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

Argh, please excuse the !!!!s. It's not me. My ipad thinks it's better than a comma.

Quick post as no internet, on phone and keeps kicking me out. All went well according to Mr S and plan to be out Friday is still going ahead. Back pain high, leg pain low, can manage back as know it's recovery pain not injury/damage pain and it will improve with time and more leaning

I'm starving, getting a snack box soon, best hurry up, gonna eat my hand!

Used commode, pain went through roof, so did blood pressure! Mr S had said can mobilise when ready, nurse was clear I am NOT yet ready!!!

Hope you are all ok. I am reading all posts, sorry not replying to all. This took 20 mins!!

Hi there, no, no sick pay, mortgage sorted, we are in quite a bit of credit as I had been making unintentional over payments, ( I had set up a direct debit and hadn't changed it.)Got a call from the spinal unit today, they don't want to see me until Monday, so they can't be too worried. Brace is blooming uncomfortable, especially as I am on the large size, boob wise, but, heyho, it's what is needed.
hope Pavlov is ok, best wishes to the rest of you, hope you are as pain free as possible, going to get the boys to come off their tech and go to bed!!

Pavlov, so glad to hear you've come through the surgery okay. to you - though I guess food would be more welcome by the sounds of it . Hope you've got something to eat now. Thinking of you & hoping this is going to pave the way for a better year for you. You're very brave.

Yaay! Pavlov is out the other side!
Best wishes for a comfortable night and a speedy recovery.

HI, well today has not been as bad as yesterday I've still had the burning/sharp pain that's with codeine, naproxen and diazepam. It's bearable so I'm ok, I've got enough to last till next week. If it gets really bad again it'll be the emergency doctor. Yesterday the paramedic did say that if I were to turn up at the doctors surgery without an appointment they can't refuse to see me, not sure of the validity of that though.

Job wise I'm unemployed, but am actively looking for work, not sure if this is going to be compatible with retail tbh, so maybe a career change is in order, but I wouldn't know where to start with that, all I've known is retail, and retail management, I've got transferable skills so hopefully it'll be ok.

I know what I want to say to the doctor, I've got dates of when the pain started, what it feels like, how it's progressed. I suppose I was reluctant to go to the doctors because when I've been before for back spasms I've been given a sheet of exercises, I thought it would be much of the same, but I recognise that this is different.

Internet!!!

Lost it almost immediately! I am reading, thinking of you all, just hard to post on phone. Feel 'normal' now, as in clear headed, coherent (but poss not when speaking!) but back pain is high and Oramorph/codeine only taking the edge off a bit, not much else. Strangely, tolerating it ok. Gone try to sleep soon, dint know when lights are out, no signs of it currently!

Need a wee, using commode, trying to pretend I don't as its gonna hurt! Nurse/hca knows but taken their time about it!

longdistance the burny stubby pain is nerve pain I would highly suspect, and the painkillers don't really touch it. Be absolutely clear about this pain to doc as s/he can prescribe more specific medication to help with nerve pain.

Re work, right now, seems clear you can't work, and realistically, this ain't gonn fix in a week or so. If you are claiming benefits/jsa it is probably worth looking at applying for ESA for a couple of months to start, guve you time to recover or gage if this might stick around a bit longer, then you can re asses. Last thing you want is jsa peeps hassling to look for work when unfit. If you are not claiming, ignore the jsa bit.

Hope you have had a wee now Pav Could do with one myself but am stuck on sofa with CBB on and laptop. I'm not sure I can watch it this year. DH has already made his choice by going to bed when I put it on!
I'm off to bed now. Should have gone ages ago as I'm at work tomorrow.
I hope that tonight is not too horrid and I'll catch up with all your news tomorrow night. Sleep well.

Thank you Pavlov how are you?

I lost my job in the summer, and looking for a job living off savings. After my relationship break up just over a year ago I moved back in with my m&d so I suppose I'm very lucky in that aspect but they are pensioners themselves. When it rains it pours.

Sorry your mouth is sore now Matilda. I guess its more inflamed now than immediately. I hope it starts to settle soon.
I have been road testing some microwavable hand warmers from the £1 shop. I thought the smaller heat cushions (small wheat bags)would be less bulky, so fit in the waistband of my jeans or bra strap better than the huge microwave wheat bags. They are much smaller, so lighter and just about big enough to warm the small of my back, or upper back, so far so good. The down side is the heat only lasts about 1.5 hours. OK in the house. I am not sure I would recommend them, but they are cheap. Ds likes the £1 shop!
For some reason this thread does not appear unless I do a named search, I presume I have somehow blocked it.
Ally I think I know what you mean by painful numbness. I had parathesia in my tongue both following oral surgery and more recently following sinus surgery (although that was more my palate and upper lip) and its very distracting and uncomfortable - like a burn feels.
Berrie I was the other way around - very accustomed to upper back problems, but thrown when my lower back decided to play up. I find gentle shoulder shrugs (or giving the shoulders a good circular movement, like you are warming up for pilates), gentle side bends are helpful. There are better exercises but they may be unsuitable for someone with lower back disc troubles, so would need expert recommendation. Hope its freeing up now.

longsistance I think you could look into contributions based ESA if you were working. I know you can if you worked more than. Think two years straight and paid NI in that period, not sure whether it applis if you've now had a break from work. But maybe eligible. If you are, then you can get contributions based for up to about a year before income such as savings are taken into account, I think. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable than me can give you more info. It's what esa is for, situations like this, give you some financial breathing space to get mobile and more capable of actually working again without eating into your savings.

I feel very normal. I have been told off gently of not asking for more pain relief sooner rather than later, nurse said pain is better to manage if it does not go high, once high, hard to bring down, so to base regular Oramorph plus Codiene. and tramadol? Think do, had some at 6 none since)and ask for top ups as soon as I get breakthrough pain. In fact that will explain super alertness, tramadol past 5pm!!

It's a little complicated in that I lost my job in summer due to what was constructive dismissal, I had savings to move out from m&d's house, but lost the plot slightly and went traveling in America. Came home in September, and started looking for work, come November my savings were looking a little svelte. I applied for jsa and on the same day and time as my second round interview, I was expected at the job centre. I couldn't say to the area manager who was interviewing me to reschedule so I said I couldn't go to the jsa interview. When trying to reschedule I was told that I was sanctioned for three months . I did get a job early December only to be told that they didn't have time to train me, again . It's just one thing after the other this year, it really is, I'm on antidepressants already thankfully so I'm optimistic.

It's good you are not in pain and have an appetite is suppose after surgery. Thank you for listening to me waffle

longdistance if you're eligible for JSA, sanctions aside (sanctioned for going to a job interview? for you ), then income wise you may be eligible fo ESA then. It won't hurt to apply, if your gp signs you off for month or more. Ask when you meet with him.

Where in america did you go? I have family there, (who think I might be recovered enough to do a two day road trip from Santa Fe (mil lives there) to San Franscisco (bio lives there, getting married) via Grand Canyon at end of August!! After 18 hour two-flight journey to them...)

Pain is high, esp if I move, cock up with meds, won't go into detail, but sorted now, and have tramadol and Codiene this morning. Giving it half hour before asking for Oramorph as this ain't cutting it. Slept ok though, thanks to my eye mask.

7:15am, when is the bloody coffee coming!!

Hope you got your coffee Pavlov, and pain is under control, and you are getting enough rest despite the tramadol side effects.

I tried arguing with them but it really was computer says no. I was shocked, and if I was on my own I really would be fucked right now. I will get in contact with them see if I can claim anything.

I spent most of my time in the north east where I know people, so it was new York Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia , delaware. It was an amazing experience and one that I will never forget. I'd love to the west Coast, but maybe not so soon after surgery, but here's to hoping :)

I hope your pain has eased now, and that you've had some coffee!

Tough

Sorry Matilda now I feel I've been rude but I don't want to put it out in public as I've said so many personal things on here. I will PM you just about that so you don't feel I am stalking you lol

I don't actually like my own company much and don't have any friends who don't work (or kids who would be old now anyway) so I am a little concerned about giving up work but I will find something to do, I am sure of it and am a lot better at just dithering round the house, shopping, etc. I meet the odd working friend for coffee so I do need more friends but if I find some voluntary work to do I hope I will make new pals there. I am a cheery, funny person (although I have a dour face) so should manage that.

hi Pavlov - glad your surgery seems to have gone well, hope your pain med are sorted now, and you got your coffee
Longdistance - Go and see the GP and get the ball rolling as far as treatment is concerned. I'm sorry to hear about the benefits, the whole system is now so rigid and no allowences are made even if it's within the same departments.
Matida- hope the mouth pain is settling.
Hi to the rest of you - hope your backs, mouths, in fact everything is under control
I heard from the spinal unit yesterday afternoon, and they are taking over my care and I have an appointment next Monday.

I've done the calculator thing on the dwp website, and it looks like I am eligible for esa so that's good, the criteria two years continuous employment between April 2012 and April 2014 which I have, so I can get the ball rolling on that.

I have an appointment next Wednesday, so I will talk to the doctor then. I've just had a bit of a wobble its just a lot to take in at the moment, but reading the stories on herd have helped, I know I'll get better.

I do hope everyone is doing ok today

Hope they're looking after you, Pavlov. Hope everyone else is okay too.

I'm a bit nonplussed today having got a letter about my appointment with a member of the local pain management team. The one that my GP said had very little to offer & we agreed she wasn't going to refer me to. Not sure how easy it is to refer somebody by accident .

So have left a message for the GP hoping I can find out what's going on. Really can't be arsed with it. My GP's great generally & I can talk to her re. medication. The "team" (not a clinic or indeed an actual physical place at all!) is basically an occupational therapist, a psychologist, a physio & a doctor: & I've been told I'm having an assessment with a physio, back at the physio department where I had such a shitty experience over a year ago.

Given that I know they haven't got any magic tricks up their sleeves I'd rather just carry on managing (or not) as I am. And the physio I've been seeing privately is a million times better than the NHS one I saw.

Have the joys of a secondary parents' evening to look forward to tonight. Standing in queues to see teachers, crappy chairs when you get there, lots of nice slow walking in crowds. Everything my back hates in one exciting package . I know what it's like on the other side of the table trying to remember who the hell everyone is when you teach hundreds of students a week, so it will be fun to see how the boys' teachers manage tonight! Wonder if they can all tell them apart.

Hello pavlov I'm glad you're out the other side of surgery. Hope you are able to use your personal toilet soon and not the bed pan.

Evening all, Ally, please don't feel you were rude and thanks for the pm. Honestly, nobody should give out more info than they are comfortable with and I really am properly nosy sometimes. . I think you will find a rhythm and routine quite gradually when you stop work. Joining one or two things helps if you want company but some weeks I'm actually too busy with one thing and another. Not sure how that happened.

Bubby are you resting lots and finding things to fill the time. Are you in horrific pain? I hope not and they gave you plenty of lovely drugs.

longdistance, I got contribution based ESA very easily, in fact the one and only thing that was easy. When I called to claim I was already off sick and had a doctors certificate. I think that is crucial. I applied by phone and they then sent a form for me to complete. Some of us on here have a lot of experience in filling these forms. Please ask us for help if and when you get this because it might prove very important later on. They backdate the money to the date of the phone call.

Loon, I would definitely go to the pain clinic appointment. I haven't had much luck with injections etc, though others here have. However, I asked to do a pain management course which I found useful ( run by psychologist and physio), after that I was able to access counselling with a psychologist and eight free one to one Alexander Technique lessons which I loved. Your clinic may have similar things on offer. It's true,though that they are very holistic and our service has the same number of psychologists as doctors which says a lot about medicine's ability to fix pain.

I've had a trip up to London this afternoon to see a friend in hospital. She is doing very well after her surgery but needs to lie back and relax.