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.

I went in one that was an open one but they gave me pads to support my back and helped me to get up and down.

It took about 15 minutes maybe a little longer. Agree some diazepam might be good to take the edge off if you are worried.

Have you tried using a tens machine? That's my go to before I take the morphine (oremorph)

Can I just ask at the beginning I had pain all the way down to my foot now it is horrendous in my bum cheek and also have pain around the disc site, is this a good thing or a bad thing, can anyone telk me any good exercise to help healing.

Bassett, I think the staff are really used to people feeling scared of MRIs for different reasons. Mainly claustrophobia. I've had a lot, say at least eight MRIs and each time the staff have been really careful to get me comfy as far as possible. It's in their interests to get the scan completed without too much interruption! Yes, take meds before if it relaxes you. They use a wedge under your knees which releases lumber pressure. I thing I had something under my head but can't really remember...one thing though, it's very noisy. They will have a speaking device so you can communicate and every so often they will say, ok, next bit is three minutes. This is, IMO a lie! Seems a lot longer. But, don't be fearful about this, there is something really hypnotic about the noise and it's also quite warm and I usually end up feeling really drowsy. It's about 20-30 minutes so not so bad, really. Good luck but no need for it.

pink, please phone your manager today! or email and say that the people who do staff bookings clearly haven't heard that you are seriously injured and finding all these texts etc very distressing. It's totally unacceptable to be doing his bit suspect they haven't been informed correctly which is down to your manager.

I'm sure your physio has given you some gentle stretches? Do them twice a day and also do this www.imogenragone.com/self-help/constructive-rest/ . I've posted it many times but the Alexander Technique really is helpful. There are no magic cures. Nobody here, or anywhere can give you the answers you want. But we will support you. I saw your GP has started Gapapentin but stopped amytriptiline. Why? I take both. 600mgx3 in the day and 20mg amitriptyline at night. They are both effective. The Gapapentin does take time to get used to and also to build up in your system to work so again, don't be expecting miracles but they are both good for nerve pain. Step up the dose very slowly though or you will feel crap. In the meantime, yes to cocodamol or tramadol. Good combining is far better than huge doses of one thing. Try to just allow this thing, one day at a time.

But make that call and speak to your manager urgently. Ideally a meeting to discuss your absence and rights. I've been there, it's awful but there is no choice.

I have 20mg amitriptaline at night and then 1 100mg gabenptine on same day, I am getting ssp from work but can they stop that if they want or terminate your contract before ssp runs out. I like my job, care assistant but docs keep telling me no good with a disc problrm. My physio has said to try and open up the spinee to take pressure of disc and nerve. Iwant to try and avoid surgery if possible, those of you that had surgery did you have it as nobe of your symptons got better, did any of your leg oain go. My husband wants me to send a letter to work saying they cintributed to it, I havent had any manual hsndling with people, only boxes, also the beds are positioned against a wall so you cant get proper access to the bed to put the hoist straps on a resident, you quite often have to kneel on the bed.

Hello again. I posted here a while ago. I've had coccyx pain when sitting right back on my coccyx and from rising from a sitting position. It is ok if I "perch" but the pain is acute if I basically roll across the tip of the bone, either by pressing or by sitting. This had been since giving birth traumatically two years ago. It has been diagnosed as coccydynia. I was finally referred to a consultant rheumatologist who gave me a cortisone injection into the coccyx area. That was nearly two weeks ago and nothing has changed, the pain is the same. The consultant said there was about a 40% chance of success. He said if that didn't work the next step would be internal (rectal) manipulation under general anaesthetic. I am not exactly keen on that but do want to get this sorted. My labour was a traumatic back to back induced birth requiring epidural, forceps and resulted in a serious 4th deg tear and PPH requiring transfusions. I was lying on my back the whole time and I think my coccyx was damaged during brutal labour! I would at least like an x ray or MRI of the area before I go under GA and have my coccyx prodded about. Has anyone any experience of this? I have read that 50% of coccyx injuries are due to an unstable coccyx that moves when going from riding to sitting position. I have to write to the consultant to request a follow up and I want to request that they do a scan before they consider manipulation under GA.

Bassett, I have only had MRIs on head ear and sinuses, so not back, but I was given something for my head to rest on each time. Of course I also had supports to keep my head still. They seem to have various shaped cushion things. I also cannot breath flat on my back, and it wasn't a problem. Hope it goes well.
Hello back suffering people. I'm still plodding on. Going through a bad patch at the moment. Not helped by a sinus infection and coughing, which as you all know is best avoided. I joined a spa/health club last time I joined in the chat, which may have helped my dodgy lungs and sinuses (steam room), but doesn't seem to have helped my back - in fact swimming on my front makes it worse as I need to curl up a little to reduce the pain - and cannot do that whilst swimming.

I saw Lidl are due to do a tens machine, electric back warmer (like a mini electric blanket), back brace and some heat patches next Thursday. I wondered if anyone has found a back brace helpful? Thought I would let people know who need to stock up, although I have not tried any of the above products from them personally.
I am still overspending seeing my chiropractor twice a month but am beginning to get a bit despondent, as in the long term I am not getting better!. Any way I have now been referred to the physio team at the local hospital. It will be some months, but its been years already so whats a few more months eh? GP did not feel an MRI was needed. The good news is that my general health is getting slowly somewhat better, (the chiropractor thought some of my physical illhealth might be back compression related)so its not all bad.
Hope today is a better day for all of you

Sorry did not mean to ignore you Paddington - I had forgotten to refresh the thread. Sorry your injection did not help. I cannot help with your question, but hope someone else can, and that whatever is wrong gets sorted soon! It must be particularly difficult with a two year old to chase after. I think it perfectly reasonable to have a look (eg MRI) before manipulation, but perhaps they do that at the same time -best to ask. I think my lower back troubles may have been caused by a fall down steps hitting my lower back about 20 years ago. I also am a percher!

Paddington, yes I would be asking for an MRI to see what is actually wrong before embarking on more treatment which is based on guess work. Sorry the injection didn't help, that's so disappointing.

pink, do you belong to a union? If so please consult them. BUPA are a massive organisation. You need to look at your contract in detail and also the sickness policy. 9/10 weeks isn't that long to be off sick with a serious injury. You really need to have a meeting to discuss all this if you want to keep your job. Having said that, your GP ( and I, tbh) feel that working as a care assistant may not be in your best interests. Even after this heals you will, unfortunately, always have a dodgy back and have to be mindful of it. Mentioning manual handling may not be that helpful if you wish to stray in their employment. I would probably be saying more along the lines of 'I love working for bupa and hope you can find a role for me in a capacity that I can manage'. There must be lots of reception, desk type jobs that might be suitable when you are better?

As your physio has said, stretches and exercises that open the spine ( see my above link), Pilates and yoga stretches are helpful and soothing. Whether they actually aid healing, well, maybe. But they help you feel better which is good.

magso, hi, glad you are getting a little better? I will be popping into Lidl, I need a new back brace thing. I lost mine and it was quite supportive.

For anyone who I've bored over the last months, today was a red letter day for me. I was awarded Higher rate Mobility and Daily Living PIP after a request for reconsideration. And the reconsideration took only a week which is amazing. For all others fighting the fight for these benefits, keep going. It can succeed.

Hooray! That's such good news, matilda, even though the fight to get it has been so absurdly long & difficult. Well done to you!

Good news Matilda! I hope they back date it too so that you do not suffer financially for them underrating you to start with. I have all this ahead of me for ds who gets DLA but it will be changed to PIP when he hits 16 ( just over a year away).
I might try a back brace then. I am getting less leg pain (it used to be both legs all the way down, but is mostly only 1 now) now but more hip bum pain. I guess that is progress. I have been trying out different heat patches for working, as although I get worse during the day (I only work 1 day a week). I think I prefer the volterol patches as they are possibly warmer and lighter in weight. Sadly they are quite expensive - but it allows me to work. Has any one else found a favourite?

Magso, I've genuinely not seen or felt much difference between all the patches and usually use the cheaper Wilkinson's ones. If feeling flush, though, the shaped patches designed for period pain are good due to their shape.

What I will say is this: throw away your hottie before it bursts and scalds your bottom with boiling water. You might thank me for this information.

pink omg! I just read that you have had no manual handling of patients training? A person is not a box! And, guessing then, that means you lift/move patients? WTAF? Then, your DP is correct. You should definitely consider looking at whether they have contributed to your disc problem.

You need to write a letter to them saying

1. you are off sick therefore that means you are not able to work any shifts.
2. by asking to return to work when you have informed them you cannot due to a back injury, they are adding to the stress as you feel pressurised to return to a job you have been told will make your back problem worse
3. you are concerned that having had no formal training to do your job properly has contributed, perhaps even caused your disc prolapse, land that you are going to be asking them to look into this further.

4 you would appreciate, that while they assess what part they play in your health condition they can support your recovery by removing the potential threat of terminating your contract while you are off sick.

1. the only contact that you wish to have from them at the moment is that which is compulsory as per their sickness policy (which you really do need a copy of), or if they wish to send you get well flowers or a card.

I'll read on.

magso oh I just read about the Lidl back warmer! I am so getting one of those! maybe two, one for work and one from home . I find swimming on my back best for those times I am like you and simply cannot straight like you need to in front crawl etc. I just float on my back and kick my legs gently, don't even use my arms. Someone today said it might be worth trying a scuba diving mask and breathing tube, so that I can keep my face in the water and not have to keep lifting my head up or to the side for air, I am going to try that, I can just swim flat then when I am able to do front crawl. My gym membership has lapsed, and I am thinking of joining our local leisure centre, as it does a disabled membership for £24 per month, or currently if I pay up front, £224 for 13 months, which is a bloody good deal imo. I just worry I won't use it enough as I so often go through a shit phase. Good that the sauna etc helps the head stuff if not the back stuff.

I didn't finish work until 4pm today. Having had a very fucking bad week of pain, feeling awfully fluy, achey, in soooo much pain, yesterday better, today deteriorated again but not as bad as midweek. Until, I worked my fucking ass off from 9:30am-4pm with no break, lots of sitting as my legs are tired standing. THEN, decided as DH had taken the children to watch a film at a friend's house after school, (friday's his day off work), I would wander into town, look at some sales, get a present for a friend. WTAF was I doing? I got a dress, which is lovely but shows all my bumps (that I have only just developed) on my hip and stomach from where I am hunched and my muscles are shot, but I will try to stand up (and invest in some unsexy stomach holding undies).

However, wow! I can't do town! I had to walk for ages to the bus stop, forgot I was using public transport.

Now I am in bed, having taken 500mg of naproxen, 100mg tramadol, 30mg codeine and the only reason I have not taken diazepam is it's downstairs in my bag and I can't be arsed to haul myself back out of my bedto get it.

I am so fed up with feeling so rotten it's unreal. I will care less in about an hour . I tried to make a GP appt today, bit the bullet to have a chat about some of things that are going on for me, but no appts. Grr. I might post later asking for some advice about some things, but for now, just a moan, and I will crack on with reading!

magso my faves are the other expensive ones, thermacare I think they are, little gold coloured bobbles across the entire back, something like £5-6 for two

Thank you for kind replies Cold , Matilda and magso. feel so much better now.

Matilda so pleased that you have had at last some resolution re benefits .
You have walked a long way with struggling to get there for justice and fairness. I so feel for you having to deal with the shit you have been dealt.

Pavlov ...you inspire me so much. love your blog.

All others who post here and i havent named .........truly dont know what I would be able to manage my health without you all here on this thread .

Been given a med called Acupan to add to the naproxen .

Hope you all have a reasonable weekend x. I like the internet shopping distraction ! think there is a Hotter shoe factory shop near by so may totter out with stick to have a bit shopping .
thank you .

matiilda meant to ask, how is your behind? I hope it's not too sore now.

bassett very kind, thank you, but you know, I have lost my words. I mean, I can post here, but all my blog words are gone. I write, and it's just all wrong. It's not inspiring, well doesn't feel like it is! I am glad you are feeling vaguely better.

We don't have all the answers here. But we do have a HUGE amount of experience in many different types of back pain, and ways of coping/managing the pain, as well as how to manage the emotional shit that goes with it. And, there is a wealth of support, hand holding, internet shopping.

Love the idea of shoe shopping. Just be careful to plan your adventure well, stop plenty for breaks. I ruined myself by going into two bloody shops ! (well, three if you count tesco to get cash back for my bus trip! - need to sort out my disabled pass...)

bassett I also meant to agree with the posts of others, that the MRI is really, really not bad at all. I am not a big fan of enclosed spaces, although no actual fear, and lying on my back is ok, so can't appreciate how difficult it must be for you, however, wanted to give my own experience of 3-4 (5?) MRIs, that had me falling asleep! I don't know about pillow under the head, it's not standard, but that doesn't mean I don't think it's possible, just never had the need for it.

Maybe, to stop you building up the panic, could you call the MRI unit directly and ask them if they can let you have one, or how else they can help you with your panic attack when on your back? Definitely agree with asking GP for some diazepam, this is exactly the situation it's ideal for.

Thank you all so much .

I will contact the unit and ask advice re pillow etc . my appointment is 8.30pm ...bless the staff at that hour .

Re shopping ha !!! every day I add loads of stuff in baskets ..then delete it before I go to bed . Then ad finitum each day until a lovely catalogue comes through the door with so many useless stuff that looks pretty ......oh dear .

Ah well hey ho .........spend loads then delete with click of button but with valuable distraction.
sleep well folks x

no sleep for me I took tramadol this evening. It wires me. But, least the pain is kicked into the background for a while. Just taken some more codeine as I can feel the pain trying to work it' way back into the front of my mind. I Don't Think So Mr Pain.

Sleep well though, wow that's a late MRI appt time!

argh! still no sleep. listening to the wind howling, the strange outdoor noises of night time in the city, and the dulcet tones oh dh snoring.

That'll teach me for taking tramadol at 5pm. I did manage to write a blog piece though. Shall I link it? oh, ok then.
please give me a critique an honest one please, but constructive, rather than just brutal

typos, poor flow (as, remember, I have been in fluffy land), etc.

Also, any issues with the blog layout? trouble finding things? do i need more buttons for certain things, less buttons, different way of finding articles?

And, what type of articles would you want to see in relation to back pain, treatment, etc? A review of a particular treatment I have had? Guest blogs? (you are all welcome to write one, in fact, I would like that, to get different perspectives onboard).

Just some thoughts at silly o'clock while I am wide awake.

Ok, will try and go to sleep now.

Hurrah, I've finally managed to login to wordpress so I can actually 'like' your blog. Wordpress has been a tad confusing to me, having subscribed to your blog I thought I was registered but apparently not. Moi, dunce. I love your writing style it hits the note so well. Clearly explains your difficulties but no self pity or whining. I might try a guest blog at some point if I can think of anything useful to write.

Hope you finally managed some sleep and get some proper rest today. No shops! I have a busyish day and we have been invited out to a restaurant this evening which should, of course be a nice thing to look froward to but we know better, don't we? Still, drugs and wine will sustain me. I will try not to slide under the table.

mailtda i think it sounds very moaning and self pitying! I read it back and think URGH who wants to read about my shit life! I try to add some humour but, well actually I am not actually a particularly humorous person so it's difficult

Got a 40th Birthday party to go today, this afternoon mostly, so everyone's children can go too, then maybe a drink or two this evening.

I got to sleep around 5am ish then woke by children at 6:55am. Not a happy mummy. threats to confiscate their new alarm clocks, dozed back off and DH got up with the children, but DD, who is in a strange mood at the moment, came up at 7:45am without telling him, and woke me up. No point trying again. Had coffee. Need more coffee. Then I will get up.

A tiny bit of shopping, but it will involve driving to a shop, going in, coming back out, then driving to another shop. No wandering around town today. Or possibly ever again

Hope your evening does turn out to be reasonably enjoyable, it's horrible that we can't just look forward to nights out without the fear that it's just going to be too much isn't it?

thank you, i meant to say, for going to the effort of registering etc on wordpress to like my posts. didn't know you had to do that.

Do any of you take amitriptyline and gabapentine for sciatic pain due to bulgingbdisc, what side effects do you get from gabapentine, thr amitriptyline I am fine with, but bit worried about taking the other. Have any of you had a disc heal themsrlves and how long. I really want to avoid surgery.
hope you have a good afternoon pavlov.