More Terrible Back Stories

[Matildathecat]

This is the support thread for all sufferers of back pain. Acute, chronic, agony or niggles, we are strictly non competitive. All newcomers very welcome. (Though be warned, the language can be a little 'ripe' ).

Here are our previous threads:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/1871592-The-Back-Story
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/1992406-The-Back-Story-Continues

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.

So come and join us for moans, advice, downright rants or just a laugh.

Morning all, how is everyone today?
Anyone get any sleep?

I managed some serious dozing with Oromorph last night. The PCA is down, drains out and am moving a lot more freely.

This is my first operation though I've done all the rest, nerve blocks epidurals, blue light admissions with possible caudal equinea …all the fun of the fair.

Am trying to take it easy but am getting so stiff, I think the plastic on the bed makes it so much worse. Add to that conflicting advice from the Doc and the Physio. He,the doc was all,out of bed, up and moving as much as you can, Physio was nooooo, only sit out for 15-20 minutes, walk to loo with supervision and crutches at least twice a day for next 2 days then build up. So I'm thinking I'll go with physio advice. . . .

Masie get yourself to a pain team now!they are wonderful people and have the most up to date advice! for example it was alway thought that you shouldn't take Tramadol and MST together that one blocked the action of the other. Latest research shows that this is a genetic rather than a pharmacological action, so it will block in some and in others like me it works wonderfully. Most of them will think out of the box and are happy to try new things.

Goodness re the injections again, they give me Valium for my MRIs as I'm a big girls blouse, can't see why they wouldn't for this.

Don't you love freaking people out with your high pain threshold, and going meh that's nothing compared to what I have on a good day. . .

Though I think we're all our own worst enemies trying to push on and through for others.

Orange is the new Black and the first season of Jail Break got me through my first hospital admission.
I read all the Game of Thrones books on my next admission and watched the two series of Life, I love Damien Lewis and totally agree they really need to make another series.

I'm now watching GOT and even with the books getting confused as to who's dead and who's not. I'll be on Netflix later today I think.

I haven't a bad word to say about the staff at the hospital,well one or two niggles, but nothing big, just been called girls which when the average age of the bay is about 70,I'm seriously bucking the curve here. I feel like a teenager. They are really good about pain control etc too and quite sweet too which of course makes a big difference.

Anyway hope you all had a good night and have a good day, chat you later.

Hello! I thought I'd posted on one of these threads already, but having checked, clearly not. Perhaps I dreamt I had.

My back story isn't very drastic, so I may not really belong on here - it's just an ongoing saga of continual displacements, causing me hip, back and neck pain.
When my neck goes "out", I get transient positional vertigo, which is very unpleasant.
When my hips go out, I get sciatica and, since having DS2, SPD (still!)
When my back goes out, I can get anything from pain to difficulty breathing.

Stupid spine! :(

I see an osteopath every 2-3 weeks to keep me in check. Just got a new one, and she's a bit brutal - saw her today and I'm feeling VERY stiff just now - hoping that she'll settle down (or I'll get more used to her!)

Hi thumb , all non competitive here but you sound like you qualify easily . Come and chat any time.

maizie are you totally nocturnal? . Love your shopping fix, I'm trying hard to be good. Not easy. Nice clothes are so cheering and spring does warrant new things, no? Yes to pain clinic and yes to proper investigation of your back. Something really isn't right.

goodness, think you were bound to have a bad one yesterday after your crazy day on Wednesday , hope you have a better day. I'm off to WW for the Walk of Shame . I don't even deserve to have a good weigh in and have four separate meet-ups today, each including shoving something in my face...

Book club tonight which because I'm a saddo and don't get out much in the evening, is a big favourite of mine.

Must get up. Must get up. Must not start browsing the ready of mn.

Oh ps vintage, you sound very chilled. Oromorph rocks. Go Steady!

Thanks Matilda!

Maizie, you're not moaning or droning on. If you can't tell it like it us and have an on-screen blurt, where can you/ we?
What's your dh's family stress (dint say if too personal).
Okay - my observation is that you're waiting until / in case it gets worse to b referred to pain team
BUT CANT COPE BOW WITIUT TAKING THE EDGE OFF with whatever. Hmmmm
Go to see them.
Tell me to piss off if you like (I'd take it from you lot as have no right to advise and font tajes anyone else's unless I agree or am desperate) but there's no knowing how soon you'll get to see them if and when you're referred anyway.
Is it cos it makes it sound too steps n long term, the thought of going? It's so complex all this, isn't it. It is getting me really down at the moment. And angry.
Someone at SW last night said (audibly) that I was 'scary'. Literally said: "You're scary!" when I voiced an opinion about people leaving early being given their turn (weight and group support) first.
I AM more confident in voicing my opinion. I DON'T have tolerance or time for trivialities and fuss about nothing. And I'm on the edge if crossed (had to bite my tongue - hard, when I heard her). I am also CRYING AT EVERYTHING. nice stories, hard things of others. Touching and tiny kind words and deeds. I'm more emotional than a woman who's just given birth. My youngest DC is 3 and there's no more drug/ anaesthetic in my system. The thought of going back on them makes me cry. The thought of having injections makes me ... apply for an Australian work Visa or ... go to Bicester outlook shopping centre. Lol

I love the clothes shopping talk on here.
I reckon that there must b a correlation between shopping and pain/ depression/ health worries.

Vintage, thank gd you're being treated nicely (albeit like a youngster. Lol). Glad you're also well prepared with entertainment! Seriously DOES get you through hospital as can get you absorbed in something other than drugs, 4 walls and scary new movements.
Definitely go with Physio advice. I got such conflicting advice on Wednesday from my surgeon and the pain doc. Looking into getting a second opinion (easier than a visa for Australia, I reckon)!

Now, this is for EVERYONE:
Look on YouTube (maybe I player too for
Ja'mai Private School Girl

It will seriously get you through even the most depressing of moods. Believe me! Tried n tested

Check out this video on YouTube:

Hahahaha
Thumbwitch

You've passed the test we use to see whether newbies are 'allowed in'. It's nothing to do with how much you do or do not suffer... It's actually all about NOT feeling you're bad enough to be entitled enough to be here (or moan about it). You're in. Welcome home

Matilda, four food-stuffing occasions. What a day
Hope you enjoyed it!
Back on the wagon today then
And remember, the scales forgive once but it's a trick. He wants to trip u up and kid you that you can continue as they want to see you cry next week. Outsmart the bastard Scale! He is the enemy!

(No, I'm not a nutter. Yes, I am joking. But it's kind of true IME).

Why thank you, GoodnessKnows!

I am doing the low carb bootcamp at the moment - I had a bone displacement in my R foot, which made walking unnecessarily painful - fixed again, but I realised that my weight really wasn't helping my back etc. problems so felt that I had to do something that would reduce weight without the need for exercise. So far 1st down - 2 to go! Hope you're all doing as well with your chosen weight loss programmes, those of you doing them. :)

I've lost 2 stone 8 lb on SW actually on fruit

It's taken me two years and I've been going for three.
I just like the lovely people and know I'd be binge eating if not and muuuuch bigger. Would to be a problem of bejng bigger didn't make me so fucking depressed, paranoid and self-berating. So I'm sticking with the fruit.
Other things too, of course. I love a bit of SW curry!
My top tip: frozen dark, sweet morello cherries from Sainsbury's. Freezer cabinet.

DANGER:
I'm going shopping.
I have money.
I've already spent too much.
I need nothing.

Going with a friend. Rare and better than any drug just being out with a friend. Why must it always be shopping or eating though. Lol pretending to complain about the latter
Will confess all spends later

Hope you have a lovely day, Goodness!

Think I need to find a weight loss programme - have put on half a stone since the back problems started. I'm still walking but much less active overall - & I think I've been eating more sweet stuff. Unfortunately I'm apple-shaped anyway, & it all goes on the stomach - I stay slimmish everywhere else, so end up looking pregnant rather than fat. And I'm guessing it puts extra strain on the back too - bloody hell .

Having a crap time pain-wise too - my hip is really hurting as well now. Seems to be catching!

That's great going, Goodness! Enjoy your shopping.

Lorna - I'm very apple shaped as well, never had much of a waist even when I was properly slim - but I've been really pleased with the effects of the low-carb Bootcamp, not only have I lost the weight but I've taken a good 4" off around the middle, which of course is where it most needed to go from.

But I'm not going to evangelise about it - it's suited me, but I know it doesn't suit everyone. :)

Have big fun GOODNESS. (On phone, haven't figured out how to do bold)

Anyway after all my praise etc today has been a minor fuck up. Lots of conflicting info been given.

Starting to get really annoyed now, but have physio etc. hope everyone else is having a good day

goodness shopping is dangerous

what have you bought, what have you bought?

I've spent the last couple of days on the sofa and I'm exhausted from it

Shopping is a mere pipe dream!

vintage how long are you staying in for?

I hate hospital beds, can never sleep in them

One click is not a good thing.

www.amazon.co.uk/Fly-London-Leather-Platforms-P500046031/dp/B005J2O7QC/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1395428855&sr=8-16&keywords=fly+london

In petrol blue.

Nice with jeans and spring tops? Couldn't help it.....

Aaaaaargh. Contagious hip pain that's transmitted through MN!

Actually, my shoulders are so tight, they're pinching up towards my ears.

Loon, diets don't have to be depriving. What's your 'thing'? Deserts? Go to Sainsbury's and buy frozen cherries. Dark morello ones. Let them sit in a bowl for 5-10 minutes. Start to eat when still semi frozen. Lush

If you like ice cream:
Truvia/ candarel in total 0% fat yogurt.
Put completely frozen mixed frozen fruit in and mix. seeing a theme?

Yogurt freezes around frozen fruit and fruit begins to defrost slowly.
Lush

Vintage, your Friday sounds like my Wednesday (conflicting and frustrating/ upsetting advice).

17, consider yourself having vicariously shopped.

I bought:

A relaxation deep sleep aromatherapy oil thing for pulse points (what was I thinking I don't like its smell)?

A Night Time essential oil from Neal's Yard (I loooove the smell) - supposed to help to achieve deep sleep catching the theme here?

Not all so 'good'

M&S knickers. Keep running out. Thing VPL ones. Should've got next size. Regretted it but didn't have energy to go back across the store (all of 3 minutes) and return to till.

M&S yoga trousers (fold over top baggy legging types - avoid scar area nicely).
M&S vest tops
Sale top
Sale coat from ... M&S. May go back

Eyebrow thing (stupid of me but okay) from Benefit. £17. On eyebrows!!!!!!

12 bags of frozen Sainsbury's cherries

Poundland: FOUR of the fantastic back support mesh things (driver n passenger seat of my car, as sender seat of DH's car, one for my parents).
Gadgets for Electricity Boy - needed new things to aim for when he earns his marbles.

Easter egg silicone chocsge moulds to use to freeze total yogurt, sweetener n options hot Choc powder. I don't like to miss out (serious sweet tooth)!

Saintly shopping behaviour: did NOT buy beautiful scarf in soft coral colour from much loved Joules. Aaaaaaah

How did I do?

I was in far more achey pain than have been for two weeks since visiting Pokey Man (pain consultant who prodded my back and made me jump. My muscles seem to have clenched and my shoulders are aiming for the sky!!!!

I'm exhausted. Felt sick and hot. Semi stripped in a shop at one point. Lovely friend carried my coat and bags so that we could soldier on. Bloody enjoyed it - but spent sooooo much.

wow goodness that sounds like a Marathon shopping excursion, wicked!
interpret that last way any way you like

ah to answer your q, yes the 2nd morphine pill did work, I am finding too for the bad deep hip ache the diclofenac taken at same time as the morphine works well- but evry now and again makes me go comatose, so not v pleasant if you are trying to get stuff done. so at least I could relax a bit at the end of the day but somehow i still didnt get to sleep until 3.30 am, I am just getting more and more out of my usual synch and with the world. I just keep either napping in the day , or getting up late and then by bedtime i am not tired.

and goodness you make a good point about timimng re the pain team so i am deffo going early next week to get referred, I wouldnt tell you to piss off , I dont feel it is a "making it real" issue at all- just feel like I am making too much fuss, dont have high levels of pain mostly etc Had a strange sensation in the muscles in my lower back on the right like every time I walked with my left foot they kinda bulged/tensed a bit (more than other side) and it felt sore there and i wanted to push my hand into that area- thet actually made it feel a bit better, weird? bad description i know
I waas stupid today coz i needed a rest when i got back from uni and my dh kept telling me to sit down but in the end he said he'd go for a lie down if i didnt and so i got stranded in a bit of uncomfort while he was asleep and i had to do kids dinner. see i am just stupid sometimes. Had to take a morphine pill when he came down and had a lie down upstairs with my hottie too. and i am trying to not take them if i can and get it down to just the dhcodeine. Yesterday and today getting a bothersome ache (but a sharp ache) in my right buttock- how is that getting involved?
anyway enough of that.
dh's stress is coz his sis has terminal big C and it has been going on for yrs but seems to be going down the end road now so obvs that is a hugely bad and stressful thing to have going on. he is not close with her but it is family and of course his mum is extrememly unhappy and he worries how she is going to cope at the end. so you can see why i dont want to add to all that he and his family are going through and how unfortunate timing that we both have stuff making us stressed/ depressed etc at the same time. when u r a couple it can be ok if one is going through something and the other can be strong but we are both a bit sapped and zapped currently.
anyway in better news, we have two nights out coming up if ui can arrange babysitting- not so easy coz has to be family or friends that know them well because of ds's asd issues, but i have a few possibles so fx. on the 8th is a comedy show, half improv half stabd up deal and on 17 we are going to see Russel Kane live stand up in waterloo- cant wait! we have not been out together for around 9 months :(
goodness i cant believe u spent £17 on eyebrows! hope they look cracking. I have nevr gone near mine but am toying with the idea of threading coz they just would do with a bit of shaping, bit scared too though tbh, eyebrow virgin here.
Love all Fly stuff matilda bt wasnt so mad on them- quite mod style, sure you will rock them though with a spring outfit as you say. I like their summer wedge types and will look out for a good deal on amazon- they have a lot of deals on there with Fly stuff.
glad to hear you a doing well vintage, hope the mixed advice didnt set uou back too much. that blue light casualty trip sounds prtty horrendous, traumatic! hope they are looking after you well tonight, when do you go home? sorry if you said before but what op were u in for?
funny to hear you dont like hospital beds 17- I love them and always wish i coiuld take it home to sleep in!
hiya and well come to thumbwitch , cant imagine what it is like to have hips go out- and back also, and breathing, poor you you are double dipped in the pain stakes there. and a very naughty spine. are you hypermobile with quite a few joints going out, have they tested for that- sorry if thats old news, shouldnt play doctor afterall
i like the sound of those cherries g0odness
have to raed about consciousness this weekend and try to finish essays in my "golden hours" of the day when i am not achey or spaced.
hope you are all sleeping soundly gals