The Back Story Continues

[Matildathecat]

This is the support thread for all sufferers of back pain. Everyone most welcome to join.

Here's our first thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/1871592-The-Back-Story

My story long and grim but basically had failed surgery for disc prolapse, then further failed surgery to attempt to salvage the situation. I have nerve root damage and severe scarring around the nerve at L5 which won't get better. I'm 48, can't work, take a lot of drugs and have a blue badge. Currently battling several different agencies for ill health retirement and other benefits.

But I'm ok, having some fun despite the pain and have made some lovely friends on here.

Please post and include your story if you'd like to. No niggles too small, this is strictly non competitive!

Malt, a weekend away with old (as in 30 yrs ago, I'm sure you met as 6 year olds) friends. How exciting, yet daunting. What a lovely occasion to dig out and accessorise lovely clothes etc. I can't wait to go out somewhere nice but not for dinner and have an excuse to wear something nice. Can't think of anything.

Haha Matilda, the Careers Officer at secondary school pointed me in the direction of the Secretarial folder. I now prepare others for exams (mostly). Love to prove them wrong.
Bum still hurts. Am having to lay on my side. Good gd, how on gd's earth did I not feel this pain while shopping? It must be the best painkiller known to lady!

Last post - promise blame the shopping high:
Anyone care to share the Cowboy Pie recipe, or whatever it was called?

Is it too late to get in the bath do you think?

My neighbours are going to think I'm potty

Hello, I will try and catch up. It's been a manic week hence no posting. Ds1 is poorly and Ds2 has chicken pox. He says he has "no 'icky pox mummy, I dot pots"

I've been to the drs for bloods to see if I have a parathyroid tumour. I get the results on thurs when I see the consultant so my anxiety is through the roof. My back is agony and none of my meds are touching it. My tens machine, heat pads and massage haven't worked either so another night of no sleep!

Anyway, I'll try and read up on everyone's week . . .

17, hello, definitely get in the bath. I've done it before at 2am when I've been in lots of pain needs must, no matter how loopy

17, not too late for a bath.

Helibee, my mum had a tumour on her pituitary gland. I think it had the same name as the one they're looking for with you. I hope it's not.
I reeeeelly relate to the terror youigjt be feeling. That was me just a few weeks ago. I had a tumour in my spine and spinal canal. Believe me when it tell you that I would take the surgery and recovery ALL again rather than go through the fucking he'll of waiting. BIG hugs to you. You can probably feel my hand squeezing yours. The waiting IS the worst. I hope you won't have to wait long for the results, that you get off lightly and that IF any surgery is needed, you get child care in place easily and get it over with quickly.

Very gentle hugs to all in pain or waiting for test results.
Helibee stress and worry can make your pain worse, have you tried taking lots of drugs breathing exercises and mindfulness, or yoga that type of thing? Or if all else fails late night online shopping and !

Hiya, hope you are all ok and sleeping peacefully- i'm a night owl again, been busy today either with the kids, stocking up on meds and studying (have 2 essays due on march 12). Helibee that is very stress-making, and worry can make pains worse too, hope all is well on Thursday.

Thanks for all the caring comments from y'all, Dd has been ok all day but it was like this before so she is sleeping downstairs in travel cot and dh on sofa- I offered but he would not let me because of my back pain ( he is right it would make it worse) - so he is a love for being chivalrous.

Dh would love to home school but I am not so sure- anyway it's vip for the social element for kids with asd so I would not consider it unless the school provision was awful. Some services have been wonderful (home portage sessions, she strted pecs and teacch) others have been atrocious (salt in southwark is notorious and he has had only one session 1-1 in about a year!). He is toilet training and had a couple of successes this week- you know u r a parent when you are hip-hooraying about poos!

A re-cap...I am having the op on Friday but I will go in afternoon of the thursday. prob coz it is early am of friday. It is for a hip arthroscopy, keyhole, bit of re-shaping to correct the slight dysplasia i have on the lrft one and might be a labral tear to tidy up- all this has been made worse from spd in both pg's, ( kids are 1.5 and 4 now)and emcs with the first. Being a chef hasn't helpd either :) , 1-2 weeks using crutches but might be bearing some weight from early- diff recovery diff people and what they find. 75% success ( would be 90 but i have shallow hip sockets apparently) but might need more major re-structuring op if not- so a good chance that wont be necessary. Might get turfed out friday eve or sat am. My dad will collect and staying at parents' for first few days.

thanks for the headsup on the paracetamol- i shoulld have said i take that too. so daily i take 1x omeprazole; 3 x50g diclofenac ; 2 x paramol (paracetamol with 8g codeine each pill); extra codeine if needed and 50g amitryptyline at night - plus copious hotwater bottles of course. I get the codeine separate - 15g so i can tailor the dose up or down but last few days i have needed to take at least 1, maybe 2 extra codeine so it has been total 30 or 45g with the paracet and usually take at same time as the diclofenac to "stack" or I don't get on top of it. when i do too much or it gets bad i may need to take the max dose of 60g but trying to avoid that in case the op makes my pain level go up at first. There has been an issue with the codeine and whereas before they were giving a script for 100 now it is for 30 - "because the pain is chronic" - was quite surprised to hear so many of you on it. maybe diff docs have diff policy ?? it changed when i had to see a diff doc over xmas and he took it down to 8g ones and put with paracet so i was restricted to lower dose- this doc was awful and said thigs like "other people with chronic pain have worse pain than you" and " the pain might have gone away spontaneously if you had not taken anything". He has misdignosed me before yrs ago so i do avoid him most of the time. after that even my usual doc changed attitude a bit- before I had actually been more concerned than him about the codeine! sorry rambling but still bit angry from all this. Tip though- if you do find codeine phodphate is working less well ( as i did just before xmas) switching to di-hidracodeine can make it more effective. This is why i am so glad the space for the op has come up because pain relief efficacy was becoming a bit erratic and some dys even if i took 60g 4x day i was still getting pain- was just about to ask for referral again to pain clinic when they called up. He offered tramadol once but only for a week or so so i chose to stick with what i knew as it was a n exam week (on a 4 yr psychology Bsc course). sorry for mahoosive self-obsessed post and will post some more tomorrow not able to remember all the news details this late at night, ps from hearing you all i realise i REALLY need to learn to drive!

Good luck with the op

Staying with parents is an excellent idea -little ones may mean well but won't let you rest

75% is pretty decent odds so hopefully it works for you

Maizie,what an arse that doctor was!

They can make us feel so shit and so powerless about already-crap situations we have not caused. Poo
You have Monday til end of Wednesday AND today before op. Anything nice planned? Any pre-op painkiller-fuelled outings or treats? I hope so! I think hospital will b fab re pain relief and set you on track for afterwards. Can you choose NOT to see Dr Arse again?

I agree maisie refuse to see that Dr. its mad to say your pain might disappear and at the same time you are down for an op. Why would they give you an op, which costs the NHS thousands, for no reason if your pain might spontaneously disappear if they leave it for a bit? Luckily your op is soon and you will hopefully not have this issue again, but I would still refuse to see that dr in future.

Wow maizie now did you refrain from punching DrArse hard? My GP is very accommodating and prescribes 200 of the 30s and 200 of the 8s, plus all the other stuff. I don't abuse her trust and equally it means I'm not quite so constantly needing appointments.

goodness shopping certainly does substitute well for narcotics! Keep peeping at lovely bag. Just to clarify it's only a lunchtime get together in a pub for my reunion. Not sure I need to spend a whole weekend with my old gang. Am looking foward to it, though. Hope you do rest today, you've managed to make massive progress in a very short time so do factor in some rest time. Great to hear your cheerful posts, though.

heli holding your hand here. How long for the results? Hope it isn't too long.x

I also had an issue with paying for my prescriptions. I can't afford a presciption charge (or more than one) every week it really adds up.

My GP gives me 90 x 15mg codiene. he did give me 30mg/500mg cocodemol (supadol?) but I asked for lower dose and top up when I need to. He has this time given me one month of 50mg SR tramadol now I have changed to it, that is to adjust to it/check the dose, he will give me several months of it, on repeat so I don't need to have appts regularly for it.

maizie I can't believe what a shit that Dr is. If you continue with pain following surgery, definitely go to the pain clinic. It's not ok to be left in pain. Clearly you have a condition that is going to cause significant pain, hence the op! I like goodness's name for him 'Dr Arse'.

My pain is lower. Woohoo! I don't know if it's the tramadol or just improving on it's own. It keeps popping/rubbing, especially on side, so I am quite sure it's still something to do with the vertebrae. But, for now, I am not going to get stressed again about what's causing it, and just medicate it and get on with my life as best as I can.

Yey! for shopping! I love orange. It's probably one of my favourite colours, orange and apple/lime green.

Have a happy and low pain day every one. Those with sick children, get well soon.

live you can buy a prescription card to spread the cost, I don't know the price but if I get more meds than I am now I will be doing that. You can buy monthly/yearly or something like that I think?

Luckily I don't need it at the moment touch wood. I only need mild painkillers now. I did save my left over pills just in case i get a flare up and it makes me feel better to know they are there!

The prepayment cards are well worth having if you get more than one prescription a month linky

I hate to think how much I would pay for prescriptions if I paid individually

The govt really needs to rethink the way they work out free prescriptions

Yep, def worth having the yearly pass. I have 8 separate meds on my prescription, bloody hell that would add up fast!

Love Cowboy dinner, it reminded me of all the names I gave to meals in order to create little boy appeal. Captain Hook Special anyone? ( tuna, pasta bake, see, sounds dull)

pavlov for gods sake go very steady! Glad you're feeling better, though. The house next door to my parents is for sale, not quite sure I'd give my arm for that precise location though.

Oh great to know about the card, just in case.

I am going back to Pennywell Farm! I will go steady I promise! I am not doing loads there, just taking advantage of free entry, the kids can go on the bouncy castle and play with the animals and run on the adventure stuff. I shall drink coffee. No need to rush for the entertainment as we did that last time.

I really should get an prepayment card. I try to pretend I don't get enough! But, I do, just every 2-3 months, and then 3-4 things at a time. So, a yearly one would save a fortune.

Did you (M - my memory is shite) buy thus orange bag, by any chance? I did: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MICHAEL-Michael-Kors-Handbag-Jet-Set-Small-Travel-Satchel-nwt-MANDARIN-/331100253338?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item4d171cec9a

I found myself chuffed, fir the first time ever, to suffer from am under active thyroid as it means I'm fortunately entitled to free prescriptions. There really IS a big picture out there! It's all starting to make sense!

Totally unrelated: anyone with a 6 year old (boy-related?)?
Mine has started to punch things and ferry them away in his, thankfully oh-too-obvious, hidey-hole. Torches at grandparents' house (found under pillow), empty chocolate wrapper where a 3 year old mini Lindt bunny once was (under bed), just now: present I was about to give at this afternoon's kiddie party - and he already has a bigger, better one or two (remote controlled car). Is this normal?

Hello again all. Haven't been able to catch up with all of the thread, been back at work and busy at home.

Hope everyone is ok and not in too much pain or discomfort.

I'm going to go back to the Dr tomorrow. He said that if I wasn't 50% better in two weeks then to go back and I'm not 50% better.

I have 3 diazepam left which I'll be taking today along with co codamol 8/500 and a hot water bottle. The co codamol doesn't seem to be helping much so think I'll ask for 30/500. I know it will make me a bit dopey but it does help a little.

I had a fall at the very end of December (30th). I went a local health clinic for an eye appointment and as I went to sit down, the chair scooted backwards and I landed really heavily on my bum on the floor. It hurt at the time but eased over the rest of that day. Only just realised that that may have started this off - do you think it's possible?

I complained to the clinic at the time and they said that they would get back to me but never have. Will write to them tomorrow.

That's hopeless sublime, you need to make some noise with them so they do something. I wonder if it was the start, from DH's brush with a bad back he had a nerve that got pressed on by his disc and it got inflamed and so rubbed on more in a vicious circle. I wonder if you could have caused the nerve to be messed with when you fell?

I hadn't even thought about prescription charges wow, that must cost a fortune for you lot that have to pay. Wales stopped charging so long ago I'd forgotten about having to pay. Do you have to pay for each individual item or just for each prescription, that's still way to much!

Goodness 6 year old boys are a pickle and a law unto themselves. So are 7 year old boys apparently . I have had a couple of friends whose children have had interesting ideas about ownership, they were quite harsh but firm and it worked. I think you have to nip it in the bud if you can.

Having a weird stupid muscle weekend, cramp in my calves, my usual round he chest and jaw ones and my super weird claw of doom where my finger bends into my palm and hurts like hell. Why are our bodies so insane?