Back pain - diazepam not touched it, now what?

[SinkGirl]

I have an ongoing upper back issue (four years or so). Fobbed off by GPs, has a few courses of physio and I do my exercises. Mostly it’s manageable but always flares up in school holidays (twins, both disabled, both need lots of lifting, nappy changes etc). So about 3 times a year I end up with a box of diazepam. They give me 2mg x 21 tablets. I have to take 4x 2mg for it to have even the slightest effect so lasts less than two days. Usually that’s enough to make a difference so I can get mobile again but this time nothing. I am on morphine for another condition and this may be why I’m so tolerant to it, not sure if it’s similar receptors or something?

Anyway, I’m in a bad way. Struggling to move and sleep. Not sure whether I should call the GP again on Monday - I worry about them thinking I’m drug seeking (I’m really not - they don’t make me high or drowsy at all, not even a little bit).

I do finally have a rheumatologist appointment on Friday specifically about my back so maybe I just need to grin and bear it until then - maybe there’s something else they could try me on or ask my GP to prescribe? It’s only ever very short term, just so I can straighten out and not be a mangled ball of pain.

GPs have previously dismissed the idea that there’s anything actually wrong with my back and that it’s just muscular but will see what the consultant reckons.

I've been through the grind with my lower back problems. It's supposed to be osteo with associated muscle clenching.

I combine physio (muscle stretches like pelvic tilts) with medication like Zapain and NSAIDs. Works fairly well - but I don't have twins to lift and carry. Please stress that to the rheumatologist. It must be so painful.

Thanks I will. It really is hideous. It’s painful enough on a typical day, but when It’s like this I am completely useless. I do take anti inflammatories and obviously I have the morphine for the other condition but neither help when my muscles go into protective mode - currently stuck with one shoulder up near my ear, can’t turn my head... it really sucks!

I do wonder if I have a slipped disc or something due to weird altered sensation across my upper back so hopefully they’ll do a scan to check.

I wouldn't worry about asking for diazepam short-term if that's what works, btw. I get prescribed Zapain (codeine) by the bucketload if I want it. I know they're different, but my point is that I do try to just take what I need because I'm - like you - sensible and mindful of my health.

You can only ask.

Do any gentle movements or heat packs help at all? Or is it too painful to try?

Have you considered the osteopath/chiropractor? Amazing skilled people, different approach from NHS and won't be FoC but worth a try if you can...

When it gets like this nothing works - I usually struggle on in a bad way for a few days and then cave and call the doctor. Last time I had some was new year so it’s not frequent. I worry if I call them and say it’s done nothing they’ll refuse it in future when maybe it might work better another time? I would be happy to try anything at all but I assume anything that’s a muscle relaxant has the potential side effect of making you loopy so they probably don’t like to prescribe any.

@ohnonotyetplease

Have you considered the osteopath/chiropractor? Amazing skilled people, different approach from NHS and won't be FoC but worth a try if you can...

I’m a bit wary of them after a friend had an undiagnosed spinal problem and got a serious injury from a chiro (or osteopath, can’t remember which) - if I can get the hospital to do a scan and confirm all is okay I would definitely be more comfortable with it. Just worried about making things worse more than anything else!

My OH went to a physio privately who wrote a letter for the consultant to read. That did help no end in moving treatment along

OH and the physio refused to treat him because he had figured out what was wrong

Do you think its the stress making the pain worse in the holidays, or increased lifting ?

Dealing with my own back problem, and managing with cold packs, stretches and diazepan with flare ups. Brother swears by ice baths, i'm not ready, but he's does cold water bath with two bags of ice dumped in twice a week and it's made a world of difference for him.

Morphine has meant diazepam and various other sedatives don’t work on me like they did before it. Sorry I don’t have any suggestions

If diazepam helps it must be due to the muscles cramping in which case maybe a tens machine would help as well as heat. The other medication I have is amitriptyline but this takes some time to work at least a week. That is more for nerve pain but of course in your back nerves are involved so it may help.

Sorry if this is a terribly stupid question but is it definitely your back? Is there any chance at all that it’s your stomach?

If it is then the anti inflammatories are actually making it worse.
Could it be gall bladder or a problem with something else?
I had severe chest pain recently and it was actually my stomach causing the pain. I could not believe it.

Sorry I know you know your own body best but is there even a tiny chance something else could be causing the pain too?

I would definitely ring the go, nobody should be left in pain like that. Al the best.

Without doubt a really good osteopath will work wonders. Ive heard of many people being injured by chiropractors and a lot of rubbish osteopaths but a good one is worth their weight in gold. They are the ultimate experts in back gealth and how to bith treat it and manage it on a real life basis .
Additionally a good beginners pilates class regularly will help you develop musles which strengthen your back but also other muscles which support it and take the strain off so the probkem can be alleviated.
Are you London based by any chance as i can recommend someone to really help.

Osteopath all the way. I’ve had back problems since my early 20s and have tried allsorts. The GP prescribed pills that would knock out a bull elephant but pulls just don’t touch it.

I ended up seeing an osteopath who worked in the same clinic as me - my god she correctly diagnosed the issue by looking at me and how I moved (I’d seen the X-rays so knew what caused the problems).

Whereas chiro crunches and you hobble out crying, osteopathy is a lot gentler and gets faster results. In my experience.

I also have a good osteo in London and second Pilates (not yoga though)

Not London sadly - I’m in Dorset. Will see what the consultant says on Friday and if they reckon it’s safe to try then I’ll book one - have had some recommendations

@3luckystars totally get what you mean - I had my gallbladder out years ago but it’s crazy how far spread the pain can be!

I think it’s definitely the increased lifting / lack of respite in holidays that make it flare up - lockdown made it so much worse and don’t think it’s ever properly come back from that.

I have a giant patch of altered sensation across my whole upper back 24/7 and part of my spine really hurts to touch. Problem is that the pain has messed up my posture so it’s easy to blame the posture.

Will see if the rheumatologist can suggest anything else for the worst flare ups - I think ideally I need some kind of muscle relaxant on standby so that as soon as it goes I can take it rather than a few days of it getting worse before I get a prescription. Can’t tolerate amitriptyline or pregabalin etc, they knock me out so much I can’t move, way more than diazepam and morphine put together ironically!

Forgot to say I have a big electric heat pad, tens machine, ice packs etc etc - I have severe endometriosis and adenomyosis hence the strong painkillers already and have tried everything at some point. Most of the time my back is manageable but it just takes one awkward lift or reach for something and I’m screwed.

Can they do back transplants?! 😬

I’m not even 40, I dread to think what I’ll be like if I make it to 70!

The only thing that worked when mine went was
Max paracetomol
Max naproxen
Diazepam
60mg dihydrocodiene 4 times a day
Oramorph
Plus a heat pack on my back 24/7

Then I had spinal surgery!

Naproxen, codiene, diazepam, tens, hot bath and swimming if possible

I am so sorry, you must have tried everything (after all who wouldn't!).

The only thing it might be is to be super quick on back first aid when it does go, so load of diazepan, no lifting, icing.

Sounds horrendous for you, also, awkward question, but how are you pooing? I know that amount of pain killer can back you up terribly.

Any chance you can get some extra respite in the holidays?

You have the medical proof it's affecting you.

Social care have just agreed to 8 hours of help a week in school holidays, but that’s just for one person to help me take them out - so it’s not actually respite (in fact worse as it means having to take them somewhere and be physically active, but they do need that). Hopefully as they get even bigger if they still have the personal care needs we can get more help.

I will have a come to Jesus chat with the consultant and say I’m not coping and I need some suggestions - I do think muscle relaxants on hand for when it goes would help, so I would be calling for another script when I’ve used one rather than when it’s already bad. Doubt the GP would like that much, they already strongly dislike the fact I’m on morphine longterm but hoping for a hysterectomy soon anyway so hopefully that will help with the pelvic nastiness. So if a consultant okays that plan, that would help. But will see what they say. Maybe there’s something that’s not diazepam they’d be happier to prescribe.

The morphine used to cause me horrible gastric issues when I was on a higher dose - I decreased it massively when I got pregnant and even though it’s gone up recently I’m still on about 20% of what I used to be, so fortunately not too bad :)

@SinkGirl I have twins and three other kids (although non are disabled) the lifting when they were all small was murder on my upper back, I don't know if it's relevant to you but I had a problem with one of my hips after the twins that used to lead to referred pain in my upper back, I found physio and regular exercise really helped at the time and then obviously as they've got older there is less strain. How much exercise can you manage?

Not much sadly - between the boys and their needs, my endo, chronic fatigue and my back, I’m totally shattered all the time.

The twin pregnancy definitely did a number on me - all that bloody relaxin, then pumping for them was the nail in the coffin I think. Been physically a wreck ever since. If they were NT and potty trained etc it would be much easier, but they’re not and that’s still a long way off (if ever). 5 kids including twins? I’m sending you a medal and a case of wine 😬

Oh man I'm so sorry to read this. I don't have any advice just sympathy and to say... The doctors aren't there to judge your life, the fact you look after your twins with high needs and manage everything else is remarkable so they shouldn't be judging that you want to try and reduce the pain! Hope rhematologist has some answers 😢