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.

eyebags I personally haven't, but lots here have, although generally, you have to work through a few weeks of side effects before they wear off. Are you on any of them now, sorry if you have already said? If so, how long have you been taking them?

QOD yes! that's what I meant! wonder why they don't offer that at my pain clinic?

I have just had the Caudal epidural steroid injection, x ray guided. It took several attempts to get the location, so gonna be sore for a while. He said to expect discomfort and 'stirring up' of nerve pain for a few days and to take it easy for a week, and in particular the next couple of days, do pretty much nothing. He noticed that I am 'very tender' in the whole region of my lumbar spine, And that my body is on 'high alert., whatever that means, and so walloped me with local anaesthetic.

Had a good chat before the injection. He had just been to see the surgeon before meeting with me, went through the MRI and flex x ray results, discussed surgery as an option, he said he had to literally go and find the surgeon as he was getting nowhere with emails. The sciatic nerve is not decompressed 'badly', but the l5/ls disc is in bad shape and so definitely contributing to pain, especially as the day wears on. Also there is Oedema on the end plates, which is also contributing to pain and can be irritating the nerves, would explain the bilateral pain. Surgeon accepts there is some movement of the vertebral 'step' but doesn't think it is contributing enough to the pain that fusion would solve all the problems, despite the disc being pretty 'sick', too much else going on contributing to pain and more risks, taking into account my age, mobility. So, yes, there is something to 'fix' surgically, but it won't fix everything.

Dr pain guy said he had a conversation with the surgeon largely because he wanted discuss the end plate inflammation, and whether there could be an infection, because the steroids reduce the immune system and so would be risky with infection. The surgeon said he was happy enough that there was no infection to proceed with the injection, and we had a chat about using antibiotics to see if there is, he said that studies are stil being undertaken to loo at the success of antibiotics and at this Stage they are not seeing significant enough results to warrant standard use with signs of infection. Although he is still wary that there might be infection and told me watch out for certain symptoms and present at A&E or call him for advise if I feel worried or unwell.

So, preparing for the increased pain by taking a ton of painkillers! Pain is starting to increase already as the local anaesthetic wears off. An afternoon of doing nothing and having a take away is in order!

I really need a trusted hairdresser, I'm jealous :( I always get boring cuts because I want them to help me more. I has a tidy up before surgery. I'd love colour too but should enjoy my natural shade for now as I'll be dying it when the greys set in any time now.

Pavlov - I'm a little bit fascinated by this topic now. Is your l5s1 disc very narrow? I saw how this can cause compression of the discs via the joints because if the reduced space between the vertebrae. Could fusion lift the disc space back to a normal height? I've seen procedures using bone graft type things. With the question mark over the instability too I would imagine fusion is a bloody good option. I am also clueless about the end plate changes. Can the disc herniation cause it alone or is there another factor? Should discectomy etc fix the end plate issues so it goes back to normal? I suspect that even the surgeons aren't certain, although they express their opinions as fact unfortunately.

I also wondered if the tramadol increases your ill feeling. I know anti ds made me feel awful and tramadol has similar actions.

QOD - let us know how you go on with your nerve block. It's my L5 nerve, mostly right but a little on the left, which was compressed so if the op doesn't solve it then I'll be back to the pain clinic. Was the injection to solve back or leg pain?

The pain sitting is tender pressure pain. I have some pain walking there too - either side of the pelvis. Otherwise it's an irritating type pain sometimes, I feel almost like I have irritable leg syndrome. I managed a longer walk and in the fresh air I really felt the codeine. I watched a film on the sofa last night too so I am getting better. We have people over tonight but just lounging on the sofa. My sister arrives tomorrow to have a week with the kids and away from my dad. Staples out on Tuesday and I will have to drive, it's not far at least. Or I get a taxi. Any experience of this here? Does it hurt?

I gave two letters for meeting the consultant. One in early October and another mid December. I think December is most likely the correct follow up, four months post op. I wonder if October is the date I'd have had a pre surgery consultation if I hadn't moaned and got an earlier date.

Anyone got plans for the long weekend? I'll still be mostly lazing around in bed or pottering in the house or nearby.

definitely enjoy your natural hair colour while you have it. I dyed my hair wild colours for most of my teens and 20s, and went great quite young. I now pay to get my hair looking it's natural colour! Although, currently I am sporting a very dark/almost black colour, goes well with the hair style.

The space between the vertebrae is not too narrow when standing, when bending it is reduced, but pain clinic says that the disc is so degenerated that in time the space will reduce, and likely does to some extent more than the others by the end of the day. It seems that the end plate damage causes the disc to disintegrate, especially if the end plate is no longer attached to the disc, as the disc gets it nutrition from osmosis from the bone marrow/end plates. It does seem that the two go hand in hand, and if there is a problem with the end plates, the disc is more likely to prolapse and to degenerate more quickly, which it seems is what is happening here. However, end plate damage can occur due to trauma, infection, injury or as a result of surgery. I am aware there was some endplate damage before surgery, so it is highly likely that it is linked to the injury to my spine a few years ago. I suspect that started the process of degeneration.

I agree that fusion seems like an option that could work. Which is why I want to go to London for my second opinion. My local hospital, which does have a dedicated neurosurgical 'centre' apparently, has quite strong views against using spinal fusion for anything other than emergency/no choice situations (i.e. serious injury etc) and, as such I am fully aware their funding is limited for fusions that are for anything that may be seen as not completely necessary, and the surgeon considers this to be out of that realm of 'urgent' need as they only have such a small budget. The NHNN in London is a neurosurgical specialist area, and as such I think that their funding will be higher for fusion in cases that are not necessarily clear cut. I think that my best interests as a patient, that the right treatment will be offered, not based on financial limitations, as their hospital is a lead in the best treatment. I think I do understand that there are a few issues leading to my back and leg pain, and I said to the pain clinic I no longer expect a magical cure, I no longer expect to pain free any more, and accept that I will never be as I was, and if spinal fusion was to improve my pain by 50% it would be worth it, but possibly not worth the risks if the improvement is less than that.

RE tramadol I first had the flu feeling before I took tramadol, and before I took codeine regularly, although it was more specific times, specific peaks of it, which would be - flu symptoms, headache/migraine type headache, nausea and vomiting, sudden increased back pain and inability to walk. Now it's more gradual, some flu symptoms, last longer, less intense, with some peaks, but there more of the time. I did wonder if opiates made it worse, but I am unsure that is the case. I may well be wrong.

for leg pain, he don't me they don't do nerve blocks or facet joint injections for back pain, only leg/bottom

And I went private ....

queen I meant to say also, re discectomy and end plate damage, I don't think the discectomy can fix it. I think that once its there, it's there, but have read info about it slowing down so perhaps there is treatment out there that can be used to help slow it down, but Doc from pain clinic didn't know much about it, other than antibiotics if it's caused by infection. I don't know if fusion would work to fix it, but it seems that once the disc has detached from the vertebrae (which it has in my case, no loss of height yet, but disc is no longer touching the vertebrae, so loss is inevitable in time - oh god I am going to shrink!) it doesn't re-attach, and that in itself speed the degeneration of the disc. It seems this is one of the areas that is not fixable. Pain management is what the pain clinic doc said.

QOD pain clinic guy said that he has sometimes seen some back pain improvement when injections are used, depending on the reason for the nerve pain, i.e. inflammation at source downwards (I am hoping that if the end plates are the cause of the pain of the nerves, and it's starting at the back, the back pain might reduce as well), but as you, it's not used for back pain.

Much better today after night in my own bed.

Just realised that I can use the hottest setting on my heated mattress cover to help with my pain in the night rather than having to reheat wheat bags. This morning I'm the straightest I've been in ages and also managed to sleep on my bad side last night

hiya all,
hope you are all relaxing on this bank holiday- what awful weather here! really rainy and drab.
pavlov you know you never have to apologise for venting/moaning. Good to get it out somewhere. Sounds like you have to put up with worse for a few days but hope better follows and it "works" to some extent.
oo that heated bed system sounds lovely! We haven't had any plans queen but it has worked out just that- pottering around.
I did try to go to "yogalates" n saturday, never been to that one before, but it was cancelled, no classes on sundays and shut today as it's bank hols. I did some exercises on my own in the gym and 15 mins static bike but i wonder if i pulled something coz yesterday evening had a horrid dip hip ache which nearly started to keep me up but afetr i took night meds and then amitryptyline it zonked me out and i slept. that particular area is very hard to apply heat to as it right inside the joint. Took more coseine than usual yesterday because of it but this morning its mostly gone- mysteriously enough. but this am i have nech ache instead!

the q about gabap and pregab, work in progress but so far less side-efects than gabap now i've started the pregab. It is making me a bit tired after i take it at the mo but in a few weeks that may fade. deffo less strong side effects with pregablin for mr but i have heard people can rect very fiff and you cannot know until you try and give it at least 2 months to settle and accumulate

That's good about the pregablin though not the new pain. Very wet here, too. Trudged round the park at 0 miles per hour and got drenched. Home to hot shower to discover the boiler had gone out. Cross.

Long journey yesterday so expecting the worst but so far so not too bad.

Cold your bed sounds nice. Are you improving a bit? Do hope so. How's the baby? We love babies on here.

oh no! no boiler, that IS bad timing. Bit miserable for you. I'm up to 150mg of pregablin 3 x /day now. probably don't want to go much higher- max is about 600mg/day. I'm not sure it is as effective as gabapentin, but deff less side effects so far. Still have to wait and see abit as it took a while for the cognitive stuff to appear fully with the gaba, but I would prefer less cognitive sides even if the pain relief is slightly less because of starting uni again and needing my brain to be en point. I am REALLY excited about starting the new year! can't wait- actually i know I need to keep it under wraps for first week or two as there's always alot of nothingy admin, intro, etc to get through first. I just wanna get going! did I mention the barage of psychological tests we have to do on ourselves? can't wait.
I have gone more blonde, loving it so far and wish i'd done it yrs ago- when i was very young, it wouldve looked great, but hopefully looks pretty good now. I got a whole head of highlights but she kept some of my natural colour near the head so it doesn't have a tell-tale line when growing out and this is how the modern look is now- blended. I have also kept alot of copper colour in main body of hair under the blonde, I like having a few tones, feel like a lioness!
got advice about leaving work and long story short they suggested asking for a redundancy, worth having a go. Have texted work after they texted me asking for a meeting but no answer back yet. still trying to get my housing benefit sorted- they only pay 320 of it at the moment. no word from ESA and told i prob won't get it as i'm a student. Having a child in the house who is disabled might make a difference but not sure. Will do my PIP claim this week but have heard from several people it takes ages and ages. I will ned to have another meeting with uni- disability dept, now that things have plateaued a bit, seems hard to accept the label "disabled" but i'm finally coming to accept I kind of am compared to how I used to be, and how i used to live.
Having a few attacks of the 'why me's" lately- alot of women get spd in pg, about 10-20%, few have it go on after the birth. Alot of people have this level of degeneration on a mri and will feel no pain. The consultant said my job didnt cause it, but i've read some things saying it is worsened by bending, lifting, pulling, pushing and high level of activity in your profession- not sure what to think.So feeling a bit gipped tht I have ended up in all these categories somehow. I broke my knee ligament oo at 14, not supposed to be possible- 40,000 to 1 my physio at the time said- gee great to beat those odds.
sorry hope I'm not being too much on a downer here, I will drag my sorry arse to pilates/yoga on Tuesday and make myself feel better. I tried to go on two days this week and it had been cancelled and that always makes me feel shitty as i was all psyched up for it- anti-climax
matilda - hope you are feeling all right after the long journey, hope the fallout is low i mean. When will someone come fix the boiler?
pavlov your fluey flare ups do sound very nasty, there must be some reason for it? do you see a rheumatist dept then? it seems most gp's just check for markers and then leave it. I don't know anything about my endplates- i should have asked when i had the mri follow up appt.
currently having a "lap-top nap" in bed. lashing rain around the house and drumming raindrops on the windows, mum-made quilt around me, quite cosy. this is the upside to rainy weather i suppose. hope all of you are relaxing today and as pain-free as possible

Watch out for l top naps, I nodded off the other day with my ipad balanced on my knees. It fell onto my face a cut across the bridge of my nose. It's not a good look.

I understand the 'why me' feeling and also constantly falling into the category of '1%or less'. It sucks. Never mind. Pity fest over. I'm braving the rain for a coffee with my BFF. She picks me up and escorts me around.everyone should have one.

matilda hope your journey back was not too atrocious. It was so lovely to see you again. Shame it was so short, but next time, I will bring some wine damn about the boiler though, hope not too long to wait until you had the shower!

maizie have a very un mumsnetty [hug] it's hard to accept having restrictions that constantly stop us from doing what we used to and sometimes it's going to get us down, so self pity is ok you know! We don't have to get the hell on with it with a smile on our faces every day. You have so much paperwork and financial stuff to sort out too, such a headache.

I don't see a rheumy. Probably should ask to rule it out. But. Don't really need any more appts or more people giving me the run around. On a good note, my leg pain is almost non existent! And I am having a Very Low Pain day. I loathe to say pain free as that's not true, but closer than I have been for a Very Long Time! I almost went for a run, but realised that is pushing it problem is that I know the pain is still there, hard to explain, although maybe some of it that I am so used to being in pain I can still feel it? But, also when i stand straight and walk 'normally' the tops of my right toes go numb and fuzzy and the top of my left big toe is completely numb. So, I know the reason it hurt to stand is that the nerve is being touched at least, because, the pain is hardly there but the numbness etc is. I didn't get it before so badly as I avoided standing that way (ie normally). It's the one thing I remembered being scared of before, and when using pregab etc, it's not fixing me it's masking it. So could I make things worse by not feeling the pain? Regardless, I am all gearing up for going to the gym for a much needed swim and sauna this week. I feel like i am back again!!!

I wonder why my back pain has reduced too? Possibly that lots of it was nerve pain at source? The pain clinic doctor said I was very tender in my whole lumbar region, I guess he means inflamed? I know there is visible swelling there glad he has seen it as I do think he really does now accept that it's not just my pain receptors 'misfiring' now, but that there is very real pain.

Looking forward to work tomorrow. Gonna go in without my crutch!!! Also looking forward to it as DH is dealing with plumber to fix a leak and looking after DDs best friend from 8:45 onwards!

As an aside, dd jumped off the 5 meter diving board today. Ok, she was thrown off by the coach, but still, So proud of her!

Ooh, I found you again, after some absence (and another Cinnamony name change).

Quick update:
I should have listened to you lot when you told me to stop working. I had to finally stop in mid June, because my leg was going numb all of a sudden during lessons, and once on the way home in the car. Plus I couldn't work without Tramadol but couldn't drive with it, as it zombified me.

So I stopped and things have improved. My leg is no longer numb, the permanent tingling is also gone, went 2 weeks ago.

I've been getting a bit too confident and went food shopping on my own on friday, got a wonky trolley and the one sided constant steering issues had me limping at the end. I could kick myself for not realising how bad this could end up. So I still have the two steps forward, one step back scenario.

On a more cheerful note I bought myself a swopper chair, which I love, and a new mattress, which I love even more. For the first time since March I sleep comfortable, and turning around in bed doesn't really hurt. In the morning I'm no longer stiff from sleeping. I got it massively reduced in a warehouse clearance.
Also I've read a few books and have decided to take up a few activities to build up muscle strength. I've been bike riding 3 times (really flat tarmac, no bumps) and it was great. My orth consultant would probably have a fit, but I felt the whole "no exercise" thing is wrong.
As long as I'm careful I'll start doing more stuff now. Yoga maybe.

So in short I'm off all painkillers, exercise a bit, still do my gymnastics and go swimming. I won't go back to teaching, I've quit for good as I think my back was telling me something (like schreaming "STOP") and I have plans to start self employment.

I will now go back to read the last 19 pages to be up to date on your back problems.

Pavlov, it's good to read your pain is almost gone after the injection. I hope it stays that way. The nerve tinglings/numbness takes longer to go away, I was told it may take up to a year for the nerve to repair itself.

I think you cannot make things worse by not feeling the pain. You will move more naturally, use muscles you haven't used because of the pain and end up being stronger and that will help avoid pain.

cinnamon good to hear you have improved so much. It's great when people report back to say they are recovering otherwise this thread can give the impression that there is no hope. It's a shame about your job, though you sound ok about it. Gentle exercise has got to be good. I'm amazed anyone told you otherwise. Swimming especially good though not breaststroke.

I've a fun packed day of appointments, physio, dentist (emergency), counselling and nails. Will be ready for bed tonight.

Does anybody get burning pain in their feet only at night in bed? They can also go red and feel warm to touch. I am not sure if this is related to back pain or not.

wellcom back cinnamon, think you made a good decision about work, what kind of self-employment will you do, tutoring?
I also think that not feeling pain could be a good thing in terms of getting out of a cycle of not moving as you usedto, feedback, etc- and from the point of view of misfiring neurons- this could be happening as well as the inflammation (I deff feel both is happening with myself). Mis-firing neurons is still real pain in my estimation- still feel it. That type can actually be worse like with post herpatic neuralgia or that one you get in the face- both extremely painful where no "material"damage exists. Maybe one thing sets off another as well with pain, that would make sense to me.
so rainy!! feels like anothr sunday, just hanging out, watching kids' films and drinking tea. I will go to pilates tonight at 8.30pm, nothing else on in the day at the uni gym. I really like the yoga on mondays but bank hol meant they were closed

cinnamon sorry for delay posting. Been manic. Glad to hear you are feeling so much better and numbness has decreased. Sorry that it took you giving up work to get that improvement And bloody well down for no painkillers! Don't be stubborn though, take them if/when you need them, but thank god for not being dependent on them to manage the pain

eyebags I don't get burning pain in my feet only at night, but I do get it, and it is worse in the evenings and sometimes at night. I get red, swollen, warm to touch feet. My GP says it's linked with nerve damage, but he is quick say my entire health is linked with my back problem these days, so hard to say how much it is or is his way of waving the problem away. I do wonder how much is more to do with me standing more as well, as I don't sit that much at work these days.

maizie hope you are not overdoing it with gym etc. Pilates can be quite gently though can't it? How you feeling atm?

I am still having reduced pain! It's increased a little since monday/tuesday, but nothing significant/unexpected, I think it's working itself out, where it wants to be, expecting more pain and unsettled stuff for another week or so. But, numb toes really upsetting me, in particular my completely numb big toe, I can't feel it to the point I can't bear the loss of sensation when I touch it (does that make sense?) and cutting the nail makes me worried I am not going to feel it and might cut the skin in the corner and not know! Tips of right toes are coming and going, and the 'webbing' between left big and next toe, and the skin of my female bits continue to go numb if I sit down, but hardly no leg pain. I have had a couple of serious shooting pains down my leg, just reminding me that's it's not all 'fixed' but nothing lasting, and mostly stinging in back, but even that is lower level.

Stiff and sore muscles this evening though, am positively shattered walking normally! as I am also walking faster, twisting a bit more, nothing significant just adapted back to 'normality'.

oh and fucking cramp and subsequent muscle wobbles in my left foot and leg! I hate foot cramp! I only ever get it in my left leg, and often in the second toe in, it sticks out at odd angles. But the foot cramp, my word, that hurt!

Hiya all, pavlov I usually only get cramp in left leg too- had it quite a bit in pregnancies- midnight yelping sessions that scared the beejeesus out of my dh.
today have been pretty crap- sore buttosk muscle and radiating down my leg causing particular pai in my heel and foot- a travelling ache. sore to touch whole buttock and feels a bit seized, have thrown extra codeine at it, and heat, but only lately with heat as we were visiting friends all day and i didnt think to take my wheatbag! It was too sore to put weight through my left foot earlier and made me limp. hope it eases off by tomorrow, on saturday i am going to sandown races and I want to be able to enjoy it. going over to my mum's tomorrow and i can chill there and rest a bit to prepare. my nana is going too- she is 89! I will be sticking close to her because she is quite good at picking winners and last time we went she won £50 on one race by getting 1st and 3rd!
queen chrysalis i can recommend toni and guys for haircuts- and they are good if you need counsel on what to do as well. but they are quite pricey, not to everyone's cup of tea. I have also used their apprentice service and it was always excellent- think you pay £5 now and it takes a few hours as they get checked alot while doing it.
you might be on right lines pavlov, not "overdoing" but not spaced out enough in the week- the uni gym cancelled a class i was meaning to go to twice, that messed up my even spread!
hope all of you are having low pain and getting a good night's sleep

Well, since stupidly but unavoidably bathing the dog on Thursday it's all been a bit difficult. Hoping for a better day and indeed, weekend as we have family stuff happening and just for once,it would be rather nice to have a good time and not have to pay back. I know, very silly comment.

Hope everyone is feeling ok.

Pavlov - good to hear the pain may be reducing after the injection. If the injection is a success how often can you have them?

Cramps are so painful and I can also imagine how annoying the lack of sensation is, not painful but worrying and uncomfortable. I felt lucky to be without this symptom although I've heard of others saying they are glad they have numbness and no pain.

Maizie - have you heard of piriformis syndrome? Another thing I though I could have as the pain was very concentrated in the right buttock/pelvis. It might not be the total solution but considering all the pain and back issues the muscles are likely to spasm or weaken. I like the exercise where you lipid on your back with knees up and put one foot on the opposite knee and pull the knee towards you for a bigger stretch.

Anyone had loss of muscle mass in the bum? I used to have a bit of shape to my bum but it's all flat and wasted away. I'm trying not to get ahead of myself but joing the gym is a plan once DD1 is at school full time. I couldn't get a physio app for almost two weeks. I'm tempted to book a private app to give me some exercises but can probably find them online. Struggling with motivation since I'm trying to get off the gabapentin. Awful withdrawal but now 80% back to normal just taking 600mg a day in two doses. I might spilt this into three to get a better balance through the day before dropping down more. I can't wait to get off it. I'm really surprised how easily I got rid of the butrans patches. I'm taking codeine still, so no doubt that helps, but I'm also surprised I'm feeling the effects, the woozyness as well as pain relief. I'm feeling really negative and down and need to tackle that. I read something that mentioned people with back problems living a sort of half life because of the restrictions. This really rings true on this board and it's tough coming to terms with it, it's also surprisingly a scary to face the prospect of being better and making the most of it after so long in my comfort zone.

queen, I really empathise with all these difficult and scary feelings. I've no doubt that withdrawing from the meds won't be helping with this. For the meantime remember that this is still very early days in your recovery. So for now, walking gently and building it up plus your easy back care exercises are all you need to do. Two weeks post surgery is IMO too early for the gym or any more intense physio.

You are doing really well. The surgeons give you so little advice on what to expect. Probably because they simply don't see their pTients recovering so have no idea what it is like. You also have two small dc so activity is pretty inevitable even with help.

When I was three weeks post op we gave a party for my DH's (significant) birthday. It was planned months ahead and couldn't be changed. I was feeling so fragile and down because I had expected to feel better than I did. Actually at the party were two women who had had the same surgery and they both said 'three weeks?! No, 3-6 months for a full recovery'. Although that seemed a long time it was reassuring. And your op sounds like it has been very successful, it's more a case of trying to run before you can walk IYSWIM ?

As to will happen after all this is over? Well, yes, it is a bit scary but don't forget that you will be feeling better both physically and emotionally so it won't be quite so scary. I'm sure the changes will be quite gradual, after all your girls are still very young. Hopefully you will be able to spend some time just feeling better and doing some things you enjoy.

In the meantime hang on in there. This is going to feel a lot better in the not very distant future. You'll probably desert us here and forget all about us .xx

Hi all. Queen, you've done really well reducing your meds. so quickly. I have flat bum syndrome too! Has definitely happened since all this started, & on the same side (right) where I have most of the problems.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend. DH's birthday today, we've been out for a meal & a walk. Feeling stiff but the alcohol seems to have helped!