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

Ally do you have good snow?

Ha ha! He did say it was 'a good chunk' - technical term there, I reckon.... I didn't get cauda equina either, thankfully. Significant foot drop and debilitating pain tho....
It's amazing really what they can do.

Pfft! In the end!

Matilda hope you get a good night despite todays pain, and get much needed rest tomorrow - and a lower pain day
Pavlov mine was only a minor leak through the nose and was assumed to be migraine at first- although it felt different to me. It was only when it recurred whilst I was being assessed by ENT for the blocked sinuses (another result of damaging my nose/cheeks) that the leak was recognised for what it was- and that time it resolved faster- gradually getting better over a few weeks. I hope the leg pain was a a settling down/ recovering thing (fingers crossed for Pav) - - sounds very scary after all you have been through.
Loon I have a middle ear infection, and yes I am on antibiotics - but they don't seem to be helping, Gp thinks it is probably viral. (I know I sound like an old crock!)The other ear is also affected but less so (distorted rather than deaf). Ds has a Christmas jumper with a musical presser he is obsessed with (Jiggle bells 3000 times a day anyone?)- its been driving me insane! Think I might 'accidently' wash it! Mastoid disease sounds very nasty - did it clear up eventually?
I hope you all have a good night.

mags my best friend, who is a nurse, called 111 on sunday as she was not happy with how I seemed, explained everything to the ooh phone doctor who called back within 5 mins, in detail - the surgery, the headache, the concern that it could be a CSF leak. He said 'it sounds like she has a migraine'. She said 'really? you don't think this needs to be checked, given that she has had surgery on her spine, a few days ago, you are saying you don't think it's a CSF leak?' and he said 'well, she can come and be checked over at the OOH docs, it's the only way we can be certain that it's not a leak.' My friend was and said there was no way I would be travelling as I was too poorly, and if he was happy with it being a migraine then we would wait til my GP surgery was open the next morning and have a chat with the GP then. Funnily, at that point, he backtracked and said maybe he could ask his manager to agree a home visit, if it became quieter... (I am so glad she pushed them on the home visit as the OOH clinic is literally next to A&E, and I bet they would have admitted me).

Then the doc who actually visited, a different and lovely doc, said instantly there was no question it was a CSF leak (he was completely clued up, wonder if he had spoken to the ward), did checks of bp, eyes, etc, and confirmed it (as best as he can without an MRI locating the leak itself). I asked if it could be a migraine and he just laughed and said 'no!' I asked if it could be reaction to oramorph ad he said no because it was significantly worse on sitting up, even a little bit, with the vomiting, stiff neck etc, and I also I had stopped taking the oramoprh and symptoms did not ease. (I have since taken the oramorph for increased pain in neck/headache and it helped so definitely not the oramorph).

Lucky they found out what it was, so it could be monitored.

A few weeks you say, for recovery? I don't want to wait that long! I have plans to sit/stand by the sea and drink coffee, sort my photos out and do all sorts of other stuff that I am behind on. I can't concentrate long enough to do any of that! I do however, feel significantly better today than I did a couple of days ago even, except my wound is now starting to hurt quite a lot.

mags I am sorry to hear you have an inner ear infection btw that's horrible. And not good it's not responding to ABs, fucking viruses have so much to answer for.

There's a lot of sickness going around at the moment, coughs and viruses and increased pain I am so sorry to hear of it all and hope that everyone has some positive healing this week. 2015 - get the fuck on with being positive will you?!

£2 coin is huge! I don't I asked how big mine was first time around. I might ask how much was taken off this time. Apperantly, sometimes they film their surgery, I will ask if my surgery was filmed and if so, if I can have a copy!

I should have asked to see the gunk they took out, the bone and stuff - I got a photo of the wound the following day, but forgot to ask for one of the wound drain bottle before she chucked it out. Shame

Hexie - Pain is the body's way of saying something is wrong so, yes, you can do damage by masking it to exercise. Bit like continuing to drive with a flat tyre; you'll ruin it. Also pain killers (and all drugs) are a burden to the liver which can result in more problems down the line because it will interfere with the body's ability to make natural cortisone pain killer. I'm new here so don't know what the specific problems are but if it's spinal - it's crucial. My lower back is under threat courtesy of an arthritic hip so I do all possible to avoid compounding the problem.

All you ladies are so caring and supportive of each other, something I would have appreciated so much a few years back before I got online since the worst thing is feeling helpless AND alone. On the practical side, here are a couple of things I've found helpful.

Magnesium Gel can take the edge off pain almost at once. It is a natural analgesic which can be sprayed on the area. As it is absorbed directly into the system through the skin it isn't depleted by the digestive system as pills are and will give some relief. Also good for you.

MSM - Methyl Sulfonyl Methane - from local health food shop gives pain relief. Sulphur is essential to life and stabilises connective tissues, cartilage, tendons and ligaments, so - helpful.

Injury and pain are hard on the nervous system so boost with B Complex vitamins every day.

Depending on the injury, something called Prolotherapy may possibly help. It's used by top athletes for sports injuries and a glucose solution is injected at the site which causes a reaction to strengthen supporting ligaments. You can Google it, also for qualified osteopaths, although it's not NHS. Helped me.

This will probably get an 'ARE YOU SERIOUS' reaction but Coffee Enemas really work. (You gals know pain and anything's better than that.) It was something discovered by accident in field hospitals during WW1 and is now used for pain relief in cancer patients. (Not NHS) Organic coffee, of course, and filtered water. The caffeine causes the liver to dump a lot of toxins into the bloodstream which is directly connected to the lower intestine and pain is diminished. Sometimes it requires a second one later to make a difference, depending how toxic the liver. Used too often this can deplete important minerals so use caution and please read up. (This is one for when the kids are in school or in bed!)

Doctors don't know everything and most tend to treat a specific symptom with pills or drugs which is a bit like replacing the ruined tyre on the car without servicing the engine. There's loads of excellent, longstanding, proven medical knowledge that doctors ignore, but we don't have to. I've tried all of the above and benefitted from them. They won't harm you and you can find all information online.

I do hope this will be useful to at least some of you. What we mostly or all have in common is pain and problems with finding the right doctors. I got p*ed off with feeling helpless so got into gear and started learning to help myself. It's very empowering.