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

Sorry ally. Cant help re drugs. My sister had a tumor removed from her tongue. I remember how miserable it was.

thanks anyway berrie ... this is the 2nd attempt to get it all out so much more extensive surgery ... I googled it and looks possible hey ho!

Ally that sounds horridly sore. Yes, you can take full dose tramadol plus paracetamol. Just be careful, of course that you don't accidentally take too much paracetamol by having cocodamol as well as all that. Hope it feels better very soon. Does anything else help at all? Do hope it feels better soon.

Berrie, enjoy your lunch. I'm not much company tbh. Feeling very low.

Ins your physio might be theoretically right about the withdrawal of tramadol but please don't feel pressured to do so until you are ready. Remember that terrible day last week? Well I'm sorry to be the one to break this to you but a tiny dose of amytriptiline isn't going to mop that up. I feel like punching these bloody people sometimes, until they've walked a mile in your shoes how the fuck do they know what we are putting up with. 'Its all nerve pain' sounds very unlikely from what you've posted on here. Let the MRI make the diagnosis.

frosty, it's 100% Sod's law that you get a 'good day' just as you take the decision to have surgery. It doesn't mean the injury has suddenly healed. It's just another way this bastard thing has of messing up your head. It seems very clear from all the advice you've had in the German healthcare that you really need the operation. Waiting is horrid. As soon as it's over you will be on thy road to recovery.

Sorry for lowness matilda
Ally poor you. My sister had quite a chunck taken away but her speech is normal now and she is two years clear. wishing you well.

Matilda so sorry to hear you are having a low time. What strategies do you usually use? Do you allow youself to just feel what you feel for the time? Or talk or write or get angry? Or use distraction or relaxation cd's? Of course when you're in pain and fed up it's all bullshit and very hard to pull yourself up. Sending you happy positive vibes. feel free to mutter I can shove my vibes up my ass

Thanks matilda you are a fount of knowledge! I'll just take para with the tramadol then as codeine doesn't really agree with me in large doses. Also taking diclofenac and occasional diazepam.

Thanks for sympathy too ladies as its very sore and I feel quite pathetically sorry for myself but hopefully get the all clear this time. I think I should be able to talk too berrie although tongue fairly mangled at minute should be ok

Good luck with the surgery frosty ... sorry can't keep up with everybody ... drugs lol

ally Just to back up Matilda, I am currently taking every day - 8 para; 6 ibuprofen & 6 Tramadol and it's fine :) The only annoying thing was when I got a cold and had to be careful about the paracetamol & lemsip The good thing about Tramadol is that it is easy to swallow (was thinking that this morning) whereas co-codamol from memory isn't? When I've had it before it was very chunky tablets. I hope you have a speedy recovery

Matilda Sorry you are having a low day. always cheers me up and, if you are one of the sweary MNers, was the advert I watched to get through it which made me laugh. If you are NOT a sweary MNer it will probably make you roll your eyes so best off not watching Can you (gently) cuddle up on the sofa and watch happy Christmas films or the like? I think that would also class as excellent parenting if you are looking after DCs today as it's cold outside and in keeping with the time of year...

Went to bed at 2am (Tramadol, I think... I think I need to be taking the amitrip. at a regulated time so it's knocking me out at a regulated time, rather than just whenever I go to bed) and woke up at 11:30. Quite a bit of pain today, probably due to the tidying yesterday but I do now have some lovely festive rooms and DP carried all the rubbish downstairs for me. Matilda thank you for the bolster re: Tramadol... one of his parting comments to me last Monday was, "Well a scan can't see pain", i.e. it might all be in my head. I thought "fuck you very much". GP also asked me whether I felt that stress was exacerbating the pain and I pointed out that the Tramadol had me so spaced out I didn't care about anything really. She didn't quite know what to make of that Very much resent the inference, before they even scan, that it's all imaginary pain.

Ooh, it posted actual Youtube clips into my post?! It's never done that before...

Tins , I think you might have noticed but are polite enough to not mention that I am definitely a sweaty mumsnetter. However, your comment 'fuck you very much' actually made me laugh so . I haven't seen the YouTube clip, it all looks pretty spot on. I now have a new catch phrase, anyway. Why has back pain so very much turned me into a foul mouthed old witch? ( note to hq, possible new evil emoticon?)

For lovely Christmas traditions re decorating the tree etc, I got ds1 who is here for one day to help me while DH sat watching the highlights ( an oxymoron IMO) of the Chelsea game. He has no festive spirit that man.

Have had a bath and some more drugs so should be feeling a tad more cheerful soon.

sweary ffs, I am a lot of things but not sweaty

Arf at sweaty! That made me in return!

Highlights is definitely an oxymoron. Fastest way for DP to get me out of the living room is to watch Bundesliga.

Okay then, you might appreciate my sweary story of the week: yesterday I was putting on my boots to go and deliver save the date and Christmas cards. Pre-accident I just shoved my feet in, but I can't do that any more so it's a sort of shuffle, crouch, hop, then swear thing (because I've then jolted my spine). I refuse to sit down. So DP was standing outside with the door open and I got to the sweary stage and said, "Bugger, bugger, fuck, buggery" to punctuate actually getting my foot in the shoe and promptly nearly fell over as always. DP in a very loud voice says, "Come on, bugger, bugger fuck - oh! Hello!" And he looked appalled and like this:

Then I heard the key go next door. It was the wife of the very devout Muslim couple who have just moved in from Saudi. I had to hide behind the door I was laughing so hard. He was so appalled at himself. Serves him right actually as we have lots of small children in the street and I do rein in it around them (he doesn't and I am constantly worried we'll get a complaint).

Hello. Matilda hope bath and drugs helped a bit. TINS he he he. You need a long shoe horn. That was an actual birthday present from DH once. I was dubious at first but live that thing now. Short question. I've got my crutches and my drugs packed for hospital. I go in tomorrow for heart and bloods. Operation Tuesday. Released Saturday or Sunday. I've got Wash kit and easy to put on clothes. What do I need other than that?
trying not to be scared

Something to talk to us on of course!

and there being no poo on the floor from dog

I quite like being in hospital. Clean sheets every day, food brought to you in bed, hilarious granny mates (though you may not get those in Germany because not NHS rather than German old people not being funny I mean)
Will be thinking of you!

YY to something to keep you entertained and in contact with us! Are you on Pinterest? I find that really good for browsing when I'm drugged up to the eyeballs bored and if it has skype or something they can call you from home, show you DD etc. Do you have a kindle? Perfect excuse to read all the books you've ever wanted. iPod with calming/favourite music - or you could put music on the tablet/phone/laptop and just bring the earphones to save on baggage. Chargers!

Do you have a small bottle of sani-gel, small packet of pocket tissues and a couple of snacks to tide you over until you settle in and work out when food is etc.? As you are in for a couple of days, your own pillowcase so something smells of home? Slippers or similar? Spare hair ties. Lipbalm (hospitals can be dry) and hand cream. Earplugs or eyemask if you aren't a good sleeper?

Depending on just how British you are - your own teabags?

I tend to over pack And don't worry about forgetting anything - someone can always bring it in for you. Please don't be scared, although it's easier said than done. You are in the best possible care, with a very experienced surgeon - think how quickly the last week has gone and before you know it it'll be next weekend again and you'll be posting from home and well on the way to recovery :)

PS, sorry - we do have a hideous orange shoehorn. I am just refusing to be sensible so I do deserve everything I get in that regard.

Ally so sorry your tongue is so sore. I wondered if swilling dispersible paracetamol (or other liquid painkiller) around your sore tongue before swallowing as part of your dose, would help target the analgesia. Tongues are so sensitive.
Matilda I hope you are feeling less low by now and your meds have helped. Its most unfair that your ill health payments ( I have forgotten what they are called now) have still not been sorted, and that on top of everything else. I also find Christmas - with all the things I can't do - brought home things I could mostly ignore at other times of year. I attended a course about parenting a child with disability and part of it discussed the stages of acceptance and adaptation and the swinging back and forth from grief through denial, disbelief, anger and then to acceptance and a new normal. It resonated with my own situation as well as ds's. When I first tried to get back to work I had no idea I would not spring back, and one of my bosses suggested looking at very early retirement on ill health grounds. At the time I thought that was a bit drastic, but looking back she was wise. I just wasn't ready to realise at the time.
TInselaffe I think ami (I can't spell it) helps with getting to sleep, especially when mild pain is an issue. It certainly a soporific for me.

A long shoehorn is a brilliant idea Frosty! I had to DH to help do up my shoes today. Most my others are slip on - but not my lovely red velvet pair. Now if you can solve the doing up if zips on dresses...I once went into work (I still work one short day a week - I am lucky in having an employer that values part timers, and a boss who's wife was very severely ill in early motherhood) - when dh was away (as he works overseas sometimes) without doing up my zip fully because I couldn't. I covered it with a cardy, intending to get some help from a colleague on arrival. Needles to say I forgot, got warm took off my cardy and was working when a colleague kindly came and pulled it up for me! I must have been showing my underwear for at least an hour!

ally I'm sorry about your tongue. I dIdnt answer ad I find really know about drugs but I really hope you feel better soon.

Fgs - as I don't really know about drugs.

How is everyonem I haven't checked in for a bit, had dds birthday, had the kids in from the street yesterday and today so was busy making sarnies etc.
I am on a week annual leave at the mo til the 23rd dec, I need it as only been back a few weeks and already knackered. I am not sure if I am getting a cold as throat has feel dry and scratchy last two days and feel sicky and no appetite. A lot of the residents have got awful fluey type bug and horrible chest infections, so have sone of the staff as well.
well life at home is busy what with dds birthday, xmas coming, and now dh mum been told she had dementia, I did say to fil, sil and dh months ago that she has it but they wouldn't get it checked with gp and hospital, she niw had meds every day, but fil won't go out the house at all so we, dh and me are doing loads for them, shopping, meal planning, dh got fil car mot and insurance sorted. We are getting phone calls alk hours saying that dh has to go up there as his dadis crying and his mum is being really awful. Trouble us dh somtimes gets up at 2.30am for work and can do a 15 hour day. I know being with someone who had dementia is hard and can get very emotional andis very mentally draining, sometimes a six hour shift with mild dementia drains me.
is everyone readyfor xmas, those of you with children have they seen santa yet and given you a list as long as your arm of what they would like.
How is everyone doing pain and meds wise, hopefully ok, I still get pain when I know I have done too much, I use it ad a warning sign. I did it originally back in july so I suppose it is early days still, it was a severe bulge.
do any if you know if the cold weather can affect it or not, ir damp weather.
I am due to stay at my mum and dads for one night on the 2nd jan with dd as sister is getting married in july and we have to go bridesmaid dress shopping as me and dd are bridesmaids.

frosty, most of the above to take in. I would class earplugs and eye mask as essential. iPod ditto to blank out hospital noises. Talking books are nice to listen to . Reading is quite hard due to meds and distractions. Lip balm and moisturisers essential. Nice spray to smell nice. I hate hospital gowns so nightwear that allows a drip through the sleeve if possible, though I didn't have one the second time, just a venflon in situ.

I also took: my own pillows, sports water bottle ( hard to drink lying down and you will wake with raging thirst, new pants, nightwear, hair bands, dry shampoo, slippers, mini moisturisers etc. your dm will be busy tomorrow getting you packed up. Do you know what time your surgery is?

Lastly, sweets of something to offer the staff so they all like you and are super nice to you.

Thanks, everyone. I'm feeling a bit better. I am in a process of making a potentially huge decision re analgesia and it's upset and scared me very much. I'll be ok.

ALLY can you hook the zip with a bent coat hanger?

Thanks everyone. Mostly packed today as transport ambulance coming tomorrow at 9:30am and getting out of bed,-getting cleanish and dressed take ages and find it hard to start before drugs have kicked in.

PINK that sounds Damn hard. You have my full sympathy. Can you get any govt funded support?

Good luck for the operation, Frosty. Will be thinking of you on Tuesday (is it Tuesday? Not entirely with it).

That's such a useful hospital list, Matilda - am going to make a note of it should I ever need to go in again.

to everyone suffering. Nothing coherent to say here - full of cold, thought I was getting the better of it, & have now started puking. And I'm sure everyone on this thread knows the added delights of having a cold when every sneeze / cough / retch sets your back off too. Lots of buggers & fucks here too.

I meant to post earlier, in case this applies to anyone, I discovered yesterday that I have automatically qualified for a London Taxicard which means x number of heavily subsidised rides per year. My qualification was based on pip points. Other areas may well have similar schemes. Pity nobody thought to actually tell me about it . Anyway, application filled in so am looking forward to being able to go out and take the meds I need both at the same time. Quite a novelty.

Good luck tomorrow, frosty, 24 hours in hospital preop is quite thorough! Enjoy the rest. Hoping very optimistically for your speedy recovery.xx