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

So angry. Don't know what to do next short of paying for a scan myself (any recommendations?).

Due to an unrelated leg injury I need an x ray. X ray dept called this morning and I asked about the MRI. When I spoke to the MRI dept it turns out I have been referred for a ROUTINE appointment and my GP did NOT call last week as she promised she did. She has told me 3 times now that it's an urgent referral. I called the surgery this morning and spoke to the other GP I have been seeing (the one who referred me to the clinic) who said that she will get the referral upgraded but that the next urgent appt is 28th January.

The hospital were so rude - both x ray and MRI. WHen the MRI lady told me I burst into tears (unlike me) as it was such a huge shock and I felt betrayed as the GP kept saying it was just the system and she couldn't do anything and that she thought I had a disc injury or compressed nerves and needed an urgent referral. MRI lady just kept saying "You need to speak to your GP" and tried to get me off the phone. It's a six week waiting list, which I could have been much fucking further through if they'd referred me properly in the first placed.

I hate the NHS so much right now and the Tories for cutting everything.

Ins I've had several private MRIs there is a company called In Health who do all the nhs ones at our local hospital and offer private scans within a very short time. You do need a GP referral but a phone call should be enough to get that. Google to see if they are nearby. Beware the very cheap places, they have ancient old scanners.

Diazepam is wondrous, just taken second dose. Slight mishap though. Went to lunch with nice SIL and forgot to put Blue Badge out so got a yellow ticket.. Just pay and move on is my current feeling.

Magso what happened to your car? Hope you get it back soon. Very reliant on mine.

Ipad 3 so not so old. It's fine except on this thread. Mumsnet say it's a glitch. I say it's a PITA! Maybe I'm not welcome .

INSEL I had the same attitude from local mri depts in my small town. They have people crying to them regularly and I guess it's just their way of dealing with it. I know it makes the stress worse, which in turn seizes up the muscles, which causes more pain. Which is why I just booked an appt then shouted at various German GPs to give me a sodding referral in time for scan. We could have managed to pay if I hadn't got one. Can you Politely and directly Insist with deadline of scan appt?

Booked an appt in next big city I mean.

Thanks freedom and Matilda.

I have spoken to the GP again who said I am in the middle of a very long waiting list and that the radiologist has triaged me as not urgent and that nothing she has said to them this afternoon will change that. She said I should let them know if my symptoms change. I said I had constantly done that and got nowhere. She said she couldn't comment on that as she hasn't examined me on the times I have come in when it's got worse. FFS! freedom I asked following your reply and she said the only other hospitals I can go to are within the NHS area. She looked and said they all had equal waiting lists but that she would amend my request to say I would take a cancellation. She also said she would note the complaint on my file. I don't think that will get me anything except GPs who don't take me seriously.

Apparently the only thing the hospital said was "if this is causing you mental distress maybe you can pay"

Fortunately my DM has managed to get me recovered on her health insurance as an existing patient so they have authorised £1,500 for diagnostics and related consultant advice... do you know anyone in NE England who is good? I will look up In Health. My local Spire hospital has quoted me £636 for two MRIs (as the pain is in two places in my back) inclusive of a consultants report but not consultation. Does that sounds about right? The RVI in Newcastle won't take me privately without a consultant referral (which I can't get) and were quoting approx £1,100 - there's a big price difference between the two.

How can I tell if a private hospital has good scanners?

I am also writing a complaint letter to go to the practice manager. Don't think it will achieve anything except make people unwilling to help me.

Sorry the news about the private healthcare came after I posted the above this afternoon... it is good but I am still so upset about the way the NHS has handled it that I can't focus on the positive news.

I hope everyone else is having a better day! :)

Brilliant news that you can get diagnostics done privately inselaffe on your Mums health insurance. Your Mum is looking after you. The NHS is very good at some things (once you get past the hoops) and absolutely awful at others. it struck me as rediculous that I could walk into minor injuries ( broken wrist) and get Xrayed and splinted up within a few hours, but can't get the much more life affecting issue of my back MRI'd or X-rayed or indeed much medical support beyond my long awaited physio(1 week to go) I went privately after a mess up with no follow up after a long stay in hospital (emergency care itself is pretty good) and was surprised to be sent off for all the tests on the spot. No queuing or waiting half a year! I hope you find a good specialist. Private medical insurance can be very good for accidents.

I'm sure that Spire should have decent scanners. They have a good reputation I think. There is one particular place in London where they just do scans in a tower block. They are quite cheap but definitely old equipment. I paid about the same as you've been quoted for lumber spine and pelvis so that sounds right. I was quoted £1200 in Central London for am MRI and on that occasion decided to wait

The nhs is indeed infuriating. I have cried more tears through frustration at all the beaurocracy I have battled than through the pain itself at times. Most individual people are nice and well meaning but the systems just don't work. pavlov waited something like five months to get a scan report.

Anyway good news re the private care. Will they find a consultation separately?

Glad to read your good news Insel and sorry for the frustration. When I feel like it's just too much- not just this but other life stuff- I allow myself a cry sometimes on the phone to bureaucrats whilst shouting can you hear my 3 month old crying? It's coz I can't hold her or move to her. Get me an appt then ask DH to hold me and make myself list things outloud I'm grateful for. It makes me cry a bit more but overall calms me down

Have any of you cut your hair due to this? DH can get me to the bath every couple of days but can't manage to comb or care for my long hair. He's so knackered after the stress of getting me spasm free up the stairs, in the bath and back and dressed that he can't cope with the hair too. I'm thinking of getting it cut off into a v. short style until on the mend.

Do you want shot hair,Freedom? If you quite fancy it then fine but if it will make you sad I wouldn't. Could you, for example., plait it or keep it tied back? Dry shampoo has improved a lot.

I actually hate going because of the enforced sitting. I can't lie back for the washing and head massage. I've had my hair cut whilst standing. My hairdresser is very accommodating.

I'm kind of thinking a short style I can do myself is going to make me feel more independent. It'll grow back. And any strain I can remove from DH is a bonus. He's carrying the whole load poor sod.

I have cut my hair a bit shorter but not much. I am also lucky in that I can still move around despite it being painful so I don't need to although I have stopped wearing my hair in elaborate styles (like lots of plaits) that require contortions/holding still.

Batiste dry shampoo is pretty good - you can usually last three days without feeling minging. I'm not sure if you can get it in Germany - I will ask a friend. I also find that wearing a big stretchy headband like this and then tying my hair on top so that it doesn't touch my face or ears helps me forget if it is greasy.

Sorry, x posts! The only thing I would say if you are sure you want to do it is maybe steer clear of anything with a longer fringe - I had one cut in and it keeps getting in my eyes, so my natural response is to try and flick it out of the way using my neck/head. Quickly leads to ouch!

You can get MRI's for lower back area near me from £250-£400 depending on the location.

I had one in Swindon for £400. Called up and had one in 2h. Open one too.

I am here lurking, have been reading and listening, but no time to post.Will try to sort that tonight and respond to posts, I tried last night, fell asleep with laptop on me, sat upright!

Working, just about. mobility improved enough to crawl in with my crutch, and stand at my desk. Luckily it's literally by the door (DH drops me at a barrier, I walk around a corner, through a door to a lift, up 3 flights, then two security doors from the lift and about 10 steps to my desk, so hardly any walking) and I can get to the loo, make a drink without really passing people if I time it right (not that I do that, I get Ross to pick me up a super strong coffee from my fave cafe on route and that lasts me, i'll nuke it through the day, gross I know, but better than sludge coffee) and so I hardly had to move yesterday and no-one really noticed I don't think. I had two clients to see, and then it was obvious I couldn't move much but I just cracked on.

However, last night, I painted a wall I know, I know. I took a shit ton of painkillers, sugar soaped the walls ready to paint, and being ever impatient, used a hair dryer to dry a wall so i could paint it (not really a wall, a tiny slither of wall near the back door). I didn't stretch, or bend, I used the ladder and then sat on the floor to do the bottom bit. Suffering today, but fuck it, I love decorating! well, I don't really enjoy the boring prep stuff but the painting bit I do. This isn't decent colour, it's just base prep, but looks better already. It was lovely as the children were in bed, DH was out for the night, I had the kitchen to myself, and I just enjoyed working on making it ours. I hate that I can't do this stuff any more, it it weren't for my back I would be cutting in the ceiling, and all sorts, but I just did what I could and lowered my expectations of what I considered to be successful for me. I then had a cuppa in the kitchen that I cleared once I had finished, and looked at how it's gonna be next week. it's not kayaking, but it's something.

About to take lots of painkillers and go to work. Had a meeting that has been cancelled, so now can immerse myself into risk assessments and not speak to anyone. Pain is high, I have numb patches that I don't care to think of, but I can walk, unlike at the weekend and so I am ploughing on. 19th December is my goal, I can do that.

Oh. And my big boss has authorised my absence for surgery and recovery as paid disability leave, so it won't count towards my sick record. YEY.

Pavlov

You make me feel very feeble! Are you generally a determined, go getting type of person? nutter

Painted a wall! Pavlov you are slightly mad! But I understand the need to decorate yourself-(remembers crazy things I have done along similar lines...) and it sounds like you enjoyed it and were careful. Its important to have some enjoyment. Can you work less ( short hours/ days off) in the run up to 19th so you don't deplete your resources too much before your surgery? We worry about you!

Have swabbed the lower cupboards with disinfectant one last time. I think it is safe to put the stuff back in now The Rat has gone is on the other side of the chicken wire with his cutters
I have enjoyed it all being on the table in the conservatory within easy reach - shame really.
I have had the same hair for 20 years. I loathe going to the hairdressers - it is on a par with the dentist for me. I always end up having to go because I have started to look like a wicked witch. I do dream of having a short bob with red bits in and then I see someone of my age with something similar and realise I would look very very silly

Ah- had my hair cut into a short crop last week (it was an outgrown shortish bob before that was driving me mad). I have very thin fine hair so now I look half bald- but is easy to look after- just ruffle occasionally. The sticking up look is in right? Its also chilly on the neck! I would agree only cut it if you fancy shorter hair.

pavlov

berrie go for it I say ... I am probably older than you and have been experimenting with different colours of red ranging from bright red to orange to slightly pink .. bored now but it was fun!

How old do you think I am Ally ?
I must admit - I have given up on the grey hair plucking now - there are way too many. Might be now or never time!
Off to last physio session in a bit. She is going to tell me off for not using the ice pack 4 times a day again. It's tooooooo cold!

Fuck I've packs Heat every time.

I just want to say, Thankyou from the bottom of my heart to someone. You know why and I am touched and delighted beyond words. Small tear leakages here

hmmm berrie lets see .. you are still working (but so am I) ... I am going with late 40s here and hope I've not offended

mind it would be nice to find someone older for a change lol (I'll be 57 shortly)

Should we do an age- fess? I know I'm old enough to be someone's mum on here

Ok, I'm 49. You are all invited to my party next year

Ds1 is 25 today < god that does make me feel old>.