Hi David
My story is different to yours as I was suffering with back pain for a couple of months. I kept going back to my G.P. who told me it was musclar and kept giving me pain killers. Eventually I decided to pay for an MRI the referral had to go through my GP. I had the MRI on the 24th October 2012. The next day my GP came to my home to give us the devastating news I had to go for an emergency back operation to Kings College hospital. Up to this time other then my back I had been very healthy avoid taking tablets and had only been to hospital once. The MRI showed ‘extensive infiltration of the vertebral column plates at several levels and collapse at T10 with consequent spinal cord compression and partial collapse at L5′. I had an emergency operation a pedicle screw fixation from T8 to L1 and a t10 laminectomy’. I found out I had myeloma a week later. I stayed in Kings for a week I had morphine which did cause constipation I had pessaries and laxative which helped! Looking back now to be free from pain is fantastic I occasionally take paracetamol for pain. After the operation when I came home I had to sit in a armchair with back support, I used a wheel chair when I went out then a walking stick. Now I can walk normally the only change is I can’t sit on chairs with wooden backs or lie flat on the floor as I can feel the screws digging into me. I sent x-Rays of my back with my claim to get disability living allowance and was able to get a mobility car and a blue badge which was a bonus with all my hospital appointments. I find my back stiff in cold weather I went to India at Christmas my back was fantastic in the warmer climate. i hope my story this helps you make up your mind.
