Write a Little Bit About Yourself

I’m a 34 y/o male from New Zeeland who up to now has been considered healthy and active, maybe a bit on the plus size side of thing. I have a sedentary desk job as a seller/broker but played sports around 3-4 times a week.

I had a squatting injury around a decade ago, I’ve had maybe 1 back spasm every couple of years, until this year, where I got two spasms each worse than the other, requiring around 2-3 days in bed with valium before I could leave the house again. I’d then get some myotheraphy and would be right as rain.

What Kind of Problem Did You Suffer from and When Did it Start

I was suffering from an agonizing bout of sciatica brought about by two herniated discs (L4 to S1), waiting weeks and weeks between specialist appointments who were all giving me conflicting advice.

Do You Know What Caused it?

I had a squatting injury around 8 years ago, suffered from maybe 1 back spasm every couple of years then it got to a point where I got two spasms – each worse than the other, requiring around 2-3 days in bed with valium before I could leave the house again. I’d then get some myotheraphy and that helped a bit.

In What Way Did This Problem Effect Your Life?

I could not walk for more than a few steps without having to lay down flat on my back or lean on something. At that point, I missed two months of work because I couldn’t sit in the car let alone drive, and the only thing i could do that were relatively pain-free for me were kneeling over the bed, or laying down with pillows under my knees.

Getting a good nights sleep was also hard to come by as every movement to shift position was excruciating, and simple things like walking to the kitchen or trying to sit on the toilet were also quite a challenge.

I tried to spend time in a jacuzzi which was relieving but since I needed to drive in order to have access to one, this option wasn’t viable.

What Motivated You to Get the Help You Needed to Deal with Your Problem?

I lost almost all contact with my sporting buddies, the last summer of back pain was the most depressing time of my life since I just slipped further and further away from what I wanted from life. I resorted to food as an escape from reality and I was starting to gain a lot of weight. I was 34 years old and i relied on my mother to help me with bringing food and my economy just kept tumbling down.

I missed being involved in the dating life and I hadn’t had sex (and couldn’t even if I got the chance) in well over a year and I craved physical contact.

When I was forced to turn down the offer of being the best man at my brother’s wedding because of a 3-hour flight – that’s when I knew that I had to start taking this thing really by the horns and not just hoping that i would get better after time.

Trial and Error, What did not Work for You and What was the Final Thing That Helped You?

After one particular spasm, that was the most serious yet, I said enough is enough and went to the GP which started a bit of a cascade of specialists and chronic pain unlike anything I have experienced which I will outline below:

Local GP #1 – First time I saw him, as I needed to see someone quick on the weekend. He gave me referrals for MRI and XRay and an RX for Mobic.

Osteopath – Never saw one. Didn’t want to go to a Chiropractor. Still only a spasm at this point. Did two sessions of very light counterweight activities, both of which didn’t do anything. Tried to exercise to lose some weight.

Myotherapist – Starting to get pain to the left of the knee. Thought it was a sore muscle from the spasm. Started to eat a lot of vitamins to strengthen my body. Also tried to cut down on junk food.

Physio – Pain in left knee worse – Did some taping and light massage.

Local GP #2 – Starting to get numbness on top of foot and side of leg and now in a lot of pain. Could only walk for a few minutes at a time before needing to lean on something and shake the leg out. Took scans to different GP – again, just needed to see someone close to me, as I live around an hour from my GP who I have seen for the past decade, which i needed help from my mother or step-father in order to get to.

MRI Report – L4/5: Desiccated disc. Posterior annular tear with focal left paracentral disc extrusion with inferior subligamentous spread measuring 18mm compressing the descending left L5 nerve root and posteriorly displacing the S1 nerve root.

L5/S1 – Mildly narrowed desiccated disc with broad-based disc protrusion and posterior annular fissure. Mild canal stenosis with posterior displacement of descending left S1 nerve root.

GP Prescribed Prednisolone and Lyrica, and I also asked for a referral for CT Guided ESI which MRI Report also suggested.