Back Pain and Internet Shopping. Thread Number 5.

[PavlovtheCat]

Those who have long term back problems know that the best way to help manage back pain is to internet shop for shoes, bags, and back support devices. Those who are new to back pain, these are important lessons to learn.

And here within this thread is where you will learn those lessons.

You will also find other helpful advice on pain management, different treatment options from hydrotherapy and physio to surgery, experiences of others navigating the big and scary medical world, both private and NHS (and abroad from the UK) too, as well as issues around work, being a parent while managing pain and disability, and the impact on the relationships around us.

Between us all, we have a huge wealth of knowledge and experience, and more than the practical advice, the jargon and information, we know what back pain is like, how much is affects everything around us, and sometimes, all we need is to have people listen who Get It.

We talk painkillers regularly, have hot water bottles and wheat bags galore, and hold hands a lot. It's potentially all very Unmumsnetty as we do actually show some lovin' from time to time, although we Never Ever call each other hun.

If you have advice, need advice, need a hand to hold, want to do some shopping, then come in. We are friendly. We talk a lot. Come in, have a and say hello

You will see just how much we do talk if you read our previous threads (where you may glean lots of answers about pain relief, surgery etc, best winter boots etc):
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/2049637-Back-Again-Back-Pain-Support-Thread
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

Oh no, go to ground, rest but don't get stiff, neck NASIDs if you can and ice/warm, it could just be a little crick, it could I might get a grabber then, if it comes with a Pavlov recommendation, I know it's a bit of internet shopping I can trust . Rain set to come in strong tomorrow morning again, cancelled football at least!

Pink are you a carer, hard hard job if your back isn't good. Do they expect you to lift and everything still or are you just on your feet a lot?

pink,gp can write you a fit note saying you are fit for desk office duties but not care work /lifting.work can then choose to let you do office reception work or have you off with no sanctions

Can we have a grabber link please?

i got this one

Just don't lean on it like a crutch absentmindedly. It will break...

Lost, yes I am a care assistant in a private 5* assisted living care hone, I am on the care floor which has 30 residents with dementia, parkinsons, strokes, cancer, respite care, palliative care amongst many others, it does involve a lot of lifting/hoisting and yes we are on our feet all the time, eithet 6 hr shift or a 12 hr shift.
my gp knows where I work and what I deal with as the residents are under the same group practice.
Hence why he is more than happy to write another note whenever I need one, he had said reception would be good.
My care manager won't let me go to reception, she is losing toomany good staff, either of sick, pregnant or just leaving for other jobs.
my gp is concerned as now my back is weak, I have been off 20 wks with a severe bulging disc at l5 s1, causing horrendous sciatica, muscle spasms and even putting me in a and e the first week of school summer holidays, mri has confirmed what it was, now all my leg pain has gone, but still get back pain when done too much, but haven't been on any meds for last three weeks.
Both my mri report and all my sick notes have been taken into work and put on my file and have kept in regular contact by phone or email.
I am also having bupa physio, we get 12 sessions free as work for them, which had been brilliant, far better than our nhs physio dept.
I have been with the company 3 years now and do enjoy my job, although its low paid.
I am worrying about what I should do, I have already requested to go back on reduced contract, which has been granted, I am on the rota for next thurs,sat and sun. My note isn't out until next Tuesday so gp said to have a think and he is more than happy to sign ne off again or request light duties.

That sounds so hard pink, I imagine your job is incredibly rewarding but also tough physically. I work (worked? NHS round here has run out of money big time so I don't get many, if any, shifts anymore) in our local hospital but have been quite lucky in that if we need to do a lot of physical lifting I have always had people to call on and hoists and training to mitigate the load. Do you have a lot of lifting and handling training with work? There should really be policys in place so no one has to harm them selves at work but then I realise that is a bit of a fairy story when you have to do the job and care for alot of people day to day, the practicalities rule it out in the end. I have mentally said goodbye to my job, it's been my life and career since I was 16 but I am trying to be sanguine about it, more often than not the only way I see colleagues now is as a patient!

We are under a flood warning/weather warning for tomorrow morning, the only things I have rescued to higher ground are my Fly London shoes. The children are on the top floor so safe I must add

Pink- what were the reasons that they didn't remove the disc back in the summer?

I'm going to get that grabber too thanks pavlov ... I was with lost on the not giving in but why not if it makes life easier?

sorry re the job pink ... I suppose I was lucky in that I was made redundant whilst still off sick (a full-time career) and managed to get a scabby wee part-time job where I don't have to do anything physical at all .. back pain changes all aspects of your life

totally agree re the private physio v NHS ... I paid for many sessions myself and they did help lots

pink I think you need to go above your manager on this.it sounds like you like the job and you are well respected there you need to fight for it if you can gather the energy.

Hi, I have read bits of the thread and will go back and read more later. I wanted to ask for suggestions about what I can do for my back as the pain has gone on a bit too long for my liking now!

Was in a serious RTA about ten weeks ago. All my other injuries have mostly healed and I have been seeing a chiropractor for the back and neck pain that I was in (diagnosed with whiplash and muscular back pain as my spine wasn't sore). At the beginning he helped enormously. I had some weeks signed off, some weeks working from home and then went back to work full time for three weeks. My job involves a lot of travelling, as well as carrying a heavy rucksack (laptop, maps, lunch), and I got to the middle of this week and am completely done in and have had to go back to the Dr for another note for 4 weeks for amended working.

I am taking the full dose of ibuprofen and paracetamol and topping up with tramadol (only one in two days so far) as the two together aren't enough. The pain is distracting me from work and if I don't take anything I feel sick with it/want to claw my back out. If I do take the painkillers I feel completely out of it :( The pain and range of movement is getting worse rather than better - I can no longer curl up if I have my legs stretched out in front of my as it feels like a painful, tight wire all from my ankles to the base of my skull.

My GP is great and has referred me to the musculo-skeletal (sp?) clinic at the hospital as she says their referrals will be dealt with much faster than hers and they look at everything. My chiropractor says he can't do the manipulations he wants to at the moment as I'm too tense so that feels like a dead end. I am a member of a gym but not sure what I can do - I tried doing my 5k 'normal' jogging and had to do it at a fast walk as the impact from running was too painful. There is a swimming pool but it's very cold and I'm feeling a bit shivery at the moment.

I am mid twenties and although previously not amazingly fit I have never been in bad health before so I'm a little lost. To cap it all off I've come down with the most awful cold, am exhausted and my eye has been twitching for four days. I'm currently sat in my pajamas on the sofa feeling a bit sorry for myself as the house is filthy and the washing is piling up.

Does anyone have any suggestions for exercise - online Pilates videos? And any suggestions for bags? I need to find something to carry my laptop around in but I am not sure how to find a good bag. The one I have at the moment is a good brand but woefully inadequate at supporting my back and distributing weight sensibly. Thank you :)

Inselaffe sorry to hear you have been injured and are in pain. I have no expertise, but having had a whiplash injury many years ago that still troubles me now, I think keeping everything gently moving in the future is a wise idea. Its also wise not to overdo it, or try to do too much too fast. Does your gym run pilates classes for beginners? Massage may be helpful for releasing tight muscles. Warmth (heat pads, microwave wheat bags,single use heat treatment pads, even the electric blanket if safe to lie on) may be helpful (I always get very tense around my neck and shoulders). The waits for physio where I live are many months long, but could you get referral via your GP started now?
Bag wise, I have a healthy back bag for work bits, but I don't think it would work for a laptop, (the design requires a less rigid load) although I think they do a padded laptop bag. I used to prefer (when I had to carry a heavy work bag) to carry my bag in high my arms like cradling a baby, as a hanging briefcase was just too uncomfortable and forced asymmetry. I use a wheely case if travelling and have seen people use wheeled work cases which might be worth a try. Has a colleague got one (healthy lap bag or wheeled briefcase) you could try out?
Finally a nice warm bath, with some Epsom salts added may help both tight muscles and the cold.
Much wiser posters will be along soon!

Berrie, they didn't operate because we were going to wait and see if I had any improvement I wanted to try all othet options first, drugs, physio etc, then because my leg pain started to improve they said lets wait and see howyou go, play a waiting game, luckily it has got a lor better, leg pain gone, no meds for 3 weeks, but do still get niggling back pain, just to let me know its there.
re the reception job, it has been reffered to boss higher, so again need to wait and see what he says.
I have been out tonight to a firework eventm stood in the cold and damp, and tonight it is playing me up, not sure if the weather affects sonething like this though. My care boss wad also there, so can't really not start back to work on Thursday now she seen me.

How are you doing today Lost? I can't imagine 12 injections into the spine. I hope the inflammation from the procedure is easing. Hope the flood does no damage to your home. You have enough on your plate.
I had a grabber Pavlov - well it was ds dinosaur toy with 2 rows of teeth to grab with, from the natural history museum IIRC- a bit short but handy. Sadly one of its 'jaws' broke off, rendering it just a hook. I think it is an excellent idea to get a new one. Perhaps if I disguise it as a light sabre or some other star wars related object ds could use it to pick up his own clothes ( and I could pretend its for him not me!)
Pink could your care manager find some lighter duties for you in the care zone, rather than loose you to reception or entirely? Maybe a' fit for light duties' note if you do decide to go back to work would help them think it through. Very difficult I know. I wanted to go back to work after serious illness (I just did not have any awareness that I would not just bounce back) because I knew how difficult it would be for my colleagues (with both myself and another who had had an RTA) off sick and really I was barely fit to get out of bed. OH Dr told me I should not go back until I was fit enough to run for a bus! Well I never got that well, but it got the message home!
Pavlov , how are you today? Hope you are getting a bit of spoiling and lots of TLC. We need a heat patch emotion I think just for us!
On the boot front, DH bought me (at the end of last years sale) some Stuart Weitzman 50/50 long boots - in shiny black leather, elastic fabric at the back. They are flat and very comfy, and are just over the knee at the front - so keep my not at all pretty knees covered and warm. I know, I know, I am spoilt rotten. Will try to do a link if I can work out how. (Its only just got cold enough to wear them)

pink seeing your boss doesn't mean you have to go back to work if not ready - there is a huge difference between standing for a short while watching fireworks and working in a physically demanding job for hours. It's a bad back you have, not flu and it is perfectly reasonable, and encouraged, for you to be out and moving around a little with a bad back. bed rest is not recommended, but that doesn't mean you are well enough to be doing manual work. That sighting of you not being stuck indoors for weeks/months is not a sign of recovery enough to return to work, so don't be pressured by that.

I am feeling much better today. Not quite back to the normal shit levels of pain, twinges that keep me losing my balance, but significantly better than friday evening, thanks for asking magso. I took a lot of painkillers on friday, stayed in bed until late on saturday, and then went for a short leisurely amble around a garden centre looking at christmas decorations then a coffee, was in a lot of pain by the end but don't feel horrendously worse for it. I am back down to normal level painkillers - 150mg mr-tramadol in the daytime, 250 x 3 naproxen, paracetamol x 4, then 30-60mg codeine in the evening once at about 8pm, although probably should take that earlier as I take when the pain increases rather than before it increases to avoid that. Rarely I will take another 30-60mg of tramadol at midnight or a bit later if pain keeps me awake, but try to avoid that did on friday though).

I use the grabber a lot, it's useful as the children are notorious for not picking up small toys from the floor, lego in particular and I often stand on them and jar my back, so i try to keep the floor clear (that's a game I lose regularly though). I think it's a relatively small loss of dignity in the grand scheme of things and it keeps me feeling a little more independent. it's not like I take it out and about with me.

Thanks magso. My gym does do pilates and also has a small swimming pool so I think I'll give both of those a go - I used to do a lot of pilates but the times at this gym aren't normally compatible with my job. Working from home due to the Drs note has it's advantages! :)

I had a look at those bags. I do like the look of them, thank you :) Due to the travelling I stay away a lot and do have a small suitcase but I find it pulls on my lower back, however I haven't tried using it without also wearing a rucksack. Next week I am only staying away for one night (have arranged with my boss only to do one night for the next four weeks) so I will see if I can reduce what I am carrying somehow.

The pain is all over my back - in my lower back and between my shoulders mostly. It's clearly related to the accident in that I didn't have it before, but I have no idea how, unless it was always there and I didn't notice it until the other pain had died down (I had a broken rib as part of the assortment, which was... interesting!). It seems to be getting worse as time goes on. I went to sleep last night with a hot water bottle on my back and it seemed to help, thanks for the suggestion.

ins did you have an MRI on your spine? I would be concerned, mainly as I had a missed back injury. It wasn't anyone's fault it was missed really, I had no back pain at the time, but did have an injury to the spine (cut and bruise), that was not investigated. Then back pain about 10 days later that was attributed to a pulled muscle, but only two years on did I have an MRI which showed issues that were very likely linked with spinal fracture. The consequences of it are that I have long term mobility issues, facing more surgery in January. Not sure if much would have been done at the time if it was known, possibly a fixed back brace, certainly more than 2 weeks off work and in my own situation maybe this place I am in now would have been the same regardless.

But, my point is, you have had an accident which can and does cause back injuries, and I am surprised your GP is not more concerned than this. If there is something there that needs fixing, the quicker it's fixed, the better your likelihood for a full recovery.

It may simply be muscle damage, but an MRI will rule anything more sinister.

You may have had one done, in which case, ignore my ramblings.

and agree with a pull-along bag, nothing carried for now.

Thanks pavlov, I know nothing about this so I'm really looking for the right questions to ask, such as 'Can I have a MRI'! I haven't had one - I had an x ray of my chest but that was looking for the broken rib and is the only test I've had as the accident didn't happen in the UK and the hospital had very little by way of equipment and medicine. I think the main problem with that is that the UK doctors have assumed that certain things happened abroad - tests, advice etc., that didn't and since I don't know what is normally done I can't correct them unless they ask direct questions.

I have had several doctors feel up and down my vertebrae. This didn't become painful until a few weeks ago, but by then I'd been seeing the chiropractor so I had been putting it down to tenderness following the manipulations. So far I have been told it's probably muscular as I am still very tense following the accident (freak out if I am a passenger on the motorway for example). I was sitting next to the driver who ended up with the car wrapped around him and he definitely fractured two vertebrae and is being treated for it.

I'm sorry to hear your injury was missed and that you are facing more surgery. I really hope it goes well for you.

Inselaffe, hope you are having a good weekend, I don't think 10 weeks is very long at all in the scheme of things, don't go running! I think the trick with backs is to find a happy medium between resting and making sure you keep mobile, swimming is excellent as long as you do it properly, no swimming with your head stuck out the water to keep your makeup nice you hear, that way lies more lower back problems than you already have! I'm also going to dole out Losty's Protect your Stomach lecture, if you take NSAIDS (asprin/ibuprofen/naproxen) make sure you look after the lining of your tummy too, eat with the dose or if you are going to continue with them for a while speak to your GP about getting some omeprazole or similar.

Magso we have stayed dry indoors, whoop! Also the weirdy pain I had from the injections has gone so I think my body must have absorbed the extra liquid they put into the joints. Time for some cheerleading for the steroids now, come on, do your thing!

Glad your not too bad today Pavlov, I love the massive long list of drugs, yup you got that right down to the minimum there . I am going to give in and get a grabber too, might have to pimp it with some of the nail stickers and tape I have for my HA's. Can't be doing with boring! Ha, speaking of which, did I show you my crutches, was supposed to go and get some from the local NHS physio department but I decided on these instead because they'll look nice with my favorite coat .

I spoke to my friend today who had dd at last minute notice in july when i went to a and e, also my mum and dad, none of them think i should go back to work. I am going to email the head receptionist again tomorrow to see if she has had any joy with regards to speaking to big boss. And explain to her what doc said on friday. I really dont want to be bad for xmas, as december busy month, have dds birthday, loads oe family visiting, parties, things on at dd school. My dh thinks i should stay off a bit longer. Had a letter about pip from dwp, they want to do home visit next wk, i rang them before and told them thinks its esa i need, think pip isnt for me
how do i go about esa and does it replace ssp.
Dh started 4 on today, so have had the kids in again, now how do you work this, dd friend, 8 yr old, has spray tan along with her mum but they never have any food in, every wkend i end up giving her lunch.

losty love the crutches! I got myself a pair of orange and black ones. We are Style Itself

ins ah I see. Well, I would be asking for an MRI asap. I would be concerned about the pain that goes into the foot, as that is sciatic pain, which is common if a nerve is trapped. Nerve pain can also happen due to inflammation/irritation if the area around it is sore and full of inflammation, or is swollen and pressing against it, but it can also be due to it being trapped by something, such as a disc, or bone, for example. I would be concerned because this has come about very quickly after an accident and I would be asking for urgent referral to check that everything is as it should be with your spine. i.e., insist that your doctor/GP reviews your situation as if you have had a spinal injury.

I wonder, if you were to call OOH and tell them you had severe leg pain, and this follows an accident where you may have sustained an injury, whether they would send you to A&E?

It's difficult, but, really, given the accident, I would would;t be comfortable with this being fobbed off as something that can be left for a longer time, like it would be if these symptoms occurred with no obvious cause (not that being left in those circumstances is ok either, actually, but is less likely to be something like a fractured vertebrae). I am not for a moment suggesting you have damaged your spine in this way, but, that the only way you will know is proper examinations.

So, you need to be asking for MRI. Now. As an urgent case.

Also, do you know the signs for Caudia Equina? I mention it as you have leg pain. I will get the link from NHS direct, it's rare, but a medical emergency. We post it regularly to those who have leg pain. If in doubt, take yourself to A&E.

In the meantime - regular painkillers, don't forget paracetamol, it's an amazingly effective med, but needs to be used regularly, so 4 times a day, every day. And as losty said, protect your stomach with any NSAID medication. NSAIDS also work well with paracetamol, as do opiates. So, paracetamol + NSAID + Opiate (codeine) + stomach protector. Hot water bottles, rest/potter/rest, don't lift much. And, until you get a proper diagnosis, I would be very careful about what you do in terms of exercise.

Agree with Pavlov Inselaffe, that it is better to investigate sooner rather than later. Also since your injuries are the result of an accident that was not your fault I presume (travel) insurance may have been involved so it is better to get the full picture earlier. I thought I would mention NSAI gel, (such as volterol) rubbed in to sore area may help to reduce inflammation. I get trouble with facet joints locking up in my upper spine and have had inflammation in my rib/spine joints which can upset my entire spine so I could see how an impact severe enough to break a rib (and break vertebrae of the driver) could affect you still after 10 weeks (which is only 2 and a bit months). However pain that is not getting better following an impact or is getting worse needs investigation, even if just to be sure.

Thank you all so much :) It's so reassuring to be able to speak to people who know what they are talking about! I have had a much better weekend than expected - DP has put me on vitamin tablets for my twitching eye, either that or more sleep seems to have calmed it down. I have two days annual leave now that I had already booked so I am looking forward to doing pottering and not much else!

I haven't been running again. I did some medium walking this afternoon (not heavy impact) for about 40 minutes until I got bored. Unfortunately I am a rubbish swimmer and can't put my head face down underwater but I do a good backstroke so will go swimming tomorrow and not swim on my front.

On the painkiller front I have started (today) writing down everything I am taking, partly because I am still forgetful following the accident and also to demonstrate to the doctors what I am taking. I had to take two tramadol when I came back from the gym, which was disappointing because I had to eat cake to go with it (negating the point of the gym) but it was a revelation as it actually stopped the pain - previously I had been taking one and it hadn't done much. I am taking 2 of both paracetamol and ibuprofen every four hours (alternate so painkillers every 2 hours). I have a heat gel on prescription but have also been using volterol as I find it really soothing. I am paranoid about damaging my stomach lining but I didn't realise there were drugs to counter it, thank you Lost I will ask - I have been taking ibuprofen for about ten weeks now as it is my usual painkiller of choice (occasional headaches).

I have googled the clinic I have been referred to and they have a 40 day waiting period on average. I have no doubt that if I called OOU they would see me because it all sounds scary... If my appointment letter (when it comes through) isn't for the next week or so then I will try and speed things up. I can't work properly until my back is fixed due to the painkillers I am taking (I am a contracts manager/negotiator - don't have the stamina for the meetings and I can't be trusted in a room at the moment!). I have an appointment with occupational health (Capita?) through my work this week, maybe they can speed things up.

magso I did get insurance involved at first (and the accident wasn't our fault - drunk driver on the wrong side of the road, we basically sat there waiting to be hit at speed because there was nowhere for us to go due to a fence, we were very bloody lucky to be in a 4x4 as he was also in a huge SUV) but because we were in the EU they were rubbish - adamant that our very inadequate treatment in the local hospital was fine because it was free - our friends who were with the same insurance company but via a private work scheme got a private ambulance to an amazing private hospital where they had a full battery of tests including MRIs and special treatment for the driver's spine. I haven't dealt with them at all since I got back as they are refusing to cover anything incurred from the moment we landed in the UK.

I found a lot of today quite frustrating because I was sitting for so much of it. The thread title is very apt - I have done a lot of virtual shopping!

Pavlov I don't think I have Claudia Equina, thank you for checking :) The pain in my legs is more like tight wires if I try and bend forward. I don't have any continence issues. I do tick quite a few of the boxes for slipped discs, which doesn't make me happy! I had quite a lot of pins and needles in my arms following the accident and did tell the doctor abroad but she shrugged it off (they only had doppler and x ray tests available, which I think constrained a lot of their choices). That has gone now, it went within a few days.

Actually I have another question please: how much is it appropriate to eat to make the ibuprofen safe? I always thought it was a light meal, but I took some earlier without anything as I was still very full from the cake an hour prior that I took with the tramadol. Is a piece of fruit okay or does it need to be more substantial?

Urgh, been wide awake since 4am, do any of you lovely lot know if that's likely to be the steroids? I expected it when I had them orally but I suppose however they get into my system they must affect you the same? Waaaaah, I want my sleep!