Hi,

I am really hoping someone can help as i am slowly coming to the end of my tether!

18 months ago i woke up one morning with a nagging pain in my back. Kinda felt like a back splinter and i remember thinking "this is annoying, i can't wait for it to be gone' 18 months later, i still have it...but worse. I was training to be an air hostess at the time and subject to common belief it's not an easy job! I had about 3 weeks of training left, i was determined to get through it so just dosed up on pain killers.

having completed my training i was very much aware that the pain was getting worse so i went to the doctors. He prescribed me some anti inflammotries and told me to go back in a couple of weeks. 2 weeks later i was aware the pain was radiating through my legs and affecting my walking. The doctor prescribed me a hight dosage of anti inflammotries.

One month later i was in hospital after having walked down the stairs and collapsed at the bottom and been unable to find the strength in my legs to stand. I had an Wikipedia reference-linkMRI scan and the doctor told me i had a 'significant prolapse of L4/5 and needed physio.

I tried physio and more than anything it dehabilitated me. The day after my session I would have a lot of trouble walking-very unsteady on my feet.

I then (after another visit with my doctor) was referred to the nerve clinic at Coventry Hospital. They did another MRI scan and told me that i needed to have my disc removed immediately as there was a danger it would cause permanent damage to my legs. I was in the hospital bed, and about to be wheeled up to the theatre when another Doctor came along and told me to get out the bed and go home. As you can imagine i had several questions but this Doctor just walked off and noone else seemed able to help.

That was November 2007, it is now January 2009 and i seem to be no further forward. I went back to my doctor after this incident and was told i had to give it another 6 months before he could do anything else. He also wanted me to come off my painkillers (which were now Tramadol Hydrochloride) as he was fearful i would become addicted. I was quite adamant that either he did something or let me stay on painkillers (or gave me different ones) as i couldn't tolerate the pain without anything. he let me stay on the pain killers.

I have now been referred to the pain department of Coventry Hospital and a few weeks ago had an epidural injection into my spine which has made absolutely no difference at all-if anything, has made it worse.

I had to give up my job as Cabin Crew as i had an episode on board of my legs going and subsequently failed a medical.

I am really hoping someone can advise me of the best way forward from here as i don't really seem to be making any positive progress and i'm still in a lot of pain!!!!

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