Back Again! Back Pain Support Thread

[PavlovtheCat]

Only right I start the new one seeing as I was responsible for the last one ending so abruptly !

This is a support thread for people with back pain (that does not even cover the description of hell that back pain causes). It's for all types of back pain, for long term posters with chronic pain (including those on the upwards journey to recover), short term advice through tough acute episodes and all the in betweens.

We moan, winge, share successes, guide each other and hand hold through the maize of a million medical routes and options, treatments, investigations. We internet shop as a form of pain relief, drink wine, take strong painkillers, eat cake and we go through lots of heat packs!

We don't always have the answers but we do have a lot to say about it all

Here are the links to our previous threads:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/1871592-The-Back-Story
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/1992406-The-Back-Story-Continues
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/2023274-More-Terrible-Back-Stories

tough I would accept the decisions with grace if I understood them, if they made sense, but I don't understand, the information changes from person to person, from time to time and I feel duped. I am used tor h being lied to, having the wool pulled over my eyes, it happens daily in my job, I can smell a coverup and bullshit from a mile away. It's my job to know when people lie, to see the hidden misinformation, so they can't fucking kid me. And what makes sense is that physically, fusion fixes instability. So, as you say, it's likely all about cost. So, they should just bloody say so.

Referral will be in another hospital anyway. I just need to speak to my GP to make sure he knows this after my MRI on Friday as he will re-submit the second opinion request as soon as I have had the MRI. Good to know a second opinion for you was helpful. I am ok with no fusion for the right reasons.

Can you function ok on Butrans patches? Sorry to hear you succumbed to drinking on a school night

loon I guess it took about 20/30 mins or so in total, I was there about 1 hour 30 mins in total. they took a huge amount of xrays, I assumed it would be ultrasound led but was xray. I'm not a fan of xray. All I can take is paracetamol as the nasids give me stomach ulcers :-( I shouted and screamed a lot bit. Hope you are less sore soon.

PAV did you have to post that website?

I could potentially spend a fortune on mugs!

Thank you for your replies and advice. It seems very minor compared to what some of you are suffering. I'm so sorry there's so much pain on here :(

I spoke to the midwife this morning who has referred me to pregnancy physio but said it might take a couple of weeks to get an appointment. I have an appt with GP on Friday so will hopefully get cocodamol and see how that goes. The midwife also left a sheet of exercises I could do on the Pilates ball so I collected that from the surgery tonight but to be honest it was basic stretching exercises that I had been doing anyway.

I woke up fairly pain free this morning which was fab until it hit me at around 11am. Same as yesterday and the day before really. It isn't always there but when it is it's awful and I can't really think about anything else. Makes my job (primary school teacher) interesting. I'm taking ten children to a sports event tomorrow after school which will involve standing in a sports hall for 90mins. Just what I need!

I hope everyone manages to sleep well x

Butrans 5mg don't have any side effects so far - it's less constipation so I've had an upset tummy from taking less codeine. I'm going up to 10mcg when I get it but 5mcg is pretty effective for the pain. Codeine is fine now I'm so used to it, no woozy feeling, bright and alert, well as much as normal. The only time I get woozy is on an empty stomach. I can easily concentrate or look after the smalls, better than when in pain anyway. Pain makes me incredibly cranky and I'm irritable at the best if times. I'm all for taking any drugs that can help and not worried about addiction anymore - I withdrew from tramadol recently after four months on 2x100mg twice a day. The withdrawal was like coming off an SSRI anti d, I felt dizzy for a week, I think I've seen it called brain shakes. I didn't find tramadol effect so wanted rid and it wasn't too bad but I've heard it can be worse. But I am also in the frame of mind that I can be cured and will be drug free in future. Potentially delusional!

Here's a paper on SI pain and discs www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/19247155/?i=5&from=/18415604/related

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/18415604/

and one on fusion and SI dysfunction

I use Oramorph when the pain is at it's worst but it makes me really woozy. I would love to find a medication that releases a long term pain relief without making me feel worse. Is there such a thing? Or is that the holy grail?

msdj seems like the patches discussed here are ther best option for slow release without too many side effects. Like all of these meds the key seems to be in starting at a low dose and increasing gradually. The side effects do wear off without loss of effectiveness.

I'm a bit worries about the tramadol withdrawal. I don't take it every day, sometimes just stick to the codeine plus all the rest. I wonder does this mean om not addicted or am I just masking it by using other strongish meds? Bit academic since I need one or the other and frequently both.

tough do you mind repeating your story? Have you found Queen Square the helpful pain clinic or have you found one that's better? I'm a bit disappointed with my consultant there. It's just so busy and I think it's a bedside manner thing but still, any recommendations gratefully received. Pm if you don't want to be public? Thanks.

I love the mugs! Thanks, pavlov. Can't decide between the owl though & the 10 reasons I can't be arsed one.

Interesting article, Queen. Does seem to be saying quite clearly that SI joint dysfunction is caused by disc herniation in these cases, not vice versa, so I guess trying to treat the disc issue makes sense. I don't think my pelvis was obviously rotated before I had this, but don't know if I'd have noticed in the absence of pain.

Legs still feel wobbly this morning & back sore. Pain at average levels in right leg, none in left leg (thank God). Hope everyone has a good day.

tough I was under George, too! As you say a lovely man. Bloody hell the nursing was appalling. As a for we HCP I was so shocked. Used bedpan placed on my table etc. I feel like the pain team want to do procedures but nothing has actually helped. And yes, the waiting times are completely unacceptable. It's not good really but also a distinct lack of alternatives.

And sounds a similar picture to me pain wise, long term neuropathic pain? No real hope for improvement. How is your pain now? Have you complained that your GP ignored you? Actually loads of similarities except for the three month bit. That's awful. You must have been seriously depressed.

Oh yes, Victor Horsley. Didn't know such crap wards even existed anymore. I was in over a long weekend so didn't really meet the charge nurse but when the senior staff were there they were concerned with bed vacancies, not the patients they had. Very grim stay, lots of wailing and screaming all the time. I was a midwife, so like you, really shocked at what was going on.

I'm under the local pain team but GS said do injections etc there as ct guided and more accurate. I did the Pain Management Course locally. It was quite good but not a revelation.

If you believe your gps lack of care has contributed to your condition you can seek legal advice. Pm me if you want.x

The pain clinic I saw was Kinston, only one appointment but he seemed happy to look into injections or physio if I wanted to but I decided to wait for the MRI. I think it was about two months, maybe less, from referral to appointment. No idea about the care otherwise so can't recommend as such.

Queens square seems to be promoting themselves as a national service which I guess means loads of demand across the country. Does Charing Cross have a pain service?

Tough - I knew they'd bring up weight as an issue, such a cop out. I am so glad I'd managed to lose weight before my back got this bad as I'd be fobbed off and told to diet. Well I was told to exercise and it was blamed on not doing enough pelvic floor exercises. I'd like to complain, I don't want anything other than them understanding what happened to ensure it doesn't happen again. I was dismissed by GPs and Physio because it happened after pregnancy. I am meeting with my lawyer friend this weekend and will quiz her on her experience and what grounds for complaint there may be. Cauda Equina is one of the most litigated conditions because drs get it wrong so much and the impact of inaction can be devestating.

Loon - it certainly sounds like disc issues can cause symptoms of SIJ dysfunction. But I guess when one thing goes it can cause other bits to go as the body adjusts and compensates. I'm pretty convinced I will still be in a similar position if I do get surgery. The nerves need to heal, if that's even possible after so long, and the muscles need to come out of spasm - all my muscles are tight, even my arms.

I have been taking 8 x tramadol a day for 15 months now. Assume I am well and truly addicted. Don't feel they help at all but have never not taken them!! Only been taking oramorph for three months but I do have to take it every day although I tend only to take it once or twice a day and usually in the evenings to help me sleep. Will certainly ask about the patches though. Thank you

I've had the results of my MRI scan and it's revealed - disc dehydration although no protrusion (which I guess is good?)

It's also highlighted mid level lumbar sacral segmentation disorder. No idea what that is even after Googling.

I asked my GP what happens next and she said 'Oh, I don't know. It doesn't say. Nothing I don't think.'

I've requested the report and the mri on disc so will see what osteo says

nancy that makes me so cross. What's the point of an MRI if there is no action, plan or discussion? Ask for a spinal surgeon referral. Can't remember if you've had injections?

msjd if you need that much tramadol etc and still have such pain I'd really recommend trying the pregablin again. The woozy side effects honestly do wear off. I have gabapentin through the day and amytriptiline at night. It targets the nerve pain. Opiates are not good for nerve pain. To get max pain relief it's vital to combine your meds cleverly. Just taking bigger and bigger doses of the same thing honestly doesn't give you the best result. Pretty sure others on here have similar advice. If very sensitive you can start on very small doses.

Matilda - I will examine the report myself as I can't believe they haven't suggested anything, more likely the dozy GP not reading it properly.
No, not had any injections so far.

queen I am at Kingston pain clinic. We must be quite close to each other. The pain course is quite good. I'm also starting Alexander Technique next month. The best thing I've had, though is counselling from one of the psychologists.

Anyone else been offered a sacral stimulator? I don't fancy it.