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.

[DowntonTrout]

Loon yes. I have 2 prolapses L5/S1 and L4/5. I'm sure it's the l5/S1 that is worse and causes the leg pain. It's like someone is twanging an elastic band in my calf. I haven't got the loss of sensation in my lower leg like I had before- yet- fingers crossed.

[Matildathecat]

Snorting gabapentin?!!!!!

Haha, now I've heard it all. I've got thousands upstairs...I'm heading downtown!!

[Matildathecat]

Btw the comment about frozen getting suspended for swearing and talking drugs was a joke luckily or I'd have been expelled by now, think it was something on the education pages but haven't seen it.

Shall we lobby?

[Nancy66]

what has Frozen done wrong? I don't get it - it's a tread about pain and injury in the 'health' section - we're all talking about drugs!

[LoonvanBoon]

It's like someone is twanging an elastic band in my calf

Yes!! Brilliant description. Mine often turns into more of a cramp, too, where it feels like I literally can't get any oxygen to my muscles.

I think we should contact MNHQ. But we do need to know if this is a temporary / permanent ban, don't we? I can't find anything on the education pages, but maybe posts have been removed.

[DowntonTrout]

Loon I would mistake it for cramp if I didn't know what it was.

Funny how you feel like rubbing your leg but the pain isn't really there, it's just your compressed nerve sending a message to your brain that thinks your calf hurts. Does my head in!

[Mumto3dc]

Hi I wonder if anyone here could help? Sorry this is a bit long.

I've had a stiff and sore lower back for the last few years. It's worse in the morning, trouble getting out of bed and then bending is v hard for an hour or so til it wears off. I will then get pain on and off thru the day, esp by the evening. The pain and stiffness are not terrible but annoying.

I've had 2 courses of physio on nhs about a year apart. Physio really helps short term but then, even if I keep up with the exercise plan from the physio it gets worse again within a month or so.

A few weeks ago I went back to the gp and she ordered another blood test for inflammation (I had one a couple of yrs ago but it was normal) and referred me for an MRI. She has suggested it could be ankylosing spondiolitis(sp?!)

I had to cancel the MRI this week because I've just found out I'm pregnant! Anyway,

[LoonvanBoon]

Hi, Mumto3dc. Congratulations on your pregnancy!

I don't know much about ankylosing spondiolitis (copying your spelling, right or wrong!), other than that it's a type of inflammatory arthritis.

It's a bit confusing because the stiffness in the morning that then wears off would definitely fit with an inflammatory condition like AS or rheumatoid arthritis. Pain & stiffness building up over the day, on the other hand, points in the opposite direction, to a more mechanical cause - ie. your day to day activities / posture etc. are causing / exacerbating some sort of spinal problem. Do you have any associated leg pain at all?

Which bits of the physio were most helpful? What is the hands-on stuff, if exercises alone don't help? Would it be possible to have more, privately if necessary?

The GP obviously thinks this needs further investigation, but clearly the MRI will need to wait now. Do you take medication like NSAIDs? I'm not sure what is / isn't safe during pregnancy. I guess the priority at the moment is discussing with your GP how to manage the pain & stiffness during the pregnancy, & continuing with some kind of physio to help with that. Does any exercise - eg. swimming - help? And have you tried heat - eg. hot water bottles, stick-on heat pads (I use cura heat) - they can be really helpful.

[Matildathecat]

Hi everyone, frozen has set up a private fb group for anyone who would like to loin. PM me for her details if you'd like to join.

[Mumto3dc]

Sorry I had to get dd from pre school and hadnt finished but it seems to have posted anyway!

My main question is:

Since becoming pg, I'm only 4.5 weeks, my pain and stiffness has got so much better!!!

I feel like I haven't felt in years! Does anyone know what this could be about? Is it the pregnancy hormones?

Also, does anyone have any thoughts on my usual back stiffness/pain?

Thank you.

[Mumto3dc]

Oh thanks for your reply!! And the congrats!

Well I think what really helped most with physio is the manipulation to loosen the bones up.

I have been doing core exercises for a few months which have def helped.

I don't take NSAIDs cos I'm worried about my stomach and they make me nauseous. But the gp suggested naproxen and something to protect my stomach. Will have to wait til I'm not gp now tho!

[DowntonTrout]

Well, I'm guessing, but pregnancy relaxes your joints/ligaments doesn't it? Although you are very early on.

You are different to me, in that I am at my best in the morning after lying down all night. My back relaxes and then the compression gets worse during the day so I have no experience of being stiff in the morning, although you also say it gets worse during the day.

If it is AS or similar I think you would require extra monitoring during your pregnancy as it may aggravate it as you get bigger. You need to go back to your GP and discuss how you manage it as you can't have the MRI now. Good luck and enjoy feeling good - long may it last!

[LoonvanBoon]

It's brilliant that you've had an improvement, Mum.

It could be hormonal. It could also be that if you do have an autoimmune inflammatory condition, like rheumatoid arthritis, the inflammation is improving because in pregnancy your immune system naturally becomes less active. I know with RA improvement in pregnancy is very common, but I don't know about AS.

You may still want to chat to the GP about what kind of pain relief you can use if symptoms do flare up again.

[Mumto3dc]

Thanks for your reply! Yes I did wonder if it's the relaxing effect. It is a very pleasant novelty anyway .

Yes, you're right, I guess I should talk to the gp about the impact if being pregnant, thanks.

To the earlier poster, sorry can't remember your name, no pain in the legs, it's all in lower back.

[Matildathecat]

Dear MNHQ,

We on the Back Story thread would like to ask you to reconsider your suspension of our fellow poster, Frozencherries. She both gives and receives vital support here. You may not be aware that she has recently undergone major spinal surgery to remove a malignant growth and has been very unwell indeed. Please at least allow her to continue posting on this thread where she has never caused the slightest offense.

Thankyou.

[Matildathecat]

mum, Congratulations on your pregnancy, no 4 is hardcore, not surprised your back aches!

The fact that physio helps and pregnancy helps sounds quite good ie less likely to be a major mechanical problem. Do keep up your exercises through pregnancy. Although the pregnancy relaxin hormones will help now, the additional weight later might be a strain so watching your core strength and posture is vital.

Does heat help? If so will be a good drug alternative for you.

Can anyone else who supports frozen please message HQ to request leniency?

Thanks

[LoonvanBoon]

That's a great message, matilda. Have you sent it to MNHQ? Will also message when I've worked out how.

[Mumto3dc]

Thanks matildathecat!
Yes 4 v hardcore, I don't mind saying I'm having a few anxiety attacks at the moment!!

Yes I know I must keep up the exercises, I've slacked off a bit in the last week as I've felt so much better, hope I don't regret it!

Yes heat does help, thanks . Also I use paracetamol a lot for the pain and it usually takes the edge off. I know I'm fortunate really as it is never really really bad, it just wears you down when it's every day for years!

[Mumto3dc]

Thanks loonvanboon, interesting about RA and getting better when pregnant.
Its something I can mention to the gp.

[Maiziemonkey]

ah matilda you haven't learned yet about my slight technophobia- worked out how to make my tv go to white noise screen yesterday and it was a landmark moment for me. I'm fine with stuff I know but very apprehensive of unknown computery stuff. the course has helped immensely of course

[livelablove]

It was me who joked about frozen swearing and talking about drugs, as I couldn't think what she could have done to get suspended. I liked your message Matilda. Yes you should send it. I am going to pm you about the fb group once I work out how to pm on this phone x

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello there

Thanks for the report about FrozenCherries.

It's really difficult for us to discuss our dealings with other posters. But the truth is that when it comes to long-term posters with fairly established posting histories, we almost never suspend posting rights unless there has been quite a lot of back and forth and mails from us warning that someone is sailing close to the wind.

We do know that Frozen has been unwell recently and has received and given support on MN, and please believe us that we wouldn't interrupt that lightly.

Sorry to be gnomic about it but that's probably as much as we can say, but we do take your messages on board.

Thanks
MNHQ

[Maiziemonkey]

mum hiya, deffo good idea to keep up core exercises. I had spd with both mi pg's and doing those and going to aqua aerobics helped immensely. The aqua actually made all my aches go away for a bout a day each time. Seems reasonable to assume one of the bodily changes from pg is influencing your condition so mentioni it to your dc, might help them understand what it is.

[LoonvanBoon]

Hi RowanMumsnet,

Is it possible to let people on this thread know if this is just a temporary suspension? I seem to remember that that info. was made public about a well-known poster fairly recently. Thanks.

[RowanMumsnet]

Tbh Loon we haven't made a decision on that yet!