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.

[PavlovtheCat]

bish in that case, definitely look into injections. They can ease pain from vertebrae rubbing together and the nerve pain that often comes with that. They don't work for everyone and sometimes don't last more than a few weeks, but sometimes they work for a couple of months. You can have a certain amount of them each year so might give you a little bit of a break from pain.

but, if you don't want any more hassling about what can be done, and just want to 'be' with people who get the grind of chronic pain, then I am good at cutting cake and pouring wine

[Matildathecat]

Sounds like you do need a real discussion. And probably a referral to Exeter for another discussion. One question I'd be asking is 'how much worse might this get?' As in, if I do nothing am I damaging myself?

Very scary. So let's hope he agrees injections are a good option for now then bloody arranges them. I'm having some on Friday. Facet joint this time. The SIJ injections in January did help and the guy said if they worked he could offer a much longer acting injection so there is some hope for us.

Isn't it weird in these days of NICE guidelines that one hospital says yes we do and another says no we don't?. Still, always go to the one that does many procedures just like yours.

I'm rambling. Good luck and keep us posted.x

[Matildathecat]

Yes bish don't give up hope but do join us for cake if you aren't ready for drugs

pav, retail therapy at it's best.

[PavlovtheCat]

I just added that very question to my list just before coming to read your post Matilda!, about 'will this pain/condition get worse?'

I can't see this is going to be a huge conversation. I sort of wish i got the last appt now. my theory was straight after lunch (he has 30 mins between clinics) meant he wasn't keen to go get his sarnie, but now he will have another patient to see after me, he won't want to fuck about with stupid questions from a patient who should have already pissed off by now.

[LostInWales]

She's good at pouring the wine bish

I think my injections have fallen into the 'work for a few weeks' category but they were a good few weeks and I'm in at the good pain clinic now so I will go and see the top guy and he can try a few different things. My 'pain that makes me hoooo' upper right thoracic isn't settling at all, I'm going to have to start getting angsty and demand a TSP MRI I think and I hate those things.

Pavlov have a quick cwtch too, it's so frustrating I know, I really hope you can get some good information at your appointment.

Welcome, this is the best place for a whinge and also the advocacy of bright coloured hand bags and shoes as a cure all for the grumps over being in pain.

[PavlovtheCat]

and I feel very productive with my retail therapy as it's all needed but still pretty! I want to go for the Paris Kitchen look, DH thinks I am a loon but I have said just because we have a small kitchen and don't have £££ to pour into it doesn't mean it can't have style and character, He was all for buying the very cheapest shite/ugly but practical to 'make do' and I said a scruffy kitchen with lovely things and organised is better than a scruffy kitchen with scruffy things and organised. You know like that new york apartment brickwork showing style look? That's what I am going for with little bits and bobs here and there to help but also look lovely and in Ikea it's not a fortune. I am enjoying trying to find things on a budget, but sometimes frustrating which is when Ikea is the best place in the world.

[Matildathecat]

Why would you ever ask a man how to create a lovely ambience?

[livelablove]

Quite right Pavlov what do men know about these things, well most men, of course you need it.

I read recently that almost all back surgery is elective, other than with something like Frozen had or the scary cauda equina. I guess this is because it is so risky. Not very easy for you though, I hope the surgeon is helpful. We will all be with you in spirit, so wear your fab flyboots and think of us and give that surgeon a good grilling from us too xxx

[PavlovtheCat]

matilda I have not asked him. He has volunteered this information when he thinks I am being excessive and he has been quite upset today that he feels I don't value his opinions, that I am not interested in his input. I asked him if he could just let me get on with the prettying of the room and we can make the bigger decisions together. He said he has no choice as I am not interested in what he has to say.

Seriously. He was proper upset but, as upset as he was, I am still making it lovely. He gave in to some of my insistences today and I sort of clapped my hands, grinned and kissed him, all excited so he may learn it's probably easier to keep me happy by letting me just get the fuck on with it

[bishboschone]

Where does one get injections ?? Ponders ..

[PavlovtheCat]

live but, apart from emergency surgery, it's all elective right? It's all choice, any (most) ops that are not lifesaving ops? If it's about improving/repairing/making less disabled, then there is choice and that makes it elective. And to put that kind of decision on a normal bod is pretty tough. They need to be saying to me 'this are your choices, these are the risks, these are the successes, this is my recommendation for these reasons this is what happens if you don't do it', how can I possibly 'elect' for someone to cut open my spine, stick rods in it, without something 'telling me' it needs to be done? Otherwise, I ain't choosing it.

But I know that he was happy to fob me off with 8 lines of shite on a bit of paper.

[LaurieFairyCake]

Thank you so much for responding Pavlov and Matilda

My underlying issue is scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, weak pelvis - it's been a constant low level but chronic pain for about 17 years but bearable with constant pottering about and gardening (and as little sitting about as possible). I've occasionally (once or twice a week) taken a couple of ibuprofen when I've gardened a bit longer than a couple of hours - it's always sorted me out. Always been a bit hard to get going in the morning, very slow and stiff getting up and going down stairs. Also been getting hip pain for the last six months or so.

Until last week when I decided to lay a tiled floor and grout it - 2 days of bending over and kneeling on concrete totally fucked my back to the point of not being able to sit or lie down and had terrible burning across my pelvis. None of it alleviated by maximum paracetemol and ibuprofen combined.

So 4 days of no sleep and constant shifting about, can't bend at all, can barely sit down to pee I decide to call the doc.

She called me back and prescribed co codamol and has made me an appointment for 2 weeks time to have injections in my hips as she thinks I might have bursitis?

I've had 3 lots of the co codomol and I don't think it's making it much less painful, if it was a 7 it's now a 6 but not radically different and I'm still not able to bend or sit in the same position for more than a few minutes. The doctor made it sound like it would actually get rid of the pain.

I can't take any more ibuprofen, it just makes me feel sick. I used to like heated wheat bags but the area is so incredibly hot I don't fancy making it warmer.

Thank you for saying I may need to call the doctor again, it didn't occur to me that actually the drugs wouldn't take away the pain.

I don't feel very functional - I couldn't even put socks on earlier.

[PavlovtheCat]

bish pain clinic for facet joint, SI injections, direct vertebral injections. My osteo who was a back pain specialist, referred to by GP and much quicker wait than the pain clinic (3 weeks from referral to appt?) was able to do epidural injections which are less direct and so less guaranteed to work but effective in 50% of those who have it done (2 weeks for me, but two weeks of bliss!)

[Matildathecat]

I cannot comment on a marital dispute < but think you're right!>

Maybe he's a wee bit stressed, too. Back pain= family pain, right?

[PavlovtheCat]

laurie try ice. My chiro said when inflamed, use ice. We had a convo last week when I was hot to touch as I was so inflamed through my spine, she said that ice works wonders as it cools the area and reduces the swelling. I always forget to use ice but it makes sense. She also said to me to not bother with expensive ice packs but buy some cheap frozen peas and use them as they move around the spine well. So, thinking if you are so sore and hot you don't want more heat, it might work. But get snuggled in bed first so you don't freeze the rest of you.

I didn't try the ice as I keep forgetting to buy some cheap stuff, and then I used some diazepam which, joking aside sounds like you could do with a couple of them to help stop the spasms which is sounds like you have.

[PavlovtheCat]

matilda. no, not stressed, he just doesn't like the idea he has no taste we make decisions together on most things, he just doesn't want to feel left out. And. This is a biggie. He's a chef so thinks he has a say in how the kitchen should look. HA! I don't think so

[PavlovtheCat]

and yes yes laurie I meant to say, doctor. Call them. If you can't put socks on, then you are in too much pain.

[Matildathecat]

Sorry, very fast moving tonight, laurie, ok! I don't know you or your history but bending over on a dodgy back then godawful pain sounds like spasm. If no better tomorrow ask for diazepam.

I'm rather surprised about the sudden injections unless there's more to it.

Hope it settles, anyway. Do let us know.

[PavlovtheCat]

Just to clarify matilda when I said "He has volunteered this information when he thinks I am being excessive and he has been quite upset today that he feels I don't value his opinions, that I am not interested in his input" he is not talking about life in general, just the kitchen

[Matildathecat]

Nighty night.

The worst row my DH and I have ever had in 28 years was over the position of the washing line. So, yes, I get it.xx

[denialandpanic]

bish I second? Third the need to see a gp. inflammatory back pain is worse in the mornings and is treated differently to what they call mechanical back pain. It all bloody hurts the same though! I am one of the people on here who is very pro pharmaceutical solutions I must admit but it's the only way I have managed to stay semi functional.

laurie what strength cocodamol did they give you? it does sound like you need a short term burst of something stronger.....also anti inflammatory will take a few days to build your system.

good luck tomorrow Pavlov, don't get tongue tied by the importance /amount of time you have waited for the appointment. deep breaths, you are important, your life is important, the person outside for next appointment can just wait.

[denialandpanic]

Pavlov I think you will end up having to decide about the surgery. They will lay out the risks etc and leave it up to you.It's how the nhs works in non life threatening situations.I long for someone to say "this is what needs to happen now". They however will not even offer surgery if they don't think it had a potential benefit. The end decision will be yours I'm guessing.

[denialandpanic]

we have nearly filled another thread

[livelablove]

pavlov thinking of you today, good luck with your appt hope the surgeon proves helpful. Come and tell us all about it and we will provide huge slabs of cake.

laurie how are you today? Did ice help at all? If g.p agrees you can take up to 60mg of codeine a dose, plus you could upgrade your anti inflammatory to naproxen or diclofenac (sp) which are stronger than normal ibuprofen, if your tummy is a problem with these anti inflammatories you should get a stomach protecting drug, omeprazole is one. Also I highly recommend taking a gentle laxative if you are taking codeine omg I had a big problem with the constipating effect and at a time when I could not sit down for more than about 20 seconds, argh.

[Matildathecat]

live, very good point about the laxatives. Lactulose works well for me with codeine. Don't wait until you are already constipated to wait and see. Codeine is a guaranteed bungler upper!

pavlov, good luck. Let us know the outcome (if there is one)

Have a good day everyone. Off to Wisley after last week's aborted plan ( due to friend' DH having a prolapsed disc). Let's hope he's better enough to let her come to the aid of another needy back soul!