Back pain HELL

[Tulips78]

Once again I'm awake at 1am with back pain that cocodamol 30/500, naproxen and deep heat can't even alleviate a tiny bit. GP uninterested. 3 episodes of debilitating back pain in 18 months (goes suddenly, immeasurable pain, can't walk) paid for MRI, one disc bulging and another protruding. Thousands of pounds spent over the years on chiropractor and osteopath. Tried ibuprofen gel, voltatol.
Losing the will.
Exercise level is good although apparently I need to try pilates.
What to do next??? I can't live in pain like this.

Is it in your back or your leg? I herniated L5/S1 and had surgery on it so I get the pain
Thermacare lower hip and back wraps took mine from "I want to cut my leg off" to "this is a bit less shit"

In my back. Uppet back and lower back.

I'm in a very similar position to you, and feel that I've been largely abandoned L, especially by my GP, although I did finally get referred to a neurosurgeon at the end of last year after nine months of agony. I had a nerve block injection in March of this year, which didn't help at all and I'm hopefully about to be offered a second injection. The surgeon is prepared to do a microdiscectomy but that would involve at least one night's stay in hospital which I'm very reluctant to agree to, no matter how bad the pain is, because my husband has sleep seizures and there is no-one else who could stay with him overnight if I'm in hospital.

Like you, I've been taking the maximum dose of paracetamol, codeine, and naproxen for 18 months, although I have now been able to start reducing the codeine and naproxen. I also took amitriptylene for the first month or so, but they made me feel really rough. I found the biggest relief from my pain has been using a TENS machine and the difference when I started using it was incredible. I've just been using a little wireless machine, which cost me about £30. I spent loads of money on seeing a chiropractor for months, who made the pain even worse at times, but about a month ago, I remembered the acupuncturist I saw about 25 years ago who stopped me smoking in one session. He is still practising and I've been seeing him for a month now. It really has made a huge difference and the improvement he has made has enabled me to reduce my naproxen. I've also not needed to use my TENS machine nearly as much since I've been seeing him.

I would strongly recommend trying a TENS machine and acupuncture. I think they are both accepted as being reputable forms of pain relief and I remember my Mum being given a TENS machine by the hospital pain clinic a few years ago. Good luck!

Have you tried a private physio, they aren't like the NHS one's who just give you exercises. I was shocked at the hands off approach of the NHS physio after previously have been private.

They will often have exercises classes that you can go to as well if you find a good practice.

Sympathy. I have similar. Dismissed by everyone I speak to. Discharged from msk after MRI. Told to take paracetamol. What? For the rest of my life? That's it?