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

Pah! DS squealed so much I didn't do too well with the nit comb. Can still see loads of eggs today. Didn't even try DD and I have washed my hair 8 times and it is still think with greasy oil...
RE swimming - I should think so unless your head is poked up like a turtle.

Hope your system is settling down Matilda. Sounds very unpleasant. Do see the GP if it isn't getting better. Ds had years of bowel difficulties from babyhood so we have lots of experience of 'running through' but we got on top of it in the end. I guess the patches give a more even effect on everything including the bowels.
Tickle, swimming is supposed to be good, but I find it can upset my lower back as my back tends to arch (I am not a stylish swimmer )- side stroke (which is slow and gentle) and back stroke work ok for me. Perhaps take it very gently to start with.
Myfitnesspal is a good start Tickle and Berrie, so good luck with that.

Thanks Maggiso its my lower back that is the problem and I've been told I have an exagerated arch. Although that could be down to my enormous bottom.

I am a keen swimmer and love the pool. I've posted about this a lot so please excuse repetition. Keep long. Reach forwards. Avoid any arching of the lower spine. For any Pilates peeps keep that pelvic tilt held tight. No breast stroke. Especially 'turtle neck' breaststroke.

So, what I do is front crawl with a float between my legs for four lengths. Then some exercises, then four more lengths and so on until 16-20 lengths and a fair bit of exercises walking backwards and forwards is great but hold that abdo tight and concentrate on always pushing with the back foot. March up and down on the spot, abs tight ( hot glutes!).

For anyone seeking a challenge or thrill (!) try swimming the front crawl length in one breath or at least as few as possible. It's about the only way I have to raise my pulse these days.

And thanks for asking, my GI tract has admitted defeat and gone to sleep. Hallelujah. I've never been so ill. Back pain is grim but I don't care, patches may not agree with me. Sorry to disappoint my GP and anyone else I carried along on this story but maybe I've been unlucky. Will I try again? Maybe. Not just yet.

Hi three all, lurking and reading, not posting much as I am basically sitting or lying here in my brace waiting for my life to restart .
Berry - do have advice re the dreaded nits tho -wash hair and use tonnes of conditioner, leave this in , comb through with normal comb to get out tangles, then with nit comb, wipe clean nit comb after each pass through hair with some kitchen towel.When nits are removed, wash out conditioner. It takes time and patience but it works- the school will no thank you for sending them in with nits still, in fact both my primary and secondary schools request you take the child home, treat and return them the same day if possible if the dreaded things are found!
Matilda -hope your stomach settles now without the patches
Pavlov - hope the CSF leak has settled and you are having less symptoms.
Hope everyone else is as mobile and pain free as possible xxx

meant to underline the "Leave this in" advice, not cross through, sorry

sorry the patches didn't work out for you Matilda but at least your tummy has settled eh?

ally, indeed.. I lost five pounds. Although most of this was accumulated during the two weeks the patches were on.

Bubby < waves>, how are you feeling? Do hope you aren't in too much pain. Are the family shaping up and looking after you even a little bit?

I'm Getting Things Done today. Well, a few things anyway. Trying to get into the tax return website isn't going well. Got a replacement password, have the bloody personal ID number and still can't get in. Grrr, not very keen, are they? Actually probably don't owe them anything but still have to file the bloody thing.

Thank goodness you are feeling better Matilda. Sounded very gruelling on top of everything else, and good luck getting on the tax return website Matilda. It drove me mad in the days I used to have to fill one in. I don't think I have to anymore (earn below the tax threshold and am on PAYE with no complications). Sorry the patches did not work for you.
Well I restarted my pilates class today after gently doing a bit daily at home for a couple of weeks. I will see how I am tomorrow - usually I get worse after pilates. I've had a better few weeks (which may be due to recovering from chest problems etc.) I am getting some tinny hearing back in my worst affected ear, but music still sounds horrid - especially strings or anything complicated.
How are you today Pavlov Glad you got to have your coffee near the sea. I wish we lived near the sea. Dh grew up in your city, (and I not to0 much further east) but since first MIL then SFIL died we have rarely visited -despite having most of his extended family there. Before meeting DH I ended up in Freedom fields (as a teen) after an accident from a bike up on Dartmoor, in the days when cycling a few hundred miles was possible was possible. We are buying a house so may have a small moat near our property, so Ds wants a boat! Not sure there will be enough water for that - even if it wasn't privately owned! There are a few ducks. Not as good as the sea. Our nespresso machine arrived and we have been teaching ds to use it, but have hidden the milk frother after several major clean ups were required. Got some decaf pods from M+S which are quite nice - so we are not adding caffeine to the difficulty of getting ds into bed!
Bubby have you any idea how long you will need the back brace? I hope it is less uncomfortable than at first.
Tickle so glad you do not have CES. Phew! I hope you get to see your specialist soon. I am hoping to get some advice on exercises that are safe to do once I have an MRI and an expert has seen it to advise. My hamstrings are very tight (always have been tighter than others) so I can no longer sit on a flat surface without bent legs. I am being cautious so not working too hard to fix this situation - as any gentle attempts increase my pain and leg symptoms.
Ally hope your tongue is feeling more normal, and so pleased you have the all clear.

I'm glad that you are feeling a bit better Matilda
Can't sleep without big snoring DH lump in the bed! All that stretching out is distracting sleep wise Having said that I have put the memory foam mattress back on now he has gone - (it gave him a bad back) and I'm not sure that I like it after all!

hi, new to this thread. am after a bit of advice for my Mum. She has suffered for YEARS with an increasingly worse back. 20 years ago she had surgery for her bulging discs, but unfortunately she's heading for more surgery. initially her consultants recommended a discectomy but she's recently consulted with a neurosurgeon who has suggested her forthcoming surgery. She is going to have key hole surgery to remove shards compressing her nerves and exposed discs. This is being done on Spain, where she lives. I am going out next week to be with her for the surgery, but am trying to gauge how long, realistically, I will need to be there for her. any one able to shed any light? am leaving 2 dd's in the very tenuous care of DH & neighbours. should I expect a week or two, or should I really be considering taking Dd2 (9yo) with me? (DD1 is 14 so am sure she will cope)

Hello, Drive, welcome and sorry you are in this position. It is a bit hard to advise without knowing more aBout your mum's health, age and circumstances but I can offer general thoughts.

Please excuse typos, keyboard is playing up.

Keyhole surgery is, by definition minimally invasive so recovery is quicker than a full incision. She may be a daycare or one night if she is generally fit any well. I would think for a couple of weeks she will need a lot of help and then be ok t potter around and self care" she will probably need help with cleaning and shopping for several weeks. Driving is about 3-4 weeks.

A poster on this thread has just had similar but open surgery albeit with complications and is a the potter stage

I would book tho weeks if you are. Ble to do so but ensure there is help available after you have left. It's a personal choice but I wouldn't disrupt my dc's education and life. It might also by pretty dull for her. I think you sound so kind. I hope it goes well, don't hesitate to ask anything here.

Berrie hope you got sme sleep, does Mad Dog come in to keep you company? visions of said mattress in a million little pieces

Does anyone have a good mattress recommendation for poorly backs? I have always had a normal spring mattress but dh is a big heavy handed and seemingly forgets that every movement he does abruptly shakes the bed and in turn hurts me. So we tested out some new mattresses. With me laying on them and him jumping on like he normally does and found a medium firm memory foam one to be ok. It cost a small fortune but thought it worth it. Now I have tried it for a couple of weeks I am not sure if it helps or hinders my back. Dh still jumps on the bed with full force and whilst he lays awake he bangs his legs up and down as he says he gets fidgety feet. But as I keep telling him his harsh movements hurt my back. But he says he can't help it so it's not his fault!! So am in need of a good mattress that will get rid of bad movements

Msdj we have a spring mattress with memory foam on top. Many a family member has commented on the amazingness of our mattress. It's called Shakespeare bed memory plus.

My appointment has come for my injection it says: NERVE ROOT BLOCK INJECTION or LUMBAR FACET JOINT INJECTION
I have no idea which I'm having so have ring for clarification.
My appointment is on 14/02. Thank god!

msdj - re beds - we tried lots out and finally selected one which was too hard for me and left me in agony though OH got used to it - so changed to pillow top type which I have had for 2-3 years now fine but now waking with sore hips and pain waking me so not sure if its bed related. We tried all sorts of mattress toppers first including memory foam which I hated - felt like I made a cartoon impression into it and then got stuck in it! Try and get one you can change if you have to. Good luck!

Not sure what they are tickle but at least something is happening!

My thoughts exactly Ally

Tickle, I'm baffled by the treatment you've been getting. Am I right in thinking that you haven't yet seen the consultant? And they don't know the cause of the pain - other than that there's inflammation in the coccyx area - but your MRI showed no lumbar disc prolapse / other issues?

So why the heck are they sending you straight off for an injection? It can't be a nerve root block, surely, if your nerves aren't being impinged upon by anything? But I don't understand why it would be a facet joint injection either - did they see any arthritis / facet joint problems in the scan?

I'd want to know what the clinical reasoning was before I let anyone stick any (more) injections into my spine.

msdg, beds are so tricky to get right & so personal, aren't they? I like a pretty firm sprung mattress, though quite liked the memory foam topper we had in a holiday cottage. I'm a side sleeper usually & too hard (like spare bed at PIL home) gives me hip ache too. I've read a few things in back books about memory foam mattresses definitely not being right for everyone; & they can make it harder to turn in the night, so you can end up in more awkward positions.

msdj, we stupidly bought a firm sprung mattress which turned out to make me achey (this was pre back) so I bought an expensive memory foam topper from JL which I find very comfortable. This doesn't seem to be your problem, though. The only thing I can think of is having a bed that has two separate mattresses,possibly zipped together ( or not). Thanks for the pm,really kind. I'm feeling much better now but sad about the patches.

tickle, I'm confused I thought you were waiting for the appointment for the back specialist? Anyway, I doubt you will get much info from calling to enquire. IME the doctor doing the injections will examine you and study the images and then decide what to do.mive had both and whilst sore, I will not lie, it was fine. At leaset somethingis happening.

When I went to see the ESP physio who is attached to the consultant she diagnosed coccydynia but queried a bulging disc. She ordered an MRI but also booked me in for an injection into my coccyx and then another into my lower back. She asked me which I would want first and I said coccyx.

I am assuming that this is the coccyx injection.

I called to cancel my booked MRI and they confirmed the results will go to my consultant and they would write to me.

I'm confused by it all too to be honest.

I assumed that after my MRI I would get a follow up appointment to discuss findings but who knows. I feel like I'm not getting much info but I have no idea who to contact!

No, it's rarely easy to work out who to contact. If you'd seen a consultant already then getting the number for their secretary might be helpful; but obviously you haven't. Sounds like it should be the coccyx injection you've got the date for, & as Matilda says the doctor should discuss exactly what he's planning to do & why! Maybe they send out a standard letter for back-related injections, regardless of what type?

Maybe they do...I'm going to call thr consultants secretary as I do have her number for when I had my appointment with the esp physio.

Tickle my first appointment with the back pain clinic was with a doctor (presumably a back specialist type, although I did not ask), who ordered up the MRI (for which I am still waiting) but she said that she would review the MRI and depending on the result book me in for 'pain relieving injections' or send me to talk to a surgeon, but probably did not need to see me again herself, but would phone me if she needed. Details of decided treatment would be sent to me in the post. I got the impression it too would be generic paperwork - as I have had for other proceedures. I guess discussions would occur at that appointment. I wonder if your clinic system is similar? It must be very frustrating not to at least speak to someone in the know.
Mattresses. we bought a thin memory foam topper to go over our over firm old orthopaedic mattress, which worked ok (although it was a bit sweaty smelt funny and was hot) but we decided to bite the bullet and buy a new bed - with a new mattress. We have an M+S hybrid - traditional springing (medium - we are both light weights for adults) with a memory foam layer, and a padded top. It took a while to adapt to, but is much better than the old mattress. The edges are softer ( so it feels like it will tip you off if you perch on the edge) but it doesn't transmit movements as much as the hard mattress did. I wonder if the answer is twin mattresses (on the same bed frame)- but I have only slept on these on holiday in a gite - where I had wonderful sleep - most probably due the peace and quiet rather than the bed!.

Thanks Maggiso that sounds the same. She basically referred straight away for the injections as there was a long wait and she didn't want to wait for the MRI.

Maggs sorry I missed that post - yes thanks tongue is pain-free now but still numb - hopefully that will go eventually - still feels a bit alien but at least I can eat (and am eating everything in sight - post-Xmas backlash lo.!)

You guys are all so knowledgeable (fairly sure that's misspelt) - so wish I'd known you years ago but glad I found you now - won't do the group hug thing in case I get reported to MN police