Prolapsed/Slipped Discs - What A Pain In The Buttock!!!

Up until November last year, I was a recognised Birth Doula with Doula UK (a woman who supports pregnant women and their families before, during and after birth). I awoke one Friday morning in November at 6am to my son who was teething. I leaned over his cotbed to tend to him and I felt my back 'go'. An hour later, I got a call from my client saying she was having regular contractions and could I come.

A gorgeous baby boy was born 22 hours later however by this point, I was in excruciating pain with my back and I hobbled back to my car and drove home.

The following day, the Saturday, I was still in agony, my back went into spasm walking down the stairs and I couldn't move for about 5 or 10 minutes.

By the Sunday, the pain had moved from my back into my left buttock/leg and foot and I felt this strange numbness. I've never experienced anything like it and the pain, well, I've always said and will always say, I'd rather give birth than experience that pain!!!!

I managed to get an appointment with my osteopath on the Monday, relief all round as I thought he would take the pain away as he has done on the few other previous occasions I've been to see him with lower back pain.

My dad drove me there, I was lying in the back of his car and after seeing the osteopath I hobbled back to the car still in as much agony. Phone call to my GP on the Tuesday, prescribed Volterol, Diclofenac and 2 days worth of Diazapam. I took them all, I just didn't care as I was constantly writhing on the bed or settee - I couldn't sit down, I could only lie or stand.

The tablets really knocked me out and I finally got a little sleep. On Thursday my husband travelled to Germany thinking that I was improving. By early hours of Friday morning I was writhing in agony again. Being on my own, my first call was to my mum. My mum and dad came to the house at 1.30am, called for an ambulance and off I went to hospital.

By this point I couldn't sit down to go to the toilet so in the end they had to catheterise me. I had an X-ray and MRI scan the same day and was told I had an L5/S1 prolapsed disc and I remained in hospital for almost a week. At first I was on morphine but then this fantastic Pain Specialist prescribed me Gabapentin - a tablet that epileptics take everyday of their lives but found to help specifically with nerve pain. If I could shout from the rooftops about how this tablet can really help nerve pain I would!!!!

And so, once home, the pain was being managed much better and I tried to keep moving. I had physiotherapy for 3 months and 2 sessions of hydrotherapy.

At the end of January, however, because my recovery had plateaued, the physiotherapist suggested I go back to see my Consultant which I duly did in early February to be told I had a sequestrated prolapse compressing my sciatic nerve, large disc and it's unlikely to recover without an operation.

My Consultant at that particular hospital only carried out open discectomies so I asked to be referred to a spine specialist in a different hospital who was experienced with the micro-discectomy procedure.

And so in March I saw this new Consultant at Hope Hospital in Manchester, fantastic bloke, explained everything including the risks and so I went on the waiting list for the operation.

I had my micro-discectomy on the 14th May 2008, a very positive experience for me - the surgeons, the nursing staff, even the food I could rave about! The pain was almost gone, it took me about 6 weeks to wean myself off the Gabapentin tablets. I still had numbness down my leg and foot however I knew that because the sciatic nerve had been compressed for so long, this would take a lot longer to recover.

And so, some months later, my mobility began to come back much better, I could walk without much of limp and things were looking great, I felt very positive about the outcome.

However at the end of July 2008, I started to have back pain again and some discomfort in my right buttock, so I contacted the hospital and got an urgent letter of referral from my GP. I had another MRI scan on the 30th October 2008 and I'm awaiting the results.

The aim of the Alexander Technique is to set up the best circumstances with which the body can function, at each individual's natural optimum. The hands-on element in the work is important because it gives you the experience of how a movement can be different from your normal, habitual ways. This would be very difficult to learn from a book. Pupils come for lessons so they can learn the skills and tools for themselves. By looking at the general pattern of thinking and moving, you can alter and alleviate the specific symptoms.

The Alexander Technique has been in the UK for over 100 years. FM Alexander discovered that we translate everything, whether physical, emotional, mental or spiritual, into muscular tension. This technique can help anyone with physical, mental or emotional conditions resulting from ingrained habits.

Both Yoga and Pilates are becoming progressively popular, which is possibly due to their increasing popularity with celebrities, choosing it as their preferred form of exercise. Yoga particularly, is now recommended by medical professionals as an effective method of treating and preventing back pain.

What is Yoga?

Practised for over 5,000 years in India, yoga engages the practitioner in developing spiritual and physiological well-being. Techniques include breathing exercises, maintaining correct posture and meditation.

What is Pilates?

Pilates was introduced in the early 20th century and is essentially encouraging the mind to take control of the muscles, aiding correct postural alignment and strength of the spinal column.

The use of yoga in the presence of back pain is particularly good as almost all movements work on both sides of the body at the same time. Stress can be put on the sacroiliac joint by exerting one side more than the other.

Yoga is believed to be beneficial in the treatment of back pain as it teaches balance, flexibility and strengthens muscles. By gradually building the complexity of movements, the body will learn how to distribute its weight effectively and will maintain balance and posture naturally.

The poses learned in Yoga are expected to teach the practice of body-awareness on movement and before repositioning. Frequent participation of Yoga will encourage a more supple body with less chance of injury occurring from sudden movements.

The use of pilates in the presence of back pain is more concerned with the improvement of the body's alignment by increasing length, flexibility and tone of muscle rather than building muscle density. The aim of Pilates is to gradually encourage the joining of mind and body by a series of daily exercises that develop core muscles within the body, particularly those surrounding the spinal column. Deep breathing techniques also encourage a healthy blood flow through the body aiding in the recovery of muscular or ligament damage. Movements taught in Pilates lessons teach how to maintain constant control of the muscles, thereby eliminating many risks of back injuries resulting from sudden movements.

Specialists believe that those suffering from degenerative disc disease, pain stemmed from sudden movements and joint complaints are the most likely to benefit from learning Pilates.

Physiotherapy is very effective in the treatment of disc related problems such as Sciatica. Treatment by physiotherapy can relieve nerve root compression caused by fibrous scar tissue following a disc prolapse, or the build up of gas. A physio can also aim to prevent further episodes of sciatic pain through teaching correct postural techniques, and exercises to correct any muscle imbalance in the spine.

Most cases of sciatica tend to settle down with physiotherapy treatment, but severe cases of sciatica may require steroid injections or even surgery.

A wonderful aroma is fabulous to uplift the spirit and create a positive mindset. Choose an oil or oils which possess aromas that you find pleasing.

Bergamot, Orange, Lemon and Grapefruit have light,refreshing and uplifting aroma's.
By using one or a blend of these oils, a glimmer of light can once again begin to invade the dark recesses of the mind.

Pain can seem to lessen depending on our mood, moments of happiness, pain is temporarily forgotten, even if only for a second. Lifting the heavy feeling of depression can make life and pain seem a little more bearable.

The best method is the one you are happiest with. I would recommend inhalation.

Apply a couple of drops onto a tissue and inhale or add to oil burners, aromatherapy diffusers or create your own room sprays. The oil molecules are released into the air for us to inhale.