Hi to all fellow back sufferers. I've been on Spooning for a while but don't really feel I fit as I'm not actually ill, just have a chronic (and permanent) back injury. So please post here, no niggle too small. We can share experiences, tips and moans!
Quick history, age 48, last year had sudden crippling back pain eventually diagnosed as disc prolapse L4/5. All conventional treatments tried and failed so had micro discectomy privately.
No progress, and much worse leg pain followed. V long story short was finally seen by second neurosurgeon who diagnosed severe scarring around the nerve root as a result of the surgery. Poor outlook for surgery but we gave it a go, so had second op with similar lack of progress and final MRI showed even worse scarring. Only option chronic pain management . Had several injections with not much effect...
So, permanently disabled, use a stick, endless drugs and a lovely blue badge. Along the way dismissed from career of 25years for ill health.
Sorry, it's a grim story, but hey, I'm ok. Not depressed, have an okish quality of life with the help of my fantastic husband and friends. I walk, albeit slowly and not far, swim a bit and can please myself. Luckily my boys are young adults.
So come along and share. Moans and groans ok, tips and recommendations welcome.
Just don't tell me to see your lovely chiropractor, I might just punch you!(wink)
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General health
The Back Story
Matildathecat · 03/10/2013 16:02
Oh good luck with pain management course! I did an expert patients course, which was CBT oriented I guess, it was about coping with chronic health conditions and was really quite useful. I mean, it was stuff I knew but didn't really practise like I should and it was great to talk to others who had illness and disabilities that affected their every day life, how they cope, their advice and also to just not feel like I was the only one struggling, and people who actually got it, how bad it all could feel, even on 'good' days. It's run by people with chronic conditions themselves so they come from a place of understanding, but it's an accredited course so is properly structured. Oh and they supply biscuits 
. Might be worth looking into at some point.
Do tell us how the pain management course goes, if you find any of it helpful. I was put on a waiting list, but I suspect that means it was filed in the bin...
Have either of you - or others who come along - had OH assessments at home? A friend of mine has just had this for her back problems (adult diagnosed spina bifida, diagnosed at 39, suffered for years being told it was hip related!) and has been given some things to help - a chair for her bath, some railings put in up her steps into the house, and a few other things. Also a friend of mine who has RSI/Carpal Tunnel had OH assessment and they had all her handles in the house changed, doors, cupboard doors etc, so she could open and close things more easily. If you haven't had it done, might be worth getting it done for some advice/help with small changes that might help around the house - you probably have had it though so might be teaching you all to suck eggs!
Sorry, didn't mean to be rude this slipped off the threads I'm on bit!
Matilda I have been on meds constantly for 9 years now. I had the front of my pelvis fused, which failed, so started taking the meds then. I had it redone 6 years ago.
The meds don't make a great deal of difference to me, tbh. Tramadol helps but I can't stand the side effects and they give me terrible migraines. I am too scared to take Morphine (have been offered it lots of times) because I worry about becoming resistant to it.
At the moment DH left for a four month tour of duty 3 weeks ago 
so it's just me and the boys. Usually I have a GA and multiple steroid injections into my pelvis every 3 months, but decided that I didn't want to put on my boys, especially DS1 who would have been doing all the driving and running around. I am scheduled to have them the end of January so it will be five months.
I've had an OT assessment. I have aids which make things easier for me.
Hi everyone.
matilda how did the pain management session go? Good to hear some new options might be available but 
at the stimulator! that does sound evasive. Have you done any research into it?
So many of you have had such horrible problems for so long, and I moan about a bit of back pain returning 
Things are slowly starting to decline here pain wise though . Pain has slowly been increasing, not helped I think by a period of absence from the gym for a week or so. I did body balance on tuesday, a little sore to start but thought I needed to ease into it. Except, I did a lunge, where normally I would step into the position in a couple of steps (if you don't know what a lunge is, best to google as I can't describe it well!) I sort of forgot to avoid it, and went to step right into it, full forward, outside my hand; except, as my leg was in the air, I felt something in my back 'go'. And then I was stuck. And, stupidly I carried on, albeit it slowly and avoiding many of the following tracks. Stupid. Stupid. I know how it goes, the pain is reasonable at the time but gets worse and worse.
Since then, leg pain has increased, both legs, stabbing pain, some cramping pain, and at work yesterday tight pins and needles in my foot (it went again, but first numb pins needles for a little while) and I can't move at all other than as a robot without my back literally giving way. Back pain is increased. I am refusing to take my meds, apart from napraxen, I don't want to be on them.
God knows what I have done! But, to be honest the pain was already increasing, this seems to have just sped it up. I am a bit worried about scarring (fibrosis?) how would I know as it can't be seen?
This is never actually going to go away permanently is it?
Oh. And. I spoke to neurosurgery appts. I was meant to have my 12 week follow up mid september, told it was going to be 6wks later than planned or thereabouts. Yesterday, was told there are another 100 people on the waiting list without appts before me, they are making appts 6wks in advance, so estimate another 2 months or so, after those 6wks. So, basically they cut my spine open, fuck about with it, see me for 5 mins afterwards, send me home and leave me to get on with it. Not impressed with it, but what can I do?
Sorry. Huge moan. Hope everyone's pain levels are reasonable today.
matilda I can't link to those shoes! I really really want a particular pair of boots, but can only get them online and they are a lot of money. I don't want to buy them only to find I can't wear them. They are Fly London, which seem relatively comfortable, those I have tried on in shops, but these are not as soft soled I don't think, the ones I want. I am going to work wearing smart shirt, trousers, make-up, hair done, pair of black trainers. Very classy. Not. I can't wear my dresses as my trainers don't really go 
My osteo frees up the locked vertebrae in my lower back, as I understand it. The one I've chosen does it like a massage rather than the "tie you up in a knot and crack you out flat" type! It's actually very pleasant although within 24 hours I'm in pain and very grumpy - this wears off thankfully :) I can touch my toes after I've been. Must go back actually... I can barely touch my knees at the moment! My fault for trying to move a wardrobe. 
It may be worth another visit, Pavlov. Explain on the phone and they might be able to say whether its worth a go. I'm "lucky" in that mine is not disk related.
I have tried Pilates and I know I need to do it but it I find it duller than a dull day in dullsville.
As for the links, I did the the old fashioned way by typing it with some text rather than automatically. I think the comma in the link messed it up.
:)
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I have a lot of shooting pains, stinging, stabbing, but without numbness, oddly. So sciatica clearly, but no fuzzing, the odd pins and needles but not a huge amount and that comes and goes. But the pain is fucking annoying! It's not 8/10 in terms of level, it's more like 5 or 6 out of 10, but it's relentless, and it's from my back, deep within, right through butt into legs and feet. Walking doesn't help, in fact I seize up as I walk. It's similar, but not the same as previous pain, it's much more electric this time. And I have lost mobility in terms of moving sideways, I can't twist now, walking like a robot, as if I twist my back collapses. I have had that before, but at least this time it doesn't cause the cascade of pain and immovability that used to follow. I am finding that sleeping is painful but moving is a bit easier when I first get up in terms of shooting pain (just not the stiffness).
well the good times were good while they lasted eh?!
How are you all? Chirpier than me I hope
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