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

Thankyou all for the kind words, I have spent most of tonight crying, which isn't me. I just feel so down, I could of understood it if I was still at hone, but I went bk to work, my line manager has been off since tues, sick, and not in today, so handed note to admin dept, they didn't even know I was returning today as line manager hadn't told them.
then after work, got home, puppy was sick, and dd came in from school with the worst attitude ever, she is lucky she has a head on her shoulders. Needless to say it was a chippy tea for us 3 and two glasses of wine for me, very classy. I am off tomorrow but back on shift Saturday and sunday, not sureif I will make both them yet, as my leg has bit of pain, mild but I remember how bad it was, so am scared of it going back there.
anyway enough of me whinging, hows everyone.

Pink, I wish I could do it for you but sadly I can't. Tomorrow you have to call up hr and make a stand. The practice you describe sounds quite possibly illegal and certainly dangerous. Your line manager sounds utterly useless.

please, please stand up for your rights.

It might be worth going back to your GP and explain what's going on. Sadly, Bupa sound as if they don't give a stuff.

Pink since you have asked - twice - I am doing really well thanks - getting stronger all the time.
Please can you spend today making some phone calls or going to see someone who has the authority to make sure that your sick note guidelines will be enforced on Saturday or can tell you when that can be put in place.
They sound a bit disorganised and no-one is taking responsibility for your situation so you are going to have to chase it up! You need some answers today before any more lifting tomorrow.

It's so lovely to see people on this thread actually getting better.

Pavlov, can't believe they're even doing non-emergency back ops. on 23rd December! So many clinics & surgeons seem to shut down right over the Christmas period. But you're rearranging, right? Is this going to be your local hospital, or somewhere different - can't remember if you said. All the kitchen stuff sounds like an exciting distraction, in the meantime.

I seem to be having some kind of acute flare-up - no idea why, but bloody frustrating the week after I had an MRI. Deep, gnawing back pain radiating out to the bum, both hips, down the back of both legs. Some odd tingly feelings too, & all the leg muscles that I've been gently stretching & exercising have tightened up so much over the course of a couple of days it's unbelievable. Did carry heavy stuff home from shops earlier in the week & lifted some boxes - vey carefully - so don't know if that's why.

Intend to take it easy today - it's pissing down anyway & looks totally uninviting outside.

pink, how are you feeling today? Hope you're psyching yourself up to deal with the work bastards.

Pavlov Feeling a bit of your new kitchen! I can put up with the crappiness of my house when it is crappy but fairly clean but it is crappy and filthy at the moment. We are trying to get permission to do an extension but there is a main surface water sewer in the garden which we need permission to divert and it's seemingly hard to come by (and very expensive.)

Loon I hope things settle down for you soon.

Hi preciousbane - great name. Read that book recently & loved it.

Had to look up costochondritis - sounds painful. It is difficult when you need to rest for one condition & it worsens another. I certainly feel my back's better when I'm relatively active (except in an acute phase).

I guess the question is how you're resting, & whether you're spending a long time in positions that stress your back. I try to set a timer so I don't sit too long, & have got an exercise / birthing ball that I sit on sometimes too, as it's easier than a chair. Lying down I support my lower legs with a pillow / on a chair, or do the constructive rest position (there are links upthread about that, posted by matilda). Does heat help - heat pads / hot water bottles etc., to stop your muscles seizing up? And can you do very gentle exercises (rocking knees to chest etc.) without it worsening the costochondritis?

I don't know about the arm pain. Neck & thoracic spine issues can be referred to the arms, but I don't think lumbar spine problems can. Where in your back is your pain located? I guess scoliosis puts the whole spine under pressure.

There seem to be different protocols in different areas re. referral for scans. My GP was able to refer me for an MRI, but some people here have been told that's not possible, whereas physios have been able to refer. Others have had to wait for a consultant. I'd ask the physio & your GP, & keep pushing if necessary. It often seems to take persistence to get the basic investigations carried out.

Sorry Precious I don't really have any ideas for you except I love my tens machine when it really hurts.

at muesli in the mug!

Guess what! I've written, addressed and Christmas stamped all my Christmas cards! [smug emoticon]

Been to see another gp today. Said that Butrans was only for people who couldn't swallow tablets. So he has now put me on morphgesic tablets. Instead of my mst and to see how I go on those. He has also asked for me to have another mri. He said although Ihave two bulging discs my pain is being caused by arthritis in my spine so only pain killers and physio can help that. But will review again on the new mri

Guess what! I've written, addressed and Christmas stamped all my Christmas cards! [smug emoticon]

Outrageous behaviour - making the rest of us feel inadequate.

Hi msdj - glad you've been back to the GP. Shame he's so irritating, though! Don't know anything about the patches, & it's very good news you're getting a new MRI. BUT his speculation about the cause of your pain is just unnecessary & unhelpful.

Yes, quite a lot of people have disc bulges without pain. But a lot of people - most people over a certain age, in fact - also have some arthritis of the spine, & many of those don't have any pain either, even some with bad arthritis, bone spurs & so on. After all, bone doesn't hurt in itself.

It's not easy identifying the exact structures responsible for pain, even with an MRI. Sounds like chemical inflammation - stuff leaking from dodgy discs, end plate damage etc. - plays a much bigger part than previously thought. And if you have nerve pain, that could be your nerve roots being irritated by chemical inflammation as well as mechanical pressure, while the latter could be from a bulging disc just as easily as from arthritic changes. Or both! Why do these people have to pretend to have authoritative answer that they can't possibly have - so frustrating!!

Oh dear, am ranting. Sorry, msdg. How are you feeling ATM? Being in chronic pain is quite an isolating experience, I think. I want to send that gorilla link to everyone I know (especially MIL) just to give people an inkling of it.

Any news on your wrist, magso? Hope you're okay.

Well, I've spent way too long online today. Will go & do some rest now. Have managed a walk, buoyed up by codeine. Nearly got knocked over by two very excitable labradors who didn't respond at all to their owner's call. Lovely dogs but I wasn't particularly impressed - think they should be on the lead if they won't come /stop when called.

I am in constant pain. That's been getting me very down. Unable to do anything without extreme pain. But I do feel a little better that I am having a new mri. I having really had a diagnosis before today. He said that my facet joints were rubbing together causing pain. But I habd had two sets of spinal injections there already and neither helped. So not sure if it's the correct area he says I sm getting pain in. The new medication has made me very woozy. Which am sure will wear off once I get used to it. But it is a three times more stronger dose than I was on with the mst.
I just feel so helpless that I can't walk very far without pain. I have to look ahead as to the shortest root to places or even if I can make it to where I need to be.

Not having any income isn't helping my mood either. I am not entitled to any benefits and I obviously can't work in so much pain

Sorry to always be moaning lately. I just haven't had a good day or time for a very long time

Forgot to say I did tell doc that although I do have nerve pain and constant pins and needles and that I stopped gabapentin as it was making me put on weight. Forgetful. Walking into things and such like. He didn't even offer an alternative

Could you try pregabalin, Msdg? It can also cause weight gain apparently, but some people get on better with it generally. It's expensive, though.

Don't worry about moaning. Constant pain is depressing. Mine isn't absolutely constant but it's bad at the moment & I feel down too. I don't know anything about the benefits situation, I'm afraid, but it doesn't seem right that you're not entitled to anything. Have you had advice about that?

Really am going to lie down now.

I went to the cab and they said I wasn't entitled to anything

Not tried pregabalin. Hasn't been offered to me.

My gp noted that I had anxiety and asked about my life. I told him I didn't have one. No social life. No kind of any life. So yes I am down but he said he understood why. Didn't give me any advice though

msdj, you do seem to receive the oddest advice. My GP has expressed great willingness to prescribe BuTrans and I can swallow just fine. Others on here are the same. It's simply a matter of receiving a slow and steady dose and thus having more stable pain control.

Benefits? Well I don't know your situation but my condition may well be better than yours or at least no worse yet I get higher rate PIP on both levels. I was also awarded WRAG ESA although I don't qualify for any money because it's means tested. If I was broke that would be another £77/ week. So why you don't qualify is an absolute mystery. I strongly advise applying again using the wording and phrasing I've previously shared.

Sorry to sound so bossy but I'm so exasperated on your behalf. At least the GP did up your meds and order an MRI. The only other thing I can currently suggest is to really look into the concept of Pacing. It is a bit frustrating but genuinely does help to manage pain. Hope you are making your great big dc help you, martyrdom is highly overrated.

I have an appeal hearing coming up for pip. Dreading it. Got 7 points last time. So just need one more point. Please keep everything crossed. I so desperately need money now. Can't even sell my body it's falling to bits lol.

MSDJ moan away you are allowed.

hi ladys, a few of u will know I was in a nasty accident in feb 2013 I broke my left femur and broke my L1& L3 bones in my spine spent 9 weeks in hospital :(, anyhow to cut a long story short I was left 6 weeks before I had my spinal op now I have caudia equine syndrome :( I hate this weather my back constantly aches etc ,I put in a claim for pip in june just got my letter back last week to go see someone.

I am pschying myself up to go in tomorrow, big boss reply to head receptionist was, yesi could do bank reception, he cant see any reason why not butit still needs to berun past my line manager, but yes I will be getting some training to cover that,
had busy day today, it was super hero dress up at school today for children in need, me and dh went xmas and birthday shopping for dd, then after school went to local pub for dinner, now settling in ti watch children in need.
Then back to work tomorrow, I am going to see how this shift goes.
I kept waking up in the night last night thinking I was gonig to get cramp, and have had pain behind my knee again today, not sure if work related or the fact I have done alot last two days.

Good luck tomorrow, pink. If it's too much just say so.

Ilovesprout, nice to see you again. The damp cold weather always seems to get to me too. Hope your PIP application runs smoothly.
Preciousbane, I get pain in my arms and fingers sometimes, when nerves get trapped, or a bit irritated. I have a bit of curvature and get facet lock ups, at about the level of my bra strap, and slightly higher. I've also had problems with rib pain, but seem to be mostly past that now- hopefully - its miserable. I see a chiropractor regularly to try and keep my upper back mobile. I was taught to do sit ups with a rolled towel (or 2 tennis balls tied in a sock under a towel) under the locked up zone, (after plentiful pain killers!) but often only manipulation will get me out of trouble. I suspect my rib troubles were due to my back (although it was set off by lung troubles). I have just bought a plastic roller called a Posture pro (from amazon) but have not had a lock up since it arrived, -it looks as if it should be better than the towel/tennis balls! I imagine with scoliosis you know all this already.
Pink, if (your present) work is too much for you then you must protect your health and demand adjustments (lighter work, shorter hours, phased return, whatever it takes). Would a nice warm bath help with the crampy muscles- as long as you can get out again? Is there an OH department you can access for support?
Good luck with the PIP appeal Msdj.
My wrist is in a splint and less painful than it was when I first got the splint (and before). The hospital have not called me to back in (for pins) which is good news. Its my writing hand so rather awkward, but less painful than my back- just a nuisance really! I am getting better at managing left handed. Typing (can't manage a mouse! - splint gets in the way and left hand is so clumsy) and writing are difficult, but the Ipad is fine - well a bit like a cat on a piano but otherwise manageable.
Berrie well done at getting your Christmas cards ready for posting! Wow I have not even bought mine yet!

Feeling a bit bad now about the Christmas card boast now!
I'm just anxious that next week when I go back to work it is all going to start again so I need to get organised! But I've done everything I've been told, things are going well I will feel such deep gratitude for the return of my fitness that I will immediately shed 3 stone and become some sort of fitness Goddess and it's going to be fine right?

happy with 1 stone
Have not actually been three stone lighter since I was 13ish....then again...not been on scales for a while so who knows!!!