Hitch - I suffered a ruptured disc last April. After going from chiropractor to physio to acupuncture and not getting better, I went to a back specialist who recommended am epidural/steroid cortisone injection.
I had that but didn't get great advice on how easy I should take it immediately after. I did too much activity and that didn't allow it to work. The day after I was driving a car, picking up the kids from school, walking etc and that nite I was in the most excruciating pain I have ever known.
So if u do have the injection, which I think is a good option, please take it very easy for a few weeks and don't inflame things.
From there, with the injection not helping, the specialist thought surgery would be necessary - on my MRI the disc rupture was very noticeable and like u I was in a lot of pain all the time and on a number of painkillers I didn't really want to take.
Because of ACC red tape (work compo insurance in NZ), it took me until Sept to get the op done.
The op was a success in removing the offending disc that had ruptured the sac, but the recovery has been long.
The intense sciatic pain down my right leg went but I was left with residual nerve pain from the damage done over 6 months with the injury.
It has got better over the past 8 months but slowly.
I work at a computer desk so spend 8 hrs a day sitting down and am only now back to 8 hrs a day - gradually went up from starting at 2 hrs a day.
Still take regular breaks to lie down, including an hr at lunch, and have a heat pack for my leg/hamstring area when it tightens.
Fell like I may be 100% eventually but could take another 12 months.
Hope this helps mate, understand what u r going thru, getting some great advice from six five, don't hesitate to ask for more.
Six five - I must get yer email off Jack, would like to discuss yer recovery, sounds similar to mine if that's ok?
I had that but didn't get great advice on how easy I should take it immediately after. I did too much activity and that didn't allow it to work. The day after I was driving a car, picking up the kids from school, walking etc and that nite I was in the most excruciating pain I have ever known.
So if u do have the injection, which I think is a good option, please take it very easy for a few weeks and don't inflame things.
From there, with the injection not helping, the specialist thought surgery would be necessary - on my MRI the disc rupture was very noticeable and like u I was in a lot of pain all the time and on a number of painkillers I didn't really want to take.
Because of ACC red tape (work compo insurance in NZ), it took me until Sept to get the op done.
The op was a success in removing the offending disc that had ruptured the sac, but the recovery has been long.
The intense sciatic pain down my right leg went but I was left with residual nerve pain from the damage done over 6 months with the injury.
It has got better over the past 8 months but slowly.
I work at a computer desk so spend 8 hrs a day sitting down and am only now back to 8 hrs a day - gradually went up from starting at 2 hrs a day.
Still take regular breaks to lie down, including an hr at lunch, and have a heat pack for my leg/hamstring area when it tightens.
Fell like I may be 100% eventually but could take another 12 months.
Hope this helps mate, understand what u r going thru, getting some great advice from six five, don't hesitate to ask for more.
Six five - I must get yer email off Jack, would like to discuss yer recovery, sounds similar to mine if that's ok?
... but u should see an improvement in pain level reasonably soon after.
