Back pain

[Aspecialkindofhell]

I’m in agony with back pain. It happens every two or three years and takes months to resolve. I’m just so so low. I can’t go anywhere or do much. I am just struggling so badly. Anyone else in this position?

I used to get this. I have degenerate disc disease and used to have chronic back pain with big flare ups every few years where it went into spasm and I could move for days and then it took weeks to get back to 'normal' pain.

I am much better now and I put it down to:

Sleeping position- i generally sleep on my side with a big pillow between my thighs / knees to keep my spine and hips in line. Or on my back with the pillow under my knees so my back doesnt arch

Pilates - a year of consistent classes once a week plus 10 or 15 minutes a couple of times a week have built so much strength. I focus on deep core exercises

Walking - being active and reducing the time i spend sitting has also really helped

Sadly yes. Sending sympathy.

Ongoing back issues with occasional flare ups. These always scare me at the start because I worry they won't settle - but they do.

Things that work for me for a bad flare up/spasm are - heat packs (wheat bags mostly) swapped with ice packs, TENS machine, simple painkillers (ibuprofen), hot bath with epsom salts, gentle stretch routing (from youtube - 'unlock your back spasm'), sobbing and eating too much chocolate.

Long term wise my preventative work is strengthening my core and back with yoga/pilates/weight training and exercising every single day.

I also have various cushions and a much loved swiss ball that help - swiss ball can either be sat on or hugged and roll about on when pain is bad.

Everyone's back pain is different though so this might not work for you.

Hope you feel better soon.

I can sympathise. I’ve had chronic back pain for 19 years now, since I was pregnant with my middle son. My pain is. 6-8 constantly unless I have painkillers, which can drop it to a 4. I did finally find a dose of slow release Oxycodone in January that made me pain free for the first tIme since 2007, but the drs won’t let me stay on that level (even though the fast release plus the slow release equals the same overall quantity).

I find heat helps - I buy the heat patches from Amazon on subscribe and save. Nothing but the Oxycodone touches the sides in terms of pain relief though.

I hope your pain eases soon.

I'm currently suffering and just can't get comfortable. It makes me feel really depressed. I have to lean against a soft cushion or have a hot water bottle on the base of my back in order to sit comfortably. I strained my back last Autumn moving furniture but it gradually got better so I'm hoping this will be the same but I haven't a clue how I've done it this time. My sympathies are with all you other bad back sufferers.

Oh God that sounds awful, you poor thing. Do you know what the cause is?

Yes agree about the hot water bottle. I pushed mine too far doing frantic gardening and housework. I am so annoyed with myself b cause I’ve been through this before several times. It’s horrible. Hope you feel better soon.

I was diagnosed with something like Spondylitis or something like that. I suspect it stemmed from a horse riding accident when I was 15. I was thrown from a horse, landed on my back and was unconscious. But the woman who was running the holiday school my friends and I were on made me get up - I personally think they should have called an ambulance or at least taken me to the hospital. But this was the 90’s… anyway, it was never quite right but not too bad. Then in my pregnancy they think all the ligaments and stuff shifted and stretched resulting in pain. I had surgery in 2015 to correct it, but the pain never went. I’d rather not take so many (or any) painkillers, but I can’t work with the pain levels without the pills.

Chronic pain sucks. Until you’ve been through it, no-one truly understands how debilitating and depressing it is. I hope yours doesn’t last!

That sounds so demoralising. I can understand how people get hooked on strong painkillers for back pain. It is really dreadful. I’m so sorry you are suffering like that.

I sympathise, it’s so depressing. I haven’t found a long lasting solution yet

Another one reliant on a hot water bottle here.

Your back is vital for so many functions. It's hard to rest it for long enough.

Sorry op. Chronic pain can really take it out of you. I use Tens machine( from Boots) and like another poster I use heat pads( belts). I use the Deep Heat ones as find these are the best. The heat does tend to vary though from belt to belt! I also use Tiger Balm and have found that 4 Zapains a day can take the edge off. Hope it resolves soon for you.

https://evoolvepaincare.academy/patient-resources

Very interesting resource on back pain management.
Chronic pain needs a whole new approach.
Some of you might find it interesting and helpful.
We need a lot more investment in it's treatment.
I saw a physio this week for my upper back pain and received this from her.