So pissed off with Dr i saw today.. don't know what to do about it.

[Skullyton]

ive been in pain with my hip/back for months.

i was initially referred to a physiotherapist after 8wks of pain relief didn't fix it.

Physio diagnosed compressed disks in my lumbar spine because of having a very deep curve in my spine that would never get better and my only hope was strengthening the muscles that support it, and suggested my sciatic nerve was getting pinched. Gave me exercises for my back, saw me another couple of times and sent me on my way.

Last month i had a serious asthma flare and i've had to come off the NSAID pain relief. I have 30/100 co-codamol and while its helping with the now mild back pain, it is NOT touching the excruciating pain in my hip/leg.

This pain starts in my backside and radiates down to my knee, sometimes my toes. Its been so painful some days i can barely walk on it and have ended up CRAWLING to fucking bed.

After 2 weeks of this shit i finally took myself back to the Drs today.

The GP (locum) i saw did the following

1. Declared it wasn't sciatica because the sciatic nerve terminates at the knee so i wouldnt be feeling it in my foot. & also because i 'passed' a straight leg raise test (doesn't make pain worse)
2. referred me back to another physio (wtf?)
3. referred me for x-ray (only thing i'm happy with)
4. refused to offer me any other pain relief, basically because i can't take NSAIDS, i'm stuck with the fucking co-codamol WHICH ISNT HELPING.
5. gave me a lecture over my weight, which the previous physio said wasn't a factor in this.. yes losing weight will help because of pressure on my joints, but it wouldnt fix this.

I am SO sick of being in fucking pain, i'm sitting here now and all i can feel is my hip/thigh/knee just throbbing away. I just want some help.

Hi OP I had the 'lose weight' advice too which was helpful seeing as I had a month old dd, had already lose 2 stone in that month, wasn't able to take a lot of the painkillers due to bf dd and could hardly walk- I sat and cried at the lack of help after that appointment.
Things did get better but I had To go to private physio for treatment and acupuncture and then I was better within 3 weeks of treatment if I'd have waited for the nhs physio referral it would have been. Much longer.

Amytryptiline worked on the awful stress related headaches I used to get. But be warned-it made me zombie -like initially, and I had to cut the dose in half

So sorry you are suffering so much.

My Dp has a back problem. The only thing we have found that helped him improve was Pilate's. I don't mean a class with other people. I mean an instructor who does one to one. He had a complete assessment with her and week by week gradually built up a list of exercises for him to do. He doesn't go to her anymore as he has a routine now that work for him but it has improved him more than I thought anything ever would. See if you can find an instructor in your area. Not cheap but it could be worth it

I sympathise, OP. I have a whole host of back/hip problems including sciatica and sacroiliitis. The pain is awful, especially in this kind of weather when it's cold and damp and everything feels stiff and swollen.

Keep going back. See another GP (as many as it takes) to get a correct diagnosis. My dad actually diagnosed one of my back conditions (he's a retired doctor) and had to come with me to a GP appointment to get them to see that it wasn't just minor back pain even though I could hardly walk. Don't give up and don't be afraid to kick up a fuss. Sciatic pain is awful but it CAN be managed so don't let them fob you off.

Double up on painkiller as far as possible. Take the max doses. I also find heat helps - I sit with hot water bottles on my back and wrap myself up in blankets so the heat can't escape. I also wear heat patches to work on my lower back when it's really bad.

I know 2 people who had injections to various points in back to stop pain - go back to gp ask for Mri and referral.

I was well - until 2 really prolonged and severe bouts of Sympysis Pubis Disorder during (and after) 2 pregnancies. The SPD lasted for around 4 years in total.
After it subsided, I still couldn't walk properly. I had an XRay and was told my pelvis had moved back to its proper position and the pain was 'all in my mind'. Given I had a 3 year old and a 5 year old with SEN and was on crutches, that didn't help me.
I have spent most of the last decade on crutches, taking a combination of strong Co-Codamol, Gabapentin, Pregabalin, Amitriptiline (which made me sleep so much I couldn't wake for the children). All of which had side effects, none of which 'solved' the problem.

Finally, I had an MRI. PUSH PUSH PUSH PUSH PUSH PUSH for an MRI.

It showed I have compressed discs at L4/5 and S1/2 levels. They press on the spinal nerves.
I also had bad pain / numbness / buzzing down both legs and stabbing pains in both feet. It has been completely disabling. The nerve entrapment in my spine was also causing issues with my legs and vice versa.
I finally (after an 18m wait) had a deep and superficial Peroneal Nerve decompression and Tarsal Tunnel work on my left leg and foot. I now have 3 impressive scars but huge relief.
Having pressed the hospital for figures and found the Op cost less than £1K, I have written to the Chair to ask for my right side to be done too.

As for the dreaded Weight issue - it is an easy lazy way to dismiss people in pain, imo. I asked the Specialist I have (finally!) found if I had 'done this to myself by being overweight?'. He was very clear that the answer was NO. He seevery very active teenagers with the same condition as well as stick thin elderly people too. He did say that once you have these issues then being overweight exacerbates it, which is self evident.