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 OK then!
Sooooo. I know I've made fun of DH but he is lovely really and does a lot for me after a lot of asking Last night he thoroughly cleaned under the cupboards which was a horrible job but it seemed to get rid of the stink.
This morning I could smell it again. I took off the kick board and scouted for poos. I could see some but they could have been left behind - not an easy space to get in to clean...Anyway the chicken wire looked like it could have been breached to me so I got a torch and my phone and sent DH a picture. He reckons it's the same but I am not too sure...
In any case I think we are going to have to get the washing machine and dishwasher out tonight to clean behind and under there as I can still smell it. DH can't smell it at all. Am also thinking about setting up the camera thing we bought to watch whether the dog was eating the sofa (in the bad old days) ...though...we'd have to leave the kick board off and a light pointing in so we could see...and then Robo Hoover would go in there and knock it all over...this requires some thought!!

Ins Tramadol didn't do that to me - not at all helpful I know. Hope you sort out something that helps.
Matilda My colleague suggested I go in for a couple of hours before Thursday to see how I get on...trouble is I don't think I will find I get on very well which makes no sense at all does it. I just feel terribly self indulgent being off work now that my mobility is good and I only get pain if I've done a lot. My mental health is suffering and I am worried about losing touch with my class.

Berrie could you go back on reduced hours - mornings only, alternate days, or similar to start with? That's how I returned (after ill health not back)- one half day a week (and was told in no uncertain terms to stop once I needed to). Admittedly the OH specialist was involved, although I am sure yours must be as well. I realise continuity is important for the children.

Tramadol used to give me all kinds of strange side effects but they have pretty much worn off thankfully. I'm now taking a sow release one in the morning and again at bedtime with cocodamol at regular intervals as well.

Cocodamol is codeine plus paracetamol . It's available in two strengths, 8/500 and 30/500 so quite a big difference in dose. Afaik there is nothing in between though you could 'acclimatise' on two of the 8s then go one 8 and one 30 etc. but you have to be careful due to the paracetamol so you can't take two 8s then decide to take a 30. Hope that's of some use, Ins and you feel better soon.

Loon, I bloody well hope it's done well before Christmas! Like by the end of the week. In fact they said end of the week to get units and appliances in then they can template the work top which will be another week to ten days. The units all arrived today and are taking a huge amount of space up as they are pre assembled. Getting rather old kitchen out has been quite a feat. The granite has had to be broken into little pieces as it's all so solid.

Last question...I've been wondering about all your user names. Anyone care to explain theirs? There are some very intriguing ones being used....

Magso will think about that.
I know nothing about dog cam it seems. Apparently it has an infra red light and is movement activated sending relevant activity to be saved on computer (DH loves his gadgets) He is setting it up now! Stay tuned for Rat Cam footage!
Here is where we feel disappointed the hole actually is blocked!
Don't even remember how I chose my name but then it is not one of the intriguing ones.

Thanks magso and Matilda for the explanation re: co-codamol. That might explain it (the strengths) and why I have reacted differently previously. GP called back and said it was unlikely to be the Tramadol, to drink some cold water if it happens again (apparently this can shock the body into behaving) and let them know if it happens again. He suggested not taking the Tramadol but without it the pain is so bad I feel sick and can't work at all so not a good idea. I have just for the first time tried putting a hot water bottle on my back. It's magic!

magso Sadly not a work trip :( I have an amended note and I do want to do as much work as I can - I have a very busy job normally and I love my job very much. I'm lucky that I get paid for it as I'd totally do it for free (it's very interesting). My work have been brilliant and very flexible. I am a bit annoyed about today as it's the first time I've not held up part of the flexible agreement (i.e. I have two days in the office and cancelled today's in favour of officially being sick but also doing a little work from home).

Berrie I agree - can you get some amended working? Mine is two days in the office and then the remaining are a combination of work from home/sick leave depending how I feel. Thanks for the RatGate Update We had a rat in our house when I was a child and my Dad swore blind it didn't exist even though we (DSis, DM and I) saw it. Maybe it's a man thing...

Matilda My username means "Island Monkey"... It's the German equivalent of us calling them Krauts although it's more of an insult than an endearment. DP (German) calls me it sometimes when I am being a bit too British (he has nicer names for me too!). I have a couple of MN usernames, this is the one I use for normal stuff. I namechange if I think anything will be too identifying etc.

I'm not sure about amended hours. I know that after a certain amount of time off the school's insurance policy kicks in for the supply teacher. I'm guessing that if I go back and then go off again the days off would not then be covered and would come out of the school budget for a while. Would the supply teacher's hours for my amended time off also then come out of school budget because it wasn't covered by the insurance any longer? In that case I guess from a financial point of view it would be better for them for me to stay off until I was definitely better...

Berrie a phased return after a long sick leave is pretty standard. I would expect the supply teacher to be there as well for at least the first week or two. The trouble is you simply can't know for sure if your back will cope until you are there. I would discuss with your manager. Whatever the policy is, your health comes first.

Now, more thrillingly, I'm dead excited at the prospect or live Rat footage! surely a first for mumsnet??? or possibly not, bearing in mind penis beakergate etc . I can see your family of rats all flinging themselves at the chicken wire in the manner of illegal immigrants trying to get into the Channel Tunnel .

Ins don't feel guilty about being sick though much easier said than done. Still no appt, I guess? Did you get in touch with the lawyers. Also, just because your GP says the tramadol didn't cause the palpitations that doesn't mean he is right. I've had some really ghastly faints after taking tramadol, though very irregularly. Dr said it was unrelated. It wasn't. It's deep in the small print. It's a powerful drug. You've been taking it quite a while, I think? Remember that withdrawing could be quite difficult. I do hope you get some answers soon.xx

Matilda That made me giggle out loud. It nearly outed me to DH. I don't think he would like it if he knew what I'd been saying on here but he has terrible tinnitus and I don't think he heard my snigger!

Re. co-codamol, you can get it in 15/500 strength too. Am thinking of asking for some & taking it more regularly.

On the full strength stuff today, though, & some diazepam, as I have awful left leg pain that isn't going away. It's in the pelvis & bum & going right down to the foot, & I seriously can't believe it after I told the consultant that I didn't get much pain below the knee any more & it's more based in the back now. Arggghhh.

My username is one of the random names my boys made up when they were about 4/5. Not sure they even knew the normal meaning of loon - or maybe they did , but they used to come out with random made-up words - all with double Os - like doob / boon / loon / groob. Then it evolved into them saying "You're a loonvanboon" before collapsing into hysterical giggles / running off. Happy days - no attitude or eye-rolling, just lots of total silliness.

I ate a whole packet of black jack chewy sweets this afternoon. i threw up black vomit this evening it was pretty gross. Throwing up coincided with huge spike in back pain. Literally, felt off colour from about 3pm, increased pain, not moving great, threw up at 6:30pm and now can't stand straight. Threw up new meds too, 10 mins after taking them

Been to see GP (female who also knows my problems, and who had read my notes before i went in, so knows about surgery etc). Given notryptiline 10mg and a mini lecture about putting my health before work, but acknowledging the difficulty finding a balance. Asked to consider not being at work in order to get pain under control - thinks i may need to up nortryptiline to 20mg soon as 10mg not a high enough dose, but 10mg to start.

Also got lidocaine patches, not sure how successful, but clear they will work on back pain only, but perhaps with norty and lidocaine patches I can keep working until Christmas.

Had a chat with boss, she is aware of me virtually crawling in, although before my 'whatever the fuck is going on' happened I felt better today than I have for a while, calm before the storm etc... I have talked about the seesawing of pain and how as soon as I have some control I lose control again quickly and so can't predict how I am going to be from day to day. Agreed that if I am struggling, let her know and go early, better than being off completely I think.

ins you could try 8mg/500mg of cocodemol and see how that works out, as it's quite a low dose, and then titrate upwards as you get used to the side effects. The spinning out on it only lasts a couple of days, amazing how our bodies get used to it - unless you tried more than a few days? Can you remember the dose? if it was straight codeine it was probably 15mg, you may have taken two of those as that's usual, so 30mg if you are not used to it is quite high. But, when you get used to it, 60mg is not so bad I take 60mg x 2 daily in the evenings. But, we are all different in the way we respond, as I don't have any major side effects of tramadol, other than it making me talk way more than I normally do, and that's a lot

loon it's sods law that pain increases after you see the consultant. i had that 'oh not huge amounts of left leg pain at the moment' it felt almost instant that I got pain and pins/needles/numb toes in my left leg after that!

The hip/bum/leg pain is definitely nerve pain, I would bank money on it. I get it horribly and sometimes it feels so raw I doubt it's nerve pain, and it's only that it goes right into my foot that I remind myself of it's source.

You might be 'on the mend' but you are still not recovered, and you are not in the 'out of danger' period so your disc is susceptible to 'going' again any time so take it really slowly and go back if/when you feel you need things reviewed.

Hi everyone, my username is my favourite color and an animal that i think is cute
well work today was crap, started back now on 8 til 2, very busx, short staffed and line manager telling me i am not flexible, she asked me to do a late tomorrow which is my day off, i said no so that means not flexible.
also she said that i seem to of come back from being sick and i am telling them what i want, doc said no lifting, amended duties and reduced hrs. She said from a managers point of view i am not giving anything back and not flexible
what a joke, had a bad day and feel fed up and stressed
oh shud say had my return to work today, she asked if i was fit, i replied as fit as i will ever be. And that was that. That was my return to work.

Do we have Kate Humble or Chris Packham doing the commentary?

I just washed my hair and for the first time in 6-12 months only about 5 strands fell out!!! This is the most exciting thing to happen possibly in the whole wide world I've lost about 6-8 inches of length without it being cut and it's all limp and grim and unhappy looking fingers crossed this is the start of the return of Losty's mega swish . we are not talking about pain ok? Lets just ignore the nasty fucker for now.

Pavlov I've never heard of lidocaine patches before, I can't wait to hear how they go, sorry Ms Norty didn't fancy a prolonged stay tonight, try again tommorow with possibly less bags of black sticky sweets?

Can I join this thread?

Am utterly utterly fed up of my back. Upper back is wrecked after 3 different whiplash accidents in the past and lower back is just wrecked. They hurt all the effing time. I continue to try and work as a teacher through it all.

Eating Tramadol like sweeties

Welcome Orange, if you pop tramadol like sweeties you have found your tribe! Sorry you have to be here with us though. I'm off to bed but if you want pain killer advice, S&B advice for the internet shopper with a need for comfy yet an attempt at sexy shoes or just want to moan how no one else understands then take a seat. Rat Watch™ also available.

Here is an actual shot. No live footage recorded last night. I guess the chicken wire is actually working for now...[wanted to see the stinking rat emoticon]

Orange...tell me about teaching on Tramadol - I've never tried it. I've always assumed I couldn't. Also do you know about supply insurance matters?

Lost - no Chris Packham here. Sir David Attenborough if you please. It is a posh rat.
Pink Sorry you are having a bad time. I think you need to look for a different job.

Berrie, that has made me laugh out loud Your DH is clearly a clever and innovative designer.

pavlov good luck with new meds. Is the kitchen done?

Losty arghhh to hair loss. Mine has become much thinner but not as bad as you.

mumsnet, please help! Yesterday I could finally type normally on this thread using my ipad now it's gone hideously slow again. And weird symbols popping up. It's discombobulating

pink sorry to be blunt but you have choices here:

1. Put up with this situation and wait for your disc to re prolapse
2. Go direct to hr or a senior manager to ask for properly amended duties or the reception job.
3. Leave and find a new job.

Your manager is crap, she isn't doing her job. You could be doing reception just fine but she is blocking your way. You seem very reluctant to 'go above her head' but why? Remember that pain?

Don't mean to bully you, it's very difficult but you have to think of your health and your family.

Matilda Are you laughing at the Christmas rat or the chicken wire?
May I remind you the chicken wire was my idea. DH's was Adsa carrier bags!

ins re the codeine ... I had a projectile vomiting incident a few weeks back which I put down to mixing co-codamol with too much booze so stopped drinking (not that I was an alkie you understand lol) but then took a lot of co-codamol over 2 days and was vomiting again (no booze) so think its the codeine. I mostly just take the one doze to get that buzz where you feel no pain even though its still there so rarely take more (and now probably never will). Mine are the 500/30 kind ... the 500/8 or whatever it is you can buy over the counter and doesn't have the same effect, just like normal paracetamol. That's my input anyhoo.

No rat or kitchen tales to add in sorry!

I've been too ill (something else) to do Alexander the last wee while and it showed as was in lots of nerve pain walking and standing. Am getting back to it now I am feeling better and it is helping.

Matilda, hi, I am applying for different jobs at the mo. I think line manager is panicing as she is losing si many good staff to other homes.
I have been asked by another manager from the dom care dept if I want any bank hours as she is short with two on the sick and one leaving. So I am in the process of talking it through with dh about going bank over dom, reception and my care job. I have a week offin December.
The whole place has changed since I have been off, in so far as liw morale, staff leaving, management getting rude, and not talking to us meer staff properly.
I do still remember the oain very well and won't hesitate in going back to docs to be signed off, but I wanted to do that as a last resort, but yesterday after my shift and last night my back was stiff, today when I got up it felt likeIit was going to give out on me, so not good.
If I had 20 wks ssp would I be entitled to the other 8 if I went off again, also the pip people want to come out, I have cancelled twice ad told them I don't think I am entitled as now working and don't feel sick enough if you know what I mean, feel a bit of a fraud, they keep saying have a chat with them as I have nothingto lose and they will decide, but I feel that there are people a lot worse than me and feel a fraud ad now I am loads better.
hope everyone else is having a good day, especially pain wise.
one other question would the cold damp weather affect back pain, sciatic pain and disc problems.