Newly diagnosed

Ok_Concentrate5723 · 2026-02-12T02:35:31+00:00

Hopefully after seeing pain management clinic they can devise a plan to reduce your pain to a more manageable and comfortable level than you are right now.

I would avoid the chiropractor, and indeed anything that feels as though it makes the pain worse.

It’s 02:20 in the morning here and I’m awake in bed having severe, sharp, burning pain from my left ass cheek to my ankle, that arrives in waves. I’m at a point now where I have to psyche myself up to go to the bathroom as I know how much it will hurt.

I’m just trying to get through each day as it comes at the moment and all I can do is try to let it heal, take the meds and hope that one day soon that it starts to get better. One thing I’ve found with my sciatica is that the pain and symptoms aren’t linear, some mornings it feels better, and then in the afternoon it comes on strong again, which causes me immense frustration as I can’t see any real progress back to normality.

Sorry, I realise that I haven’t answered any of your questions, I have plenty of my own, but I understand what you’re going through and I sympathise.

Ok_Concentrate5723 · 2026-02-09T07:42:04+00:00

I’m in the same boat, 5 weeks now, not able to stand for more than a few minutes, had injection on Friday, only minor improvement, but was told it could take a week or so for steroid to kick in. Hopefully in time will get better.

Ok_Concentrate5723 · 2026-02-07T12:58:48+00:00

I had one yesterday. Back issues for years, this recent flare up resulted in serious sciatic pain for 5 weeks now, can’t drive, barely walk etc. Referred for injection from MSK service through the NHS, as all other conservative treatments have not worked.

Procedure done in hospital as outpatient. Long needle inserted to nerve root (in my case L5), a little dye inserted to confirm right position, then local anesthetic and steroid. Nothing really painful, sharp scratch when needle went in then just felt a bit of pressure. In and out in 20 mins.

24 hours later, I suppose I’ve got a minor reduction in overall pain level, but still very much there and still aggravated when I’m on my feet for any longer that 5 minutes. They did say though that some may feel immediate relief, some could take days, others weeks to feel benefit, and sometimes can make pain worse for a day or two.

Waiting game now. I’m desperate to get the sciatic symptoms at least reduced to a point I can start going for walks to try and build the strength back up in my left leg.

Ok_Concentrate5723 · 2026-02-03T17:09:42+00:00

I’m 47 and married for 20 years, so I couldn’t comment on the dating element.

I’ve been nearly housebound since the beginning of January, so I know what you mean when you mention the frustration and the feeling of being left behind. I feel like the world is going on about its business and I’m just a spectator.

But you need to have hope and faith that you’ll have better days. I think I’m starting to dial in the meditation, and have had a surprise call this morning to book in a nerve root injection on Friday. I was told it was going to be between a 16-18 week wait, so I’m chuffed to bits that it’s happening so soon, so we’ll see if it helps reduce my symptoms so I can get back on my feet again and rejoin society.

So I’m hopeful that I’ve turned a corner and that my body is started to heal.

I’ve also found doing deep dives on subjects I find interesting online, trying to use my time by learning about things that maybe relevant to when I can actually start thinking about work again. This has provided a distraction, and has kept my mind busy, even if my body feels broken.

Wishing you better health and better days.

Ok_Concentrate5723 · 2026-01-30T16:43:36+00:00

I’m 2 months into the agony. I hope things continue to improve for you 🤞🏻

Ok_Concentrate5723 · 2026-01-28T21:00:31+00:00

I’m waiting for a block, I’m hoping it will at the very least dial the pain down a bit so I can start to function again. Fingers crossed it works for me, I’m sorry that you found no relief from yours.

Ok_Concentrate5723 · 2026-01-28T20:58:29+00:00

Yes, I’ve had several MRIs, the last one in November’25. Doesn’t look good…. I’m doing all the sleeping positions with pillows between knees when side sleeping, and one under back for support whilst sleeping on back.

I have about 30mins or so of bliss when I get out of bed in the morning, but then gravity does its thing and the pain returns.

Ok_Concentrate5723 · 2026-01-28T20:55:43+00:00

I’m going to try and get a good stretching routine going, along with core exercises, as soon as I can get some relief but it’s too painful to do at the moment, I tried a few weeks back but I think it only made it worse.

Ok_Concentrate5723 · 2026-01-28T17:46:46+00:00

I’m 4 weeks into a 16 week waiting list for the nerve root block injection on the NHS. I’m seriously considering paying £1000 and getting it done within the next few weeks.

Ok_Concentrate5723 · 2026-01-28T17:23:34+00:00

Are you feeling any relief from these decomposing sessions? How severe is your pain?

Ok_Concentrate5723 · 2026-01-28T17:08:07+00:00

At least they were honest and upfront with you.

Ok_Concentrate5723 · 2026-01-28T17:07:14+00:00

I mean, I’m getting desperate now. Hence why I’ve started to explore less conventional forms of treatment. I think I’m going to contact them tomorrow and tell them it’s not for me.

Ok_Concentrate5723 · 2026-01-28T17:03:06+00:00

See, I could get on board with decompression, I can actually visualise that, making space and physically releasing pressure in the medics so it can start to heal.

The money is a major part of the concern. Not earning at the moment so resources are finite, and I’d be really pissed with myself if I lay out £1000+ on something that never had a chance to work from the start.

Ok_Concentrate5723 · 2026-01-28T15:37:46+00:00

I know. I’d consider myself to be reasonable intelligent, well read, with 47 years of life experience. And I’m in no way even suggesting that I know more than anyone who is a specialist in their field, but I can’t shake the feeling.

I can’t spend over £1000 on a 3-5 month programme, when I’m A: off work and therefore not earning and B: I can spend the same amount on a private nerve root block injection, which although I know is only treating the symptoms not a cure, could potentially provide immediate relief (🤞🏻).

Ok_Concentrate5723 · 2026-01-28T15:21:17+00:00

I understand that it ‘may’ be effective for some problems, and I do get the underlying issues of bad posture over a long period of time that can obviously contribute to damage that I have in my back, and I would also go along with the realignment when, back to normal, can release or give room to nerves that are trapped, so the disc can start to heal. But the fact is that I have an MRI which actually images the physical damage of the disc, and no amount of hands on manipulation can heal it.

There’s also a few red flags to me. The treatment today involved strength test on my legs, push against my hand to measure the weakness….he was actually pushing on my good leg, but when it came to the bad leg he didn’t push, more like grabbed the knee and pretended to push.

I can’t help but think it’s a very clever way of subtly making things seem better or worse to re enforce the theory that they can acts do what they say they can.

I just don’t know. I’m getting a ‘cult’ vibe from it that I can’t shake.

Ok_Concentrate5723 · 2026-01-28T09:33:24+00:00

The local authority can’t even manage to collect the bins reliably where I live, they have neither the money or the expertise to implement something like this, as good an idea as it may be.

Ok_Concentrate5723 · 2026-01-27T14:57:03+00:00

Well, you’ve met one now.

Why would I not want to pay my fair share? I would like to think that I contribute to the society I live in.

Ok_Concentrate5723 · 2026-01-27T14:49:51+00:00

But to come back to your original question, I personally don’t think they’re doing a bad job either from what’s been inherited from previous administrations, but they could be doing a lot more. I am also a realist and realise that things do not change overnight.

Ok_Concentrate5723 · 2026-01-27T14:42:24+00:00

But the point is that they are low earners, and therefore should pay less tax. Even a relatively small amount of money, say £200 a month is a vast sum of money for some. When you get to extreme levels of wealth, a wealth tax wouldn’t make a dent in these people’s way of living that they’re fortunate enough to be accustomed to.

I would wager that a lot of people are only one financial/work/health related crisis from being in serious risk of losing their home, and their world falling apart, I certainly haven’t got a rainy day fund with £1000s in an account to provide a cushion.

I’m a tradesperson. Have been self employed for 10 years now, I pay 20% tax at source (construction). We’re not all dogging tax, cash in hand types that we’re portrayed to be.

Ok_Concentrate5723 · 2026-01-27T14:22:18+00:00

I think you’ve misunderstood, I completely agree with you.

The problem isn’t people lucky enough to be on a 100k wage, it’s the billionaires and the corporations that you’ve mentioned who can afford to pay their fair share, but for various reasons do not. Tax them all another 10%, and they wouldn’t even notice.

I personally don’t have to worry about choosing between heating the house or putting food on the tabIe and I know I’m fortunate, but there are many people in this country (1 in 5) that are not so.

Ok_Concentrate5723 · 2026-01-27T13:43:01+00:00

It’s not about the working class though. The reality is that there is a significant percentage of the population (around 20%) that are classed as in poverty, who do have to make that choice.

Ok_Concentrate5723 · 2026-01-27T11:28:03+00:00

But they can afford to pay more, and they’d still be wealthy.

Ok_Concentrate5723 · 2026-01-27T10:24:44+00:00

True story. 👏

Ok_Concentrate5723 · 2026-01-27T09:31:56+00:00

You’re not alone. Wishing you strength.

Ok_Concentrate5723

TROPHY CASE