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

No, have to take it off at night. This is like the one I am I'm plus a copy of my CT image

Oh Bubby god so sorry we will be here for you

God that sounded awful. I am pissed sorry. But so sorry that you have to wear the brace and we will all be here for you. Glad that dp seems to now get how bad it all is

Hello again all you lovely stoical people. Been reading daily and crying and laughing with you in equal measure .Just not knowledgable enough to comment yet. Thinking of MulledWine as she awaits her op .
Matilda have you read of oatmeal baths for itching? Basically some porridge oats wrapped in some old tights around the tap and allow the water to run through. It makes a very soothing soak and stops itching very well . It can be so distressing .x

Had my MRI results and disc bulging at L4-5 with significant degenerative changes and other stuff like signal changes within the verterbra. Have been referred to neurosurgeons.
I am having awful weak legs both sides and shaking ..........spasms in all leg muscles at night ........itt is scaring me rigid. No numbness and I am aware of cauda equina .I have to steel myself to go upstairs to loo. And shopping /going out is just a no go . Is this part of the disc problem ? I am wondering if something unrelated is going on .My GP just thinks it is part of the back problem . I have no knee reflexes and had to stop neuro examination with pain in thigh muscles . I do feel the nerve running don my buttock and into leg and my back is painful on waking and standing but not sitting for which I am so grateful .

Sorry not to name check everyone but thinking of you all . Sorry it has been all me me.

Sos Bassetfeet have you NC'd?

Goodness Bubby! That looks horrific. Actually how long have you been walking round like that?
Tee Hee Tickle

No n/c Berrie ....just same old Basset with droopy ears, wrinkly ankles and bloodshot eyes [like the dog]

Oh you must be pre me. Nice to meet you!

Bubby, you poor thing. I'm amazed they even let you go home. Hope you have good pain relief and a devoted and loyal slave doing your every bidding.

Bassett sorry things are so tough! it does all sound very back related. Are you hoping for surgery? I hope you don't have to wait too long for the appointment and have plenty of pain killers.

Please, will you all stop mentioning < itching > it's making me worse . Unfortunately the kind of opiate caused itching comes from within so creams etc don't help. It's quite random, from head to hands to legs. I must look as if I have fleas. Hopefully it will settle and honestly not that bad but I am worried that I am scratching myself without noticing.

Will you all please disregard all my ipad random !!!!!!s I do not insert them for the purposes of hilarity. Can't get rid of the glitch. Or the itch

Ha ha. I just scratched reading your post!

Pavlov In case I miss you tomorrow will be thinking of you. Keep in touch won't you.

Just popping in somewhat belatedly to wish everyone a good 2015! I've been away from an internet connection and missed you. Good luck Mulled(will be thinking of you)- hope the cold is easing (lots of vitamin c perhaps?), glad you are doing well Freedom, and pleased to hear you finally are getting assessed Tickle, and the patches seem to be working Matilda. How about fish stew (which is really a posh soup- just come back through France) made the French way (but without the toast- or at least only after a jolly good soaking in the stew) Ally? I have some reading of the thread to catch up on, as I only quickly skimmed.

hiya gals, wasup? and what did I miss. Sorry been awol a while, got a bit swamped and distracted but am trying to catchup reading but will take me a few nights. hello to anyone I haven't met before and hello again to those i have. Big news is that I have spinal injections (last rejected but diff dept made all the diff) booked for on 16th so hopfull about them - you hv to b positive right? they are SIJ ones with sedation so no food 6 hrs before, they are at 11 so i'll have to eat before dawn or b very hungry. wont be able to take my usual diclofenac then, anyway at lest ill be a bit woozy and not too anxious about it. I am trying to do a few mins positive meditaion on it in these couple weeks. Have to go to bed now as school run in am and trying to get more sleep as i have become a bit night-owl-y....er and feeling alot of tiredness/needing napos in the day and don thave time with school work to do, will write more tomorrow and refresh back story for the newbs, hope you are all having restful and painfree slumber. The dreamland heat matt is excellent- recommend to all and naps with it wrapped around my lower back are heavenly. night

will be thinking of you having your op (tomorrow?/ next few days) and hope all goes well. I can visit you if you like since I'm London-based (any excuse to buy proper coffee)

Oh bubby that looks awful but at least OH is getting on board with how bad you are eh?

Bassett - any treatment/surgery offered?

I'm fine now magic - going back to work tomorrow for a bit (then handing in notice haha!)

Hi wondering if I can join you? Please I'll bring !
I suffer with back pain all the time. Long story very short, I was in. A car crash 7 years ago, at 26 weeks pregnant my pelvis among other things was shattered, and my spine twists at a angle into it. since then I have had 4 operations and another baby which necessitated a hysterectomy. I have partial paralysis down one side.
My latest MRI has shown several extremely bulging discs a new development which they want to correct surgically as they are worried about the extra stress this is putting on the rest of my spine and pelvis. I was wondering if anyone has any experience of this? I have learnt from bitter experience never to google
The pain this morning is unreal, my dr is coming to see me later. But I'm a single mum of 4 plenty of family support but I seriously don't have time for this!

basset hope you don't wait too long for appt, Sorry your MRI was not better, but least you have some answers. For now.

baby1980 you are very welcome here. Sorry you have such shit back problems, but wine is very much our friend here, even if only wine for some or just a glass for others. We also to internet shopping, eat cake and other (soft food for *ally) bad-for-us-things, have heat pads, wear nice boots, design things to make our life comfortable/transfer pain to others who don't get it (just for a little while)

I still have not had 'the call' to say go on in. Hmm. Cold is staying as just a cold, runny snotty nose, little tickle on chest, but clearing after the morning, keeping up with Vit C etc, so hopefully all will remain well and it won't be cancelled For Any Reason... maizie would be lovely to see you, sent message on FB. I can't promise I won't look frightful though...And absolutely ay excuse for Real Coffee and to meet one of my lovely MN friends and what a way to meet up eh? in hospital, looking my worst You are lovely to want to visit me, thank you.

Said goodbye to my DD at school, she is fretting, little bit tearful, spoke to head teacher who will keep an eye, let the relevant teachers know what's going, but hopefully the normality of school and first week back having missed her friends will keep her occupied. DS was only a little bit upset for a second, and only because I think he felt he should be because DD was, he skipped of happily to school, he is very settled there so pleased he will be ok. Told his teacher anyway, just in case he does have a wobble. It's a small school so they will all look out for each other (And for DH who might look haggard by the end of the week ).

Morning all. Thinking of you, mulled - it must have been tough waving the children off & not knowing if you're going in today. Fingers crossed everything goes according to plan. Good that the cold hasn't developed into anything really nasty, at least. Is there a deadline that they will definitely have 'phoned you by?

Bubby, so sorry to hear that you've done so much damage. to you. When will they let you know if you need surgery? As others have said, at least knowing exactly what you've done & having the scan evidence there means DH can get his head round it & start being more useful. Oh, & I have twin boys too! And they need lots of nagging helpful reminders to get themselves organized. I do let them know when I'm in pain, but I also don't think of it as helping me when they're putting away their own laundry etc. It's just them learning to take responsibility for themselves.

We've had plenty of those types of PE kit panics, though, like you, Berrie! Even with good systems in place my two seem to be incapable of seeing what's right under their noses at times. Hope your spasms are easing a bit today. I've had lots of knock-on upper back pain over the past months, too. I think your whole spine just forgets how to work in a properly coordinated way after months of pain / injury.

matilda, shame about the patch "reaction" (see, I'm not saying the word). Hope it eases.

Hi, maizie - good news about the injections. Will look up that heat mat. I've fallen in love with those disposable thermacare wraps. They're expensive but wonderful - it's fab if you're walking or out & about in the cold to have one of those wrapped round your back.

Welcome mama & sorry to hear of all the pain you've been in. There are quite a few of us here who have /have had bulging discs, either by themselves or in combination with other issues. I haven't had surgery, but others have - Freedom most recently. Not sure I've heard of anyone having discectomies at more than one level at the same time - is that what they want to do with you? Or will it be separate operations for each disc? Hope you've got good pain relief in the meantime. There's lots of info. here about that.

Waves to everyone else.

Hi Loon.
How do you get comfortable when the pain is in the upper back? It's all new to me. I can't do much totally flat but I think the head propped up a bit isn't helping and neither is being sort of leaned against pillows. I've got a big marking week coming up when I get back in on Thursday. Sitting for any length of time does in the lower back and lying down - it can't be done!
Pah! Perhaps it will be better by then.
Any news Pavlov?

Sorry for not taking diazepam advice all those who kindly offered it.
I'm finding I can't even do the Doctors for some reason- not even on the phone. I guess the Christmas break has made me worse. I didn't want you to be frustrated with me for seeming to ignore the suggestion.

hi all
mulled- have they called you yet?
maizie- I've been getting since I started tramadol, i wondered if it was that
loone- how old are your 2? mine go back tomorrow, I have told them today to get their backpacks and PE kits ready, but they are ignoring me and playing xbox, and I can't chase them off it atm as I am laying flat on my bed, as it's the only place with a modicum of comfort.. .
bassett- at least you now know what you are up against
mama- welcome - you seem to have been through the wars
sorry any one else I haven't name checked
I got a call back from the hospital last night, and had to go in at 9 am again today. They had had a call from the regional spinal unit to say they wanted xrays with me wearing the brace to ensure it was working correctly, apparently my fracture has now been upgraded to "potentially unstable " and they are going to ring me this afternoon if they want me to go to them. I have already been told that if I get any neurological symptoms I'm to call an ambulance to take me directly to the spinal unit DH was not happy, it meant another few hours off work which he has got to make up, and his boss isn't the greatest humanitarian - he demanded that DH took in written proof of today's appointment , luckily the consultant wrote him a letter, which said i am unable to drive, and need dh to transport and support me, and which also stated that I may be called as an emergency again and that i have already got an appointment for next monday which I will need transport to.

Made a decision to just get train instead of hanoting around. They had said confirmation would be after 4pm! They called at 3:50pm to confirm so good call from me! No Wi-Fi so using phone, apologies for not responding to sspecific posts.

Good luck PAV!

Hello everyone I started a thread a few days ago in chat and was directed here, anyway I've been meaning to post, anyway since about a week before Christmas I started getting back pain, starting in my hip, through my arse, leg into my foot and toes, some numbness and pins and needles, I'd been managing with otc co-codamol, and have an appointment next week with my gp.

Anyway today I woke up in pain as normal, and was going downstairs to get some painkillers, and I got halfway down the stairs and I coughed and wow something happened, I had never experienced pain like it, it was like someone had set fire to my leg as well as slicing me from hip to foot. I couldn't move, I couldn't sit, I couldn't stand, it was horrific, I was screaming in pain. I managed to get to a chair, and through the screams and sobs managed to phone an ambulance, thankfully they came quickly, and they gave me some codeine. That kicked in pretty quick, and it subdued enough for the ambulance people to get an emergency doctor out to prescribe naproxen, codeine and diazepam, the Dr said that it sounded like a slipped disk pressing on the sciatic nerve. He gave me a timeframe for pain management, and if it doesn't sort itself out said that I would need an mri scan to see what's going on.

I would be very grateful for any advice, for the doctor or for pain management.

Anyway I'm gonna rtft now!

Hi everyone. longdistance, oh dear! that's sounds fairly horrific. It does indeed sound like a disc prolapse, probably from before Christmas judging from what you've said. Sounds like the final straw today and if you weren't lairs up resting beforehand, you should be now. Really, really resting. Up to the loo, gentle potter and rest again. I am worst sitting so mainly rest in a lying down position with pillows under my knees ( semi supine). No lifting at all, try not to bend or try to load machines etc. do you have dc and if so how old? Take all the drugs you have and take them regularly rather than waiting for the pain, this is important. If it isn't enough call the doctor for more. be aware of any changes in going to the loo, any sudden incontinence or being unable to wee, numbness in your 'saddle' area are all Red Flags and you need to be seen in A&A immediately. See This Info on Cauda Equina Syndrome Keep posting, it's seriously frightening when this happens, I won't lie, you will be in this for the long haul in all probability but you can and will get better and we will be here to help you.

I had a delightful time at the dentist today getting a hole drilled into my jaw to hold the metal post for my detail implant. Quite a horrid feeling though not in itself painful after the injections. First I went swimming for the first time since having the patch which was fine and a sneaky few minutes in the spa with arm held away from the hot water.

Bubby at your DH's employer. You've broken your bloody back! How bad does it have to be before he gets to take time off? I hope you have other people to help look after you? Please do oohing atall that might impede your recovery. So sorry this is happening to you.

Waves to all, I smiled at Bassett saying she reads the thread without commenting, I never thought of anyone doing that. It's lovely to hear from you again. Welcome back.x