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

Mulled - what are rails?

rails frosty. Drama over for now. Cupboard drama next, as the one we have for the 'dining' area of the kitchen is up and it's fucking huge!!! I think my eyes will get used to it, but wow it's big!

woo frosty.all good here flare fading. knackered as went out last night like a normal person didn't drink but stayed up past my bedtime

boo the link didn't work mulled what are you hanging on it?

Glad to hear the flare up is fading festive

We don't have a tree or any presents sorted or a meal planned as I've been looking at the ceiling the last weeks. Maybe whilst I'm in hospital my parents will help DH get a little tree and a couple of gifts and we can have a roast dinner. Maybe I'll mention it to DH so he knows

Frosty, sorry I can't post much but yes, get DH to organise a mini Christmas. And I wish you all good things for next week.xxxjj

Good luck for Tuesday Frostydom. Probably best to mention sorting out a few Christmas touches and presents to DH and DM.
Rails are things to hang cooking bits and bobs on (usually with s hooks or similar) - like spoons and sieves . They are usually fixed next to the wall, under cupboards.
Glad you have mostly survived kitchen building Matilda and Mulled. Hope your flare up continues to fade away festivehope.

tough oh no no mocking - intend to have some of it as soon as I can eat physio looming two hours after!!! wow! that's hardcore. I remember using the commode, and feeling it was the hardest thing in the world, mostly due to morphine clicky thing I suspect, then a couple of steps with physio in the evening. Toilet with the nurse (who just left me in there, had to make it back on my own) the next morning, then steps with physio in the afternoon before home that same day! I wish I was in Germany for my next surgery...

We are going to have cooking utensils on them, as DH is a chef he prefers to have them within reach, and pots firstly clutter the side and get stuffed too full. We are also having our cutlery in pots that hang off them, some oil bottles and some tubs with herbs in hanging from them, allegedly in some kind of arty kind of manner, but in reality will probably not look it does in the ikea brochures . Also have magnetic knife rail, above the oven which I really like. And I am going to hang some christmas decorations from them too dh doesn't know this yet builder is back today to finish the kick boards, do some snagging, grouting, and start building our hallway larder/pantry cupboard (which one is it actually called?)

I'm still in bed. Although the children have been awake since about 5am. I just left them to it playing until DD stomped upstairs after they argued and DH got up. I specifically asked for the lie-in, but typical that I could have easily got up with them this morning as I was wide awake.

Strangely, my wrist hurts more than my back this morning, although, to be fair, not done much to notice huge back pain. Think the wrist is sore from the crutch use. bugger.

festivey hope the flare-up is eased today. what is this 'living like a normal person' business you have been doing? hope you enjoyed yourself.

no sleep here solid got the children demanding Frozen songs next to me and buying some christmas presents. Getting some friends some cinema vouchers, using my civil service sport council membership, get 3d tickets for £6.25. not bad!

Then I have 3 more presents to buy for other friend's little ones, then just 3 or so more things for mine and we are all done present shopping.

I have just bought a diabolo and poi poi sticks for the children. I am very happy as I really quite fancy poi poi myself
poi poi
diabolo

Ooh pavlov snap on those CSSC tickets! They will be part of my Christmas present from my DM. Think it's hte best thing about the civil service as otherwise the cinemas is far too expensive

Please do be gentle on your wrist. I know it's easier said than done.

frosty I agree with the others, let DM and DH take the Christmas work on, it'll be a lovely (fingers crossed!) thing for you to come back from hospital to. So glad you're going for the surgery on Tuesday. I'm sure I'll say it again beforehand but you have DP's and mine very best wishes and Viel Glueck!

My update: not much. The amitripyline seems to have kicked in (very very tired, no sleeping issues any more) and I think I have less tingling but I still have some. I still have a lot of pain in my back. The physio called me back on Wednesday (I rang the hospital to tell him what had happened on Tuesday and that I wasn't stopping the Tramadol) and he said in his experience, although he's not a doctor, it might have been Tramadol withdrawal and I can continue to take both for a week then gradually wean off Tramadol. This is based on the idea that the pain is the result of nerve damage, which the amitripyline will hide. Considering I can still feel some of the back pain through the Tramadol I am not sure how well this will work. I remain deeply sceptical.

We are going to get the Christmas tree today. DP has gone out with some male friends for their 'coffee time' (it's a very sacred Saturday morning ritual that they get very affronted about when their wifes/partners laugh at them for it). I also need to wrap his presents. I desperately want to decorate the house as it doesn't feel like Christmas yet as I only have a few things up I tend to go a bit mad but I need to hold off until the cleaner comes next week. In my head I can zip around and do everything. It's just putting it into practice that's the problem!

Also, it's very sunny here today - hope you are also all experiencing lovely weather :)

Wow! pavlov! Do you need to set the poi poi ones on fire or do they light up automatically? That's so cool!

tins you can get fire ones, but as they are for my 5 and 8 year olds, I have bought LED ones for now at beautiful days festival, they had children as young as 6 doing them, with fire, it was a training event for children over the festival weekend, ending in a display on the last night. If ours love playing with them, they can do it next year.

I hate that feeling tins of whizzing around doing everything when in reality it's no longer like that.

frosty absolutely you must get everyone around you to help with christmas, you are going to be in so fit state to do anything apart from supervise for a few weeks. It will be absolutely worth it though, as it's not like you can do anything now either.

Hello everyone! Am looking at thread on phone and struggling to work it. Was wondering how frosty got on with second surgeon ( wasnt that Friday?) But cant find it but anyway have gathered surgery is on Tuesday so best of luck! Will be thinking if you.
Car journey down to brothers was fine just trying to decide which will hurt less a Kohl und Pinkelfahrt into Richmond, a yomp in Richmond Park or a potter round town or Kew gardens. Sounds like potter in town is winning! ( Got dhs toe as well as my back to consider!)

Waves at hollie across the park.

Waves back

hi hollyberrie

warning long boring post

Dh drove me to the orthopedic specialist hospital for the second opinion
The journey in the car and sitting for 30 seconds on a chair outside the waiting room was so painful I burst into tears and loud crying - panicked and started to breathe too quickly. So DH asked for help or if I could lie down. The staff panicked a bit and took me into an emergency room and called a doctor - the whole staff there are orthopedic specialists. He was about to inject me with morphine when I said - what? No, I've had tramadol already today, I've just come here for a second opinion from a neurosurgeon. And then the nurse who had called the doctor - rather irritated said - why have you just arrived here in screaming distress dragging your foot like it's lame? And I said - because sitting hurts like hell on my leg nerve, then I panic and tense and spasm. The dr said - so you dont want this morphine then? I said - no, now I'm lying down I can control the panic as the pain lessens. So anyway, Dr looked at MRI scan, did neuro tests, and said, yep - you need an operation - I'm just going to check with neuro surgeon. Neuro surgeon agreed. Then they said - who is your neuro surgeon - and I said - Dr L. And they sort of looked at me and said - Er, yeah, he was the first neurosurgeon to be allowed to practice in our city and has over 25 years experience - he knows what he is doing. You can stay here, but we can operate Thursday earliest and if an emergency comes in you are going to get bumped. And I can't guarantee who will operate on you - could be the head surgeon - could be qualified last week surgeon. Honestly, if you've got an operation date with Dr L - go for it.

So we went to see Dr L for the preparation meeting - who answered all our questions and went through all risks - saying look - honestly, I've got to warn you of these things for legal reasons but I don't know how the hell for e.g. any neurosurgeon manages to damage the stomach in a microdiscectomy. And I've operated on people older and fatter than you and none of them has ever had any knee or elbow damage from the position they have to be in for surgery. 7% of patients will reherniate the disc and your recovery depends on how much you work with us and your physio to regain strength.

That's how my second opinion meeting went and how we came to the decision to go for surgery on Tuesday.

matilda mulled tinsel tough festive magi thanks So much for your good wishes and tips about the reality of surgery. Ironically I've felt a bit better today - which has made me doubt my decision a bit - but DH said - if you can sit on a chair to eat without crying and I don't have to feed you tomorrow - then you can doubt.

magi I have mentioned it and DH said he'll sort something out with DM and DF who is flying in, so we have a little tree and a simple roast dinner. That will make me very happy.

mulled poi poi looks like top fun! I've managed to order a few internet presents so everyone has some small thing to open.

Tinsel what did your doctor say again re ami+ tramadol? did I miss that bit? I am a bit worried about weaning off diazepam and tilidin. But know I've got to get off it asap assuming surgery is a success.

Did I mention I love this thread?

Did I mention I love this thread? I know what you mean, it is saving my sanity!

frosty GP#1 said I couldn't take them together. GP #2 said it was fine within certain limits (and showed me on the screen) and said it "increases the toxicity", which apparently means it increases the side effects of both, but since the side effects I am experiencing are not really bad ones (drowsiness, a bit forgetful and poor impulse control) I was happy with that. I spoke to the physio about how I wean off them and he suggested when the time is right to drop the afternoon/evening ones first, e.g. if I am taking 6x 2 at 1000, 1400, 1800 then I take 2 at 1000, 2 at 1400 and 1 at 1800... then if that is okay drop the 1 at 1800, then if that is okay drop 1 at 1400 the next day, and so on... basically drop one pill every day until I am at nothing.

I have been told by two medical professionals (including a very old friend who is a nurse practitioner so does prescribe stuff) that Tramadol is not as addictive as other things so it is easier to stop, if you have been taking it for a short time.

Re: feeling better, yes you still need surgery! I know what you mean - every week I have a 'good' day where I think, oh I don't need to take my painkillers and then it gets to lunchtime and I wake up to the fact that I am in agony and nothing will fix that quickly and I should have just carried on regularly taking the painkillers at intervals.

I am so pleased that you have got treatment with Dr. L. That is brilliant :)

pavlov Yes, if you can buy them with fire I am so not showing them to DP or he'll get them for the children we know. He's the one who taught our friends' son to climb up the stairs as soon as he could crawl and to unlock doors, work the laser pen, undo the garden gate etc. as an 'important developmental stage' I have a feeling they are biding their time and will enjoy their revenge

It is chaos in our house... DP is trying to get me to tidy my stuff before everyone arrives next week. It's going very slowly and he is watching terrible German TV downstairs so that I don't give up and watch with him. When I walked in earlier he was watching some kind of music programme with yodelling in it. Currently it's badly dubbed b-rated 1980s action films.

Hi lovely people - hope you are not having too awful a day

Need some urgent drugs advice. Had surgery on Thursday on my tongue (again!) and from very sore its now agony as the numbness has worn off. I have been taking tramadol, co-codamol and paracetamol (8 altogether just mixed not 8 of each) with diclofenac x 3 (sorry about spellings!) and diazepan at night to help me sleep. Question is - can I take tramadol and paracetamol together to increase pain reduction? Not able to eat so tummy delicate but don't mind if I doze off - quite welcome actually.

On the plus side I don't have time to care about the state of my back haha!

Boooo! Crafted a reply to frosty thanking her for re telling me about her appointment last night-talked about my day and apologised to matilda for being too shy to meet. It's not there! At least I dont think so! Hey ho! Looking forward to my christmas dinner even though db left the turky outside and it is frozen solid! he has gone to buy some chickens since our dog cannot wait until 3 am for our return!