.

My prolapse is L4 & L5, with a then trapped nerve (which has obviously become free again).

Hope you find the help you need a.s.a.p and I wish you well.

 

[Endeavor]

Hi

Sorry to hear that the NHS is continuing not to perform, they havent really served you well have they. Keep chasing them and don't let up on the pressure.

I am now nearly four months post op. I am back at work but still in pain. Like a smart arse I tried to build up to cycling 20 miles a day into and out of work to lose the weight I put on over the op. Back spasms followed so I am back at the accupuncturist, back curved to the left with muscle spasms. Still some muscle growth and after a week or two will get right back to it. I am determined not to let it beat me. I feel like about 84 not 44.

Its a frustrating process.

To anyone out there still in pain all the best - keep going.

Rod

 

[choney]

Hello, I just joined this thread. I had a L5/S1 discectomy on Sat 13th Sept, it is now 15th Sept and I have been discharged 3 hours ago. I have been seeing NHS for 4.5 years with the problem, and luckily one day my consultant was a spinal surgeon. He explained what it was and recommended a Canal Block. I had this and lasted 2 days. Having spent so much time in agony, i decided to see the consultant privately. He recommended a Discectomy and i would have to wait til approx mid april 2009 for the operation.

This was far to long to be on a coctail of 27 painkillers per day, so i went down the private sector route for surgery. 3 weeks later here i am. All leg pain has gone, but my back feels like someone ran at it with a sledgehammer more than once.

I have been given a recovery time of 6 weeks (with no guarentee from Nuffield).

Will keep you posted on how my recovery goes.

ALP

 

[frank21142226]

Rod what a shame you are suffering again I was trying to keep positive because you seemed to be recovering really well. I WAS doing great and am supposed to be going back to work next week?? I had been experiencing very mild sciatica in my right leg but was just putting this down to being the norm. For the last 3 mornings when I have got out of bed the sciatic pain is so bad that I feel like I'm going to pass out (much worse than before op) after about 30 mins the pain does ease and once I can get going walking helps. I don't know wether it is because I have been more active in the last week and been driving a bit more, trouble is the advice I've been given on what I can do is so vague.
Rod how many weeks after your op did you try accupuncture?

Melza don't give up , ring them every day if you have to you shouldn't have to put up with this it's disgusting.

 

[??????????????]

Hi Rod and Viv, thanks for your good wishes...I can only assume the NHS expect me to live for a very long time and don't need to rush.

Rod, your recent symptoms made my blood run cold (nothing personal of course), I had advice from a physio because my hip was protruding to the left. The 'cure' to 'put it right' created unbelievable muscle spasms that lasted for nearly 3 months. Please be very very careful....I couldn't bear anyone else to go through that. Needless to say, after a second lot of bad advice, I never see a physiotherapist and never will again. We can only go by our own experiences, but do be careful Rod.

And poor Viv as well, I guess we really do have to be extra careful post op. That must be so hard when you can finally move again. Just don't move!

 

[Stace]

Hi

Melza, thanks for the warning I will watch it carefully. Three months of spasms sounds like hell. It's all my fault really trying too hard to cycle (which is a bit dodgey for the back anyway) - you could call me a plonker for cycling 10 miles in to work and 10 miles back, my wife does. I walk like an old man now but can make it into work and will continue to do so. Agree with your commments on physio and also from my experinece osteopaths. This is just a temporary setback and I will eventually cycle into work, just will take alittle time to build up muscle.

Viv

Acupuncture is great I am going this lunchtime to see my Chinese lady again, who is great. I started seeing her about six weeks post op. I made huge progress with her and credit her with a significant part of my recovery (prior to the yellow jersey episode). When I was 12 I had a big op on my leg that left a 3cmby 12cm area of flesh with no feeling in it for 30 years. I never let anyone touch it. Anyway as part of my back treatment she grew nerves back into it and I can feel normally. She specialises in doing this for people who have had bad road traffic accidents. I have no idea how she did this, but she did; so I am in good hands. Imagine going to see your GP and requesting this service, I can picture the response and the second word of it would be 'off'.

Keep your spirits up - thats half the battle and the miost important bit!

Rod

 

[andrew thompson]

Hi Guys

Just an update 5 weeks post op on my L5 S1...

Been very up and down road to recovery, 3 weeks of physio now doing lost of leg stretches and pelvic strengthening. Still have sciatica, not as bad as before, and different sort of pain - consultant is sure this will go over time.

Had a real set back on monday - recently been getting more pain in the joints behind the incision area - and on monday I accidently twisted awkwardly and something went it was like one of the joints in myspine just seized up.

Consultant reckoned it was 'facet joint something-or-other' and it will go in a couple of weeks. SO painful though, like my vertabrae are really bruised.

Anyway keeping going with physio and rest, getting signed off work again for another couple of weeks as I'm nor ready to go back yet.

Anyone else had pain like above?

Ben

 

[carr7853]

Hi All

8 weeks and 1 day post discectomy and overall doing well. I have had much of what everyone describes; I too twisted and had a lot of pain for around about 2 weeks, but it did clear up; I too had a period of really bad pains on getting up, from about week 5 for just over a week; and acupunture was the best thing I every tried.

I started acupunture at week 4, Western style at site of pain, but with long needles. Absolutely brilliant, not cheap, but has worked for me. I am off pain killers except at night, working full-time, 10 hours a day and apart from twinges, which are worse in the evening, getting there. I have now developed a stiff neck on the opposite side to my prolapsed disc, which radiates into my shoulder and creates a funny sensation in my ear and jaw. Anyway I'm getting the acupunturist to start work on my neck and am going to look into PAMMs.

I think it is really hard coping with all this stuff, I know it isn't life threatening, but the pain is so debilitating and just when you think things are getting better, a new pain starts. I have found lots of comfort from you all and the many posts.

Wishing all pain free soon

Howie

 

[~21 weeks prego!~]

Day 2 of being discharged. My back pain has amplified, numbness in my right leg, back of thigh, calf and sole of my foot is numb too. Right leg itches like nobody's business where the stocking was and the hairs on the back of my right leg have fallen out! Cant imagine what caused that.

Found an excellent painkiller, it diclofenac called Voltarol dispersible. They normally give it to kids, but its still 50mg and because its disolvable gets to the pain quicker, still need DHC paracetamol and amytriptiline tho.

 

[Reality bites]

Hi,
Have just stumbled accross this site & boy do i wish i'd found it sooner. I suffered severe sciatica from January this year & underwent a microdiscectomy L3/L4 in May. I woke from the op with no nerve pain at all. Brill!!! .......... Erm, not quite First I developed an infection that meant i had to return to theatre for a washout. It then took 6 weeks for the wound to heal, however i had no leg pain. Having gone back to work on admin duties I started to experience som backache which i put down to overdoing it. However, i am now in agony. Lower back pain 24/7, numbness & tingling in my legs & toes & yesterday my back seemed to lock with severe pain & i fell over, Can't begin to describe how gutted I am that this seems to have gone full circle. Still, I have managed to bag myself an appointment with my consultant on 30th of this month so will let you all know what the outcome is

 

[KTKatieKT]

Dear Tracy, I'm gutted for you, all that just to end up right where you started from. But I have to say...how on earth did you get treated so quickly! Where am I going wrong? Am I unworthy?

Adey and Howie, I hope everything settles down soon, you post ops are my role models for heavens sake!

Now its time to start waving flags and celebrating.....I have a provisional appointment at Southampton. Isn't it exciting! All arranged for the 24th (of March!), I can hardly wait. Apparently the consultant may bring that date forward or I can even keep checking for a cancellation.....but what the hell. I suppose I should be happy that it's for March 2009 and not March 2010. Suppose its time to learn how to knit.

Ali! How are you doing?

 

[Tunner Babs]

Hi Melza!

No change i'm afraid! The epidural (but i wont tell the doc!) has helped (but only a little)...so am back at work on a very part time basis.
Painkillers have been increased, but unfortunately, the side effects are monster migraines which has resulted in yet MORE medication! When will it end??? This time last year i was in the same position, waiting for a microdiscectomy and hey presto here i am again!

No word on a date yet, i hope yours does get brought forward, march is a long time yet!

 

[GraConiieu]

melza...i am so glad you have a surgery date but can't believe you have to wait so long. march is crazy!!! have they told you why it is so far away? surely the consultant can't be that busy... we happened to be remortgaging at the time when my back was at it's worst, so were able to borrow an extra £4000 to pay for private surgery. if this is at all feasible for anyone waiting for an op then i really, really recommend it. the difference in our monthly payments is hardly anything....

don't want to tempt fate, but at 6 weeks post op i am getting stronger and stronger, both physically and emotionally. managed a swim yesterday and a trip to the cinema today. have also done hour long walks and survived 4 easyjet flights!!! long may it continue... i am so so sorry to hear about those of you still suffering post op. i have had a couple of blips and they have been terrifying. just know that you have survived this once already and will do again. keep fighting, stay strong and take care of yourselves.

lots of love,
jess xx

 

[stehoorievire]

Hi Guys

I think I have it sussed. Its a pretty simple formula.All the pre ops mention problems to GPs and Surgeons with peeing and the rest (reading all Olli's back posts)and add that they have lost reflexes in the foot and arms and you are away.

I THINK THAT BACK PAIN IS NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY ENOUGH BY NHS AND WE NEED TO SHOULD LOUDLY TO GET ATTENTION. I AM VERY DEPRESSED THAT SO MANTY PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING - WHY DO WE PAY TAXES?

Anyway theres my rant and I feel better for it! Keep going everyone and remember not to have a back op and get onto a mountainbike - back spasms suck!

Rod

 

[guestofroom2002]

Hi & thanks for your reply. I've looked through a few of your postings & i'm disgusted that the NHS wouldn't assess & alter your workstation. I too work for the NHS although not the trust that is dealing with my spine. Have you been in touch with your manual handling & occupational health department they may be able to help in several ways.
As for how i got treated so quickly I have no idea other than my symptoms were worsening by the day & this time round I have only very recently been discharged & managed to get a cancellation.
Take care

Tracey