Back to Back Trouble. The Back Pain Support Thread.

[Matildathecat]

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
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/2049637-Back-Again-Back-Pain-Support-Thread?msgid=47419209#47419209

And some other useful links and info:

www.patient.co.uk/health/cauda-equina-syndrome-leaflet

We have done the hard work for you and learned about effective drug combining. Using NSAIDs, a stomach protector, paracetamol with or without codeine (it enhances the codeine), nerve pain meds such as gabapentin and/or amytriptiline can all be more effective than simply taking huge doses of opiates. Of course most people won't need all of this but for severe prolonged back injuries this is helpful to know.

Heat, gentle exercise, TENs, medication patches, diazepam and accupuncture, we've tried them all.

So if you are suffering come and join us, were a social lot.

co-codamol smarties,yuk!

must be awful for you guys that get pain in the night, much sympathy to you all. I have been lucky so far in that even if I have alot of pain at the end of the day, I can get to sleep and get away from it. It might be more to do with how your slepp system operates- if I'm tired i WILL nod off anywhere, bus, armchair,whatever. I do get pains early am though that make me start to wake up when I want- to stay 100% asleep. Hope you are all getting quality slumber now :)

tough I don't think I'm any busier than others with children, just moan about it more I am sorry your pain is not good. Love the smarties analogy, so true isn't it, just stuffing handfuls of meds in is a bit like sweets. I try not to take mine in front of the children for that reason. Hope today brings a little less pain? What are your plans? Anything nice to distract you?

DH went out last night, planning to stay out overnight, and he came back at 12;30am, when I was in bed. I had left the back door open, forgot to check it, and I heard this noise downstairs, suddenly thought that I could not remember if I had checked the backdoor to see if it was open/locked. And i properly freaked! I did think it might have been DH, but I was too scared to go down and check! But then I was really scared because of the children. DH then walked up the stairs and I said 'is that you?' and he said 'who else is it going to be?' and I swore at him! 'fucking hell!' as a relief! it took him a moment to realise why I was swearing! I had left the bloody backdoor open too! (well, i didn't, DH had gone outside for a smoke, and I don't smoke so didn't need to be out there, so not check it had been shut again, but, I was last to bed so I should have checked all the doors).

We are going to Tinside Lido for a picnic and swim in a moment. Looking forward to it, its beautiful there.

maizie I don't really sleep brilliantly, not sure if it's the leg pain keeping me awake, or being a light sleeper that means I notice? It's not horrendous pain at night, largely in my hip/but as I move over.

I am finding that I wake up in the morning feeling reasonably ok, bit stiff but not too bad, bit of leg pain, not too bad, reasonably bearable, but, after being up for 10 mins and moving about, then I start to seize up and the pain increases dramatically, so by the time i leave for work, I am in a lot go pain before my morning meds kick in. So, rest does seem to be helping somewhat. A good excuse as any to just stay in bed I wish!

I am enjoying work and finding the new dynamics so so much more supportive than they were in my old 'team'. some of the same people, but some new faces (well, not new, but new to working with them) and they are lovely to work with at the moment. I feel supported and that if I am having a bad day, they will help me out, of offer to (I am not so good at actually taking the help). I am also right by the staff room so occasionally sneak in when it's quiet and my back is too sore, and lay flat on the comfy seats for 5 mins, gives me just enough rest to get back up and finish my work. The nature of my work is different, and, although I thought it would affect me negatively, it's not so bad. Well, the offences are horrific, but my coping is not so bad. I can do work barriers, reasonably well, but do think I will take advantage of some work based counselling to work through any potential emotional issues some of my work might raise over time. It's certainly something to distract from back pain

Hey you quiet lot! Hope you are all doing ok and that is why you are quiet.

I am going camping for my birthday on Friday, and have MIL visiting from USA on Wednesday for 10 days she is lovely actually but very neat and tidy. We are not. I am being ultra organised and have almost packed the entire camping gear up, just a couple more bits to do, cleaned the front room, little room, put washing away, done most of the washing.

I have been ignoring my leg screaming at me and my back pain is in a box in my brain (only way to describe it!) thanks to an additional 100mg normal release tramadol this evening, but is creeping through rapidly now. would never have got this done otherwise as I was already struggling after sitting for an hour interview with a client as well as an hour last night watching dd in her school's summer theatre production.

I have now stopped though as I now have pins and needles in my right foot, along with some numb patches on top of my foot, calf, groin and My female region. I have noticed this increase in nerve pain and altered sensation before, usually if I have done far too much, and it should ease off by the morning if I don't keep aggrevating it. I have a nagging feeling that a disc is going to go majorly at some point.

But I am just going to keep going. Not tonight, but generally, I can't slow down any more than I am, and even that is too much. I am fed up of waiting and waiting and trying to get this fixed and being 'on hold' until it is. Well, it might not ever be, and so then what? Just be a shadow of me? Nope. Not happening. I won't kayak, but I might bodyboard if I can walk! We are going to Cornwall, Atlantic Coast, near Newquay. It has ended up being three other families coming for the wekend, and two more for the day on Saturday. It's been a very long time since I have felt that people want to be around me, and they are choosing to spend money to come celebrate my birthday so it's perked my low mood up a lot! even though my initial reaction was 'really?! Do we want so many coming?' as naturally I'm a bit of a loner. But it's going to be great, and there will be 9 children ranging from 4mths to 11 years running about in Saturday, and 5 for the whole weekend.

Took dd out of school for the day. The head teacher is lovely about it. She cannot authorise it, but she will mark it down to not go to LA for fine. She said that dd's attendance and engagement at school is great so go enjoy ourselves, relax and have a good birthday with the family. She said lots of parents work in tourism and struggle to get time off in holidays even if they could afford a holiday, and she feels that time with family is as essential as learning at school so where she is able to find ways to support this she will do so. I am pleased as I am not going to get into lying or bending the truth, I don't want dd to see that type of behaviour from her parents, and so I was transparent about the day off and dd doesn't have to worry about being in trouble (nor do I!)

Ok going to try to sleep. Tramadol nights...who wrote that? I almost called my blog The Tramadol Diaries!

Hey Pavlov, typing on my phone in Turkey but wanted to wish you a great weekend away and a very happy birthday. Try not to overdo it.

Having a relaxing holiday other than dh falling off a mountain bike yesterday and needing stitches on knee and elbow plus some horrid grazes and unstitchable cuts. So he's getting a bit of experience of being sore and restricted. Turkish hospital has somewhat different hygiene standarfs to uk. Filthy. Almost expected a goat to walk in. Still,could have been worse.

See you all soon.

Ps Tough, I've been getting a really sore back at night so last night I took 150mg tramadol slow release which made a big difference. Hope you're ok. Yes they do report on the scan but cant you get referred for it? X

happy almost birthday Pavlov.Have a lovely weekend

I've had funny nerve pain that makes me jump out of my chair through my right hip today.Jesus ladies I don't know how you put up with it.It makes the dull hot poker of the arthritis pain feel like a picnic ponders ami prescription sitting unopened in cupboard

hope dh is ok Matilda.at least you have no shortage of pain killers.....

Happy Birthday, pavlov! Hope you have a good w/end.

Glad to hear you survived all the travelling, matilda, & hope you're enjoying the sunshine. Hope DH makes a quick recovery in time to carry all the luggage on the way home.

How's everyone else doing? I'm getting on okay with the pregabalin - very little pain below the knee ATM - particularly the hideous calf cramping. The only side-effect that's lingering for me is the dry mouth. It's about a million times less zombiefying than amitryptilline was - would recommend, I think. Though still in pain in my upper leg - don't know if that means it's not nerve pain?

Hi lovelies - i just dropped in and caught up with all your news. I'm sorry to hear of your family's loss maizie, hope that matilda and pavlov get some rest on holiday. Birthday greetings to you, pavlov.

As for me, I am very slowly improving. At least, I am in less pain. I took a day and a half off work to rest last week, and hardly drove all weekend (driving seems to be the worst position for pain). I've dropped off the ibuprofen as it made me feel sick and have reduced the co-codamol. Ice and gentle movement have helped, try not to sit down for too long.

Being able to control the pain has calmed me down, too - I was envisaging the worst-case scenario, but now thinking it may not be as bad as I thought.

Thanks for all your support.

hiya all, have been very taken up with doing regular exercise and this and that, but have read up on, well it was only about a page and a half really!
you lot have been quiet = =bet u r all busy and coz it's Summer.
Pav it was Frankie Boyle who did "Tramadol Nights", a kind of ersatz sketch show that was very funny- my favourite being his version of a Knightrider character,haha. I like Sean Lock and Russell Kane too at the mo,who makes you guys laugh- oh have a soft spot for bill Bailey and Dylon Moran-and loved Black books, re-watch it every now and again. same with=IT crowd
Went to pilates on Friday,made it feel great for a few hours- but I stayed looking round the shops for too long,forgot mdh was going out when I got home and put myself in a "running on empty"pain situation. I have to remember afetr a class to go home and rest a bit. It was just nice to be feeling "normal" and out shopping for a bit,you know
going up to Northampton for the funeral on tuesday so might be not be on here until we get back , probably won't take laptop and his mum =doesnt have wifi anyway.
hope you all got out in the sun and got your vitamin D for the day, took the 2 sproglets to a fayre at the local children's centre which had them running around in the sunshine, playing in the sandpit and eating cakes- perfect summer excursion! Went there for about 1.5 hours but felt like more,hard work keping track of them both. hope you all are having peaceful slumber tonight

Glad you are feelingbetter light shines. onwards and upwards.
and that the pregablin is helping you loon, that's really good, hope it continues

Hello all, I have not read all the posts (10 pages) but wanted to add some things that have helped me.
I am not overweight but have had back problems for nearly fifty years.
I am in quite good shape now having had operations firstly on a problem between vertebrae 3 and 4 about 24 years ago and between 4 and 5 about 11 years ago.
Every now and again I might have pain and the damaged nerves in my left leg tingle if I get over tired. After a few days (fingers crossed) I am OK.

To the point.

Having suffered on and off for such a long time I have a THREE tips or suggestions that HAVE WORKED FOR ME.
I will stress that these work for me.

1. Pain killers there is nothing better for me than Nurofen 200mg. This is a pain killer as well as a muscle relaxer.

2. Lying on the floor, no better way for relieving and avoiding pain. This I have done at home, at work and in friends homes. I have read books, dosed, listened to music and watched TV while doing it.

3. Seats/chairs. What I sit in I have learnt over the years DIRECTLY effects how my back feels at the time and later. Firm chair of the correct height, solid bench, hard seat etc, etc, etc. NEVER NEVER a soft "comfy" sofa or a "friendly" arm chair. When visiting homes or offices never except the soft chair. If there not a FIRM chair of RIGHT HEIGHT do not sit.

Number 3 is probably best single thing for me to do.

Hope that helps someone.

Hello everyone, back from my hols feeling fresh and perky. A week with very little internet connection was really nice, but good to be back, too.

light, excellent news you are feeling better. Do keep all your back care stuff up because you don't want any repeats. Do you do Pilates? If not it might be good to find a really great instructor and start now.

maizie, even if you don't see this! thinking of you and your family my lovely. Not an easy time for you all. Take care of all of you.

denial, non non to horrid nervy pains. Although vile the meds do help quite a bit and I personally haven't had a bad relapse with this for a while. Unfortunately the helpful meds do turn me into a forgetful zombie but hey, happy days, less pain. And if I am in pain, maybe I've forgotten?

paclov, hope the camping was all you hoped and more. What a fabulous way to celebrate a birthday. Your own mini festival. My kind of thing minus sleeping on anything other than a very comfy bed .

I've done way too much today, usual post holiday stuff, unpacking, washing, sorting, shopping. Tomorrow may be bad, especially allowing for the post travel pain ( which hits second day after usually). So I have luckily booked massage and physio in the morning so hope that will help.

Quick rant. Ds is due to move out into flat tomorrow, how exciting, you think. DH is supposed to be driving him after work. So ds lay around listening to music all morning, went for a bike ride, did a bit of shopping then went to BBQ and footie party. I've been sorting out loads of stuff for him, went into his room and...he's done NOTHING. No packing. No boxes. WTF??? Why do I have such hopeless dc? What does he think happens?

And breathe.

How are you all? Watching the last lovely match, I guess. I'm at least in the room!

gfplux, sorry to ignore you, how rude. I missed your post.

Great that such a low dose of analgesia works for you. Paracetamol should never be ignored, either. Sometimes it is the simple stuff that helps. A lot of us on here have way more pharmaceutical experience than we ever wanted.

I so agree about lying on the floor. I'm forever posting this but it helps so I've done it again. I'm currently learning the Alexander Technique although I'm a poor student. Doing the lying on the floor is crucial to AT and surprisingly hard to fit into the day..

With the chair issue, I know lots of back pain sufferers would agree with you. I'm not so lucky because hard upright chairs kill me. I need cushions and comfy or, better still lie down. Perhaps just no sitting at all? Certainly we aren't well designed for sitting, especially slumping.

Anyway, glad you problems are contained and on here we are delighted to meet someone for whom surgery has been successful so thanks so much for posting.

I lost you all!!! but yey!!! I found you all again! I will go read and see what's going on before reporting all my own troubles

you are all properly quiet! I hope things are as ok as they can be for you and the family maizie. thinking of you.

I had the most awesomest time ever ever camping. MIL arrived a day early (meant to arrive today, arrived yesterday) so mad panic tidying and got it sorted just in time, so really, really, struggling now. Not at work, I have properly fucked myself up but hey, least I got a clean and tidy home and a happy MIL and DH! but having to succumb to some bloody strong painkillers at the moment. trying to avoid diazepam as used it at the weekend to get me through it without horrendous spasms, but I just cannot get them under control.

Also. Weirdly, the top of my foot, above that round bone bit on the top part of the ankle (I will google the name in a moment) is swollen, and I am having horrendous pain in my foot which is not linked to the back pain, or rather, it is but as possibly an injury to the foot due to how I walk or something, not nerve. Except there is something that runs over that bone that is swelling that is numb to press and causes numbness across the rest of the foot as I press it. Anyone know what that is about?

For immediate pain relief I take co-codamol 30/500 which are OK, but I find they cause constipation and drowsiness.

I am wondering about asking my doctor to change to Tramadol as I understand it is a similar strength but may have less or at least different side effects?

Has anyone taken both, if so which was best and why?

Hi LongTime, I've taken both. Personally I prefer co-codamol because:

a) tramadol taken anytime after about 4pm stopped me sleeping
b) co-codamol is more effective for me (others have different experiences)
c) they both make me constipated, so nothing to choose between there! Co-codamol doesn't make me drowsy though - I feel more "myself" when I've taken that than tramadol, which I found made me very buzzy & "wired".

That's just my experience, though.

Hi pavlov, glad you had a good camping trip. No way would I have been cleaning up for my MIL, though, so you're a better woman than me. DH would definitely have been doing it here. Can you put her to work now she's here?

No idea about the foot, but I do think we all probably walk & weight bear slightly differently with fucked up backs. I've had weird pains in insteps, ankles & all sorts - nothing long-lasting, luckily. Feel more fragile all over, though. Can you get some ice / deep freeze type gel on the swelling?

LoonvanBoon
That is interesting to know, thanks.

I still fancy trying something different but I don't wish to go up to super strength opiates so I'm not sure what other options there are for immediate pain relief other than codeine and tramadol.

I have no luck with anti-inflammatory medications.

Hi longtime, can you describe your pain? Most of us are on combinations of meds for best pain relief rather than just ramping up opioids. I take cocodamol, tramadol and tramadol slow release ( not all together ). Tbh they are all a bit different and some days one choice seems right and another on another day. I find that by swapping around a bit seems to stop me losing the effects, too. Tramadol probably does work slightly better for me, but and it's a big but, I occasionally get hideous 'turns' after taking it, feeling utterly death like, faint, nauseous and giddy. It takes a while to pass. It's only happened a handful of times but is unpredictable. I don't seem to be addicted to either.

Although gabapentin shoots my memory to pieces it helps my nerve and leg pain far more than either of the above.

tough, it all comes down to money.

Will pm you.

matilda I was re-reading the posts that I missed while away and read about your DS being useless while you did everything. I am pretty sure he will find out soon enough how much needs to actually be done. I also expect you will get some visits with dirty washing for a while... how far has he gone, easy to get back for dinner and washing trips?