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.

Have you given up on the nortriptiline Pavlov? That's what makes me sleep but wow the amitriptiline killed me, I wanted to sleep all day.

Back on the gaba too, so much better and I really really hope that the pain in the SI joint and hip areas is nerve pain. Oh and the groin too which could be the cauda equina nerve compression. There is some muscle pain and tenderness but I hope that is the protective mechanism and will also go when my body realises it's been fixed. I know the lumbar lordosis area is a sign of a slipped disc so those tight muscles should settle back with the op and physio.

Love the kitchen talk, I have a design on ikea but might go to Howdens too. There is no way I'm doing it DIY style. If I am better I will decorate the kids' room once they can use a bunk bed. It will be a big job due to the Victorian plaster. These jobs can wait so the only big house thing is the new carpet due on Monday.

I better start packing and writing my questions out for tomorrow. I have to see the consultant first and then the pre op. DH is coming but so are the kids. I found a park nearby so he can take them out if it gets too difficult. I must look into parking for the pick up.

If you do end up with persisting muscular pain post op I would really recommend massage ( and your exercises, of course) as a great way of releasing the tension. I think my physio has a practice quite near you. Let me know if you want her details.

I went to Winchmore Kitchens yesterday's we actually have one of theirs in our house which is about 25years old! So I know they last. I was so amazed at how lovely their range was and about held the price of JL. Really hoping now that we can get one and we can try to afford it.

I felt a bit better this morning but had a lovely walk with my good friend and the dogs then went to lunch with my BFF then a wonder around the village. All very lovely. All very pain inducing . There is always a price. Ah well, it was all very nice.

queen yep, given up on it, can't do the messy head. I am not living permanently fucked on multiple medications and having my brain messed up so badly. I'll take the pain. At least then I stand a chance of keeping my job. If I take everything thrown at me, I might not have so much pain but there is no way at all I can manage doing my job and being a parent. So, I hav

oops. posted to soon by leaning on the button! I will have to accept that this is how it's gonna be for now. Feel a little better today.

Left lower quarter throbbing. Taken everything except diazepam. Have such a strong aversion to the idea even though it works.

Sigh.

matilda me too. I know it's probably the best drug for managing pain when everything is locked, but I struggle to take it for the 3 x daily for 3 days! Given that you have such aversion, it means you are absolutely not going to have an adduction if you go to it a bit more often as you are aware. What dose do you have? 2mg? I have 2mg and take 1 or 2 tablets, no higher than 4mg unless I really need it. Maybe just take 2mg. If you have 5mg and worry it's too much (it's not, Sarah Key advocates diazepam for muscle spasms, she says you need to take enough to goofball you out a bit, recommends 5mg as the ideal dose), you can cut it in half. It's not enteric coated or slow release so you can do that (unofficially of course, seeing as I am not a doc or pharmacist). It means you might get a little more, or a little less than half. Most things we take are pain relievers. Diazepam, naproxen actually does stuff to reduce some of the cause of the pain.

I am staying up. I have taken tramadol this evening, as I am not managing on day dose. So, as I know I will be awake for fucking hours, I am starting on the face masks for our costumes next week. I bought ready made white paint, and it's shit! It's gonna take several coats to cover the masks in their base white and it's taking ages to dry. I should have got the acrylic paint that I dithered about.

I am now also dithering about the designs for DD and mine. They are sort of ornate masquerade type masks (not 1960s at all, but DD loved them and the theme is only black and white and that's what we are doing!), was going to do half black and half white, with some swirls or some such, and maybe egyptian eyeliner around one, or a teardrop. But, now, I am wondering if they might be more striking all white, with some thin black designs on them. I am SO not artistic it's unreal.

mailtda I meant me too, about reluctance for diazepam. Not 'me too' so as to dismiss your pain! That sounded so meme, when it wasn't mean to be!

Not at all. Goofball end out and still on pain. Can't believe we can send men to the moon but can't do better than this.

I'm sure your outfits will be lovely whatever you chose to do. I'd maybe keep the face stuff very simple just because I'm a shocker for touching/ rubbing my face which could end up a it messy.

Good luck at work. Hope you sleep.xx

Hello

Not sure if this is the right place to post so I've

Oops

So I've posted here and in the birth injuries thread.

I've had tailbone pain since giving birth 22 months ago. GP says Coccydnia and I've now been referred to Rheumatology at my local hospital. Appointment is next month. GP doesn't know what they will do, possibly scans or steroid injections. But he doesn't know much about this area of expertise.

I'm not sure what to expect. Has anyone had any experience?

Hello Paddington, I have no personal experience of this but oddly my 22 year old ds recently had horrendous coccyx pain. He was given naproxen and cocodamol by the GP but no real help. He decided to see a good chiropractor and has completely recovered. Sounds a bit woo but she concentrated a lot on his neck. Now it's true he's always been a bit of a sloucher... I've been learning the Alexander Technique and a lot of this is centres around allowing your neck to be free. Never forget your entire spine is connected and works together.

I've pasted this so many times but will do so again because it is so good and simple.

Hope that helps.

Hey hey, have been quiet this week as touch wood it seems to have been okay. Did gardening last Sunday and (whispers) got away with it. Just manageable pain in my bottom all week :), was a bit ropes mid week but for once managed to identify that I had been pushing my luck and slowed down. Really want to garden again this weekend so keeping everything crossed.

I have an appointment with the hospital physio this week which will be interesting, I am excited because it should be free. Does anyone have experience of working with more than one physio at a time? Do you confess or let them make fresh assessments?

Wishing you all lovely pain free weekends.

Maybe mention you have seen someone previously and would welcome a fresh set of eyes on the problem? Maybe not say you are still seeing that person. I've no idea how Australian healthcare works, do you have to claim insurance for all this stuff or is there an nhs type thing?

Cool, thanks. Some safety nets but not as comprehensive as the nhs, though that may partly be because we are out in the sticks.

Can anyone tell me whether I should take a gastro-resistant capsule (omeprazole) when I take Gabapentin? I've only just started taking the Gabapentin at night and the stomach pain in the night was horrendous. I have some Omeprazole and wondered whether I should try taking it too. I will go and ask GP next week but being Saturday I will have to wait.

Spring, I don't think it's necessary! just for the antinflammatory drugs like naproxen. I've taken gabapentin for two plus years now with no stochastic problems. Having said that I do take Omeprazole due to being on naproxen as well.

Gabapentin is a funny drug and at the beginning can make you feel pretty odd. I'd say take the Omeprazole until you see your GP and then discuss it. Have you been given a regime for building up your dose gradually?mits vital to do this or you could be left very dizzy and spaced out. This passes, though.

How are you? Obviously not better...

Please excuse random!! It's an ipad thing .

Thank you Matilda . No not much better but entire leg is extremely painful. Have been at work today so back is not good again! I have been changed from Ketoprofen to Naproxen for my back pain. And yes, the Gabapentin is for me to build up slowly but am a little concerned after the stomach cramps. Oh well, back to the GP next week!

Stochastic = stomach, obviously.

Yes give it time but if you are taking naproxen do take the Omeprazole and take with food although I never do. Hope things improve soon. Gabapentin and amytriptiline do really work it's just about whether you can tolerate the side effects. Oh, and if you don't already have it, insist on enteric coated naproxen.

Sorry to hear you are having a bad run springlike. I thought Matilda was being ever so clever using words like stochastic (note to self, look it up) bit nope just an iPad typo.

I have managed okay this week, but had a total meltdown yesterday, so embarrassing. We had been at a bush BBQ with friends so lots of camping chairs etc, so by 4pm was in some considerable pain. Had to start cooking for dinner guests before my drugs had kicked in and I just lost the plot. Great big heaving sobs about how no one ever helps me (not true) that the in laws dont really love me (well am I entitled?) and I hate fucking Australia (apparently they don't have back pain in the Uk ) fortunately the drugs kicked in and my eyes had just about gone down by the time sil and bil arrived. I feel like such a fool. Tried telling dd it was the onions. I am not sure she believed me.

Fingers crossed for a better day today!

stochastic
st??kast?k/
adjectivetechnical
adjective: stochastic
having a random probability distribution or pattern that may be analysed statistically but may not be predicted precisely.

Every day is a school day

Ah Milly we are all entitled to the odd outburst, particularly when trying to cope with pain. Sorry to hear you had a bad day. Hope things improve over the next day or so. I felt like sawing my own leg off sitting at work today. Fortunately most people avoided me!! For their sake!

milly oh don't feel bad, pressure to do things when in huge amounts of pain are not a great combo, and losing the plot is fine sometimes! And, at least it wasn't when your guests where there! I remember once, sitting in a briefing, I had taken quite a high dose of tramadol because I expected to not have to look at anyone directly, just sort of hobbled in, listened to some waffling, slide back out. But, no. My boss decided to catch me before I left about a case I was working on, and it was just as I was at the 'peak' of it entering my system. I could feel my eyes being a bit 'starry' and tried hard to talk slowly, as I speed up talking when I take too much tramadol, then panicked I was talking too slowly. When I went to the toilet I saw that my pupils were tiny! OMG. I was so embarrassed, especially as I think I probably stuttered due to being highly aware of the effects of the meds, and that, in my line of work we spend a lot of time around drug users, so know exactly what people look like and behave like when they are high on various drugs, so he would have known! I mean, he knew I took high dose painkillers anyway so it would not have been a surprise, but there's a difference between him knowing because I told him (and me carrying on like I don't take them) and him observing the actual affects! That was about the last time I took that much opiate or other meds at work, if I need that much, generally I am not fit to be at work (except this week, just hung on in there on my normal 100mg slow release etc before walloping more when I left).

I am now taking 200mg tramadol a day, plus naproxen, paracetamol and omeprazol. It's not cutting through the pain enough. That really bothers me as it means I need to go higher. I am considering topping up with codeine before bed, think I am going to have to succumb.

Bad moods all round. Been foul all evening and have no intention of changing.

Back pain equals random unpleasant outbursts and occasional monsoons of self pity. Let's all wallow.