Back pain comments

[fatgirlswims]

I have chronic low back for which I take tramadol or diazepam. It’s really bad and leaves me feeling awful. The drugs make me feel awful too.

I've had comments such as “whatever” “yeah yeah we all get back pain” “it’s age - we all get it”
Even “no you haven’t”

I very much get the impression people think that I am being lazy or malingering. And they don’t understand how much pain I am in.

I have a professional job and active life involving sports and home life such as house work and gardening. I manage these by pacing and getting help.

I ignore all the comments. But I feel really upset that people don’t believe me. for example the site staff at work won’t help me with carrying heavy boxes or make comments that make me not want to ask when I do ask for help. Or friends that do not understand that I simply cannot walk for an hour to an event.

what do I do?

There's not much you CAN do.
I'm in an identical situation... have chronic back pain due to a) my job b) arthritis in my hips and lower spine. It's constant..and invisible.
I also do a sport, precisely because keeping moving is SO important, but I also pay for it afterwards!
Presumably at work you could ask for an occupational health referral and get a decent chair /desk set up if appropriate (that might help remind people that you are not faking it!)
The only thing I don't do is take anything stronger than paracetamol/ ibuprofen. The GPs have offered the same as you but only when it goes into total spasm do I take diazapam. My DD is a GP and sees the affects of long term dependence on the strong painkillers and keeps advising me to avoid. Plus tramadol gave me the worst blocked nose and bad dreams!
It really sucks though; people who only experience occasional back pain have np idea how awful it is to hurt all the time.

Oh thanks so much for your reply I feel so much less alone!

Yes I am stopping tramadol as it has stopped working after a few months.

I’ve had back pain forever on and off but I’m since 2018 it has been incessant. I had amitriptyline for years but it stopped working.

age just had a new chair ordered.