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.

My nurse friend has said recently that MST patches are sometimes used as an alternative to butrans. Her view is they are quite similar in terms if strength etc.

I asked gp about the patches and he said they were only for patients who couldn't ingest tablets or liquids!!

I am doing so so. Lots happened. Seeing a spinal surgeon in two weeks. To try to get some answers finally. Also just got my smear test back and it's abnormal. Just what I need.

These are MST tablets not patches. Not sure if they are different strengths

Oh no, msdj, do hope you get reassurance quickly re the smear. Seeing the spinal surgeon has to be good. Do write down your questions, it's infuriating to leave then remember what you wanted to ask.

Let us know how the MST goes, I don't think we've tried that yet.

article about paracetamol and back pain

Hello lovely back pain thread, may I join you? I'm freaking out a bit tonight...

V Basic history - 3 months lower back pain, then radiated into my right leg, chronic sciatica, constant unbearable pain. Have been taking tramadol, co codamol, naproxen and amitriptaline with little effect.

Then 2 days ago, all pain stopped but my right leg isn't working normally, I'm walking like it's drunk. And for some reason I just tried the walking on tiptoes then walking on heels thing the drs get you to do and I can't walk on my tight heel, my foot just won't cooperate.

I'm having an mri at the weekend but I'm scared, does it sound like something is wrong neurologically?

Sorry, disappeared for a while there, was doing quite well with pregalbin, ibuprofen and physio.

And am an idiot, in the space of a day did some clinical Pilates, had sex with my legs in the air and participated in work sports day. Now I can't move, am stuck in bed and can't identify what caused it. :(

And welcome kool

Hi kool, sounds like you've been having a very tough time. It does sound as if you have some nerve compression. I would advise another trip to your GP to get this properly assessed. If you feel they don't take you seriously then go to the A&E of your local hospital where there is a neurosurgical dept. if you aren't familiar with the red flags for cauda equina read the leaflet above and be certain you aren't affected.

If you are working consider time off to rest properly.

I completely identify with the weak and wobbly leg thing but I do have nerve damage. Is you pain worse in your leg or back? If it's leg then you could ask your GP for another nerve med such as gabapentin (or pregablin but it's much more expensive). Tramadol etc don't really help so much with nervy pain. I have, though in despair tried diazepam when all else failed and that did help.

If you get gabapentin it will give you initial side effects and must be started very slowly. It also takes a while to build to a therapeutic dose so stick with it.

Keep us posted and good luck with the MRI.

Himilly, sorry you are suffering again. At least you were making progress. I guess it's two steps forward and one step back. Very annoying. Of you can have a couple of days rest that should help.

There was lots in the paper yesterday about back pain and how even paracetamol makes no difference to recovery. The main advice seemed to be 'activity as normal', which I found highly depressing. I tried to keep going as much as possible in the early days and got much worse. Now I'm a firm believer in resting in an acute stage. Not bed rest but rest, potter, rest. Trying to tell people to get on with it strikes me as a propaganda message to keep us lazy bastards at work and stop whinging about a bit of backache.

Sorrykool just re read your post and you said the pain has gone away. How odd. Definitely get checked over.

Totally agree Matilda ...when I am in an acute state like this I can't just get on with it...I have a very high pain threshold, big baby out in three pushes! But with this I literally cannot move and want to cry when I roll over in bed. And that's exactly what I do rest, potter ( do some dishes, make a cuppa) then rest again. Dh drove me to the hairdressers this morning, I looked like an old dear hobbling for support.. I read to my son sitting on the floor and had to shout to my girlfriend to come and pick me up. Luckily she works in age care so wasn't phased. I am not idle, am actually addicted to work....and on a day like today I just cannot do it. Hey ho. Perhaps tomorrow will be better.

How was your holiday?

Also my normal pain is in my bottom and leg, which I can manage, just. But a bad day like today it is in my lower back and hardly in my leg at all? Any reason for this?

My totally unscientific answer would be that one pain simply over rides the other. Maybe your brain can't cope with processing two lots so focuses on the worst??? My lower back pain does tend to be muscular so is more receptive to gentle stretches, massage and heat. Failing that, codeine and diazepam.

Hope it eases soon.

Please can I join your thread?

I have degeneration of my lower back L4/L5 with clear signs off nerve impingement. I have been referred to an orthopaedic consultant but have no idea what to expect.

What questions should I ask and what can I do to prepare for my first appointment?

Hello jasmine jump on in (gently)

jasmine, I would recommend that you ask for that referral to be changed to a neurosurgeon if you have a disc problem. Do you have a recent MRI? Everyone above a certain age will have some degree of degeneration. Usually the appointment will include a history, review of imaging and physical examination. Then discussion as to whether you are a candidate for surgery. Ideally you would delay surgery to allow the condition to settle unless the herniation is very large or you have red flags for CES (see above). Injections may be suggested to ease things.

Hopefully others will be along to advise, too. How long has it been going on and what symptoms bother you most? Are your meds at optimal levels and combinations? All questions worth considering to get the best advice.

Thankyou Tillymint and Matilda.
Yes I have had a recent MRI. My back has been troublesome for several years and the episodes are getting worse. I currently only have simple analgesia so am hoping that the consultant can offer some good advice.
I have been awake since 5am with back pain I just can't seem to sleep through it.
Hope you all have a lovely day in the sunshine.

Yo yo, I've only read the first page, will catch up eventually

In February I started suffering with sciatica, flying in July was excruciating due to the position of the seat, I am short and my legs were swinging so the weight on the nerve was horrific. Had been having physio since May which had reduced the pain from sharp to endless dull and numbness down leg

Got referred privately to a consultant 2 weeks ago who told me to take 6 to 8 co codamol a day and also 10mg of amytritiline. (Sp) and referred me for MRI, he suspected slipped disc and was planning on nerve root block under ga and potential micro discectomy.

Saw him last Thursday and scan shows inflammation at L 4/5 and impinged nerve but it's arthritis not slipped disc. Since I stopped running on his say so 2 weeks ago, my back has got more and more painful and I wake feeling like I've been run over by a bus.

I'm having nerve block and steroidal facet joint injections under heavy sedation on 16 August and then it will be a suck it and see scenario

I am further complicated as I can't take NSAIDs as had a gastric bypass 3 years ago and they are dangerous as my stomach lining is fresh and there's no stomach juices etc.

I'm fed up but aware I'm not as bad as a lot of people.

I have osteoarthritis in my right knee and right big toe and both middle fingers so I don't know if I am going to slowly seize up

Oh and my problem is sitting and I'm an office worker

Blimey QOD you have a lot to deal with. It sounds like your consultant is doing a great job and helping you quickly.

I meant to add to my last post that I tore the L4/5 disc late last year and that is what I was told had degenerated, lack of sleep is making me very scatty.

Can I be a touch self indulgent and have a moan....

I am not living the life I want to. I am fat, in pain, living somewhere I don't want to. I can't exercise. My friends live a long way away. It is Saturday night and I am on my back typing into an iPad which is what I have been doing for most of the day. There is a whole world out there and I am in my bed getting sadder and fatter.

When at work I look to the weekend, and when the weekend comes..? Well in this case I am on back in pain....

I am 34 years old and my husband has to help me dress. I am 34 years old and I have nothing to do for me ... Even if I wasn't in bed I would be running the children round or meal planning or groceries. A friend of my husbands asked what I do apart from work and the kids and I didn't have an answer.

Finding it hard to see what the point of it all is today....

Qod we have some of the same things...but I think you might have a better understanding ...

milly, it will get better than this.

I,too am lying on my bed while the rest of the country is enjoying the fabulous weather.mit is,mindeed deeply depressing. But it will improve. Have you tried diazepam? I took some last week as a last resort and it actually helped which was unexpected. I saw my lovely GP yesterday and she has given me more and oromorph for emergency days.

jasmine, you might benefit from a pain clinic referral for analgesic advice. Most of us here take an anti inflammatory ( qod, volterol can be given by suppository), nerve meds like gabapentin and amytriptiline ( yes, both) plus the opiate type meds such as cocodamol or tramadol. Diazepam is great for spasms. All opiates work better with paracetamol. It sounds as though there is a lot you could consider before resorting to surgery. ( myself and others on here have had poor experiences of surgery hence recommending trying everything else first).

Heat and gentle exercise do help but rest is the king.

qod, you have the right for workplace adjustments, so do ask for different chair! standing desk etc. pavlov is our expert on workplace rights.

Oh and I've had all those injections without any sedation at all! Not actually very nice but it didn't take that long. It wasn't offered.