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.

fizzle trammy is an opiate that our Gps use when they don't know what else to do with us seriously, it's pretty much like codeine, find more gentle, and doesn't mess your bowels up so much (btw, if you are taking lots of codeine and not moving, which you aren't, you need to drink lots of water, prune juice and take some movicol from GP as you will get blocked up and that will make your back pain a whole heap worse, and more).

Thank goodness you have a supportive GP, although its so annoying we have to talk them step by step as to what they need to be doing for our treatment. And yes to crying. It's the only thing I find that works effectively, no-one likes a blubbering woman on the phone or in their surgery but to be fair, by the time we all get to that point we are so frustrated and in pain that our tears are very bloody real.

I hope you get to hear something earlier, well done for being so on the ball despite being so unwell.

Maizie I find the difference in prescribing between Gps across the country phenomenal. I don't get it. So, I have no idea why some won't prescribe. My GP has never even mentioned it, I never heard of it until talking to others with back pain. But then, I have always tried to keep to the lowest possible dose and so he probably knows I wouldn't be wanting to try it if stronger than tramadol.

To everyone else hope all is ok.

Maizie, OxyNorm are muuuuuch more expensive than morphene based drugs. Pain team in hospital warned me that GPs will try not to give me the oxy and will hang onto studies with weak evidence for their being any more effective than morphs. But your experience and mine is proof enough!

I think you'll find tramadol is an opioid , it's kind of codeine's older slightly more rawr cousin. Makes me quite cheerful and sleepy, which is nice.

Went out for an awesome meal last night, proper amazing cooking 6 course jobby. But that meant I sat in a chair for two hours. Therefore I have been up since 5am because I have so much pain in my legs and hips comfort is impossible. I have had a vat of coffee and it's made my eyelid have a tremor .

Happy Friday people, hope it's a low pain one.

Sounds worth it. A great evening. Hope you get through the day with no/ relatively little pain. Bet you're nackered. Nobody else will notice the eyelid tremor. Sunglasses!
I'll never again judge school run mums wearing sunnies. They cover up all kinds of things we'd rather not show the world: tears, fears and tremors to name but a few! Lol
And I thought they were only for posers. Hahaha

You sat in a chair? Oh, you foolish woman...

Lol

Yes, more wishes for a happy, low pain Friday for all!

I saw the neurosurgeon yesterday - he seemed pleasant enough & was a good communicator. Was so glad I'd been on this thread first, though, so I was prepared for the options - as you all said, it's basically a case of try injections or go straight for surgery.

I think it was matilda who told me to remember that a neurosurgeon does what it says on the tin - assesses people for surgery - & I found that really useful, not least because he seemed a bit disappointed that I want to try injections first. He was very non-directive, though - is that usual?

His take on surgery was very positive, anyway. I'd need a microdiscectomy & nerve decompression, apparently, & he said that, unless there are complications, it's just a day patient procedure: I was surprised by that. He claims that it has an 85% success rate (meaning significant to complete pain relief), with 10% having no change & about 2% getting worse. Yes, I know that leaves a missing 3% - God knows what happens to them! Not sure where those figures come from, or if that sounds right to anyone on here.

It was really interesting actually seeing the MRI images for the first time. My knackered disc looked like a thin black slug protruding into the thecal (sp.?) sac, whereas all the others were plump & white & presumably healthy. I could see in the cross-section images how it's pressing on the nerve root too.

So, I'm on the waiting list for a nerve root injection now - no idea how long that's going to take, but I feel a sense of relief that at least I've finally seen a consultant & made a preliminary decision. Had been having a crap week pain-wise so I didn't underplay it in the appointment.

Interesting how tramadol seems to affect us all so differently. I tried that (still have loads in the house) but went back to co-codamol as it made me feel all wired up so I couldn't sleep. Didn't find it any better than codeine in terms of causing constipation, either.

The meal sounds amazing, LostinWales. Pity you couldn't have a lie down in between courses. I get those eyelid tremors, too - think it's when I've spent too long on MN. Fizzle, so glad your GP is helping to hurry things up a bit - the initial estimate they gave you of an 18 week wait sounds crazy. FWIW it's about 9/10 weeks since I was referred to the consultant, & I wasn't down as an urgent case.

He sounds like an awesome consultant Loon and that is a brilliant pair of options, I know it would be nicer to be pain free by tomorrow but the future is looking bright. I posted this before but my H had similar to you and is 95% pain free and fully functional on the injections, he just watches what he does a bit more (and I've banned him from playing touch rugby on the beach). MRI's are awesome aren't they .

Good point about sunglasses goodness. I may need to do some shopping.

I wonder if the inflammatory arthritis bit of my stupid body affects my reaction to tramadol. Part of that brings what they nicely call 'fatigue' but I call 'lying down on the nearest surface because sleep at that time isn't actually optional'. Theres is more concise. I think feeling wired would be nothing short of a miracle though.

That's good to know about your DH, Lost. I am feeling quite positive today - even the surgery option, if it comes to that, doesn't sound as scary as before now I've read a bit about microdiscectomy. Seems to be the least invasive type of back surgery, anyway. All this state of the art stuff is quite different to my past experiences in the NHS!

I know what you mean about the lying down on the nearest surface feeling, but I think that would take about 5mg of diazepam in my case! The co-codamol doesn't make me drowsy either.

Going to attempt some minor housework now - see how positive I feel after that.

It's the Stupid Arthritis that gives me the snoozes though, not any of the drugs, they just don't help

loon, that sounds a positive meeting. I would be asking for a little more clarification on the stats. My understanding is that when performed competently, a micro discectomy has a 90%chance of getting rid of leg pain but only around 50% chance of getting rid of back pain. So it depends a lot on what pain you have. (Sorry, I've forgotten, it's common on this thread).

The injections are definitely worth a go. They really help some people. It is, though, a very imprecise science. Several consultants have told me it's basically keep trying until something works. However, that's a real pain(!) because of the stupidly long waits for injections. Big sigh. Unless you have private cover.

I'm amazed re the day case though I've heard it before. I was hooked up to a morphine pump for the first 24 hours. If you do go ahead come and chat more, several of us have had disc jobs.

maizie, hi we never cross! you stay up at night and I'm here in the mornings. Just a thought and probably too obvious to be true but could you be sleepy because of all the opiates you're swallowing? Also, I'm slightly surprised you are still in so much post op pain...have you been checked over? Hope you're ok.x

Nurse said dark high. Invent rate chocolate is good as has laxative effect too. Chewing fun (sugar free), dried fruit, licquorice etc. chewing gum just gets me bloated

Nice sunglasses in TK Maxx

Want to say useful things to everyone else but my memory and experience don't permit. So I'll just give you a big spring-time wave

Ooh, I didn't know about the laxative effect of chocolate, Goodness! A new excuse.

You're right, matilda, the consultant did say that those figures related to leg pain. It's definitely the leg pain that's my main issue. Sometimes I have no back pain at all, not a twinge, but everything from the bum down to my right ankle is bloody awful.

Dark chocolate, anyone?
Help yourself.
Loon, sad to hear about your leg down pain.

Pneumonia is still knocking me out completely and the coughing is killing my back, especially in the morning. Terrible spasms after each cough. But once I have drugged myself up, I can cough and just about control the shooting pain if I sit in the right position. I am shattered and confused - mum is saying I am acting like I have dementia as I keep forgetting things and repeating myself :)

I had my first and last nhs Physio appointment yesterday. He was great at talking through my mri report and said it would be crazy to do any treatment at this point.

Anyway, after numerous phone calls I now have an appointment next Tuesday evening. I'm a bit confused because it's now been upgraded as a urgent nhs referral but I'm seeing the consultant at a private hospital. Apparently they are taking some nhs patients to help reduce waiting times. I don't know if this means I will have surgery in the private hospital or back in the nhs hospital. Anyway, an expert opinion looking at all my images from the mri will be good. Anyone else had this? My referral is with a bmi hospital.

Will ask my doc about tramadol - seems to do the trick for you guys. All the meds have not been good for down below!

Despite my pain and pneumonia, I had a lovely cuddle with my baby today and she laughed at me for the first time. My son was also nice to me, after yesterday telling me he didn't love me.

I have so many great friends offering to help but I'm finding I'm pushing most of them away at the moment because of my mood and illness. Has anyone else done this? I don't want to lose them as friends - I just need time to stay in bed without feeling the need to entertain and act all jolly.

ah matilda you are always right and here i am again, up late. But this time it is more positive as I have been watching world war z on now tv with dh, was good actually, big lump of apocalyptic action with Brad Pitt...oh go on then!
Have had a couple of good days pain wise- managing most of the day without any morphine pills. It is confusing because it's still mostly in my back so i have no idea if it is same issue as before op not fixed or healing from op, or bit of both.
Calamity people! have lost the stopper on my hottie so unable to use it at the mo! dire straits indeed.
Finding it really hard to concentrate on essay writing but have got 600 words and will try to finish over the weekend. then have another one to do afterwards.
Ds did another wee on the toilet, gave me and dh a big high "5" when he got off and me and him did a little celebratory dance together to mark the occaision. sometimes you really just dont NEED words anyway.
I have never tried Tramadol so i dont know how it affects me.
You are probably right matilda about all the opiates, but i was on similar before- just feel alot weaker and tired now than before. maybe i will feel better once we are into spring properly. I get a bit of SAD.
Cool fizzle that sounds lovely with your baby and toddler- toddlers can be so fickle, i know just where you are coming from. You are ONLY as good as your last snack offering with them!
Leta hope tomorrow is nice and sunny too- looking forward to spending some of the day with the kids doing stuff and the rest writing.
Hpe you all got a good night's sleep, off to mine now xx

Fizzle, YES I pushed friends away and YES I had the MRI consultant chat. It'll be good. Where are u going and who are u seeing? PM me those details if you'd prefer. May b better to do that. I once put a consultant's name in a message and can google mumsnet with his name and find me comments. Not good.
I also felt so low I didn't want people over. Just needed short visits. Even now I'm the same. That's why I set up a Facebook group (set to secret) where I told a select number of friends I thought/ hoped were close that while I needed them, I didn't have the physical or, moreover,emotional energy to tell each of them what was going on, to respond to texts or calls or to speak face to face (I'd just cry). It did help. Although one friend has just recently fucked me over - right royally (broke a confidence). I'm learning so much about friendships. I've found that through doing the FB thjng, I've found out that nice acquaintances were actually lovely people and friends, but that some friends are actually cold-hearted. I've also learned a lot about my own expectations of friendship - someone who cares (mutually) about how I feel about 'stuff', who can keep their mouth shut and is open with me, too about their own life. It's easier that way.

YES too to early memory loss - as the lovely MNers here will attest. I'm currently breaking a record in responding to several thoughts at ONCE in one comment (you'll usually see how I read one lickle thing and comment, go back to read further an comment again, ad infinitum.

And there was something else
I forget
Lol

Oh yes - my DS and DD sometimes say they don't love me. I act like I don't care and cry inside. Lol
My son tells me often he'd like a different mummy (usually when he's not getting what he wants and angry). I once googled 'ugly woman' under images. I acted nonchalant and showed him who was available to mother him. He made an abrupt and panic stricken about turn. It was HILARIOUS. Reign through terror. Lol (joking)
Seriously, there have been many sad mummy moments when I've not been well. My DS has I think got asperges/ autism and found it hard. BUT it IS only a stage.

Talking of this stage... FUCK FUCK FUCK
IM NOW AT THE STAGE THAT THE SIDE PAIN IS BACK.
this means that not only can I not sit up normally but I can't fucking well lay down either as it feels like I've done a zillion side stretches all night.
Anyone else have that long side ache just in their waist?
Don't know which of my many meds to go back on.
MOAN ALERT: ... Can't be bothered to

Nothing booked for Mother's Day. Bicester or town (with OxyNorm).

No restaurants booked but I suppose in always on a diet so it'd be silly anyway.

Goodness, you've just made me really laugh with the "ugly mummies"! I know I'm lucky that this back / leg shit didn't strike when my boys were younger. They're 10 now (twins) so old enough to understand - & it'd been a while since I could pick them up anyway.

Is everything booked up for Mother's Day or have you decided against? We're going out but I know the restaurant has really good, supportive chairs as we've been before. Any time we go somewhere new I start wandering around trying different chairs, then getting out lumbar support cushions etc. to see how they work with them. I think I'm becoming a public embarrassment.

Fizzle, that's good news about the appointment but the pneumonia sounds horrible. You'll have to ask the consultant where surgery would take place, as some work both in the NHS & in private hospitals. My husband had a hernia op. on the NHS but in a private hospital (via choose & book) a few years ago, & the system seemed to work quite well. I think your physio sounds sensible not to try any treatment at the moment.

Good luck with the essay writing, maizie - & finding the hottie stopper!

Loon, I'm glad I have u a morning laugh. If the thought of it made you laugh, you just HAVE to look at the link: www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&site=webhp&tbm=isch&source=hp&ei=hSkkU9u3F6LoywPDsoD4CQ&q=ugly+woman&oq=ugly+wom&gs_l=mobile-gws-hp.1.0.41.2121.9420.0.12231.11.10.1.4.4.0.260.1109.5j4j1.10.0....0...1c.1.37.mobile-gws-hp..1.10.497.53scuZTk_4o#facrc=_&imgrc=PfYCzRJddpla_M%3A;rqTwk5-8sXNx-M;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.teamjimmyjoe.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F11%2FFunny-Mug-Shots-ugly-woman.jpg;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.teamjimmyjoe.com%2F2012%2F11%2Ffunny-mug-shots-20-of-worst-bad-crazy%2F;500;625
and imagine my give year old's terror!

And yes, I did feel mean and very un-PC. It worked at the time. But he's said it a few times since and I wonder whether he's sussed me.

I've also shown him pics of The Naughty Boys' School (google image: derelict buildings):

www.google.co.uk/search?q=derelict+buildings&client=safari&hl=en-gb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=bCokU5OFDsjOhAedn4HoBA&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAA&biw=320&bih=460

If you're at RNOH, I'll come to see you.

Only if you want, of course.

goodness, you have made me properly snort with laughter!!! ugly mummies and naughty boys school! Hilarious. As un PC as you could get.ha ha ha. Side pain very likely to be muscular, I get it a lot, it's the opposite side to my injury but still kind of makes sense. Heat and drugs, I'm afraid.

fiz, hi honey! you are amazing getting so sorted in a few days. I think surgery is sometimes done in the private hospital on the nhs but just because you are having the consultation there you might still go to nhs hosp. Nicer coffee machine in the waiting room though, and new copies of Hello! And Homes and Garden.

The friends thing is totally normal I think. You are literally consumed with pain, illness and babies. There is nothing left. Can you explain to your mum, DH or a close mate and just ask them to pass it on. You will be back soon. In the meantime all help accepted but visits either very short or not at all. Because they love you they will get it. My friends have been so amazing but sometimes even now it's just too much.

And yes, yes, yes to forgetful. A couple of weeks ago I discovered I'd forgotten we had been invited on holiday. So far nobody has trumped that. And I also start every sentence with ' have if said this already?'. It's very annoying but it's the drugs and also pain is very distracting.
Can you indicate what part of the country you're in? We've got some experience between us. I can privately name someone you really don't Want to see .

And, no matter what they say, your babies love you truly, deeply and unconditionally.

Enjoy the sun, girls. .