to think that my sore back isn't caused by depression?!?

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Cut a long story short, I have suffered from (diagnosed) clinical depression for a long time which is being treated with counselling, no anti depressants though as they don't work well for me.

Today I went to the docs as I woke on Monday unable to move properly, the small of my back is in agony and it feels like I've trapped a nerve or something, regular paracetamol and ibuprofen hasn't been working so I hoped he would be able to give me something to dull the pain a bit.

Except he turned around and went "I doubt painkillers will work, it's just a symptom of your depression, the pain is in your head." He didn't do a check up, only listened to me describe it, refused to listen to my protests that it was agony and just kept telling me when I felt better emotionally it would go

Now I'm no expert on depression, but I've been dealing with it since I was a teenager and physical pain has NEVER been a symptom for me, and this past year my life has actually been going pretty damn good, my depression getting better thanks to the counselling.

So aibu in thinking he was talking a load of shite and can go fuck himself for not giving me any pain relief?!? Can't even friggen sit properly atm, if I lay down my whole back seizes up and I can't move.

Sorry for the rant, just pretty pissed off.

I would make an appointment with an osteopath who will try to fix the cuse of the pain rather than mask it with pain killers.

And yes, make a complaint about the attitude of the GP you saw.

YANBU. I'm really shocked by that. Is it not possible for depressed people to suffer herniated discs then? Maybe the GP was saying I a cack handed way that they cant do much to help back pain and that it mostly settles down on its own? But surely giving some more powerful anti inflammatories than you can buy in the shops and a muscle relaxed I standard? Id go to a chiropracter or acupuncturist though OP...

A physiotherapist should work with you to improve things; I have less trust in chiropractors or osteopaths personally.

Oh wow! Another person whose persistent, life-spoiling back pain is dismissed because of MH issues. Perhaps we should form a club. I feel your pain - quite literally.

UncleT, I think the OP says she's just had back pain since Monday. No doubt her GP is an arse for refusing medication & insisting it's caused by depression, but the chances are, at this stage, that it will improve by itself - most cases of simple back pain do.

No way should persistent back pain be dismissed, though. If you're in that position have you seen the Back Thread over on the Health boards? There are lots of knowledgeable posters there who've been struggling with back pain of various kinds, in some cases for years.

If it's any comfort, a lot of people have had to really fight to be referred to specialists, for MRIs, physio. etc - it does seem, as someone said upthread, that back pain isn't handled well on the NHS generally.

Sarah Key (a physiotherapist) has written some really good books on back pain. I've got a prolapsed disc & nerve impingement & they've helped me to understand what's going on - some of the exercises are very helpful too.

The tricky thing is that when people say that GPs aren't great at tackling back pain, it often seems that the same is true of MH issues (certainly not always, but often). Not a great combination.

In a similar vein, I went to GP's a couple of years ago whilst on Citalopram. Told her my symptoms and she insisted I was having panic attacks. I didn't think so but went with the expert opinion. My symptoms continued and DM saw a "panic attack" and insisted I went back. After a neuro referral from another GP I was diagnosed with epilepsy! Not quite panic attacks and I didn't really need the Citalopram in the end.

I also have a chronic problem with my back and the pain specialists are always very keen to check on your mental health. I realise this is because pain can affect mood, but didn't know depression could cause pain. Now I know why the questionnaires seem mood based rather than pain.

Op, I would try some heat on your back and apply Ibuprofen gel directly rubbing in for a good 3 minutes, if you don't see any improvement try self referring to the NHS physio or pay privately. I hope it eases off soon.

Yanbu. Go back, tell them depression is not an excuse for failing to examine it treat you, and please make a formal complaint so this culture of neglect by GPs is challenged, it really is dire.

Heya, thanks for all your advice folks, I saw another doc today as the pain has been getting worse - she examined the base of my back and it's a bit swollen and inflamed, I've been given naproxen and told to rest as well as referred for an appointment at my local hospital to see the doctor there, she thinks that I've damaged something in my back but couldn't say what without a scan.

I've put in a complaint about the doctor who dismissed it as depression related too, even more furious now as he made me doubt myself only to find it was more serious than having just trapped my nerve or something.

But thank you everyone

That's positive glad you went back

Glad you put in a complaint. I do think there's an element of 'women's hysteria' going on with these sexist bastards.

My sister had a terrible time getting her bladder condiion diagnosed (basically her body was attacking the lining of her bladder leaving her in terrible pain). The doctors all told her it was in her mind (as they were testing for a bladder infection but not finding any bacterial).

She said she thought about killing herself as the pain was so bad and they all told her it was in her mind. Luckily she finally found a consultant (after paying to go privately) and got treatment.

Years ago, I also was in a psychotherapy group for a long time with a woman who was being counselled for her debilitating ME which was 'all in her mind' - a couple of years later, scientists were able to prove that ME was a real condition which wreaks changes at brain level. I still think about that woman. I hope she got some proper help.

Anyway, it is an utter disgrace for any doctor to imply that someone's condition is only in their mind.

Good for you- well done. Hope it gets better soon x

DP has 2 herniated disks in her back (L5/S1 and L4/L5) and was referred by the GP to a pain management specialist. He told her that the pain was all in her head and if she stopped thinking about it, it wouldn't hurt so much!!

$270 to be insulted and patronised :( this was after paying $520 for an MRI which showed the damage.

Went back to GP (who swore a lot!) and got an instant referral for Physio. 3 sessions later and things are getting better.

The pain specialist had seen the list of DPs mental health problems and instantly decided it was depression related and refused to consider the MRI results. Mind you, he also put his hands on her without permission so he wasn't the most professional of drs.

Glad you put in a complaint. I do think there's an element of 'women's hysteria' going on with these sexist bastards.

Telling that he didn't actually an examination, I think Bauhaus

Glad you got a proper exam OP

No, your GP is an idiot. People with depression can get the same back issues as anyone else. However, depression does actually make you physiologically less able to cope with pain so in fact you probably feel it more severely than others.

Go to the NHS website for advice about managing acute back pain and go to your local urgent care centre for some decent painkillers. The main thing is just try to keep moving around as much as you are able. Hope you feel better soon

Crap, sorry. That's the first time I've not RTFT . Your op just made me so cross. I see patients all the time who are told dangerous rubbish like that, and I'm a physio. Glad you are feeling better about it all