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! 
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General health
The Back Story Continues
Matildathecat · 09/02/2014 06:04
With the standing up x-ray thing (apart from being astonished that a chiropractor has his own set up 
, who read them, what training did he have, radiation all over the shop!). There used to be a lot more standing up x-rays, in fact we used to regularly x-ray pregnant women standing with a metal ruler clasped between their thighs when they were near term to see size of the baby's head compared with the size of their pelvis! There are also standing flexion/extension x-rays of the lumbar spine (I bet you good money the Dr sending Pavlov for those was old school 
). The problem is there is relatively a lot of radiation using this method and they are not as good generally as the ones where you can be positioned perfectly lying in a stable state on the table, with positioning aids under your side or between your knees. There is a lot that can be read from these, including the state of your muscles and other stuff. With reading x-rays the most important thing is that every one is taken in a standard position or it is harder for the radiologist to read. MRI standing up or sitting would be brilliant but I think the science needs to catch up a bit first. They are a fearsome impressive bit of kit those machines .
I am a secret NHS interloper on the thread . Which doesn't mean btw that you can't slag of crappy health care workers in front of me, they drive me crazy because I know the pleasure of going above and beyond for a patient to make their visit better and the lazy, doing the bare minimum or downright rude examples make my blood boil. My first x-rays were done by a very senior colleague and when they came out of the processor she said to me 'oh I am so very sorry' 
.
Well I had my standing X-rays done of lumber and cervical spine including a weird one with my mouth wide open (checking my fillings?!). They have already been reported and DH old pal/ chiro has emailed to say they are 'interesting'. Going to see him in the morning. That's not in the guidebook.
lost, as a very long time nhs gal I'm super aware of other hcp's attitudes and behaviours. I can say hand on heart I have never, ever treated anyone in any way I wouldn't have wanted for myself or family. ( except when being threatened by very nasty DV partner of a very young client).
goodness, I was very low after my second op so I got a nice notebook and made a list of things I'd like to do. Mostly very simple. I then roped a couple of very close friends into doing them or putting some dates in the diary. Even if it's a few months off it gives you something to look foward to. A nice little outing once a week or so. I found it fortifying. Hope you get some support with ds soon. It sounds very stressful.
Open mouth = peg view, need to get your teeth out of the way so the 1st and 2nd vertebra can be properly visualised, sometimes if a patient is strapped on a spinal board and can't open their mouth much we get them to open and close their mouth quickly with a long exposure so the teeth/jaw bone blur but the non moving neck bones come out really sharply. I always say being a radiographer is 90% being able to persuade complete strangers to take their clothes off and pose in odd ways for you within 90s of first meeting . YY to treating every patient how you would expect your family to be treated and not accidentally banging the equipment off the heads of the rude ones.
Goodness that sounds 100% normal even without DH annoying the hell out of you.
losty he is very young school actually, my consultant. well, age wise, perhaps taught by old school? He did do the scan to specifically check the movement of the vertebrae though, said that lying down would not show if it moved and how much by. I swear he is younger than me which is a) great for confidence and steady hands and b) not so great for experience and knowing he has seen me naked
Sorry I haven't posted too much in response to others. to those who need it to others, good wishes to Matilda. I am off for a good night's sleep as I am going to see FRANK TURNER!!!!! tomorrow in concert. I have taken the next day off to recover. I don't feel too well, sort of bug like and increased back pain (always makes me nervous as viral and back pain has = relapse in the past) so, drugs, early to bed. I don't care if I have to crawl there. I am going and I am having a bloody good time. So So excited.
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goodness you have a lot of time to catch up with tunes. You want to listen to Love, Song and Ire - an early album of his, and then Tape Deck Heart, his most recent one, the tour of which I am checking out tomorrow.
can you tell I have a little crush on this man? Only a little from afar one seeing as I am a married family woman now. But, well, no harm in a bit of window shopping with some good music to listen to eh
Hey, I like him. He is cool and he is one of us! You are sure to have a great time. Not too much jumping up and down now, he will understand. Also try to avoid letting DH see you drooling
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