Back, hip pain causing depression?

[BabyB22]

To try and cut it short, lower back pain, radiating to hip, causing a limp and significantly impacting my day to day activities. I'm almost in week three now. I did go to my GP who barely looked at me, dismissed me when I tried to tell him my symptoms were not just my hip and he put it down to wear and tear from carrying DD, gave me naproxen and Cocodamol, three months worth and sent me on my merry way, limping to the car. Because I didn't jump off the chair in pain when he moved my leg, I'm OK.

I am not OK. I think the drugs took a slight edge off where I could focus on something else other than the pain but not enough. I feel like I've been slipping into a depression, very fatigued, loss of appetite, weepy at certain stages of the day. I put the loss of appetite down to Naproxen which are anti gastro, I stopped taking them two days ago and no improvement to my appetite and feel like a stale feeling in my stomach.

Before the back pain I was hit and miss with my mental health but working positively on it, gym, eating well, daily walks, all that good stuff and lately I'm lucky to drink a pint of water in one day.

Please anyone who has similar experience tell me there is light. Should I go privately to a physio or back to another GP and can back pain be linked to depression?

Another hip dysplasia over here. Solidarity my friends

@Exeterrose I am too over weight, would gladly take 10 stone but do know where you are coming from being small myself.

I don't think the extra weight is helping but I can only lose it in the gym which is a no go at the moment

You mentioned carrying your DD, I wondered if you could have pregnancy related PGP? It can start after pregnancy. In any case I would suggest seeing a private physio if you can afford it. They will be able to assess you and see what's up.

PS yes absolutely being in pain can cause depression. It's exhausting being in pain.

@BabyB22, I hadn’t noticed a difference in leg length at all myself, but the pregnancy physio pointed it out. It didn’t cause any problems until after 2nd pregnancy but I think that the stretching of the ligaments from pregnancy, plus carrying babies an hip and less exercise all contributed to the pain.

The different lengths were confirmed via X-ray so I will be wearing a 5mm heel support from next week, but I still need to continue with the exercises.

I hope you find an answer and your pain improves soon! 🤞🤞

Could be QL pain? Have had since pregnancy, saw physios who reccomdnded pilates. Hip pain and lower back. Annie pilates physiotherapist on you tube and her QL strengthening videos, they make a lot of sense. Also Jessica vallant physio pilates on youtube.

I manage my weight by walking 10k steps, low impact aerobics via YouTube and Fast800 diet for 8 weeks 😊

Also one small dumbbell by the kettle. Which I use to tone my arms whenever I'm making a cuppa. It works wonders.

Sometimes I march in front of the TV to get my steps up. X

Thanks all for the advice, will be taking it all on board.

My partner wants to bring me to urgent care today because I'm so miserable but not sure if it's the right call.

@Anyonebut I just done this and had a moment of no pain when doing the leg raises against the wall that i actually let out a sigh!

Will keep at it for now, feeling a bit more positive today after coming to Mumsnet.

Glad to hear you had a bit of relief!

Keep pushing for a proper diagnosis though, I am sure this can be sorted, possibly with physio if not other treatments. 💐💐

Just 10 minutes of low impact aerobic (quite often designed for the elderly but I do them due to disability) exercises will help all of your joints, your heart and mind too.

Went back to GP yesterday and requested a different doctor and he was very thorough with examining and has pinpointed it back related, mentioned sciatica but I don't have all the symptoms but maybe something nerve related. He started me on Amitriptyline which gave me a fantastic night's sleep even with DD waking twice! They do take some time to work for pain though.

I have a lumber xray tomorrow to rule anything out and depending on how things go, an MRI. I feel like a weight has been lifted. Still very much in pain but there is something being done about it not to mention I feel comfortable with this doctor to go back. Appetite has increased enough to have a small breakfast.

Can keep anyone updated if they are going through anything similar.

Glad you have got some help. I didn’t get on with the Amitriptyline it made me feel so spaced out I couldn’t function at work in the morning. If it is muscles it’s worth considering acupuncture my GP did it for pain management and it helped to release the piraformus that had locked up around the nerve.

Hi @BabyB22 , how are you getting on?
I've had back and hip pain since having my daughter 3 years ago and in the last year it's really getting worse. I've had physio, strength exercises at the gym but still in pain. I had an MRI a month ago but my next consultant appointment to review it isn't until July (only a telephone consultation)

Hi @RichTeaCheddars
Sorry to hear you're having a tough time. So I got put on nerve blockers, mentioned before and had an xray which showed nothing. I myself couldn't wait for the long referrals and multiple doctors appointments so I google phisyo exercises related to the area of pain and SLOWLY went from there, building on intensity. I had very weak leg muscles for almost three months but it has slowly come back. Now off nerve blockers for about two months and haven't had many problems since but I haven't stopped doing the exercise.

It's frustrating that it takes so long to get sorted with doctors and trying to self diagnose. My partner thinks it was epidural damage but there is so much against it! I hope you get sorted x

@WinterMermaid987 where did they put the needles

@BabyB22 what was your outcome

I know this thread is super old but I’ve been suffering chronic lower back pain particularly in the left side for over 20 years now on and off since a botched epidural. This last bout has been over 4 weeks where I’ve barely been able to be upright and using furniture to hold on to to move about, with periods where I can’t get out of bed at all. Luckily I can wfh when needed. I’ve been on zapain and gabepentin but nothing touched the pain. I’ve had an mri in the past which spotted different leg lengths and my pelvis isn’t in line properly. Anyway just really came on to say thank you to whoever posted that stretching video as it has been a game changer! I did it for the first time 3 days ago and I’m now upright and mobile and feel like my cloud of depression is starting to lift. I’m also on different pain meds but they weren’t really having an impact until I started those stretches. I’ve done it twice a day now for 3 days and feel like a different person. Honestly the impact this has had on my mental health has been awful and my husband has had to carry the load of everything for over a month now. I’m really hoping this is the start of recovery for me and I can finally get back to some normality. Good luck to everyone else trying to find their pain management path.