Herniated disk aka lower back pain. What's the best course..
Discussion
Wondered if anyone on here has had this and the best cause of action NHS vs Private .
I'm usually fit and active, do triathlons, visit the gym, do a bit of pilates and always up for a challenge. I drive an Elise, not the easiest of cars to get in and out.
I then get an herniated disk by bending forward whilst on the toilet . The pain was awful and I couldn't move etc. Fast forward to today, 5 weeks on. I've had course of physio ( private and NHS ) the pain has subsided but I still have pain and pins and needles ( sciatica ) constantly down my right leg to my toes. Dr says I need and MRI scan as it's a slip disc, but could take a couple of weeks for the scan and then a couple of weeks to get the results. I have private health care too, contacted the company and sent the NHS report to them. They said I could get an MRI scan through them and get the results 'on the day' and my request was approved . Great, I got an appointed within a week for what I thought was a MRI scan. Having spent over 2 hours driving to the private hospital thinking the suffering I'm going through driving was worth the MRI scan and the results. The appointment was not for an MRI scan but a consultation......... I was not happy. The Dr spent 5 minutes with me read the results from the NHS doctor and gave me the conclusion of what I knew, what the NHS Dr and physio said........ "you have a slipped disc in your V3-V4 and a MRI scan is needed, I'll book you in but it could be 2 weeks and then I only work here 1 day in 2 weeks so it could be another 2 weeks". So private healthcare was offering exactly the same timescale as the NHS . In fact the NHS Dr did a more thorough examination that in 20 minutes then the private Dr who only spent 5 minutes.
Oh I'm also signed off work, part of my job involves climbing telegraph poles.
I'm usually fit and active, do triathlons, visit the gym, do a bit of pilates and always up for a challenge. I drive an Elise, not the easiest of cars to get in and out.
I then get an herniated disk by bending forward whilst on the toilet . The pain was awful and I couldn't move etc. Fast forward to today, 5 weeks on. I've had course of physio ( private and NHS ) the pain has subsided but I still have pain and pins and needles ( sciatica ) constantly down my right leg to my toes. Dr says I need and MRI scan as it's a slip disc, but could take a couple of weeks for the scan and then a couple of weeks to get the results. I have private health care too, contacted the company and sent the NHS report to them. They said I could get an MRI scan through them and get the results 'on the day' and my request was approved . Great, I got an appointed within a week for what I thought was a MRI scan. Having spent over 2 hours driving to the private hospital thinking the suffering I'm going through driving was worth the MRI scan and the results. The appointment was not for an MRI scan but a consultation......... I was not happy. The Dr spent 5 minutes with me read the results from the NHS doctor and gave me the conclusion of what I knew, what the NHS Dr and physio said........ "you have a slipped disc in your V3-V4 and a MRI scan is needed, I'll book you in but it could be 2 weeks and then I only work here 1 day in 2 weeks so it could be another 2 weeks". So private healthcare was offering exactly the same timescale as the NHS . In fact the NHS Dr did a more thorough examination that in 20 minutes then the private Dr who only spent 5 minutes.
Oh I'm also signed off work, part of my job involves climbing telegraph poles.
Private should be much quicker, surprised that you have had a good process with nhs tbh.
I had the chance to have an operation to trim the disc that was pressing on the sciatic nerve, didn't bother, wish I had as problem progressively worsened, on my third mattress now in as many years and things are much better, after 5 years from the start of the issue....
I had the chance to have an operation to trim the disc that was pressing on the sciatic nerve, didn't bother, wish I had as problem progressively worsened, on my third mattress now in as many years and things are much better, after 5 years from the start of the issue....
Condolences OP. Been there (well a bulge not quite a herniation) but back to normal now.
I got my MRI private. You NEED one ASAP to know what to do or not to do during rehabilitation.
No referral or doctor involvement needed. Was bloody ace actually.
https://www.vista-health.co.uk/book-and-pay
Booked online. Got scan 2 days later at my local hospital. Took my results to my physio who put me on an exercise plan to sort it. But mine wasn’t very bad.
£350 if I recall correctly. Results in 3 days.
You’ll need lumbar spine on the options list if it’s lower back.
Best of luck.
I got my MRI private. You NEED one ASAP to know what to do or not to do during rehabilitation.
No referral or doctor involvement needed. Was bloody ace actually.
https://www.vista-health.co.uk/book-and-pay
Booked online. Got scan 2 days later at my local hospital. Took my results to my physio who put me on an exercise plan to sort it. But mine wasn’t very bad.
£350 if I recall correctly. Results in 3 days.
You’ll need lumbar spine on the options list if it’s lower back.
Best of luck.
carphotographer said:
Wondered if anyone on here has had this and the best cause of action NHS vs Private .
I'm usually fit and active, do triathlons, visit the gym, do a bit of pilates and always up for a challenge. I drive an Elise, not the easiest of cars to get in and out.
I then get an herniated disk by bending forward whilst on the toilet . The pain was awful and I couldn't move etc. Fast forward to today, 5 weeks on. I've had course of physio ( private and NHS ) the pain has subsided but I still have pain and pins and needles ( sciatica ) constantly down my right leg to my toes. Dr says I need and MRI scan as it's a slip disc, but could take a couple of weeks for the scan and then a couple of weeks to get the results. I have private health care too, contacted the company and sent the NHS report to them. They said I could get an MRI scan through them and get the results 'on the day' and my request was approved . Great, I got an appointed within a week for what I thought was a MRI scan. Having spent over 2 hours driving to the private hospital thinking the suffering I'm going through driving was worth the MRI scan and the results. The appointment was not for an MRI scan but a consultation......... I was not happy. The Dr spent 5 minutes with me read the results from the NHS doctor and gave me the conclusion of what I knew, what the NHS Dr and physio said........ "you have a slipped disc in your V3-V4 and a MRI scan is needed, I'll book you in but it could be 2 weeks and then I only work here 1 day in 2 weeks so it could be another 2 weeks". So private healthcare was offering exactly the same timescale as the NHS . In fact the NHS Dr did a more thorough examination that in 20 minutes then the private Dr who only spent 5 minutes.
Oh I'm also signed off work, part of my job involves climbing telegraph poles.
First, discs don't 'slip' anywhere, that's a misnomer. They rupture or herniate. I'm usually fit and active, do triathlons, visit the gym, do a bit of pilates and always up for a challenge. I drive an Elise, not the easiest of cars to get in and out.
I then get an herniated disk by bending forward whilst on the toilet . The pain was awful and I couldn't move etc. Fast forward to today, 5 weeks on. I've had course of physio ( private and NHS ) the pain has subsided but I still have pain and pins and needles ( sciatica ) constantly down my right leg to my toes. Dr says I need and MRI scan as it's a slip disc, but could take a couple of weeks for the scan and then a couple of weeks to get the results. I have private health care too, contacted the company and sent the NHS report to them. They said I could get an MRI scan through them and get the results 'on the day' and my request was approved . Great, I got an appointed within a week for what I thought was a MRI scan. Having spent over 2 hours driving to the private hospital thinking the suffering I'm going through driving was worth the MRI scan and the results. The appointment was not for an MRI scan but a consultation......... I was not happy. The Dr spent 5 minutes with me read the results from the NHS doctor and gave me the conclusion of what I knew, what the NHS Dr and physio said........ "you have a slipped disc in your V3-V4 and a MRI scan is needed, I'll book you in but it could be 2 weeks and then I only work here 1 day in 2 weeks so it could be another 2 weeks". So private healthcare was offering exactly the same timescale as the NHS . In fact the NHS Dr did a more thorough examination that in 20 minutes then the private Dr who only spent 5 minutes.
Oh I'm also signed off work, part of my job involves climbing telegraph poles.
Don't know whereabouts you are but (need a referral) private MRI scanning in Cheltenham was where I went many yrs back. Mobile scanner units that move around the midlands and south england and are used at many NHS hospitals. Colbalt Imaging services, I paid £199 back then, today its obviously more!
I got my own 'back' though, after pressing to see how I'd progressed I got a 'free' MRI at the hospital who'd referred me at the start.
Your doc says V3-V4, they are guessing, that's why you 'need' an MRI to see the exact cause of the pain/position.
I was in agony at the time and was down for an op. I avoided the op by exercise (yeah, seems impossible when you are in 'agony', but that's because you go into 'spasm' and virtually lock up. You need both 'rest' and 'movement'. If after some physio your pain subsided, take it from me, you can 'beat it' and avoid an 'op'.
This was my godsend -
Sarah Key's Back Sufferers' Bible Paperback - Amazon
it's still the same price today as I paid almost 20 yrs ago. Tells you everything you need to know, Sarah Keys is a real expert on 'backs'.
When I went for my 'pre-med', I looked at the poor souls waiting to be seen and thought, christ, I used to be like that, barely able to walk a few steps! The surgeon simply said he didn't want to operate as I'd progressed so well, but would 'keep the door open' for me should I not be able to continue if the pain got bad again.
I just kept up with my 'touch toes', 'bum bouncing!!' and 'roll up exercises'.
I still do them occasionally today if a I get a bad 'twinge or a bit of sciatica'.
It's all in the book and the book is sod all to do with me (just to make it clear).
Edited by dandarez on Tuesday 20th June 23:07
An MRI will only confirm the herniated disk and show degeneration between them. You are now at week 5, so it's pretty much a given. A common non surgical procedure is a local steroid injection into the bulging disk. This will reduce inflammation and give you immediate relief. May want to install a side table by the crown and drive something that puts you in a more upright position for a while.
I recommend hanging off a high bar for sets of 60 seconds and straight legged toe touches. Do not cut out physical activity as healing is aided by blood flow. You know you may be in a bad spot if it takes more than 6 months to heal. Keep moving and don't over exert yourself.
Wish you a speedy recovery.
I recommend hanging off a high bar for sets of 60 seconds and straight legged toe touches. Do not cut out physical activity as healing is aided by blood flow. You know you may be in a bad spot if it takes more than 6 months to heal. Keep moving and don't over exert yourself.
Wish you a speedy recovery.
Until you have the MRI results in hand its all speculation as to what's happened. If your lucky it will diminish itself over the coming months. As others have mentioned you can get a steroid injection to reduce the inflammation which once diagnosed would probably be offered.
Sadly I have a lot of experience in this area, eventually having a spinal fusion L5/S1.
Best of luck OP.
Sadly I have a lot of experience in this area, eventually having a spinal fusion L5/S1.
Best of luck OP.
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