The Back Pain Emporium, Internet Shopping, Drugs and Dealing with Doctors. Thread 6.

[MatildaTheRedNosedReinCat]

For anyone experiencing back pain it can be a very scary time. What is wrong? Who can help? How long will this last? We,on this thread are here to support you;offer empathy and help to navigate the almost impossible task of getting a diagnosis and the right treatment.We are not doctors but people who have trodden this path slowly and painfully. We also chat a LOT and welcome all newcomers. It is strictly non competetive regarding pain and no niggle is too minor.

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. Not to mention the pain of dealing with claiming disablity benefits .

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,sometimes drink wine , 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 brew and say hello

This is our 6th thread, here is the 5th, which has links too the others:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/a2203923-Back-Pain-and-Internet-Shopping-Thread-Number-5

thanks frosty and matilda ... I never used to think sympathy helped until my Dad died and the cards helped ... then my sister, etc so now I am a card or flower sender at the drop of a hat too

you gain a bit strength from people supporting you .. just like this thread

tongue-wise hopefully be a new woman soon then just back to back problems which I am more used to

bollocks is my fave swear word but at the minute can't say Bs so more like gollocks - you have to laugh

Mrs Russia and I have been laughing at the television- the twerking and disco dancing on it - look Mrs Russia - next week that'll be you and me. Today we watched 2 elephants going at it on a wild life program - Mrs Russia said a- look Mrs ENGLAND, you and me Christmas at home with husband.

ally (((hugs))) the stitches thing sounds awful. Can you do something like sip cold soup (Heinz tomato is nice cold) through a long straw and put the end of the straw gently over the tongue towards the back of your mouth (depends on your gag reflex) so it avoids the stitches etc.? Have you tried using a children's toothbrush, might they be softer and easier on you? Or even just rubbing some toothpaste around if you are worried about feeling fresh? A friend needed to do this after she walked into a glass door in a nightclub and lost her front teeth.

I am sorry for the loss of your sister. I hope you recover quickly and 2015 is better.

frosty at Mrs. Russia and the elephants.

Currently gingerly making my way home on the train. Didn't sleep last night at all. Good news Matilda re: suing, my friend who was driving has been in contact to say his insurance company is so awful (in Greece) that the family solicitor is actively encouraging me & DP to sue as he thinks it will kick start the insurance into defending the claim against the drunk driver. Drunk driver still claiming we are at fault as in Greece the weight of the law rests against the person pulling out of the junction, even though we had already pulled out when he came over the hill and he was on the wrong side of the road and 2.5x the drink limit, etc.etc.etc. The fire brigade cleaned the road (which the police say was a crime) before the police could get there, which means all the evidence the police has is that our cars were on opposite sides of the road very close to the junction, with the other driver claiming we were still in the process of pulling out when he hit us not fucking true And because the other guy lost control the impact was side on, meaning it does look like we were halfway across the road because our car was bent in half, which we weren't but it is so difficult to prove. We have an independent witness but apparently that means little in Greece.

For the 1000th time I am so glad that DP wasn't driving and it was our friend's Dad's car rather than the hire car so DP and I don't have to deal with any of this bureaucracy.

Thanks tinsel you guys are so supportive. Not a lover of soup but have slurped back a few tins out of needs must - may never want to see soup (or a straw) ever again. Yes am doing the rubbing toothpaste thing but am desperate for a good clean.

I am about to try and poke in a warm mushy banana - am all excited after a week of soup and smoothies .. wish me luck!

ally Have just had a thought - I have one of those teeny tiny brushes for cleaning under a wisdom tooth that is growing sideways (would rather do this than have it out!). As they are so small, could you get one of those and gently clean with it? It shouldn't stretch your mouth, the heads are less than 1cm big. How about baked beans for mushy food? I often eat those without chewing at all yes, I am grim.

TY tinsel I will look into that

Baked beans without chewing? - clearly I have a lot to learn lol

Got the banana down - it hurt but ok now

Tins, all I can say is that it is worth exploring the legal route. Since you don't even have a diagnosis yet, let alone any recovery period or long term prognosis, do expect the whole thing to take a very long time. But that's ok. In cases of Conditional Fee Agreements, the lawyers will only take the case on if there is a greater than 50% chance of winning so you can be guided by them

One thing that I did both for medics and lawyers was to create a chronology of events with clear dates and exactly what happened. It makes it much easier for anyone to evaluate than a long jumbled story. I'm glad your friends are on board. Surely the drunkenness counts for something?? Anyway, a discussion can do no harm. In the meantime concentrate on getting yourself better ASAP. Unfortunately, although Queen Sq is excellent, the waiting times to be seen are awful. It might, though be worth getting a private appt just to discuss what is wrong and take it from there. Depending on where you live the consultant might be able to recommend somewhere more local or, indeed, feel it is more an orthopaedic problem.

Ally, can you suck on chocolate? Maltesers melt very nicely. As, I'm sure many others do. Please road test and report back. Wishing you quick release for the pain. Will the stitches dissolve eventually?

Ohhh, I forgot to say, I am wearing my first ever lidocain patch. I can't really feel it there which makes me think good things about it's numbing powers. GP had never heard of them for back pain but was happy to try. So another great result from sharing info on here.

Thank you Matilda, you have been so much help. They emailed me back this afternoon setting out the agreement and that they were keen to represent me & DP. They will take 25% if we win, plus an insurance fee (protection against recovery of costs by other party). I wouldn't even have considered claiming compensation until you suggested it and now facing possibly paying for private treatment compensation, whenever it arrives, would really come in handy. I will draw up a timeline now I'm on leave (excellent idea!) and get all the paperwork together.

Pleased the lidocain is working

Ally Have been thinking about mushy food this afternoon - mashed potato in baked beans (with the sauce) all mixed together and lots of butter; apple/fruit compote (with custard); semi-melted ice cream... would it work to eat very cold pudding first and then have something that's a bit more painful (but nicer, like a banana) to eat afterwards whilst your mouth is still numb?

Great about the patch Matilda
Ally whilst I can in no way speak for others re their pain, I have had excruciating back pain and been with my sister after tongue surgery and I wouldn't be so sure the back is worse. From what I saw tongue surgery is horrendous and hugely traumatic and at the same time you have to worry about whether you have cancer and your actual mortality. You are in no way a wuss and you have all my sympathy.
Glad others are OK. I am knackered! The bags worked well thanks. DH is on his work's do and I have come home, fed the kids , made my hot water crust turkey and stuffing pie with cranberry stuffing. Now I want to have a bath, something to eat and go to bed I think. I need to get some sleep in before DH comes home stinking of alcohol, snoring like a pig and telling me how much he loves me!

Sigh...any cooks here?
So the pie has come out and the turkey and sausage meat stuffing ball mixture has shrunk away from the crust by a good 1-2 cm all the way round letting out about a pint of fluid which has left the pastry soggy. I've popped it back in the oven but it won't be salvageable I don't think.
I've some short crust in the fridge...would you wrap the cake shaped meat lump and pop it back in the oven?

Hmm... I'm not very good with pastry but it doesn't sound salvageable. If you have the pastry I'd be tempted to line a pie tin, put the mixture on top and make a very rough lattice over the top of the pie (in case the mixture is still wet) and bake it like that.

I would be tempted to pop down to M&S .

Matilda great news the patch is working. Hope I hard understood correctly that it's giving you some relief.

Ally can you a friend freeze pureed fruit like for kids and you suck on it. I know it sounds a bit adding insult to injury and hope this difficulty with food is over soon.

tins great you're getting your paper trail together - useful and will pass the time until scan

Hollie sorry no clue but hope it turned out ok in the end

Due to my illness we've had a lot of help. We hired a nanny who we'll keep on until I'm allowed to lift DD, my in laws have been with us 2 extended weekends,

Matilda - seriously you think I haven't tried chocolate? Lololol - try sticking a malteser in your cheek and then not moving your tongue to get it down you - can't be done - ditto tiny wispa bites - still have some buttons to try though

Writing down lidocain patches - I'll try anything (back now)

Thanks Berrie sorry you understand but glad too if you get me - I remember you said she was fine now though!

Tinsel - yes tiny amounts of ice-cream possible but I'm talking half a teaspoon ... takes me an hour to get a yoghurt in and I've been pureeing fruit for a while ta frosty - another thing I don't want to see again for a bit lol - oh and in-laws thank god we didn't tell them or they'd be down "helping" eek! Frosty just acccept the help and don't be tempted to do things no matter what!

Thanks one and all for getting me through a rough day - feeling a bit better today - might attempt to push a scrambled egg in now - so sorry for hijacking our lovely back pain thread for something else but you guys understand pain like no-one else. Sorry if I missed anyone else to thank - I blame the drugs and the menopause took my brain away some time ago.

Now I am slightly better (up top) my back is sore again. Dunno if you guys have discovered this yet but when you have something worse wrong with you (sudden bereavement, pain elsewhere) your brain gives your back a free holiday - sadly you are mostly too miserable to notice until the back pain returns but hey its a bonus right? God we are sad lol

Hope you guys have a better day too x

sorry for hijacking our lovely back pain thread
Ho ho ho - should I not have written about THE RAT then? Ooops!
I might post a picture of the pie later - give you all a laugh. Was thinking of sending a pic to all my family so they knew what they had to look forward to!

So! My list don't tell me that I'd be better getting on with it than typing on here

Clean the whole house
Ice Christmas cake and decorate (with the cutters I ordered several weeks ago - £6 Amazon prime or £1.98 someone else but delivery between 12th Dec and 5th Jan - guess which ones I went for - oh bugger!)
Make blue cheese, basil and hazelnut ep's
Make lactose free trifle
Do a water change on DD's fish - two died yesterday - (anyone know about fin rot?)
Go to supermarket and buy bread, salad etc
Extend table, find Christmas table cloth, decorate room
Wrap Dad's gift.
Find already wrapped and hidden gifts.
Get round to telling hungover DH that the council have rejected our extension plan as being too big.
Ring and find out when my Dad and wife are coming over - see if he wants us to pick him up.
Go to Mum's to meet up with rest of family for long walk in Country park (can't actually do the long bit without becoming a hunch back about half way round)
Back to our house for final preps for Dad's visit
Do Dad's visit
Go to bed thinking about everyone descending on us tomorrow for another festive meal and bemoan the fact that we have not cleaned the whole house yet...

haha berrie no the rat was much more entertaining than my tongue

my Xmas "to do" list:
have a shower
get dressed

that's it lol - bet you all hate me now haha

Ally, I am a bit to admit this but when did that ever stop me? a couple of weeks ago I woke in the night to extremes pain caused by a tiny boil spot on my index finger. It was throbbing. In the morning I bravely undertook the necessary surgery squeezed it amidst much shrieking and cursing. I was unable to believe just how much this stupid thing fucking hurt. Especially given both my drugs and former experiences . Seems that one does not become accustomed to pain per se even if I am used to back pain. I have frequently thought I would not do well under torture . And, whats more, I suppose it's possible that your tongue hurts even more than my finger . Seriously, I hope it is improving and we can stop trying to force purée down you in time for a Christmas feast

Frosty, just say no. I mean pleasantly but no, of course you don't want more people in the house and you certainly don't want to go to them. You need your own bed. Be kind but firm. No, thankyou very much, but no. Are you going home today? My room is in the loft and I managed it ok as long as I wasn't going up and down too much. A nanny is an excellent idea. How is the pain? Any inkling of whether it feels better yet? Probably way too soon.

Can anyone please, please motivate me to do some wrapping up today? Please???

Hollie. Go back to bed. That's it, really.

lol @ matilda and the finger pain

Seriously though - under torture - just threaten to rip off a nail and I'll give you all up - every last thing I know - I think the more pain we get the less we want it (or can cope without drugs) - physio and GP seem to agree with that but how to get brain to co-operate is a mystery

why is it F before the Xmas faces? - I am thinking C for Christmas or S for Santa - my tiny brain is baffled

hollyberrie just reading your list is making me tired!!