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Original poster

how to cope with long term back pain

125 replies

PavlovtheCat · 31/12/2011 08:42

Over the last year i have 'put my back out' 4 times. I suspect it is disc related but not had it investigated due to a) lack of interest by gp and b) laziness in following it up - the first time it happened it was so so bad I had to call the out of hours gp unable to move at all for several days. Saw GP a few days later and was told poss disc, poss tendon damage, either way, no real treatment, get on with it type of thing oh and btw will take weeks to recover. thanks

So, next time it happened, over the weekend, i called ooh for painkiller/anti-imflammatories, and have done this each time. Been given a range of stuff, but what seems to work the best is codeine/paracetamol/diclofenac combination.

Anyway, two weeks ago or so, back went again during a coughing fit, improved after a few days with just co-codemol, then due to DH and DS bot being ill and us going on hols I had to do everything to get it all ready with DS on my hip and it went, again, fully, in the supermarket day before christmas eve.

Spent the last week in agony, emergency gp on boxing day gave me co-codemol and diclofenac, and it has slowly improved. However, it is not great, and every twist and turn and any lifting makes it feel that it will go again majorly at any moment. GP was going to give me some diazepam but I was reluctant as DH was away at footie so had kids on my own.

Sitting it the worst, cannot get into a comfortable position. This is not going to go away any time soon and I know I should see GP, will do that next week, but can't see they will do anything to help me sort it and I don't want to be on medication forever. It am also expecting this to now be re-occuring.

So, how do you manage your long term back problems? when it is at its worst and walking is impossible, do you use crutches? I was thinking this might help, as last week I just simple could not walk.

OP posts:
deemented · 31/12/2011 08:50

Right, firstly, you need to know whats going on in your back.

Go to your GP and ask for a referral for an MRI scan. This coul take a while but at least you'll know whats going on. Your GP needs to help you sort this, you can't go on like this and if you do you could end up with permanent damge.

If the MRI scan shows disc problems, i'd ask to be referred to a consultant who specialises in back problems, or a neurologist, depending on if the disc needs removing.

Are you getting sciatica at all, or is it just back pain?

I live with chronic back pain daily, and have been doing so for the past fifteen years or so.

There are a few things you could try - a tens machine can work wonders, also Lidocaine patches which are applied directly to the painful area.

Please don't just accept that this is your lot - you don't have to live like this, nor shoul you. If your GP seems reluctant to help, you need to find another one who will.

Good luck.

PeggyCarter · 31/12/2011 08:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

joanofarchitrave · 31/12/2011 08:56

dh has had long term back problems. It's utterly grim and very restrictive.

After a lot of begging he got an MRI scan via the GP - this was good as it removed fear of additional damage through exercise - he 'only' has soft tissue damage plus normal age-related degeneration.

Best thing of all was Spinal Rehab programme with specialist physiotherapists - maybe you have something like it locally? That was all about exercises and lifestyle, and also the mental side - dealing with relapses etc. He does his exercises every day, walks every day that he possibly can; within a year of starting the Spinal Rehab he was at the top of Ben Nevis. there are exercises you can do even if you are in bed - he still does them even on days when he couldn't even walk to the toilet. He has problems though as many painkillers conflict with his other medication Sad - thank goodness aspirin is OK!

Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 31/12/2011 08:56

deemented, severe sciatica. Mostly down one leg (right), right into the foot, but this time also partly in my left, not as severe. Sometimes when the back pain eases the sciatica continues down the right leg. Also this time, the pain was worse nearer the coccyx than before. I did not think that they removed discs?

Gp just seems to think this is something that happens to some people. I will go back and ask him to do some more looking into it.

thejoyfulpuddlejumper oh how horrible for you. I have done hot water bottle as suggested by ooh gp, not helped an awful lot, but ice did as suggested by nurse friend. hot shower helped temporarily.

OP posts:
MoreBeta · 31/12/2011 08:59

Yes you do need to find out what is going wrong with your back but as bizarre as this sounds you need to do excercise to strengthen your back.

I hurt my back when picking iup DS1 many years ago and I find that strengthen my core muscles in my abdomen (ie back and front) was a huge help. A woman I met in the gym taught me some really good excercises and it really worked.

If you sit around a lot at a desk that is really bad for your back and proper excercise carefully designed will help with your posture. Of course, you need to make sure you dont do any more damage by excercise so go to your GP first.

Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 31/12/2011 08:59

joan it is restrictive^ i really agree. I also find that mentally it is hard too, wondering if this will happen for ever. I cannot bear to think this is forever and I will be restricted in what I can do. We went to crealy over xmas period with family, and I just had to slowly walk around. I could not do one single thing with the children. I would normally be down the water slides over and over and over.

OP posts:
MoreBeta · 31/12/2011 09:00

By the way, sciatica is my main problem too.

WhatsWrongWithYule · 31/12/2011 09:01

Sorry to hear about your pain. I've had pain due to scoliosis since DS1 was born 16 years ago; mine's rarely been acute like yours though - disc problems sound like agony.
I'm not good at advising on pain medication - as I said, mine is at a lower, more manageable level than yours - but I'm on a constant quest to Make It Stop, so far without much success, although I've finally acccepted that exercise avoidance is not a good idea for me.

I'm convinced a lot of back problems are down to posture, and am constantly striving to address damage caused by slumping and bad habits of movement.
Alexander technique is brilliant but expensive and takes a lot of time-consuming sessions. But I've recently come across Esther Gokhale, who teaches moving, standing and sitting in such a way as to protect your back and avoid disc de-generation.
There is a book on Amazon: '8 Steps to a Healthy Back,' and I've been working through it for a few weeks now. I'm also having physiotherapy for the umpteenth time, and I think I've finally found a physio who's treating the whole 'me,' with all my imbalances, rather than telling me to do stomach crunches willy-nilly.
You could ask your gp to refer you - I think we're entitled to 10 sessions under the nhs.

Hopefully someone will have more suggestions as to day to day pain management, but I can't stress enough that it's really worth keeping an eye to the future and addressing any postural or structural issues that might be exacerbating your problems.
Hope you get some relief soon - it's horrid having a little one and being in pain.

deemented · 31/12/2011 09:03

If you have sciatica then there is a good chance that the disc(s) have slipped and are pressing on the sciatic nerve. This happened to me, and because it was almost two years from diagnosis to having disc removed, it's left me with permanant damage to that nerve, and constant sciatica.

The offending disc was removed in 2000, and a plastic one put in it's place, but in 2009 i happened to bend awkwardly and put that disc, and the one underneath it out again.

Last January i was given a nerve root injection, which completely cut off all the sciatic pain - it was wonderful being pain free for the first time in years. Unfortunatley it's worn off as this pregnancy has continued and am back to being in agony again. Neurologist reckons next stop is more surgery.

Yes, they remove discs - if it'd too far out to go back in and causing horrendous pain, then there really isn't another option.

Look into hydrotherapy too - i find that being in water is very helpful.

Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 31/12/2011 09:04

morebeta i have heard that liying in bed is not good, so don't do this, normally. I get up and walk around. GP had said, do hot water bottle for 20 mins, then slowly get up and walk slowly to move the muscles slowly, not suddenly, but this is on occasion impossible. On tues this week, I simply could not get up. I had to sit up in bed with pillows propped up for several hours while medication kicked in. I felt pathetic. I tried to get up and move and just could not. I spent most of last two week bent over at an angle even when walking as simply could not straighten up - but that is so tiring!!!

OP posts:
deemented · 31/12/2011 09:06

Oh pavlov, i really feel for you Sad

Grumpla · 31/12/2011 09:07

Please don't give up!

After YEARS of back trouble I have just been referred to a physio for the first time (moved counties!) and although some
of my current problems are pregnancy related (SPD, very big baby) she has also explained that a lot of the long-term issues with my back can also be treated (though I will have to wait until after I've had the baby for some of the treatment). Some of the steps she's suggested are incredibly simple (heel raisers, specific exercises) and I'm already seeing an improvement.

I'm angry that I've put up with years of possibly unnecessary discomfort and being fobbed off by various GPs etc. Back pain is really complicated and you need to see an expert.

Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 31/12/2011 09:08

oh, so even if they sort out the problem with removing the disc, the nerve can be damaged permantly Shock oh how awful for you! This has been going on for me for about a year, and the sciatica does go away for the most part eventually when back itself stops hurting, however, I get days when sciatica flares up even without a bad back over the last year.

OP posts:
Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 31/12/2011 09:11

I might get a pair of crutches too, as I have had to spend a few days holding on to objects to move around, crawling up stairs. If I have crutches when it is this bad I can at least keep mobile - do you know if I can get them from gp? do i need to buy them?

Try explaining to a two year old with ear infection that I can't constantly pick him up from the floor!

OP posts:
deemented · 31/12/2011 09:11

Yes, it all depends on how far the disc has been pushed out, and how long it's been like that, iyswim?

Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 31/12/2011 09:12

and I guess the only way to know that is mri?

OP posts:
deemented · 31/12/2011 09:20

Yep.

Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 31/12/2011 09:22

ok, to the gp for some hassling on tuesday!

OP posts:
deemented · 31/12/2011 09:29

Definately - and don't take no for an answer - it's not the the GP who has to live with the pain you're in!!

Samvet · 31/12/2011 09:31

Agree. You need a scan and do not need to accept this. There are multiple treatments. Crap gp told me to re think my career! Helpful. Pilates is my saviour. ( but had MRI and saw consultant who recommended it)

Original poster
PavlovtheCat · 31/12/2011 09:36

oh i did pilates when pg, I really enjoyed it, it helped my posture. Maybe I should revisit again...thanks for reminding me of it!

OP posts:
iscream · 31/12/2011 09:54

PavlovtheCat, I am sorry you have chronic back pain, perhaps it helps to know you are not alone. Like many others who have replied, I have lived with the same pain you describe for years. I found for sciatica, a cold pack help on the sciatic area helped a LOT. I wrap a heating pad around my leg for the leg spasms, and take muscle relaxants and Tramadol or Codeine, plus anti-inflammatory. The thing that helped the most was having nerve block injections by a pain doctor.

It is important to have your back checked out, with x-rays at the very least, an MRI if possible.
I wrote a book here , but cut half out and will PM it to you instead.

Remember, do not bend at the waist, or turn at the waist, or pick up anything over 10 pounds.
Hope you get well soon.

sittinginthesun · 31/12/2011 10:43

I am currently seeing an osteopath for back problems, which sound similar to the OP's. Started around 15 years ago, when I "sprained" it, according to GP at the time.

It "goes" at least once a year, but is fine in between, although the episodes are raking linger to heal (6 weeks or so) and are happening more frequently. I have been in pain for around a year now.

Osteopath is a local practice, highly recommended by everyone. He reckons it is posture related. My pelvis is tilted and twisted, causing the joint to rub together when stressed, and this causes the muscles to spasm.

Watch this space really. He has twisted my pelvis back, and it does feel better, and he can unlock the spasms, which is a massive relief.

Whether it will help in the long term, I'm not sure.

Cheapskate · 31/12/2011 11:06

Pavlovthecat
I was in a similar state to you two years ago. The condition which was acutely painful lasted for around 8 months. For about two months I was unable to walk more than a few yards.I remember how desperate I was for any advice and help that might enable me to cope with the pain or indeed get rid of the pain completely. two years on and I have no pain - but I am extremely careful never to lift things and turn at the same time (tortional lifting), to listen to my body and take it easy if the pain starts at all.
I would say first of all that it is important to ensure you get a scan to find out the cause. Like you my GP (although very sympathetic) was only focussed on what he could prescribe. I didn't get a MRI scan for 7 months. By which time the surgeon told me that I had two herniated discs and indeed that two of them had partially broken off and been absorbed by the body. By then my back pain was slowly day by day starting to subside - so this diagnosis had come too late. When the herniated discs had been pressing against the nerve the pain was literally constant - day and night.
I was prescribed all the usual suspects - until in the end the GP prescribed tramadol which at least enabled me to get some sleep. Although beware - if you come off this drug take it very slowly as you have to wean your body off it gradually. I did it overnight and shook for 24 hours!!
What helped when I was in pain?

  1. I paid to see an osteopath who was gentle and careful and if nothing else made me feel like I was positively doing something to get better.
  2. I kept moving every day even though my instinct was to curl up in a ball.
  3. I went to my GP every two weeks to make sure I had a doctor keeping an eye on me even though he couldnt do that much other than prescribe pain killers.
  4. I was advised by my osteopath to try alternating hot and cold on the part of my back that was painful. This really helped. I used a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel and held it on for a minute - then alternated with a cold pack of frozen peas (wrapped in a towel). He said always end on the cold pack. This for some reason really worked well.
  5. It helped having friends to visit and talk to because the thing about being immobile is that it is so isolating. You start to feel very unconnected with the wrold and it can be very depressing to be in pain and isolated.(Hope chatting on here helps xx)

I know that there are many people who aren't lucky enough to get better but I am extremely grateful that I am. I will never take my mobility for granted again"!

Do let me know how you get on..
x