Chronic back pain management?

[rosygirl14]

I’m really hoping some fellow chronic pain sufferers can help me. How do you manage your pain and what medication are you on?

I gave birth to my son nearly two years ago, and I had multiple failed epidural and spinal attempts. This in turn has left my back in pieces.
I was on co-codamol 30/500mg for 18 months. This was very effective until my body became tolerant to it and it stopped working completely. I then was prescribed Pregabalin instead of Co-codamol and I take 75mg twice a day and I’ve been taking this for nearly four weeks now. It’s had absolutely no effect.
Some days I’ve doubled the dose to try and manage the pain and again it’s had no effect.
I’ve tried Tramadol and this also has no effect. I’m at my wits end now of what I can try. My GP claims there’s nothing else I can try but I’m in absolute agony daily. I’m on the waiting list for physio and have also been referred to the pain management clinic.
Thank you x

I've been signed off from work since December due to bulging discs and pinched nerves. I've been prescribed naproxen, amitriptyline and tramadol (not all at once). The side effects from these were too extreme.
Currently I'm on co-codamol, 30/500 and gabapentin. Physio have discharged me until I get my neurosurgery appointment, I've been on the waiting list for that since I had an mri in March. I'm basically housebound, I have to use a crutch if I do go out.
Have you not been offered an mri? Do the doctors know why you're in so much pain?
I can't imagine dealing with the pain and having an active young child.

Gentle hugs

Is there any way you can pay for any sessions of private physio? Or would that be out of sync with the rest of your treatment?

I’ve lived with chronic back pain for over 7 years, I feel your pain.

In the past I’ve been prescribed quite high doses of Pregabalin and Gabapentin. Neither helped significantly.

I’ve also been taking Amitryptiline 50mg every night for years now which definitely helps (also helps me to sleep) I’ll be staying on these indefinitely.

The biggest thing that has worked, more recently, is not eating any ultra-processed foods or sugar. The inflammation in my body has almost disappeared and I only need to take 30/500mg Co-codamol ad hoc.

As other PPs have asked, I’m hoping you’ve had an MRI?

Sorry to hear this. No advice, only sympathy. I've had a tight time of it, a broken back in 4 places. MSK dismissive and instead of trying to find the root cause suggested chronic pain clinic and mindfulness. I am actually a fan of mindfulness but not in this instance when I just see it as an nhs get-out-clause.