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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if I am missing anything?

37 replies

gunsandbanjos · 02/05/2017 22:26

Hoping one of you wise people will be able to help!

My daughter suffers severe back pain due to scoliosis, today was not a good day :(

We've done painkillers, hot baths, wheat bags, plenty of cuddles and chocolate.

Am I missing anything? Anything help with back pain that you know of, mostly muscular, probably some nerve pain.

OP posts:
divadee · 02/05/2017 22:27

Would a tens machine help? I don't know about scoliosis but it helped my mum with muscular back problems.

TheCatOfAthenry · 02/05/2017 22:31

Poor girl!

I have EDS and scoliosis, am a doctor and worked in ortho and pain medicine when I was junior.

Others and I have found tens machines useful. Some feel Epsom salts in the bath make a difference. My physio was insistent that I start very, very, very gentle pilates. It's often a matter of finding what works for the individual, and getting a second opinion if necessary.

Sending pain-free thoughts your way. X

Original poster
gunsandbanjos · 02/05/2017 22:32

Maybe, I hadn't thought of that! Are they safe to use with a heart condition?

OP posts:
Rossigigi · 02/05/2017 22:33

acupuncture?

TheCatOfAthenry · 02/05/2017 22:33

Check with your own doc re heart condition.

Madwoman5 · 02/05/2017 22:34

Epsom salts and Bowen therapy.

Original poster
gunsandbanjos · 02/05/2017 22:35

I will TheCat, was actually at the cardiac clinic today, wish I'd asked this earlier.

OP posts:
darwinsbabe · 02/05/2017 22:35

Oh that sounds rubbish.

I worked with a woman whose daughter had scoliosis. She had a very delicate operation on her spine and it's worked wonders. Is this on the horizon for your DD?

A tens machine might be the best answer

Original poster
gunsandbanjos · 02/05/2017 22:38

She's had about 25 operations now darwinsbabe, final one was about 18 months ago. Unfortunately it's as good as it's going to get. Just need to find a way to manage the pain.

OP posts:
TheCatOfAthenry · 02/05/2017 22:43

There is some good evidence for CBT even in pain with a physical explanation, and mindfulness is good for some (even younger children again). I know this isn't a miraculous answer but might be worth a try.

Original poster
gunsandbanjos · 02/05/2017 22:46

Some great suggestions, was just looking up Bowen therapy. Will speak to her consultant and see what he thinks.
My partner is trying to teach her breathing techniques to ease the pain.

It's so hard feeling so useless!

OP posts:
YouCantArgueWithStupid · 02/05/2017 22:51

@TheCatOfAthenry I've got EDS too! I find cold packs are the only things that shift my back pain

Original poster
gunsandbanjos · 02/05/2017 22:53

I hadn't considered cold packs, my default has been heat. Am I missing a trick here?

OP posts:
RB68 · 02/05/2017 22:55

as a general rule cold helps reduce inflammation, hot helps with muscle spasm, alternating can help if issue is a combo of both

YouCantArgueWithStupid · 02/05/2017 22:55

I find heat has never made any difference. But like I say I do have EDS & I don't know if maybe lots of people with EDS find cold better than heat? Also sometimes I find my pain is exasperated by constipation?

YouCantArgueWithStupid · 02/05/2017 22:56

I also find meditation and breathing can make a huge difference if I'm at home or somewhere I can remove myself to a quiet place. There's lots of really good meditation apps

AnnoyedinJanuary · 02/05/2017 22:59

I have scoliosis - the only thing which actually helps loosen it up and make me feel normal - Pilates..... go get some 1-2-1 sessions first - and then go to classes - really good for strengthening the stomach muscles which then take the weight off the ones in your back. The simplest ones are to lie flat on the floor - knees up and then simply peel your back off the floor from your bum - vertebrae by vertebrae - so you are in a right angle position - when you get better at it - you can almost feel each vertebrae coming off the floor - the other one is to do the same but start at the shoulders. Buy "Pilates for Dummies" - and you will see them as the basic exercises....... start with those and then work forwards......

catsofa · 02/05/2017 23:00

Placebo?

If you keep a small pill container with a few small pills in it, you could say they are medicine which makes you very sleepy. Say that they can't be taken very often or they stop working so well, so you'll save them for when the pain is really bad, nothing else is working and she's really tired.

If she thinks they'll send her to sleep, they may well do so. Prepare her well for sleep before she takes them, e.g. get her to go to the loo, darken the room, put bed socks on etc, because they'll make her sleep so deeply she won't notice if her feet get cold. This sets up expectation and gives all the cues to her mind and body to fall asleep. Then she takes the pills in bed and lies still and quiet to wait for them to work.

You could maybe use some homeopathic pills, which come in medical-looking bottles with child-proof lids but which are all completely harmless sugar pills. Soak the label off if she's old enough to read - a pharmacist would even give you a proper-looking blank dispensing label to stick on the bottle instead.

Two pills work better than one, small pills stronger than big ones, BTW :).

Hope tomorrow is better.

Skutterfly · 02/05/2017 23:00

Maybe you could ask her consultant if practising Callanetics would be ok? Its an exercise technique developed by a ballerina with scoliosis and it's very gentle and focused on protecting the spine whilst strengthening.

Original poster
gunsandbanjos · 02/05/2017 23:01

Thank you for your suggestions so far everyone.

I think she'd benefit from mindfulness and breathing, my partner is amazing with her and is trying to get her to do this.

OP posts:
newproblemnewname · 02/05/2017 23:03

I'm assuming the pain makes it hard to sleep BTW, and I know placebo can work well with sleep. It can work for pain too, but you'd have to think a bit differently about how to set up the expectation that it was going to work, IYSWIM.

JaxingJump · 02/05/2017 23:03

Some good books on audio and a cat to cuddle up to her.

Original poster
gunsandbanjos · 02/05/2017 23:06

Pilates would be good generally I think, my mum does it and loves it but I'm not sure she could do that annoyedinjanuary, she's fused T2 - L3 (I think it's L3, they left a couple of vertebrae unfused to give her a little movement).

OP posts:
Obsidian77 · 02/05/2017 23:08

Poor thing Sad
Can you let us know what painkillers she takes, in case other people have experience of these?

Original poster
gunsandbanjos · 02/05/2017 23:09

She's 13 and very on the ball, I'm reluctant to go down the placebo route as we have such a good relationship with her medical issues and it's built entirely on the fact that I've always been honest with her.

She's been through so much and has more to come I really need her to trust me.

OP posts: