| Severe facet joint degeneration L5 - S1 08:42 - May 7 with 1710 views | HAYESBOY |
Has anyone ever been diagnosed with this, and if so, how did you get a positive outcome with pain management?
Have been suffering with back pain when standing and walking now for nearly 4 years!
Have tried chiropractor, acupuncture and physio's. No improvement.
I am now waiting to see an orthopaedic surgeon.
I've read about injections, Radiofrequency ablation, Microdiscectomy, Laminectomy, Foraminotomy, Facetectomy and Lumbar interbody fusion. (a lot of tomy's)
Any advice greatly appreciated. |  |
| Smells like a trout farm in here |
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| Severe facet joint degeneration L5 - S1 on 08:55 - May 7 with 1662 views | BrianMcCarthy |
Sorry, Hayesboy, That's a new one on me,
I can ask around, though. |  |
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| Severe facet joint degeneration L5 - S1 on 09:20 - May 7 with 1565 views | Rsole |
Not much fun, mate, but as you have researched there are lots of options.
You'll need an MRI before the surgeon will do much I suspect but once they have the diagnosis, they'll give you the recommended intervention (operation) or pain management treatment.
If the pain radiates to your legs, then it's more likely that an intervention could take place, depends on the severity. Interventions are 'minimally invasive' these day but the recovery can be longer than they estimate. If you can avoid fusion, I would suggest you do that.
If the pain is local - i.e. just in the back, they tend to focus on the various pain treatments. IME, pain treatments usually require some pain to treat the pain - some work, some don't. Most common is the injections but be careful you don't have too many of them.
If you have a lot of inflammation, CBD works pretty well. You can get drops and capsules if there's no THC. THC is pretty good for the pain but you can't really drive with that in your system and it requires a prescription in most countries. Check with the GP what is available and just look online for the CBD only capsules.
The last piece of advice is to try and strengthen core muscle to support the joints and lose weight so there's less pressure on your back. Not much fun but every KG helps a little more and you can get some help with the various weight loss drugs if you ask the GP and discuss how it could help your back.
Swimming is pretty good, if you have access to a pool and I try to walk for at least an hour every day, I also use those resistance bands because they are easy to travel with and work better than weights. |  |
| Those possessed by devils, try and keep them under control a bit, can't you ?
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| Severe facet joint degeneration L5 - S1 on 10:57 - May 7 with 1411 views | HAYESBOY |
Thanks.
I paid for an MRI last year and that is how the facet joint degeneration was picked up. I have been with 2 physio's since last August. One was using Shockwave therapy as well as dedicated exercises, which I have carried on since August.
The pain is local and comes on when standing or walking for 5 mins. Its like severe back spasms and then pain mainly on the left lower back. Doesn't go down my legs.
Its weird because I have movement pain free other than standing and walking. Tried cycling but that got more painful the more I did. The pain when it comes on is an 8/10 and I have to sit down or lean on something to get relief.
I am overweight certainly but I have been since I packed up football in 2004.
Its a catch 22. Would love to go on walks, but cant get past 400m's before the pain comes on.
I retired early In 21 at 53 years old with plans to play golf and go travelling around the UK.
In reality I've been stuck at home.
Would give my right nut to walk pain free now.
Thanks again. | |
| Smells like a trout farm in here |
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| Severe facet joint degeneration L5 - S1 on 14:11 - May 7 with 1202 views | Rsole |
| Severe facet joint degeneration L5 - S1 on 10:57 - May 7 by HAYESBOY |
Thanks.
I paid for an MRI last year and that is how the facet joint degeneration was picked up. I have been with 2 physio's since last August. One was using Shockwave therapy as well as dedicated exercises, which I have carried on since August.
The pain is local and comes on when standing or walking for 5 mins. Its like severe back spasms and then pain mainly on the left lower back. Doesn't go down my legs.
Its weird because I have movement pain free other than standing and walking. Tried cycling but that got more painful the more I did. The pain when it comes on is an 8/10 and I have to sit down or lean on something to get relief.
I am overweight certainly but I have been since I packed up football in 2004.
Its a catch 22. Would love to go on walks, but cant get past 400m's before the pain comes on.
I retired early In 21 at 53 years old with plans to play golf and go travelling around the UK.
In reality I've been stuck at home.
Would give my right nut to walk pain free now.
Thanks again. |
You may find the injections are the best option to start with. Nothing to lose by trying them and hopefully you may reduce the pain enough to get around but more.
See what the specialist says and recommends - I hope it goes well. | |
| Those possessed by devils, try and keep them under control a bit, can't you ?
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| Severe facet joint degeneration L5 - S1 on 14:45 - May 7 with 1151 views | Boston |
In the States, we address degenerating faucets by calling a plumber. |  |
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| Severe facet joint degeneration L5 - S1 on 16:07 - May 7 with 1061 views | Rsole |
| Severe facet joint degeneration L5 - S1 on 14:45 - May 7 by Boston |
In the States, we address degenerating faucets by calling a plumber. |
Tap out. | |
| Those possessed by devils, try and keep them under control a bit, can't you ?
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| Severe facet joint degeneration L5 - S1 on 16:38 - May 7 with 1018 views | stowmarketrange |
| Severe facet joint degeneration L5 - S1 on 14:11 - May 7 by Rsole |
You may find the injections are the best option to start with. Nothing to lose by trying them and hopefully you may reduce the pain enough to get around but more.
See what the specialist says and recommends - I hope it goes well. |
I had a problem with a facet joint after a accident on a train 25 years ago.I was in a lot of pain,and I tried the injection route,which was supposed to kill the pain for 6 months.I didn’t feel any less pain than before,so I only had the injections once.
Mine was only the result of an accident though,so I can’t say whether they would work for a degenerative condition.I get the occasional twinge even now,but that is normally cured by stretching exercises and rest.
22k compensation from train company helped to ease the pain a little,until the b@stard post office took £6k back for sick pay.
Good luck to the OP with his condition. |  | | |
| Severe facet joint degeneration L5 - S1 on 19:09 - May 7 with 896 views | HAYESBOY |
Thanks for the replies.
GP said injections would be first if recommended by the Hospital. Least invasive. | |
| Smells like a trout farm in here |
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| Severe facet joint degeneration L5 - S1 on 19:58 - May 7 with 858 views | Rsole |
| Severe facet joint degeneration L5 - S1 on 19:09 - May 7 by HAYESBOY |
Thanks for the replies.
GP said injections would be first if recommended by the Hospital. Least invasive. |
Least invasive is the best strategy and the current policy for most doctors.
Better for you too. Just don’t overdo the injections.
As Stow mentioned, they don’t work for everyone but if the first one works, that would be a good outcome for you. | |
| Those possessed by devils, try and keep them under control a bit, can't you ?
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| Severe facet joint degeneration L5 - S1 on 06:40 - May 11 with 381 views | Lblock |
Apologies been meaning to reply but a busy time.
Replying now due to insomnia caused by Tramadol which I’ve taken due to back pain!!!
You’re actually quite lucky.
I have prolapsed disc L5/S1 which is the most common
My journey has spanned decades culminating in a discectomy with laminectomy in 2022 done on sort of an emergency basis as the sciatica pain was approaching 10 out of 10.
Back pain saps the life out of many; it’s been a big contributory factor in me having to now only frequent football matches rarely; season ticket of 33 years gone and haven’t done an away game since 2020 (seen this club play at over 70 grounds)
Your facet joint will be impinging a nerve.
Kin nasty.
It sounds like your disc is not ruptured/prolapsed which is a huge plus; also the nerve compression isn’t causing classic sciatica as you have no leg pain.
I would certainly follow advice already given.
Lose weight.
Move - swimming sounds your friend as you’re now mentally locked in that walking hurts.
Look into facet joint injections. If you have these do not expect them to work straight away. My first lot took three weeks to kick in and they don’t work for everyone. If they do then this allows you to step up your self care but don’t push too far too quick. Unfortunately, they don’t last and the body can become used to them meaning little effect. I ended up needing double doses and after that the relief became negligible.
Next step for me was a Rhizotomy. This made my pain worse for about two weeks and I did think about taking a hit out on my surgeon during that period (!!!) Once this kicked in it was like liquor from the Gods…. for the first time in years I was totally pain free and “normal again”. Oh how I miss that feeling! My fear was the lack of nerve signal would give me false confidence and I’d cause more damage by over extending myself but my surgeon assured me that was extremely unlikely. He was wrong and my disc herniated even further due to two trauma incidents.
The pain was off the scale and if the solution had been amputation of my left leg I probably would have done it.
As I said, then had discectomy with laminectomy. The discectomy failed after 2 weeks (if it weren’t for bad luck I’d have no luck at all) but thank fark I had the laminectomy as this has given the nerve space to “be free”.
I have flare ups and it’s horrible but I get relief from Pilates
So…. Best of luck and stay positive
Work your core; lose weight.
Get some specialist stretches and do these regularly
Try to avoid surgery or surgical interventions; really are a last resort
Use heat / ice to reduce inflammation (I try saunas and ice baths which can help)
Maybe consider an inversion bench - I have one which also helps but not sure it would you as the disc isn’t your issue
I’m considering low dose gummy bears….. not found a dealer yet though!!! If you can stay away from Tramadol and certainly Napraxen (that nearly killed me due to internal bleeding side effect….my luck again!!!)
Speak to a decent Reformer Pilates instructor - might help
Stay positive - a life with reduced pain is out there
Get it to a level where you can just have it in the background |  |
| Cherish and enjoy life.... this ain't no dress rehearsal |
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| Severe facet joint degeneration L5 - S1 on 10:02 - May 11 with 246 views | HAYESBOY |
| Severe facet joint degeneration L5 - S1 on 06:40 - May 11 by Lblock |
Apologies been meaning to reply but a busy time.
Replying now due to insomnia caused by Tramadol which I’ve taken due to back pain!!!
You’re actually quite lucky.
I have prolapsed disc L5/S1 which is the most common
My journey has spanned decades culminating in a discectomy with laminectomy in 2022 done on sort of an emergency basis as the sciatica pain was approaching 10 out of 10.
Back pain saps the life out of many; it’s been a big contributory factor in me having to now only frequent football matches rarely; season ticket of 33 years gone and haven’t done an away game since 2020 (seen this club play at over 70 grounds)
Your facet joint will be impinging a nerve.
Kin nasty.
It sounds like your disc is not ruptured/prolapsed which is a huge plus; also the nerve compression isn’t causing classic sciatica as you have no leg pain.
I would certainly follow advice already given.
Lose weight.
Move - swimming sounds your friend as you’re now mentally locked in that walking hurts.
Look into facet joint injections. If you have these do not expect them to work straight away. My first lot took three weeks to kick in and they don’t work for everyone. If they do then this allows you to step up your self care but don’t push too far too quick. Unfortunately, they don’t last and the body can become used to them meaning little effect. I ended up needing double doses and after that the relief became negligible.
Next step for me was a Rhizotomy. This made my pain worse for about two weeks and I did think about taking a hit out on my surgeon during that period (!!!) Once this kicked in it was like liquor from the Gods…. for the first time in years I was totally pain free and “normal again”. Oh how I miss that feeling! My fear was the lack of nerve signal would give me false confidence and I’d cause more damage by over extending myself but my surgeon assured me that was extremely unlikely. He was wrong and my disc herniated even further due to two trauma incidents.
The pain was off the scale and if the solution had been amputation of my left leg I probably would have done it.
As I said, then had discectomy with laminectomy. The discectomy failed after 2 weeks (if it weren’t for bad luck I’d have no luck at all) but thank fark I had the laminectomy as this has given the nerve space to “be free”.
I have flare ups and it’s horrible but I get relief from Pilates
So…. Best of luck and stay positive
Work your core; lose weight.
Get some specialist stretches and do these regularly
Try to avoid surgery or surgical interventions; really are a last resort
Use heat / ice to reduce inflammation (I try saunas and ice baths which can help)
Maybe consider an inversion bench - I have one which also helps but not sure it would you as the disc isn’t your issue
I’m considering low dose gummy bears….. not found a dealer yet though!!! If you can stay away from Tramadol and certainly Napraxen (that nearly killed me due to internal bleeding side effect….my luck again!!!)
Speak to a decent Reformer Pilates instructor - might help
Stay positive - a life with reduced pain is out there
Get it to a level where you can just have it in the background |
Thanks Lblock. Really appreciate the advice.
So sorry for your troubles. You really have been through it.
I also hardly attend anymore. Had a season ticket up until 4 seasons ago but i just cant make the walk from the station. My mate will drop me off outside the ground basically and then park up about a mile away when I have been.
Just waiting to see an orthopaedic surgeon now. Hopefully soon. | |
| Smells like a trout farm in here |
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