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Guys i'm just looking for a bit of help with the above topic, Has anybody had a prolapsed back / Neck sorted by the NHS ?? if so what was done and what kind of wait did you have to get it sorted.

At the momement i'm employed by a large company that provides private Health care, 3 years ago i stated having pains in  my chest and getting pains down my right arm, after pyhsio accupuncture and traction i eventually had a mra scan that showed that i had 2 badly prolapsed disc at the top of my back near my neck. This was treated by a injection (root nerve block) between the spinal cord and my disc. Alls been well until about 6 months ago when the pains started to reoccur, Ive since taken up running which for some reason has kept the pain at bay, however over the last 2 weeks the pain has came back no matter what i do. 

Now when i had the root nerve block i was told if this failed the next step wound be to remove the damage disc and replace with a metal cage, this is something i'm not to keen on having so under normal curcumstances would put this off as long as i could.

The problem is the company i work for is up for sale and we have a potential buyer, if the sale goes ahead the private healthcare could stop leaving me with a potential back problem, Hence the NHS question, at the moment i have the means to get my back sorted even though i'd prefer to ask for another root nerve block and delay having surgery on my back.

What i dont want to do is just leave it then be in agony for years whilst waiting for the  NHS to sort it out.

so has anybody had a similar problem ?/ and ifso was it treated by the NHS and what was the timescale

Sorry this post is so longwinded

Bessie

Thanks for all your comments guys.

Ali  i agree surgery is a last resort, i've not heard of having the disc shaved that sounds far better option than having them removed and a metal cage inserted. Like you i've been learning to live with my pain again its only been back 6 months but it make me weary and its back in my right arm again.  

Clunty i agree i had 16 lots of physio, accupunture and traction  before they refered me further up the medical line.

plosi hope your much better now 75 days in hospital is a hell of a long time, you say that the nhs had to go in a 3rd time as they missed a bit of the disc, did you have the disc shaved or removed ??? if it was removed did you have a metal cage put in ??  

The joys of getting old eh  Bloody hell i'm only 43   

bessie

Be grateful I've been suffering with all of this since aged 28.  The risk of leaving surgery is eventually any stimulus to the nerves just gets percieved as pain.

I have had disc removed and the caged fitted surgery was from both the front and back. I had to wait 3 years for the surgery on the needs doing quickly list. At that time non urgent cases were a 6 year wait!  This was during the 1990's.

The surgery did help but with this its like comparing how long is a piece of string as degrees of prolapse, muscle tone etc are different for everyone. Plus surgery techniques are changing constantly. I know they are now doing some repairs via a laproscope so it would be minimally invasive.

I am currently having MRI's via the private route because its an 18 month to 2 year wait on the NHS.

Before you make your decision I suggest you check on wait times for investigations with your local heath authority. You could always have your investigations privately then delay surgery.

Hi Madz you've had the cage fitted did it fix you straight away ?? did you have full movement and do you still have that movement.

You say your having mri scans at the mo is that for a different area ??

The 3 /6 yr wait is what i want to avoid hence my question

Bessie

Cheers thanks plossi i'll look closer into the disc shaving as that sound the best option

Bessie

I had an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion C5-C6 & C6-C7 last march through Bupa.

I started with a numb right arm in November, doc told me to take painkillers in December, It spread across my shoulders and I was constantly trying to free the dead arm feeling in both arms. In January I was referred to NHS physio, saw them once he told me it was a rotator cuff injury and told me to go back in a month. As I had Bupa through work asked to be referred for physio privately. Saw a fantastic physio about 4 times, she tried strapping and gentle manipulation, nothing eased the pain which was spreading to both shoulders and hands. She referred me to Neuro surgeon beginning of Feb. I couldn’t turn my head at all from left to right. By then I was struggling to carry a cup of tea let alone a tray of tea, holding on to the steering wheel and gripping a pen, and typing  was also difficult.  

When I saw the Neurosurgeon he sent me for an immediate MRI, this was excruciating trying to keep still for 45 mins, my legs went into a spasm and I desperately tried to stop them from shaking. He said my discs were herniated and pressing on the nerve root, my only option was surgery to have 2 discs removed and fused.  This was from degenerated discs (possibly inherited) and forward head posture from bad posture using the computer. 2 days later I was signed off from work as an administrator because of the exhaustion and pain I couldn’t focus or cope.  In the 3 weeks of deciding and waiting for a date, my legs and bladder were affected from the nerve damage and I was shuffling to walk like an old lady and slept constantly. I was 36, my husband was practically looking after my teens single handedly, I couldn’t even load the dishwasher properly.  I was very scared by the horror stories on the internet, and never imagined feeling normal again.

I had the operation on the 12th of March last year. I had 3 months off  work with gentle physio after, it took until at least December to feel 'normal' but I still ached doing certain tasks, bizarrely chopping veg, because you lean forwards with head down & carrying the weight of my head in that position felt wrong and draughts were uncomfortable.

I joined the gym and slimming world in January as I wasn’t small pre surgery and had gained a stone since.  I have now lost 3 ½ stone and have gone from a size 18 – size 10.  I have full range of movement in my neck, up, down, left and right.  As my core strength has improved I feel fitter than ever.  I even do classes, Urban (bouncing on small trampolines) yoga, cycling and others which I never thought would be possible.  It has changed my life.
Sorry its long, but I felt you needed the full picture. If you have any other questions please ask
Becky

Wow thank you Becky for the detailed post like you i have pain in my chest across my shoulder (right hand) down my right arm and have limited head movement, at the moment it's not as bad as before the injection, but i know given time it will get worst.

After reading the post above i've booked in to see the Neuro surgeon next thursday and discuss what my options are, however i've already been told that anoth  root nerve block is not an option.

Becky i hope your road to recovery continues i'm glad to hear your feeling so good

Thanks for all the replys guys    

Bessie  

Good luck with your appointment and thank you for your kind words.

Becky