The Back Pain Emporium is Open For Business. Browsers Welcome. Thread 7

[MatildaTheCat]

For anyone experiencing back pain it can be a terrifying time. What is wrong? Who can help? How long will this last? We,on this thread are here to support you;offer empathy and help to navigate the almost impossible task of getting a diagnosis and the right treatment.We are not doctors but people who have trodden this path slowly and painfully. We also chat a LOT and welcome all newcomers. It is strictly non competetive regarding pain and no niggle is too minor.

Those who have long term back problems know that the best way to help manage back pain is to internet shop for shoes, bags, and back support devices. Those who are new to back pain, these are important lessons to learn. And here within this thread is where you will learn those lessons.

You will also find other helpful advice on pain management, different treatment options from hydrotherapy and physio to surgery, experiences of others navigating the big and scary medical world, both private and NHS (and abroad from the UK) too, as well as issues around work, being a parent while managing pain and disability, and the impact on the relationships around us. Not to mention the pain of dealing with claiming disablity benefits. .

Between us all, we have a huge wealth of knowledge and experience, and more than the practical advice, the jargon and information, we know what back pain is like, how much is affects everything around us, and sometimes, all we need is to have people listen who Get It.

We talk painkillers regularly,sometimes drink , have hot water bottles and wheat bags galore, and hold hands a lot. It's potentially all very Unmumsnetty as we do actually show some lovin' from time to time, although we Never Ever call each other hun.

If you have advice, need advice, need a hand to hold, want to do some shopping, then come in. We are friendly. We talk a lot. Come in, have a and say hello

Previous thread for anyone interested

[PavlovtheCat]

I didn't finish the other one again, posting inane shit, did i? I know I tend to to that



I am about to have a bath. First bath since surgery, I feel I need to soak for a while in heat. Although the reality is I'll get in, it will hurt a bit too much and i'll get out again within 5 minutes

[CharmingNotSincere]

I've not posted on these before, anyone else with coccydynia? Three years and counting...

[MatildaTheCat]

Hi Charming, there is a regular poster called Tickle with the same trouble. Hopefully she will be along soon.

Just had a fest of activity: swim and hydo exercises followed by hot jacuzzi and steam. Then coffee with SIL. Next fantastic release massage then hardcore back tailored Pilates with marvellous rehab therapist.

All felt great, even the hard bits that will kill me later. Made me feel normal for a while and that's got to be good.

[PavlovtheCat]

Oh no, don't mention curry! We have just agreed to not have a take away tonight, to try and save some money/not be frivolous. Oh. But now I have curry in my head...

Well done for your active day, hope you don't pay for it too much tomorrow/sunday.

[maggiso]

Hi. time for
Hope today is a better day msdj, and sorry your Mum is ill. Its particularly difficult during any investigation phase. My father is in very frail health - looked after by my elderly mother (both in their 80s) some distance away. He has not long come out of hospital, so its a worry when I can't just pop down to see them (its too far to go in a school day - I have to be back for ds).
Hi Charming.
Yesterday I decided to go through my 'stash' (so funny that you should mention it) and found lots of bits and bobs - mostly from when meds were changed or doses altered (mostly not back related), that were years out of date. So I bundled them all up to take to be disposed of by the local pharmacist. Shocking how old some of them were. I am not usually good at throwing things away!
Your active/relaxation day sounds lovely Matilda.

[waitingforwombat]

Another coccydynia sufferer here, but now with added joy of low back pain as a result of toddler carrying (same culprit as caused my original coccyx injury!!) and I suspect from 18 months of compensating for coccyx pain and stiffness. Work is a nightmare for me - lots of sitting and lots of getting up and down from my chair, the pain is always worst after a couple of days at work.

I had some physio post natally which focused on pelvic floor and abdo strengthening and rely heavily on anti inflammatories. I use a wobble cushion at work. Any other suggestions? wondering whether to go back to physio or to try chiropractic/osteopath route ( not sure I know the difference!)

Also starting to get to the stage where considering dc2 but a bit terrified about pregnancy and childbirth with coccyx problems - anyone got any experience of this?

[Ferguson]

I haven't seen what has gone before on the 'thread', and fortunately don't have serious need.

My DW however, has obtained help from the Bowen Technique therapy:

www.bowtech.com/WebsiteProj/Pages/About/Welcome.aspx

[CharmingNotSincere]

I've been wondering about pregnancy/childbirth with coccyx problems too.

I think there's a lot to be said for a good physio - one who actually treats/manipulates like I have right now. Previously I just kept having NHS ones who all gave me the same pelvic floor/core muscle exercises and nothing else.

The sit/stand at work thing is a nightmare. I'm at the point where I just want to give up, if I could just find a way to work from home I'd be fine!

They keep saying exercise will help, but of course hurting so much from work makes exercise a distant dream. Though I like gentle aqua classes.

[maggiso]

I have longstanding lower and upper back pain (and other joints that play up just to catch me out) and see a chiropractor regularly. Little and often seems to work best for me - along side pilates. It is costly. I don't know anything about living with coccydynia I am afraid, but its good there are a few of you to compare notes.
I have a Toggu wobble cushion (bought pre Christmas) on the computer chair which seems to have helped with leg pain, although it is hard to know whether its just a natural better phase, and a wedge on other seats I use, including the car. I only work part time and struggle with that, so can sympathise with people struggling with working and back troubles..

[elfonshelf]

Must admit I've never worried too much about expiry dates... I reckon I've got stuff in the cupboard that dates back to the '90's! Should probably ditch the "Random Tablets" cardboard box as some of the contents you can't actually read what they are anymore!

Matilda, have you got an electric heat-pad? I've got a very basic one that has 3 settings and turns itself off after an hour or so (annoyingly) but have almost learnt how to turn it back on in my sleep.

Hideous day yesterday - thought I'd taken too much oramorph, turned out to be a migraine, 5 year-old DD had to get me home poor kid as I couldn't barely stand and couldn't see the bus numbers. Went to bed at 4.30pm - amazingly DH was working from home - and other then getting up once to be very sick and take some zomig, I slept till 9am.

Feel a bit crap today, but yesterday was a bit scary.

Hope everyone has as nice a weekend as possible!

[didireallysaythat]

Charming I had a horrible time with the bass of my spine two years ago. I've had, compared to everyone else here, moderate back pain for 20+ years so I was a little resigned to sitting and walking up stairs being painful for the rest of my life. But I got work to do a postural assessment and got a fantastic chair with a coccyx spot removed. I'm a new woman. And I started Pilates 6 weeks post cs with DS2 and I honestly feel better than I did when was in my 20s.

[MatildaTheCat]

So true that it is worth asking for a workplace assessment to ask about working adjustments. An adjustable height desk or new chair might make all the difference.

I have drugs, too that are way out of date. I'm not that precious about such matters. No to heat pad, though do have a similar cushion. I am programmed to need very hot heat. I got a real telling off yesterday from therapist about the state of my mottled back. I am actually addicted to extreme heat. It must block the nerves from transmitting pain.

I am not a huge believer in chiro and osteo stuff, though it know it benefits some on here. My ds has an ongoing coccyx pain condition and has really benefitted from a good chiropractor. Though tbh it sounds very similar to what my rehab therapist and AT teacher do. All about the person?

[PavlovtheCat]

waiting and maggiso and any others who have trouble with desk work, you need to talk to your employers about a disability specific workstation assessment. I have a hydraulic desk at work, which allows me to stand at my desk, as I find sitting for long period difficult, and for a while, it was impossible. The desk means I can stand, or sit, as needed without interfering so much in my work. I also have it built in as part of my disability assessment/adjustments that I can take a break any time I need to, to walk/to exercises to keep my muscles moving. If you have not had an assessment, you need one ASAP.

I'll go get a link for the equalities act which outlines what employers must do to support people with disabilities to remain in the workplace and not disadvantaged (and not being as comfortable as possible in work is a disadvantage versus colleagues without disabilities). It also helps to define what is classed as a disability in work terms, and when something becomes classed as a disability, as it is different to what is classed as disability for say benefit/blue badge purposes.

[PavlovtheCat]

Sorry, massive x post, only read the first couple of posts about it before writing.

[TickleMyTitsTillFriday]

Ah thank god I found you all! I think I hid the last thread as it completely disappeared!

I have coccydynia Charming and Waiting and am due to have steroid and local anesthetic injections into my coccyx on valentines day. Have either of you had this?
I feel your pain with working, I work full time and have recently got a coccyx cushion which has helped quite a lot. You can buy them on amazon but work should provide you with one. You probably already know this!

I went to see a Bowen guy last weds. I had to lie face down on a flat thing with my arms by my side. My boobs massively got in my way and now I have neck ache...

He worried me from the off as he told me to continue to get my painkillers so as not to piss off the Dr but not to take them - I think that is pretty fucked up advice. He also told me to not to have the injections. I don't think I'm going back.

Have any of you used bowen? I'm planning on starting pilates now I have a proper diagnosis. Can't wait!

Hope you're all well, for all

[TickleMyTitsTillFriday]

Elf thar sounds horrible, hope you're feeling better now. Migraines on top of back pain must be AWFUL!

Waiting I didn't have coccyx trouble when I was pg but did have SPD and early physio helped enormously with my last pregnancy.

[allypally999]

Omg thought I'd lost you all haha

Thanks for asking Matilda - Mum has had a wee heart attack but seems ok so they are letting her get back to her care home tomorrow hopefully.

After declaring my new found love of tramadol and taking a few on Friday - felt really sick and shaky on Saturday with horrible headache and also now haven't been to the loo in 4 days so using dynamite (suppositories which I loathe) in desperation as Dulcolax failed me. Maybe go back to co-codamol then . Is there any drug with no side-effects?

[PavlovtheCat]

You might have been feeling sick and shx key due to being backed up ally, can you take no I ol or similar every single day, rather than as and when? Seems such a shame to stop an otherwise good pain relief option if you can't a way to manage the bowel movement issues.

[allypally999]

Thanks pavlov - not sure what you meant? But I take Movical and Dioctyl daily already and Dulcolax as I need it with the bullets for emergencies - which this is turning into - might have a can of beans for tea!

[PavlovtheCat]

Oh if you already take it daily, then oh dear! How about prune juice by the pint? I used ducolax once. Not great. After this surgery, I didn't go for 10 days

[PavlovtheCat]

And yes, meant movicol. Ipad likes to auto correct the strangest things.

[allypally999]

lol I hate auto correct - will try more Dulcolax ... sometimes takes 2 times to work - failing that I know how to move a blockage but it ain't pretty but at least OH will be at work tomorrow

[MatildaTheCat]

Oh how annoying. So frustrating that all these meds have such difficult side effects. A good slug of lactulose at bedtime usually sorts me out. Until the. BuTrans patch, that was .

Maybe start the tramadol slowly to reduce side effects? It's fine to mix with cocodamol so long as you don't dope yourself up. I used to get very spaced yet chatty with it but think hope that's improved.

Hope your mum is ok and well cared for. It's very difficult being on alert for elderly relatives.

[ChocolateandCheese]

Hi can I join in too please?
Got a couple of compressed nerves (C6-8) giving me major grief! On a cocktail of analgesics (naproxen, dihydrocodeine, amitriptyline & diazepam) & got a private referral to othopods this week.
Is there anything anyone can recommend? Is there anything I should specifically ask?
Thanks in advance

[PavlovtheCat]

chocolate welcome

good luck with ortho appt. things to ask? hmm...

-why are you seeing ortho not neuro? whats he rationale behind that (if you don't already know...)
-ask to see your actual scan, helpful for some to actually see where the problem is/what it looks like, especially if surgery is considered, so you can visualise what surgery will actually do
-ask if injections will work (again, if not already tried/explored)
-if surgery, what type, recovery etc, risks involved
-if not surgery, what other options, timescales before review

i'm sure there will be others with other questions for you to ask (and I am sure to think of some too!)

in the meantime - are you using heat/ice with your meds? we are strong advocates of heat of some kind used often.

And, I see you haven't included any stomach protector in your list of meds, are you taking anything like omeprazole with the naproxen? If so, ask for some. Long term use of NSAID meds can increase risk of stomach ulcers significantly.

Also note you haven't said paracetamol. If not using this, take it max dose every day. It works in unison with naproxen and codeine based meds, it makes those meds work better (like some triangle thingy, has a name, can't remember it too many drugs) It's actually an amazing drug, especially with the other meds in the mix, you may be surprised at how much it helps the pain when used regularly with the other meds.