I've been lying in bed wide awake for the past few hours feeling sorry for myself due to sciatic type pain down my leg! Started getting pain about 6 months and it has gotten progressively worse. I am a very active and sporty person (Gaelic football, golf, Crossfit, cycle and swim) but the past few months I have been unable to do any kind of sport at all. Even swimming is hurting me ffs. Driving and sitting down give the most discomfort. I have been going to a physio with a good reputation for fixing backs but he has been unable to do anything for mine. Got an mri scan and there is a disc protrusion in my lower back. I've had two injections (the second one was just yesterday) and they have done f**k all as well. I fear the next step is an operation which I want to avoid as I am a sub teacher at the minute, so if I don't work I don't get paid.
Ive had all the usual sore back pain, hamstring injuries, etc that come with playing sport but this is the most depressing and debilitating injury I've ever had.
Anybody had similar problems? What did you do to fix it?
I went to a Chinese doc for physio on a recommendation (i'd 6 wks off work with it), done more in a couple of sessions than 2/3 mainstream physios did, couldnt recommend it enough, it will hurt like s bastid thou & i cant vouch for any other than the one i attended.
pm the name and price if you could benny
Hi Jim,
Were are you based? There's a good guy in Carrickmore that might be worth a look at!!
I had problems with my back about 6 years ago, siezed disc is what I had.
I went to a Physio in Dungannon who at that time was the only one in Ireland who practice the "Sarah Key Method".
Basically you lie on the floor, and the pysio stands on your back and uses her heel on you. You then use a "Back Block" to do a specific set of exercises.
I must admit I was sceptical at the start but after about 8 sessions it started to move, and a couple more sessions it was freed up. I've never had problems since. And if my back ever feels stiff I do the exercises for a week or two and its grand again (I should probably do the exercises anyway).
I'm sure there are other Physios using this technique now so you could try to find one near you who does, or if you want I'll PM you the contact details of this one. Plus do a bit of a google on the Sarah Key Method, plenty of info about it online.
PM'd you there Jim
Based just outside Lurgan, Co Armagh. The physio i am going to is a highly respected and comes highly recommended. He deals a lot with all the county players. He thinks the next stage is going to see the surgeon, which isnt keen on as I am only 28. The operation would be key hole job so I hopefully wouldnt be out of work for too long. I just want that as a last option. Would be willing to try a chiropractor or something. Extremely frustrating and painful injury. Wouldnt wish it on anyone.
After years of suffering and visits to useless physios, I finally diagnosed my back pain to a slightly curved spine (scoliosis) which meant that my pelvis was slightly tilted, which meant that i was favouring one leg more than the other, which meant increased muscle strain, which eventually caused back pain.
If I lie to long in bed I am in agony. So I need to keep up the golf, cycling and short gentle jogging.
I wouldn't turn down a little oriental massage though!
Quote from: Orior on October 31, 2012, 10:14:17 AM
After years of suffering and visits to useless physios, I finally diagnosed my back pain to a slightly curved spine (scoliosis) which meant that my pelvis was slightly tilted, which meant that i was favouring one leg more than the other, which meant increased muscle strain, which eventually caused back pain.
If I lie to long in bed I am in agony. So I need to keep up the golf, cycling and short gentle jogging.
I wouldn't turn down a little oriental massage though!
With a happy ending of course! ;)
I had two disc protrusion in my lower back - was told surgery was the only option. Didn't want to go down that road, did some extensive physio and did my back exercises religiously ever day. Really worked on building up my core and in the last year invested in a resistance band and a foam roller to work on my hips, gluts iband etc. Have had no issues since and I had the MRI six years ago..
As a Physical Therapist I treat loads of people with low back problems, many of them with disc protrusions and what I can say with certainty is that everyone is different. I've had patients who left feeling top of the world after a couple of sessions and others who have taken months to get decent improvement. I've not heard of the Sarah Key method but just looked up some of her videos (reckon she's a good sales woman...a rolled towel would do what her block does and using extension exercises to aid in treatment is known the world over!!) She also contradicts herself a little but won't get into details. A lot depends on the specifics of the case and the individual. I have seen MRIs and you'd wonder how the person could function at all and yet would still be playing sport, while others would have what appeared very minor on an MRI but would hardly be able to move. What's best I'm not certain as I will use a variety of modalities that compliment each other....I tend to go with laser, integrative systemic dry needling, soft tissue work, cryotherapy and spinal mobs along with exercise prescription which is based around stretching of tight structures, exercising into extension, core strengthening and low back strengthening. What's worth noting.... if you go to someone and they tell you you have 5 slipped discs without having done an MRI and then tell you they put them back in you should be very dubious. You just can't put discs back in. They are not like sheep that got out of a field!!! Here's a little video of what a herniated disc http://www.spine-health.com/video/lumbar-herniated-disc-video[/b]]http://www.spine-health.com/video/lumbar-herniated-disc-video (http://[b). As Dinny so rightly pointed out, probably the most critical part is adherence to the prescribed exercises... unfortunately you have to do a lot of the work yourself!!!!!
http://www.losethebackpain.com/
there's a web link that might be of some use to you Jim. For the cost of a GP visit a few years ago they sent me on this "self diagnosis system". Effectively they identify about four core causes of chronic back pain such as muscle imbalance due to modern living (e.g. hunched over a computer all day with some muscles being used at the expense of others). Once you have diagnosed the cause of your complaint you are given a series of strengthening and flexibility exercises which are designed to counter the source of your pain. I stick to my routine reasonably rigidly and it has helped. About 20 minutes per session which you can do in the living room. If you can supplement with a bit of Pilates, better still. Good luck.
Since the summer, I've been having pain in my lower back, coccyx, in both buttocks, thighs, hamstrings, calves, and also at the front of the lower legs.
Been having physio sessions on average twice a month, and he told me it seems to be muscular rather than anything serious. I've been to my doctor also, and upon examination, told me there doesn't seem to be anything seriously wrong in the lower back area.
I do alot of driving with my job, so I guess over time, it has come to a head. Driving does aggravate things, but when I'm out of the car and out and about, things aren't as bad.
Over the last couple of months, at the advice of my physio, I've been walking alot, with a swim and a bike ride usually in the week too. I would also do exercises everyday for lower back/legs etc. Things have eased a little over the last 3/4 weeks since I upped my exercise schedule, but the symptoms are still there somewhat.
Its frustrating, as I'm thinking maybe I should change career, if things don't settle. I'm worried if I continue doing what I'm doing, I may do irreversible damage.
If anyone has had any similar problems, or has any advice, I'd greatly appreciate it.
Benny in terms of what you get it's not dissimilar to what i have had in the past. Sitting causes inactive glutes which essentially weaken over time. Weak glutes mean more emphasis on lower back and hamstrings which will tighten.
Keeping the glutes active - dynamic stretching which shouldn't even take too long - and strenghtening them will help. Pilates is a great job for that. It's a time thing though- won't change overnight.
Modern day life isn't great for the back and a lot suffer from issues.
Thanks for that, Tommy.
My physio had said something similar. That the muscles in the legs/lower back have weakened, and it's about building up the strength in those areas again, which is why he recommended the walking, swimming, bike exercises (as well as exercises my physio recommended which is quite similar to alot of yoga/pilates exercises).
From your own experience, do you think there's anything I could add to my exercise schedule to improve things, or am I doing enough to help things?
Benny there's really a standard set of exercises like squats, bridges, planks, lunges etc which you are maybe doing.
One thing i would recommend is pilates and a couple of things to think about... From all your exercises i think you should try and do your bridges a few times a day - i.e focus on it slightly more than others.
With me my upper back/ shoulder area always tightened a bit. I'd recommend keeping the shoulders and upper back well stretchd too.
bennycake - physio never mention Orthotics for muscle imbalances?
Quote from: bennydorano on November 01, 2012, 09:13:44 AM
bennycake - physio never mention Orthotics for muscle imbalances?
No, what is that?
Quote from: JimStynes on October 31, 2012, 07:13:51 AM
I've been lying in bed wide awake for the past few hours feeling sorry for myself due to sciatic type pain down my leg! Started getting pain about 6 months and it has gotten progressively worse. I am a very active and sporty person (Gaelic football, golf, Crossfit, cycle and swim) but the past few months I have been unable to do any kind of sport at all. Even swimming is hurting me ffs. Driving and sitting down give the most discomfort. I have been going to a physio with a good reputation for fixing backs but he has been unable to do anything for mine. Got an mri scan and there is a disc protrusion in my lower back. I've had two injections (the second one was just yesterday) and they have done f**k all as well. I fear the next step is an operation which I want to avoid as I am a sub teacher at the minute, so if I don't work I don't get paid.
Ive had all the usual sore back pain, hamstring injuries, etc that come with playing sport but this is the most depressing and debilitating injury I've ever had.
Anybody had similar problems? What did you do to fix it?
Jim I had pretty much exactly what u described there, I blamed its beginning on three things that happened over the space of a week, a hospital pass in football on the Sunday, drove from Cork to Belfast on the Wednesday and went hill running on the Thursday.
After 6 months it got to the stage where I was in agony, couldn't walk for more than two minutes without needing to sit down, sleepless nites, was on diphene and pain killers. Got the MRI and the consultant said she could give me the injection but she felt it probably wouldn't be affective and that the operation would be my best option.
Went in on Dec 21st last year, left the following day, pain gone competely, and went to the physio the following day, spent a week in bed doing my exercises and then a lot of time lying down but loads and loads of core work. After six weeks was back running and back on the bike soon after, spin classes, managed to lose 2 stone in 6 weeks.
Managed 9 triathlons this year and did my first marathon this week.
For me it came down to the absolute pain i was in beforehand & I trusted the doc, she told me a 96% of success so I was happy enough with that.
So I couldn't recommend it highly enough but I do understand that some people can be afraid to go down that road
Quote from: BennyCake on November 01, 2012, 08:11:19 PM
Quote from: bennydorano on November 01, 2012, 09:13:44 AM
bennycake - physio never mention Orthotics for muscle imbalances?
No, what is that?
Like contoured insoles in your shoes, meant to rebalance some muscles, i currently have them for an unrelated knee injury. All done through Doc / NHS physio route, worth a mention.
Was at surgeon today and he has recommended I get surgery ASAP. Gutted to be honest but I want to get rid of the pain. Have to go in Thursday 6th of Dec. Before I do though I am going to go see a fella Ralph McCutcheon. He is an osteopath working out of a place in Holywood. Anyone every heard of him or dealt with an osteopath?
Quote from: bennydorano on November 02, 2012, 08:54:19 AM
Quote from: BennyCake on November 01, 2012, 08:11:19 PM
Quote from: bennydorano on November 01, 2012, 09:13:44 AM
bennycake - physio never mention Orthotics for muscle imbalances?
No, what is that?
Like contoured insoles in your shoes, meant to rebalance some muscles, i currently have them for an unrelated knee injury. All done through Doc / NHS physio route, worth a mention.
I'll mention it to him, thanks.
Quote from: JimStynes on November 26, 2012, 11:28:03 PM
Was at surgeon today and he has recommended I get surgery ASAP. Gutted to be honest but I want to get rid of the pain. Have to go in Thursday 6th of Dec. Before I do though I am going to go see a fella Ralph McCutcheon. He is an osteopath working out of a place in Holywood. Anyone every heard of him or dealt with an osteopath?
I haven't been to one. Maybe someone else can advise you.
Sorry to hear you need surgery, Jim. I'm sure things will improve for you though. All the best with the op (if it goes ahead), and your recovery. Keep us posted on your recovery.
I was at an osteopath a few years ago Jim. At the time I was getting a recurring injury in my calves and reading into it I thought it could have been stemming from the back. It wasn't the boy you mention - though I can't remember the name - but it was interesting. He didn't find anything untoward but he was checking alignment and all that business.
I occassionally get alignment issues but the physio I go to corrects it. I would love to know where it comes from but 40-50 miles a week on the road is more than likely to be the cause!
I also had sciactic type pain due to a glute issue this time last year. This came from a very tight glute pushing on the nerve and was agony. It was kind of like pirifomis but wasn't quite. The tight glute stemmed from the alignment issue I say above.
Have you had alignment looked at before?
Benny, like ITG, I had very similar issues with an alignment problem. Initially it started with pain at the back of the knee then developed into pain in the glute, hamstring tendon and even the tendon in my foot all down one side. I went to an osteopath/physio Jonathon Sinclair from the W.Ryan Back Clinic in Dunmurry (I would definitely recommend him but not neccessarily the others in that practice) who treated it initially to relieve the tightness in the muscles/ tendons. He also told me to get orthotics, which have made a massive difference. These along with the stretching exercises he gave me have kept me fairly pain free for the past year. Although, if your going to play/ train it is vital that you do all the specific stretches before you go and even when you get home. Trying to do them as part of the team warm up/down is not enough!
Quote from: JimStynes on November 26, 2012, 11:28:03 PM
Was at surgeon today and he has recommended I get surgery ASAP. Gutted to be honest but I want to get rid of the pain. Have to go in Thursday 6th of Dec. Before I do though I am going to go see a fella Ralph McCutcheon. He is an osteopath working out of a place in Holywood. Anyone every heard of him or dealt with an osteopath?
What did the surgeon recommend,discetomy or spinal fusion? I go with his judgement to be honest, if the disc is in bad shape, you could be doing Physiotherapy and Osteopathy treatment and exercises for the next year and only make a slight improvement. Recovery from spinal surgeries is excellent nowadays. Throw us a PM if you need to.
He recommended a discetomy. Went to that fella today to see what he could do with me. The osteopath to be fair seemed to know what he was doing but he said himself that I am in too bad a shape for him to do anything worthwhile for me. He said it could take months to try make improvements and it wouldnt be worth going through the pain. He recommended to go for the surgery ASAP. I have been reading online about it and some people have said they have been left with constant pain down their leg after surgery, some said no improvements, some had numbness down one side, some also said best thing they ever done. I know most surgeries have risks and complications but there seems to be a lot more with this type of surgery. Such a f**king about match
First things first...get a second, maybe even a third opinion. I have been diagnosed with spondylolysthesis in the L5/S1 region. But calcification is taking place which appears to have helped stopped the slippage. The L5 protrudes by 12mm. However the Orthopaedic surgeon has told me not to consider surgery but to stop running. All those times I was complaining about a bad back in Perth are now explained.
Get other opinions. Who analysed the MRI?
I still cycle alot and that totally alleviates the pain. Try that if you haven't already. Also, when I was a lad, I used to lie on a thin mattress on a carpeted floor. Only way I could get relief.
I had very bad back pain and went to an osteopath who works out of omagh and banbridge. He is very honest and upfront and doesnt bullshit. I had bad back pain, had to get injections to kill the pain and he had me sorted in two sessions. I know that your pain is a lot worse but I have been to numerous physios etc and none of them were able to help. Let me know if you want his details and ill pass them on to you.
Quote from: Aerlik on November 30, 2012, 01:37:58 PM
First things first...get a second, maybe even a third opinion. I have been diagnosed with spondylolysthesis in the L5/S1 region. But calcification is taking place which appears to have helped stopped the slippage. The L5 protrudes by 12mm. However the Orthopaedic surgeon has told me not to consider surgery but to stop running. All those times I was complaining about a bad back in Perth are now explained.
Get other opinions. Who analysed the MRI?
I still cycle alot and that totally alleviates the pain. Try that if you haven't already. Also, when I was a lad, I used to lie on a thin mattress on a carpeted floor. Only way I could get relief.
I have tried everything like cycling, lying on floors, walking, intense stretching etc way at the beginning when I was able to move. It has got to the stage where I wouldnt have a hope of even getting my leg over the bar on the bike. Walking kills me, sitting in the car kills me, i cant sleep more that 2 hours at night and I cant get my leg up more than 5 degrees when trying to stretch. Horrible constant pain. MRI was analysed by 3 people, surgeon, physiotherapist (back specialist) and radiologist. I didnt go near an orthopaedic surgeon, went straight to a spinal surgeon and also had my notes checked by a neurosurgeon as they specialise in that area. He talked me through the MRI scan and showed me where the disc is bulging into my nerves. Cant wait to get the surgery now so I can get a nights sleep for first time in 4 or 5 months.
Jim, the wife's uncle has serious back trouble in his late 40s to such an extent he had to quit work as he was a Bank Manager and couldnt sit for any period of time. Although quitting golf was the bigger issue! Throughout this time he avoided surgery as the thought of it scared the shit out of him. Eventually he could take no more and went for surgery in Dublin and it transformed to an extent he took up gardening for people.
Hope you get sorted on the 6th.
Quote from: Tony Baloney on December 02, 2012, 09:53:26 AM
Jim, the wife's uncle has serious back trouble in his late 40s to such an extent he had to quit work as he was a Bank Manager and couldnt sit for any period of time. Although quitting golf was the bigger issue! Throughout this time he avoided surgery as the thought of it scared the shit out of him. Eventually he could take no more and went for surgery in Dublin and it transformed to an extent he took up gardening for people.
Hope you get sorted on the 6th.
Hope Lewis from Coronation Street is reading this. He s got a bad back at the moment and it s what is keeping him from humping gorgeous Gail!!!!
Quote from: Gaffer on December 02, 2012, 01:28:35 PM
Quote from: Tony Baloney on December 02, 2012, 09:53:26 AM
Jim, the wife's uncle has serious back trouble in his late 40s to such an extent he had to quit work as he was a Bank Manager and couldnt sit for any period of time. Although quitting golf was the bigger issue! Throughout this time he avoided surgery as the thought of it scared the shit out of him. Eventually he could take no more and went for surgery in Dublin and it transformed to an extent he took up gardening for people.
Hope you get sorted on the 6th.
Hope Lewis from Coronation Street is reading this. He s got a bad back at the moment and it s what is keeping him from humping gorgeous Gail!!!!
I'd be hobbling about like a Derryman on the DLA if that was ahead of me :o
Jim sent u a PM there, hope it's a success. The most important thing is to get into the physio ASAP after, even better if it's one u can trust to trust u if you know what I mean. Who'll say listen do A, B, C and if there's no pain then onto DEF as soon as u can and if he says every two hours then get down to it.
If its any help I had mine on 13th dec last year and have cycled over a 1,000miles since and ran the marathon, brought home the turf and and shook the fertiliser, just need to make sure I keep doing my core exercises
I have been attending physio for several weeks, 3 weeks ago she started using acupuncture, I swear my back has made huge improvements.
Good man Mayo and the others for the PMs. Some really good advice and reassurance for me. Operation is now scheduled for 13th Dec at some stage in the other. Hope it will be a success.
Got great help from this thread the last time so going to try again!
Had the operation in December there and everything went well. Was back up walking about within a couple of days basically pain free. Since then I have been going to the gym, playing golf, cycling, swimming and running. I have completed a few cycling events and a triathlon. Total different man from this time last year where I was basically in constant pain, sleeping max 2 hours per night and I could hardly walk.
I havent been able to back to playing football though as I still get a tiny bit of pain at the top of my right leg and a bit of pain in my lower back. I dont think I would be able to bend down to pick up a football while getting shouldered and tackled. This past few weeks though this has started to get a little worse. I was meant to compete in a triathlon this morning but dropped out as I dont think I could have sit on the bike and ran. Swimming doesnt seem to bother it too much. I am probably being paranoid but I dont want the sciatica pain coming back. Would really love to be able to play football again but dont know if this is as good as it gets recovery wise.
Anybody had any similar experience to this?
Quote from: JimStynes on August 17, 2013, 04:49:35 PM
Got great help from this thread the last time so going to try again!
Had the operation in December there and everything went well. Was back up walking about within a couple of days basically pain free. Since then I have been going to the gym, playing golf, cycling, swimming and running. I have completed a few cycling events and a triathlon. Total different man from this time last year where I was basically in constant pain, sleeping max 2 hours per night and I could hardly walk.
I havent been able to back to playing football though as I still get a tiny bit of pain at the top of my right leg and a bit of pain in my lower back. I dont think I would be able to bend down to pick up a football while getting shouldered and tackled. This past few weeks though this has started to get a little worse. I was meant to compete in a triathlon this morning but dropped out as I dont think I could have sit on the bike and ran. Swimming doesnt seem to bother it too much. I am probably being paranoid but I dont want the sciatica pain coming back. Would really love to be able to play football again but dont know if this is as good as it gets recovery wise.
Anybody had any similar experience to this?
That is a shit one Jim, was that the Omagh Triathlon? Nothing worse than back problems, touch wood I've been lucky enough. You'd need to see if it's the same problem for before the operation. You could have picked it up from something done at the gym, running on the roads to something else.
Get back on the waiting list and hopefully you won't wait too long to get it seen to
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 17, 2013, 07:55:37 PM
Quote from: JimStynes on August 17, 2013, 04:49:35 PM
Got great help from this thread the last time so going to try again!
Had the operation in December there and everything went well. Was back up walking about within a couple of days basically pain free. Since then I have been going to the gym, playing golf, cycling, swimming and running. I have completed a few cycling events and a triathlon. Total different man from this time last year where I was basically in constant pain, sleeping max 2 hours per night and I could hardly walk.
I havent been able to back to playing football though as I still get a tiny bit of pain at the top of my right leg and a bit of pain in my lower back. I dont think I would be able to bend down to pick up a football while getting shouldered and tackled. This past few weeks though this has started to get a little worse. I was meant to compete in a triathlon this morning but dropped out as I dont think I could have sit on the bike and ran. Swimming doesnt seem to bother it too much. I am probably being paranoid but I dont want the sciatica pain coming back. Would really love to be able to play football again but dont know if this is as good as it gets recovery wise.
Anybody had any similar experience to this?
That is a shit one Jim, was that the Omagh Triathlon? Nothing worse than back problems, touch wood I've been lucky enough. You'd need to see if it's the same problem for before the operation. You could have picked it up from something done at the gym, running on the roads to something else.
Get back on the waiting list and hopefully you won't wait too long to get it seen to
Aye im going to go see about it. Thankfully it is nothing anywhere near what it was before, just dont want it ending up that way again by doing too much or something. I want to find out if it is going to get better or whether I am going to be left by having some degree of pain or weakness in my back. I mainly want to get back playin football for another couple of years.
No it was the lough neagh sprint triathlon, was really looking forward to it too.
Well hope it works out for ya
You could manage the pick-up if you genuflected :)
Genuflection is about the only useful thing the church teaches.
I'll give my thoughts on full blown sciatica in a while but my lumbar is telling me loudly that I've passed my computer use limit now.
JS, core work is vital, I find if I leave it for even a few days I can feel the old aches coming back and its only a matter of time before they turn into real pain. Keeping up the core work I can do everything else like triathlons, lifting 50kg bags of fertiliser, bringing home turf.
Football is the one thing I stay away from, too much contact, you're only running the risk of a reoccurance.
But i'd love a game