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

tickle oh ffs! You are in A&E, and they have access to MRI there and then, and they want to dick about testing your bladder holding skills first? Either send you home not concerned (which would make them idiots) or get on with the bloody scan! If they did this first thing, you would have some answers now, and so would they! from their point of view, surely that would be best, as if nothing wrong, you'll be done and dusted from their list of patients, and you will be happy in the knowledge all is well. And if something needs doing, it can be done promptly with successful outcome for them and for you.

All they have saved done is wasted time and prolonged your anxious wait for report on investigations.

Glad they decided to not send you home, sorry to hear you still can't wee well.

Ok so not only do I not have cauda equina (thank god!) But I have no disc problems at all and the Dr said I have the spine of a 14 year old. Which is fantastic news. But I'm completely perplexed as to what is causing this horrendous pain?! Can it just be the coccydynia??

tickle did they scan the coccyx? Did they give any reasons for the pain? for the wee problem? the foot problem? as they do seem to be linked? What are their suggestions now, do you need to go back to GP? I wonder if you should see a neurologist to see what else could be going on.

But. YEY! that it's not CES. Whatever is going on with your symptoms, at least you can relax in the knowledge that the spinal cord is not being impinged.

I've had my stitches out. Wound is healing well, a little pink/red around the stitches, but mostly to be expected. Nurse wants this monitored for a while to be sure it's not a sign of infection (she said some pink is a good sign), and it's covered again so I can shower as she doesn't want it getting wet, or dirt in it/on it.

Reminded stitches out is not a sign of being recovered from CFS leak/surgery, still been poorly and had major surgery, got to take much longer to recover. Keep it all slow, monitor temperature etc. Got a lecture reminding me that I am not to go charging about now, need to rest lots/mostly. That kind lecture came about as I said I was about to embark on a trip to the sea for coffee. I promised I would not do walking, she said that visit to her for stitches out was probably enough activity today!

So, had coffee, stood by the huge natural harbour of Plymouth, watching it's beauty and destruction.

I have a question. I need to monitor my temperature for signs of fever. I am taking a lot of painkillers, and have restarted my naproxen (NSAID) medication post surgery, as docs agreed when I left hospital. It is known that NSAIDs can hide signs of infection as they reduce fever very well. I am taking it 3 times a day, every day, so it's likely to reduce my fever most of the time, if I were to have one wouldn't it? I am wondering if I should stop this for 24 hours, just to make sure it's not masking a rising of temperature. I expect it's not, but how I would I know?

They did Pavlov but we're disinterested in what else it could be. They were just there to rule out CES. So i need to go back and see spinal specialists and luckily the consultant I am under is seen as a coccyx expert.
They said I need to go back to Dr for wee problems.
I am elated that I have no injuries to my spine but the pain I have been feeling is very real so I am still in the position where I need to find out what is causing it.
It does feel good to be able to move without fear of injuring myself badly.

I guess I just wait now. Feel a bit of a tit if I'm honest. People must be thinking that I'm making a whole load of fuss about nothing. But it's not nothing, it's so bloody debilitating :(

Pavlov that's an excellent question and one I can't answer. I would call the nurse and ask I think. Great that stitches are out but yes you must still take it very easy!
Plymouth? Are you in Devon? I am too :)

Lol at pavlov getting a lecture - she must know what you are like lol - I am the opposite and would stay in bed for ever if I was told to rest haha

Sort of good news tickle but still not answered (and don't feel stupid - pain is pain). I think in future if Matilda could come with us to our hospital appointments we'd get more answers - I'd pay her for the trouble!

Tickle, delighted it's not CES, though about the fact that what is causing the pain is of so little interest to them. and lack of reflexes/ numbness? It's hardly normal, is it? Anyway hope you do get some help soon. Do you have an appointment with the spinal doc?

Pavlov, tbh if you had an infection you would probably feel poorly. The wound looks angry, you feel unwell and the site would be sore and tender. I guess you could monitor temp just before taking naproxen? I doubt whether it would mask all the symptoms. Glad you are up and been out, I bet that was exhausting.

Oh, dear. My bowels. Well it's eased but (sorry, tmi alert), I don't have much control and what is coming is very liquid. I also feel rotten. Sicky and sleepy. I took gabapentin and cocodamol at 9 but nothing since. Keep dozing off and finding it hard to wake up. So maybe I'm just plain old fashioned ill? Tummy fees tender but not rigid or anything worrying. So will sit tight and keep near the loo . I'm so rarely ill I forget it is possible to have other things go wrong.

Thanks for all of your concern.

Ah sorry you're still feeling poorly Matilda, it does sound like it's a bug and unrelated doesn't it. Get well soon!
No they werent remotely interested in what was causing it! I don't have a review appointment with specialist yet as mri was supposed to be on 1st so I will call on Monday and cancel that one and explain to them what's happened to see if I can get back in to discuss it all with her.
I feel so relieved, I feel like I can move with much less caution now. And I've been fighting for over a year to be diagnosed so if I know it's coccydynia then I can look at best ways to sit, exercises to do and look at treating it rather than be scared to deat about what it might be.
The numbness and pain in leg still worries me but I can sleep easy knowing it's not from CES.
Back to gp with wee problems, something else to add to it which I find very strange but all in all happy to finally rule something out.
Thank you so much to you all for support and understanding. I wouldn't have gone if it wasn't for you all and I would still be here crying in pain and scared not knowing what's wrong with me. Here all have some and and an unmumsnetty hug

tickle do not ever feel like a tit for taking your health very seriously. You have to look after yourself. It is much much better that the outcome is not CES. That does not mean you should not have gone to A&E, or should feel silly for making absolutely certain that something that can cause permanent nerve damage is not occurring. And. As you have said, something is causing your pain. It's not your discs. That's been ruled out. So, there is something else. And now you need to to get working with those caring for you to figure that out. The coccyx expert will have a copy of that MRI done now, as well as any other done, if you do have another coccyx specific one (can't remember if the lumbar MRI covers that area fully, it certainly shows the sacral area to some degree, and higher up towards the kidneys). They will be able to look closely for anything else going on. My surgeon locally spotted a slight misalignment in my spine that is partly related to my back problems, that were missed by two radiographers, not because they didn't do their jobs well, they were tasked with looking specifically for disc related problems and nerve entrapment so it was not noticed I guess.

When I went to A&E a few weeks ago, they told me it was not CES, and that was that, they were not interested in diagnosis either. They were 'this is either urgent, for your GP to address urgently through the appropriate referral system, or in your case to inform your consultant, or it's emergency, and we deal with it here'. In turns out for me it was the former and whatever else was going on was not their concern. Same as you. It's not like that in Casualty.

matilda I wonder if you do have a bug too, it all gets masked by the pain and painkillers we take, so that our tolerance for bugs is higher, and we probably have many more than we even realise on a low level. My GP said that my base level pain is probably higher than a regular cold. It means you probably have been walloped by something. Take it as easy as you can, do as little as you can, and drink lots of fluid. If you are losing lots of liquid, maybe take some andrews salts/similar to ensure you are replenishing your vital minerals? I really hope you feel better soon

I have definitely, definitely, done too much. Not even bloody done anything. I got up and was dressed by 9:30am, unheard of in the last week for me, barely been able to lift my head off the pillow before then! Had my stitches out (as you know), tiny walk by the sea (literally from car to handrails, few steps along then back to car). I have spend a couple of hours in bed this afternoon, then supervised the children tidying up the front room, and did a little bit myself. Not much at all. Hardly a thing, just folded some washing, and moved around a little bit. But, too much. Feel shit now Wouldn't hurt to take a slug of oramorph to kick the pain into touch PDQ will it? I had reduced my painkillers a little as my back pain was not bad at all, and the headache has passed enough to not need full welly of meds, but now it's increasing quite a lot, guess it's linked with not having a cracking headache anymore, either the pain was always there and I was too busy with head pain and sickness, or my body decided to concentrate on making me lie down for a bit and give my back a break

pickles Yes, that's where I am! 5 mins from the sea (but not from the beach that's more like 20 mins drive), which part are you in? Are you grackle or local? I'm grockle but pretend I'm not as my children are locals I feel much happier now I have had some sea air. It's just so beautiful, calming, and Plymouth's harbour is quite breathtaking actually, view across to Jennycliff and the Fort, over to Drake's Island and across to Mount Edgcumb estate. It's a shame that beautiful Devon doesn't attract the best and most cutting edge surgeons in the world, until they are ready to retire at least.

pickles FFS tickle don't know what happened there

Ah Pavlov you talk such sense, thank you :)
I'm a true Grockle, I grew up near exeter but am in mid devon now. And I totally forgot to tell you, I saw a Dr at A&E today wearing your bird dress, it looked lovely!
Take the oramorph definitely!
It's so lovely being by the sea isn't it? I might go to the sea this weekend to celebrate my 14 year old looking spine (what a flirt he was!)

When I was in A&E, I was wearing my multi coloured fluffy warm socks, red/blue/white. The registrar commented on them, as they look lovely and cosy then walked out, came back and said she had just seen another doctor walking along with clogs on and the same socks as me (she also commented on my Wonder Woman pants, laughed, but not because she saw someone else where them, I hope) I also got a discount without being asked for any id in the cafe. Normally they ask me if I have staff discount, this time I got it without asking. I guess that means I dress like a doctor

I get most of my clothes from Debenhams online or Sainsburys when I am stopping for lunch there (do nice sludgy veggie lasagne, don't shop there, Lidl is like £70 a week cheaper!) Perhaps it's more a sign that they buy most of their clothes online or when quickly passing through getting their shopping

So glad it looks good on someone though, excited for it to arrive in it's right size. The teal dress arrived already, not sure about it, it's not instantly wow, although it looks like it should be. I think I need some accessories, might look better punked/gothed up a bit with card, bangles. My boyfriend suit jacket arrived too, reduced from £69 to £20 and I LOVE it! So smart, simple, and will turn smart trousers/skirts and shirts into proper professional court outfits without having to buy several different entire suits. For £20!

I lived in Exeter for a couple of years, first with a friend in Farmhill area, bit rough and on the edge, and meant coming home drunk across the railway crossing which always made me nervous! Then to St Leonards, lovely little flat with strange landlord, just up from The Mount Radford, and Bon Gout (sp) deli where I spent too much money, and a fabulous cheap take away Chinese run by an old man in a shiny grey suit married to a young Chinese woman in a place that looked like his front room (never ate in, felt wrong!). I also lived 5 minutes walk from work, still always late and it's where I started my career.

However, I am very, very of your mid-devon residence. If I can chose to live anywhere, apart from by the sea, it would be mid-devon. In fact, to the point that I'll consider compromising on the sea location to live there. Specifically Ottery St Mary area but all around that way. Fabulous, it's the happiest I have been when I am there. We visit most years now, staying in a yurt, going to Beautiful Days festival...

Also of your 14 year old spine. Although who did you see? can you remember the name? as i recall a flirty consultant saying similar to me [if you put your hand over this broken bit here, you would not be able to age you from your spine' [lies].

You would not have been at same hospital though. You'd have been at the better one

Hi dashing in and out! So sorry for all the trauma in our little group today. Hope the weekend is better for all those suffering.
DH leaves for a fortnight tomorrow. I am bereft.
Hugs to all my lovely friends. x

Ah me and my husband had our first date in the Mount Radford nearly 14 years ago! We then lived in St Thomas before moving to Mid Devon. We moved out here because exeter got so expensive and DH works here. It's not as lovely as Ottery that's for sure.
I would love to live nearer the sea, we always talk about moving to north cornwall but it's just a dream I think!
I can't remember the Dr's name, but he was very sweet. He was clearly a student and English wasn't his first language but he tried so hard.
I don't believe for one second I have the spine of a 14 year old, especially after they weighed me. I have put on almost 3 stone since I injured my back :(
Oh I would love to take the kids to Beautiful days, we used to go camping alot but have given up since my bad back days.

DS has been quite worried about me so I Have asked him to help me do some back exercises today now I know I'm not going to do serious damage to my discs/spinal cord!
I was at the RD&E Pavlov
Where is your DH going Berrie? Hope you're ok

Just chipping in with a Devon connection , quite a good one!min fact. Parents outside Totnes in tiny village with ancient pub and church where we were married. Her sister lives there, too. My eldest bro and his family live in Dittisham in a modest house with a completely f* off view. Second bro owns a holiday cottage,old and thatched just out from Bantham ( my favourite place ever). That is let, though so in reality I've not stayed there for years. We visit parents sometimes but the drive is a killer. Pav and I have met there, though and had lovely coffee fuelled chats.

Berrie sorry you are being left for so long. We will keep you company.mi forget the ages of your dc? Hope they will look after you. My DH only goes away for 1-3 nights a few times a year and I confess to rather loving it . He worries an bit and tries to get ds2 to stay with me and I have to discreetly put him off!

Stomach is still misbehaving but after 12 hours sleep only disturbed by having to change pjs and sleep on old towel, I do feel clearer headed. Stomach making bad and alarming noises. I wonder if it's a bug or not. Maybe I will never know but the stomach trouble started for sure when I started the patches. I was retaining both food and fluid. I'm not inclined to restart them which is a pity because I had such high hopes.

Note ipad still thinks a comma should be an exclamation mark

Ah my sil and bil grew up in Totnes Matilda!
So sorry you've been so poorly :( do you not think the patches might be worth another try once your stomach has settled?

I shall have to come back to you all then for where to camp in Devon recommendations later in the year - we go to Cornwall a lot and we need a change.
Matilda the DC are 9 and 11 and have nits today! It meant I had an added reason to go to the Supermarket today which I was going to avoid doing but I did! Will you try the patches again when everything has settled down? Glad things are settling a bit.
Tickle My SIL has a stage 4 brain tumor and lives in Canada which is why DH has gone and why for so long. DH sometimes goes away for work but for a week at most and I agree there are some nice things about that. Two weeks is too long though and there have been tears all round this morning. I think we all feel a bit better now the goodbye is over. I'm not sure if I were you I would be doing any exercises until I know where the problem is exactly.
Next week DS has mock SATS so I am going to torture him and his friend with mental maths tests this afternoon and then tackle the nits. Joy!

Oh I'm so sorry to hear about your SIL Berrie. And two weeks is a long tome, I would be in tears if DH was going away for that long so I'm sending you some and .
ugh to nits, we used to use hedrin as it was the only thing that worked. NEVER use the hedrin quick one though as it's like oil. Now I just take great pleasure in picking them out and I save my money!
Maybe you're right about exercises. I just feel so fat and useless. Diet starts tomorrow (after wine today to celebrate not having CES)

Oh and good luck to your ds for his mock sats . My ds is 11 too and also has them. He has a practice sheet to do today

Oh you and me both Tickle I have this idea that by the time DH comes back I shall have dieted myself back towards where I was before my back went (which is ridiculous since that is almost a stone!) My intentions are good but my track record is atrocious. I am thinking that without DH here - I shall be able to eat and drink a whole lot less because it is absolutely all his fault! Have been good so far today... but it is fajita night tonight
I can't actually see any nits to pick out - just the eggs. Agree about the Hedrin. Last time I had to wash my hair 5 times in a row to get it out! I've no idea if I have them cause DH isn't here to check but I'd better do myself and DD anyway.

Aha my intentions are also good! I've downloaded my fitness pal and I'm thinking at least it will give me a focus and losing weight certainly won't hurt my back. It takes me a while to get into the zone but once I am there I can be quite focused.

How did you get on with nitgate? I always get so itchy when the kids get it but never have them.

Hope everyone has a lovely relaxing Sunday.

Do you thinking swimming would be ok for me?