Wow she is amazing!! She spent over an hour listening to me, assessing my ROM, making notes, then did some dry needling, pressure points and finally some light neck/ shoulder treatment. She is writing to Dr Salmon says I need on the left side L4,3 and S1 nerve root sleeve injections with epidural flush and nerve root sleeve injection with epidural for T3,4,5&6. Says my sciatic nerve is shot and thoracic pain is causing the migraine of last two weeks. I've got 2 more appointments with her this week & she wants me to also attend physio lead Pilates with 3 in the session (plus physio). So will see what my PM says and will also get results from CT scans last week. It looks like I've lost about 3cm in height . Will update again soon

Pam, You've had these type of injections for your knee. Is there a time frame/limit for these injections; i.e., like every so many months need repeating? How is your knee doing?

Hopefully the physio is "right on" where the injections are needed. The thought of being almost pain free has got to be uplifting and hopeful. Looking forward to your updates.


Gerry

Hi Gerry, the procedure was all done on the back and had the added bonus of sorting the knee pain out. Apparently the knee pain was referred pain from L4 in my back. Who knew!! My right knee is doing great, from the minute I took my first step I knew the knee pain was gone. The injections are needed every 6 to 24 months. You can never predict when they will wear off. For me usually about 6 to 9 months in, but I'm hopeful this time will be longer as I have had the left side sorted as well. my PM is brilliant.

hi Pam,
sure sounds like you have found a winner in this physio.
best of luck with the full outcome.
you are moving in the right direction.
love, d.

Having the nerve root sleeve injections tomorrow morning. L4,5 S1 & T3,4 along with epidural flush. Feeling quite nervous, don't fancy another overnight stint in hospital again. Hopefully it all goes to plan and I come home in the afternoon.

Had to stay in overnight again, felt quite sore yesterday after I got home via taxi. DB in work but had got home as ready as he could including pre cooking meals etc. had a good sleep last night and my back a little better today, it takes 3-4 days for the injections to give relief. I'm hopeful of a good result, but it's not as instant as it was last time.

On another note, my stomach has been playing up for sometime now, I've been putting it down to bowel blockages, seems not. Had ultrasound late the week before and got a letter in the mail to contact my GP urgently for test results. While in the scan the lady said I have multiple hernias, so I guess a mesh insertion is on the cards. will know more this week.

No mesh insertion at this stage. Have to try and control the controllable things in hernia management until I can no longer. I'm banking on for a good long time, I have not heard many good or positive reviews about mesh hernia repairs and I have enough going on already without adding to it. Those I know of who have had the mesh surgery have all ended up in a pickle again further down the track, quite a few say they wish they knew more at the time and chosen not to have it done.

Feeling the results of the procedure already. Pain is minimised considerably for the first time in years and tomorrow I'm attending my first Pilates class. It is run by the guru physiotherapist and only 3 of us in class. The plan is to build and develop my muscle strength in my back to provide better support for when the procedure wears off, which we all know can happen anytime within the next 6 to 18 months. Make hay while the sun shines

Pam,
Not sure what you mean by control the controllable things in hernia management?

When I had my three (3);( one of which was an epigastric hernia) Ventral (abdominal) incisional hernias repaired this past November, it was done with mesh... (surgeon advised to help retain closure).

So a little over a couple of months later; I am now dealing with Diastasis Recti (separation of the abdominal muscle from navel; side to side and up to breastbone and down to pelvic area). I am in constant abdominal turmoil, discomfort and pain.

It is almost impossible not to do straining because of my opioid pain meds causing constipation for which I take three doses daily of Miralax to try to keep things a bit runny. Also, ventral hernia repairs are at risk for recurrence. When I told my surgeon, after the Diastasis Recti diagnosis, I was concerned about hernia recurrence; he said I have "a good reason to be concerned".

It appears the mesh, which was done at the time of the Ventral surgery, has not made any difference and possibly caused more problems. The mesh can disintegrate, infection, etc., etc.

I had read up about mesh prior to surgery. My surgeon felt using the mesh would give a better chance for closure than using sutures alone. That was also confirmed by many of the articles I read.


Gerry

Gerry, controllables are
1. what you eat - no more processed foods including biscuits, breads, sugars & honey etc, cut out snacking, increase fibre in meals - I'm only allowed 12grams fibre a day so I'm closely watching & recording what I have so eventually I can slowly increase intake and avoid obstructions
2. how often you eat - Instead of larger portion 3 meals a day, I have 6 smaller portioned meals
3. increase water intake - I have a water plan that begins with 200ml cold water on rising, 400ml before each meal, 200ml with every movicol sachet followed immediately with 200ml cold water, 200ml after every cup of tea & reduced number of cups of tea throughout the day, 200ml cold water again before bed
4. reduce medicines that can contribute to blockages, hard to do as I've already minimised considerably so I've introduced the distraction method, at a time I would normally take meds I deliberately do something that takes me away from the medicine cabinet so I can stretch out the time between meds. It can be go for a walk, make a phone call, look something up on line, play a game, anything really that ultimately helps in the long run reduce the number of meds taken a day, even if it just 1 less it helps.
5. Increase exercise - I'm walking further every day and I've begun Pilates classes

ps, I've lost 2.8kg & can already notice less pressure on my abdomen wall.

We got told back in 2007 to avoid any further stomach surgery at all costs, I've had so many ops on my stomach over the years and the next stomach surgery likely to be fatal. Hence in 2013 when I was due to have spine surgery again they couldn't go through my stomach to do a cage & instead I had to have the metal rods fusion again.