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

Pink, re PIP you might well be right but I suggest you have the meeting with them. If they are offering there's nothing to lose! Can you do everything without help/pain now? Or is your DH doing things like cooking to help you? I know that the questions mainly relate to self care, though.

About the SSP,mim not sure. I am presuming that you would get it but if not yon can apply for Contribution based ESA which is roughly the same I think. If you went long term sick they might start dismissal proceedings anyway.

I wasn't quite clear about who is offering you what but am pretty clear that your manager is not your friend . Of course she has lost all her good staff. Disregard any loyalty you have to her since she really isn't interested in your welbeing.

Calling hr for advice is the way to go. I see that feels difficult but worth it. They will have no idea what is going on.

Berrie, obviously not mocking the Colditz style wiring, just chuckling at your festive Rat.

Hello. May I lurk? You all seem to have it very hard but I really need some help. I've had intermittent lower back pain for eight years. Dc1 was born 3 months ago and nOW I have massive Pain from mmy bum down my left leg. I can just about make it to the loo alone. I'm On tramadol, Ibuflam600mg and diazepam. So I think the ishcias nerve is pinched. I think in English this is sciatica? Drs just said comebback if you go lame or lose bladder control.

As result of this thread I've insisted send booked an mrt scan for Friday. Sony advice gratefully received. My sympathies to you all. This is bloody worse than child birth.

Hi Freedom
Having children definitely made my back worse. It had been intermittent until then. Interestingly my back became critical when I stopped breastfeeding after the second child and the physio linked that to the hormonal effect on the ligaments.
Sounds like you are doing the right thing and will know more after your MRI. I hope it goes well. Will you be able to lie down OK in the scanner for a while? Make sure you have had all your medication if it's likely to be a problem.

berrie shame we don't have a 'like' button for that link love a bit of UB40, but not about rats....

BERRIE thanks for your reply. I've been in bed for about a week. I am trying to move but it's excruciating. DH helped me to the bathroom upstairs today where we have a bath and I got in awkwardly, actually screamed with pain then lay there crying like a child until DH remembered the calming techniques we used during labour.

Posted too soon. I just can't believe it. I can't hold 3 month old dd. Drug cocktail means I had to stop BF. Please tell me there is light at the end of this.

Oh poor you I remember being like that so well.
It got better for me. I've had 4 good years following my discectomy and even though I have suffered again recently it has been nowhere near as bad. I know that not everyone is so lucky but don't give up hope. I think it is unlikely you will be feeling like this forever though I know it feels like it. I was sobbing with despair every night five weeks ago too. It must be very hard with a little baby though. Do you have help at hand?

Hooray to it getting better for you BERRIE sorry to hear of your recent trouble. DH is being an absolute hero, really living our marriage vows and our insurance pays in part for a nanny whilst he's at work. So on that front we're super lucky. Inlaws are coming on Thursday for a couple of nights. I'm gutted I can't even hold DD or change a nappy.

Ok. Enough woe is me. Going to call DH to administer some diazepam. I think he has left the box out of reach on purpose.

Freedom just heard you seem to have had the same issue as me after birth. Will pm you now

Well teaching onnTramadol is quite fun actually. I'm actually nice to the kids..

Don't know about insurance but senior management know I'm taking it.

freedom there is another poster on here called Coldcottage she is having trouble with logging not this thread but says please do pm her. She has had a very similar problem to you. She is much better and will be able to for you tips and hope.

Yes it is worse than childbirth mine went a week after I had the baby.

Yes get an MRI, then get an injection, it didn't give me any pain free days but it was the first step to getting better.

Meds around the clock.

I did.

Drug schedule
12am Tramadol
4am Paracetamol
6am Tramadol
8am Ibuprofen
8am Laxido (or which ever laxative you are taking to help with the Tramadol - I actually changed to 1/2 tin of prunes a day which was a better more effective method)
8am Diazepam
10am Paracetamol
12pm Tramadol
2pm Ibuprofen
2pm Laxido
2pm Diazepam
4pm Paracetamol
6pm Tramadol
8pm Ibuprofen
8pm Laxido
8pm Diazepam
10pm Paracetamol

This is the max dose of all the drugs you can take - and still breast feed.

You can take diazapam in 3 day bursts. I started on 2/2/2 but the following week needed to go to 5/2/2 as the 2s weren't strong enough for me. I only did this 3 times.

freedom meant to say Hi and you are welcome here, sorry you need to be. So sorry to hear you can't hold your baby it definitely sounds like you have muscle spasms as well as nerve pain. The screaming out in pain is due to the muscles being locked in spasm, it's really quite scary the pain it can produce. Are you breastfeeding? Sorry if you have already said. If you are not, then it might be worth talking to the doctor about diazepam to help reduce those spasms. You will need to take between 2-5mg x 3 daily for a couple of days and may find a huge improvement. It won't fix the problem that is causing this, you still need to get to the route of that and so the MRi will hopefully work on that issue, but reducing the muscle spasms mean you can at least move a little more comfortably, without crying out in pain, and maybe enough for you to hold your baby a little.

Have you tried heat? heat patches, gel packs, hot water bottles (be careful to check they are not over full, or old and not directly onto skin), as they can help with spasms hugely.

oh sorry, x-posted since I last read and then run to do other (birthday party related) stuff

I spoke to the breastfeeding network and as long as you only take diazapam for a 3 day period then have at least a 3 day break and keep the dose low (2/2/2 or 5/2/2) you can still breastfeed

My tens machine was a life saver was my go to for big pain (crying unmovable pain) which helped me avoid Oremorph (which you can also take while BFing) 9/10 times I could avoid taking the morphine thanks to a top number on the TENS machine. It was the only way I could eat some evenings.

Oops repeating myself.

I've been struggling to get onto the thread too, that was weird, ipad and phone both saying 'no thanks' and logging out of the internet when I tried. .

To those of you stuck in the awful bits at the moment it will get better I promise. I remember last Christmas I was in stupid unbelievable pain but I really have to remind myself about how bad it was because even the memory fades just like childbirth. I can remember trying to force myself to move upright, I just couldn't get past a certain point the pain was hideous, just insane and H was there 'come on, you've given birth' and trying to grit my teeth to explain it was just like that actually. There are a long list of reasons he is STBexH I will remember to tag that one on to the end . (And no Pavlov you do keep asking if he is much help and I forget to answer, no he bloody isn't, he is about as much use as a chocolate teapot and a martyred one at that, I've had a really bad run with my BP - 180/110 at one point - and I asked him if he could help by having the boys a bit more, I got a cold blank look and that was the last I heard of it, thank goodness for ACE inhibitors). SORRY back to you lot, it was horrible and it was sore and it seemed to be forever but it slowly, imperceptibly got better until it was just a memory. Do a tiny bit of movement whenever you can, don't get stuck in one position, take your meds on a good schedule and for goodness sake protect your stomachs if you are taking NSAIDS regularly. This too will pass.

I have an awful cold and cough and sore tummy although the worst bit seems to be it's making my foot hurt, I will never get used to this stupid body.

Why oh why oh why?
Huge puddle on kitchen floor coming from the dishwasher which no longer works...I suspect THE RAT!
Why now on the eve of going back to work? Sigh.

I would second the tens machine Freedom turned up full whack!

The Rat! . Do you have rat based insurance that would get you a brand new functioning dishwasher with anti rat spray? That's a thing right?

Rat insurance... scurries off to google.

I can see I am going to need some help with the washing up!

Oh see if you could disnefy your life you could just put on a dress and sing a song and all the little woodland creatures would come and do your cleaning for you. I saw it in a film once so it must be true.

Oh God, it could be The Rat, couldn't it? Do you think the fucker has chewed through a wire? You need to reset that trap with something a lot more tempting than a bran flake, berrie!

I should be out wandering around town aimlessly fuelled by co-codamol having fun while the cleaner makes our house look a bit nicer, but her son is ill so she can't come. Major first world problem, I know, & we've only had a cleaner for 6 months - but I'm totally dependent now (far more addictive than the drugs) & I've been happily watching the house become more & more of a mess in the knowledge it would be blitzed today. Bollocks.

So true about the memory of pain fading, Lost. My pain keeps changing around & I'd forgotten how nasty the lower leg pain can get - & now it's back less than a week after I told the consultant i hardly get any lower leg pain now.

How Berrie looks in my head right now.

Pffft! Chokes on coffee and mince pie!