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

Tins, I'm not a doctor, but let's face it, yours hasn't ahem been that marvellous in her advice-giving so far. Ibuprofen is a mild anti inflammatory and for good effect should be taken regularly for levels to build up in the blood and the anti inflammatory effect to be reached. As before, it is far preferable to treat pain before it becomes agony. Obviously in most situations one wouldn't dive in with tramadol, but you have some sort of a nasty injury and have been in extreme pain. Tramadol is more effective if taken with paracetamol so if you are trying to limit your dose but keep the pain at bay (and still have some kind of a life) you could take the paracetamol x 4 /day with one tramadol. Then, if the pain ramps you still have another tramadol in reserve. Anyway, what I'm saying is don't wait for agony to arrive first, it's way better to pre empt pain and usually results in taking less rather than more drugs.

Feel free to ignore

Here endeth the lesson.

Thanks all. Ive suffered from depression on and off over the years and counselling seemed to stir it all up more. Im not depressed now though and agree that some cbt for this would be a different thing. It was really odd reading about it today and it ringing so many bells. It explained a lot like having to be on the end of a row in the theatre. Crowds.Feeling sick in concerts especially if the lights are on. Hating being at the hairdressers. All about being trapped!
Good luck tomorrow tins and ally

Thanks Matilda I have been logging my drugs and normally I take:

8x 500mg paracetamol
6x 200mg ibuprofen (was taking 8x for two weeks until I read the packet )
6x 50mg Tramadol
1x amitripyline (before sleep)

And I take it in that order - I will swap the ibuprofen and Tramadol around and see if that helps.

Thanks Holly. DP is just as excited as me about it - he is coming with me to the scan to ward off any rudeness from doctors etc. (is at the same shit hospital) leaving non-English speaking MIL to welcome non-German speaking DSis and DF (DM coming later on the train). And to assist me in demanding a copy of the scan as per what Matilda told me to ask for above. I have been told no results tomorrow but will make a GP appointment for early next week and fingers crossed the results will be back by then.

PS - I take them as two together at spaced intervals, not 8x at once!

Good luck ally and tins

Hollie I don't have any good advice but I think if you're concerned and taking action that's really positive. So and well done to you for looking into it

Cake looked ace btw.

Sounds like you're taking as much as you can the, Tins, sorry, I got the impression you were rationing things and suffering unnecessarily. Re the scan, usually it's just radiograph ears you meet. You have to remove all metal so best to wear soft bra, leggings etc. DH won't be able to come in but can wait outside. They have always been perfectly pleasant.

Re the scan disc, it's just a form to fill in and you might need passport or similar for ID. Doubtful if they will just give it to you that would be too easy. But, yes, do request the disc and the report.

Hollie, good luck with fighting your demons. Hope it doesn't add to Christmas stresses.

Radiographers, not ears!!!

I forgot to update on post op meeting with surgeon

• The amount of disk nucleus that had leaked out was massive - he removed all the broken bits inside as well and there's pretty much just the outer ring left
• Wound/stitches is healing well
• I should be fine with 2 ibuprofen600 a day
• Over the next four weeks I'm allowed to do nothing did you hear that DH? other than rest, lie down, walk.
• I can sit on the loo and if necessary to eat otherwise sitting should be avoided
• Physio starts in 5 weeks

I feel ok. Went to a restaurant today, had to get up 3-4 times but it was manageable.

Frosty, definitely the right decision then. Glad you are doing so well. Take it steady.

Frosty glad to hear that you went out and that what the Surgeon said sounded encouraging.
Thanks for all being so nice. Was just having a bad day and it really isn't proportionate to the hardship on here right now. I suspect that I'm just stressing because DH is going away for a fortnight next month and it will be harder to pretend everything is OK. So enough now and here's to a positive day for everyone tomorrow.

Frosty That's awesome news :) Be gentle to yourself and enjoy the quiet time with DH and DD. Thanks for the good luck wishes.

That's okay Matilda. I have read the leaflet - have everything except the soft bra but I'll just take it off before the scan. Will bring my driving licence and my best work voice.

I have been 'allowed' 1/3 shot glass of whiskey. Merry Christmas! Watching more Call the Midwife, DP lying on the sofa behind me playing on his phone and all the Christmas lights on with presents under the tree. Finally finished all the rooms, all the Christmas linen, all bar one of the presents (DFather wants me to wrap DM's ).

Holly As people have told me (gently) before - the thread isn't here for comparison, just for support :) Your concerns are just as good as everyone else's (((hug)))

frosty sounds like your recovery is going very well - mine was a lot slower but then I am one of the oldies lol. I did however perfect the art of eating and drinking whilst lying down so its always something I can fall back on (not as a career sadly haha!). Just don't be tempted to do too much as you are doing so well or you could have a wee set back - be selfish!

Good luck tinsel - hope you get the results soon.

berrie I have a lot of phobias/anxieties too but you can overcome some of them or at least learn to live with it/avoid things where possible. Xmas is a stressful time for most people (not me as already said we avoid all family hehe!)

for all those stuck with family (unless you actually want them!) and for those on lots of pain meds I always found alcohol a favourite pain relief (even lying down with a straw in it!) though have to give up now sadly

Am first up I see (surprised I got any sleep at all) but have taken some tram and diaz so maybe have a nap soon zzzzzzzzz

Ally, good luck for this afternoon. Have all my fingers crossed for you for good news and hopefully a much less sore tongue very soon.xx

Matilda I owe you huge bunches of . Swapped the Tramadol and ibuprofen around and so far having a great day :) Less pain in the morning is making me less miserable throughout, thank you.

MRI scan was very freaky but I did meet my third nice person at the local hospital, the radiographer. Receptionist was all 'computer says no' when I asked for a copy of the scan and radiographer said it was the receptionist's job to hand out the forms but then the radiographer went and got me a generic request form. Apparently I need to hand it in at the hospital with copies of some ID and then I can get a copy of the scan and report. Radiographer also put on Christmas music for me in the headphones, which helped a lot for the second scan.

MIL has gone completely verrueckt as normal (three day rule - we're on day four). She marched us into the bank to shout at them via DP for some transaction charges and then spent the whole ride home talking to herself in the back of the car. The problem is that she constantly mutters to herself and then barks out a question to you about whatever she has been muttering about... so you tune out after a bit (and even have your own convos in front of her) and then have to scrabble to reply properly. DP currently hiding upstairs doing pretend DIY... or, really I am not sure what he is doing. It involves the drill but I have no idea why he's using it.

How is everyone else doing in the last few days? ally Am thinking of you.

PS - at first everyone tried to refuse me a copy of the form. It was only when I insisted that "they had told me I could have a copy" that magically the form appeared. I just omitted to tell them it was you lot who told me!

Glad it went OK Ins My first MRI has gone down as one of the most traumatic events of my life EVER EVER!
Hope you are OK Ally

oh no berrie what happened? At least it is over though eh?

No lab results to be had sadly and consultant off on 3 weeks hols now so get them on 13th Jan. But he did say "100% confident no cancer" and also that I should NOT require any more surgery just 2 monthly check-ups. Stitches have to stay in though.

A bit deflated that final all-clear can't be given officially but I'll bounce back from that shortly.

Thanks so much for all the support - don't know how I managed without you guys before . Have taken every drug in the house to get me through today so should be zzzzzzing fine tonight. Am eating carefully as still sore but have at last managed chocolate . Signed off for ages but who cares - might not go back at all haha!

Oh Berrie, you poor thing! You weren't in one of the mobile lorries from hell, were you? I had my last one in one of those & was close to total panic (saved only by diazepam!).

Ally, it's good news that the consultant is so confident it's not cancer, isn't it, but it would have been nice to get the official results. Hope your pain improves - tongues are so sensitive. I make a total fuss when I get an ulcer on mine, so can't imagine how much yours must hurt.

Hope your recovery is going well & that you're enjoying some peace & quiet at home, frosty. Your posts about Russian woman made me laugh.

Need to catch up with thread - have had some lingering bug & still feeling nauseous & generally crap. Was worried in case my stomach was irritated by the NSAIDS, so I came off for a couple of weeks, which wasn't a great decision as back is shite now & the stomach was clearly something viral. Have been feeling sorry for myself so not posting much. Hope everyone has as little pain as possible over Christmas.

Ally, hurrah! So pleased your appointment went well. Trust me, no doctor would say that if they weren't sure. Cancerous tumours almost always look different to benign growths. I'm sure he knows exactly what he is talking about. It strikes me that it would be a good idea to anaesthetise your tongue with a glass of something refreshing strongly alcoholic . Seriously, I hope you can relax and the pain continues to improve.

Tins , glad my advice has helped. Swallowing enough pills to sink an average cargo ship has clearly paid off in terms of experience. Actually it makes me feel cross that neither GP nor pharmacist gives proper advice about meds. When I did my pain management course there were seven others in that group and nobody really understood what they were taking or how different meds had different actions or indeed similar. One person thought his anti depressant was a painkiller . Glad the MRI is done, hopefully it will lead, finally to some answers. When you know what's wrong, you an, at least look to finding out how best to get better. In the meantime, take it easy. Mil sounds, ahem, challenging.

Hollie, hope you are enjoying the cake. Who ever said a cake could only be enjoyed well done? I prefer medium rare .

I feel nobody should feel deterred from posting about other bothersome or worrying issues. We are a support group, that's holistic, not just confined to back pain. I have some PTSD which directly relates to my back but isn't back pain. I might post about that if it's bad. Equally all our lives are complicated and made more difficult when pain is added. So, in short, no more apologising for seemingly unrelated things.

Loon, sorry you've been ill. Sick and sore back is a combination. I had my lashes done today(I know) and the girl had a stinking cold. She was leaning over my face for almost an hour so don't be surprised if I come here whining about being poorly very soon. Feel free to tell me it serves me right though I will look enviably glamorous in my sickbed .

Ps, for those being abstemious due to meds, I have never stopped having a drink if I feel like it. Just be a little careful and enjoy a pleasantly woozy feeling if you want to. you didn't read this here. strictly not official medical advice of course.

Ally Sorry you couldn't get a definitive answer but hopefully you will be able to relax a bit over Christmas.
My MRI was years ago - sorry if I gave the wrong end of the stick - was just sympathising with INS I wasn't in a lorry but I am really claustrophobic and was also in a huge amount of pain with no proper pain relief at that point and had to lie down for two scans which was agony. The ear phones/CD didn't work and I had to say my 7x table over and over (The 8x didn't work - was too hard and panic kept slipping in! ) I went alone and couldn't drive myself home - sat in the car park shaking. Horrible!
I was slurring the second time I had to do it - I'd had so many drugs before hand!

Anyway. Glad this day has everyone out the other side OK.
Loon sorry you are feeling rubbish and hope you feel a bit better soon.
I've got a rotten cold too and so tempted to take some tramadol to make me feel better but too scared that I will stop breathing did it once when I had a horrendous throat infection and scared DH witless

Matilda what did you have done to your lashes?

Ally will you do anything nice tonight? Will you be able to switch off the worry for 3 weeks do you think? I hope so. I watched seasons and seasons of Grey's Anatomy while I was off with my back a few weeks ago - kept me going. Not that I'd recommend a medical drama in your situation. Is there something you could watch? What sort of thing do you enjoy? Do you like to read?

LOON sorry you've been unwell. Hope you feel better soon. Yeah Mrs Russia was ace.

TINS did they not say anything about the pictures then - even will you get copies? Electronic copies too? When I'm well my .MIL tactics are

• asking after the extended family
• telling her how wonderful her son is (this is a fine art - how much can I get away with before I'm suspected of taking the piss - last week I got earnest nodding and agreement in response to "DH is the embodiment of his wedding vows")
• asking her to show me something - usually that I want to eat - apple turnover, bread dumplings, roast leg of pork

Admittedly, you might not manage this when in pain.

Matilda yes I too am curious as to what you''ve had done - any diamante involved? I don't go for beauty treatments myself since I got so ticklish during a pedicure I accidentally kicked the pedicure lady in the head whilst guffawing.

Ally of course you want the official statement but 100% sure it's not cancer sounds like a good start to me. I hope the pain lessens soon. Let us know when you get the black on white all clear.

So Inlaws MIL, FIL, BIL + girlfriend are coming over on the 25th - my mum and dad will still be here. I'm anticipating 2 potential excitement points

1. the new grandma faceoff (DD 4 months tomorrow) I've told my mum to hold back -she's had 2 weeks - to which she replied "Of course. But I'll still win mwah mwah haaaa "
2. the last time we all met BIL was still with his wife, who'd been his partner of 25 years. I just know my folks are going ti get the girlfriends formerly known as OW name wrong and call her my ex SIL name.

I'm getting in a big box of alcohol truffles, lying on the sofa and letting them get on with it.

Well here goes....

Oh my god - and they're like that all the time? They are film star beautiful - no shit. Dunno if jealous or just eyelashes crush.