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

Thank you for these top tips. Mrs Russian is indeed lightly snoring. I feel relieved now. Bloody hell I've had a baby - can't believe I give a shit haha about this.

MAGI Thanks for your German lady story. That made me smile.

Tins I'm presently being entertained by Bauer sucht Frau ( the farmer seeks a wife)

In fact we've, me a Mrs Russian, had the Tele on with sound off pretty much all day. It's pretty good as mindless distraction. You can make up your own dialogue fir amusement.

Tough thinking about your DD

Frosty OMG I saw that the other week!!!! It was great. Trash TV at its finest I don't recommend Das Grosse Backern though - DP and I watched it last Wednesday and agreed it's not a patch on the Bake Off.

I do the toilet tissue in the loo trick at work, as having constipation can mean it can be a bit 'loud'.

That's mostly all I have to say right now

good luck tomorrow frosty will be thinking of you, hope you managed that poo

Gosh a lot to catch up on here!
Tins Feeling your fury and frustration. It is hard to put up with all the STUFF everywhere that no-one puts away and it hardly helps that DH has been to work all day, come home, walked the dog, fed the kids, put the supermarket delivery away etc just WHY OH WHY won't he move the box that has been by the door for 4 days that you have NOT mentioned well not much because he is doing so much but the sight of which is TORTURE!
I am making that up from memory since I am a lot better. At least you don't have a rat problem for DH to deal with!
I'm glad that you are feeling a bit brighter Matilda I saw a man with a dog like yours near R Park on our way home from my brother's at around 3pm. Was it your DH? I like to think so!
Frosty Smiling at your poo story but I have a cautionary tale about a woman on my ward who had a discectomy. The hospital pharmacy didn't have any laxatives for days so she just didn't get any (wouldn't happen to you in Germany) anyway she ended up in a very very sorry state in the shared bathroom with three nurses. I couldn't stay to listen. I had to get on my crutches and hobble away with my Granny mates begging me to take them away from it too! (which I could not do - I wasn't being mean) Anyway don't hold it in whatever you do! Best of luck today!
Lost sorry you are feeling poorly. Hoping you are feeling better soon.#
Sorry for the people I've missed but time is up. I need to do something with DD's hair a big pair of scissors should do it before I take her to school.

Matilda I think you are very wise to double check the dose for the patches. I cannot help, but wonder what the pharmacist that dispensed them thinks? Do you have access to a specialised pain clinic or service? In the mean time have you got enough alternative pain relief to keep you comfortable?

wow tins the rage - yes we all get that and other half is usually on the receiving end - for me its when he does TOO much and I feel like an invalid (as opposed to now when I actually am lol) - poor love gets very confused - I broke a glass once on purpose but never cleaned 4 loos!

frosty we feel your pain and frustration. I am an expert on poops (life long problems) and painkillers mess me up too .. good luck hon! I had a meltdown on hols once when we got lost and my back was in screaming agony - just stood against a pillar in the middle of the street (Toronto) and sobbed until hubby came back with directions ... felt such a wally

Am still dozy and dopy but finally sleeping (at night) as well as naps so must be getting somewhere. Out for a wee walk now with hubby hanging onto me for dear life - also he has to watch out for anyone talking to me cos can't answer - what fun!

Hope you have a lovely walk Ally Are you somewhere pretty? You are having a tough time.
I have just crossed TWO items on my to do list which is one more than I did yesterday! Sadly neither of them were the one which says 'clean whole house.' Nor was it 'wrap 30 presents for class.' Bugger!
This isn't helping however so after I have checked what happens next in the book I am reading - it's an exciting bit I had better get on!

Berrie what you need to do is write a more (in code) detailed list - eg c(clean) loo, vac(uum) x y and z, rather than whole house. Its much satisfying to tick off each chore . So far I have 3 ticks (vacuumed hall lounge and stairs!) I know its cheating but I have a simple mind, and easily get overwhelmed be chores (like ds hovel of a bedroom- which would need a very long list) where I don't know where to start. Can your children help with present wrapping? Finally ds (who is 15 but has SN) caught on to this this year, and even managed to do a pretty good job! Milestone! Next we'll get him writing the cards- maybe one day. I still have not done mine.

berrie and ally That's it exactly!

ally I hope you enjoy your walk - it's lovely and sunny here, fingers crossed for the same weather for you :)

berrie 30 presents for class?! Can you buy 30 paper Christmas gift bags and shove it in and sellotape the top? I do this when I get bored for lots of small presents. I got a lot of these bags from IKEA last year and the year before.

Woke up in a lot of pain. Need to do some work sharpish or I will have to call in sick, which I don't want to be doing. So, painkillers, breakfast, and my laptop await!

Thinking of you frosty.

PS, I agree with magic I even write 'clean kitchen floor', 'clean kitchen table', 'clean kitchen work surfaces' rather than 'clean kitchen'... to be fair it isn't strictly cheating as it is an accurate reflection of what needs doing.

Hmmmm smaller items on list sounds good but is the list then not soooooo long that you want to run away with the Postman?

Ikea bags a great idea! Sadly it would take longer to go to Ikea than wrap them. I will remember that for next time though. DD told me she would do them for me last week...she did 2 Am having thoughts about some white takeaway type bags I have in a drawer somewhere. Maybe the children could decorate and name them on Thursday and I could pop gift in Thursday night! I wonder if I have enough bags? I bought them when I had made some pieces of art to sell at an arts festival. I sold one...to my sister!
Hurries off to find bags hoping to not only solve problem but get rid of some of the STUFF which threatens to suffocate! It is ironic that I feel agoraphobic out of the house and claustrophobic inside the house this week! I think it is only because the place is cluttered with Christmas boxes out of the loft, bags of wrapped gifts everywhere, the boxes that the light up reindeer came out of which is too big to go through the loft hatch but we have to keep AHHHHH! At least I don't have a piece of shower on the landing though the step ladders are there and a bag of stuff for the charity shop as well as the Beanos DC keep leaving on the bathroom floor and I lobbed out in a strop
Must get off here! I'll be sorry when I still have those comprehensions to mark tomorrow night!

Yes! Paper bags and lots of Christmas stickers. Plus if the children decorate them then it's charming and loveable and has saved you endless, endless work.

That's the trick - it has taken me years of practice to get a list that is full of easily done items but not too long as to be unachievable. To be fair, I think the whole house in one day is unachievable for anyone unless you are professional or not on drugs like us lot. Maybe downstairs one day and upstairs the next?

The shower is still on the landing. I daren't move it and DP is still enjoying my shame

Tins

Actually my list is a three dayer - my days off before work on Thursday. It only says whole house because of my all the Christmas visitors actually just my SILS, who are lovely, but much cleaner than me this weekend.
Actually I personally am very clean with my two baths a day habit but my house is not...perhaps because I spend so much time in the bath!
Bags - tick!
Bathroom - tick! except for behind the big plant - no-one will look

Actually one must be careful - yesterday after what felt like several hours ironing my back seemed to slowly squeeze into a very painful spasm which hadn't happened like that for a while then released again - interesting more than anything. I was fine after a lie down. I wish I knew what was going on in there. I find Thursdays at work much more painful than Fridays. Either I have done more in terms of dog walking and other housey stufff during the week and feel it on Thursday and it is better on Friday as I have not dog walked etc or...I have been lying down more during the week and struggle with Thursdays but am then better Friday because I have not been lying down. Now I realise I can't have it both ways but sincerely don't know which it is...if any!

I have written a list before that comprised on single fairly easy to do job, I was feeling like everything was on top of me so I picked one thing to do that day and did it. I felt great and all the little things I did after seemed like a bonus. Lists are awesome. I might actually write one for my morning then tick everything off or is that cheating .

Dragged myself to see the GP (I am so sick of waiting rooms and different doctors!) to show him my lovely patch rashes, he was suitably impressed by the squareness of it, which I loved him for. He's going to investigate what to give me instead but he was very busy so said he'd get the secretary to call me later when he's come up with a plan. I liked him, it can be such a lottery with GP's!

Fingers and everything crossed for Frosty, hope everything is going really well.

At the merry banter here. Actually just written a long, witty and enjoyable (?!) rambling post then lost it which has made me feel .

Hollie, Tins makes an excellent suggestion. Surely both energy saving for you and educational and enjoyable or more so than bloody DVDs for the children? I suggests that you get your more able pupils to include Latin inscriptions and the less able to draw festive Hollie and Berries

Re lists, am I the only one who routinely starts the list with chores I have actually already done or delegated? It is highly satisfying to strike through the top of your list. Also add 'clean entire house very thoroughly' on the day the cleaner is coming. You see, I am old and cunning wise .

I have wasted a good chunk of the morning taking my car back due to the warning light telling me a door was open. You can probably guess the end of that story . Still, not entirely wasted as got the filth catching tray for the dog in the boot. And once the nice man went round and slammed all the doors the electrical fault seemed repaired so happy days.

Frosty I am thinking of you today. I bet you will be getting the best possible care and will soon be trotting around and playing with your gorgeous baby.

Finally, I did consult two pharmacists who were both very on the fence about the prescription but agreed it was a heavy dose (I am 8.5 stone) and it might be better to start with one patch which was a relief because I was seriously afraid of waking up dead.

I must Get On. Maybe I should start by writing a list?

Oh Matilda I do that too - put things I have just done on my list, so I can admire what I have already done and feel less intimidated!! Very satisfying. DH surely thinks I do nothing during the day but my lists help me feel productive. Have just spent 2 hours trying to find a hard to find prescription- finally found some lovely pharmacist who was prepared to order in a pharmaceutical generic equivalent - it was that or go without. Phew. Probably my fault as I asked if the item was in stock by its trade name (not back related). So tomorrow I have a fair drive to go and get it along with several other things (pilates class and chiropractor appointment) in the opposite direction. Glad you checked the dose. I tried to find some links for you but it was all too complicated for a non medical person like me - although you may have fared better. It seems the dose you need is related to the dose of opioids you already need in a 24 hour period and are tolerant of, but its so complicated (dose per hour/ dose per 24 hours and patches lasting 72 hours different medications having differing worth etc and all the maths in between) I should think double checking is very wise, especially since you are at home and not being closely monitored in hospital for your first patch. Some of the references were very scary in deed, so not surprised you want to be sure it is right - and relieved that you are. You are important!
Thinking of you Frostydom- hope all is going well.
Losty sounds like you have a very sensible GP. Hope you have better days ahead. TInsel agree with the list of easy to achieve chores. Clearly I am shirking at the moment - I have my newish wobble cushion on the computer chair so I could claim my MN is therapy but 'fraid its more just breathing in between thinking! Hope your pain eases. I have not got a date for my MRIs yet.
We are going away for Christmas and new year - to a regular house that is family owned, but has no internet so I might be out of touch. DH likes to get away, and for ds it is better and more relaxed. So at present I have several lists, and am packing and checking clothes. We are meeting up with family we won't see over Christmas itself, so lists are very much needed. Must get one more present needed for tonight and be back for ds afterschool. Just might make it!

Thinking the list thing through, here's my plan. I am In Charge Of Lists. I will write the list of each and every thing I can think of. I will then be tired and need to rest so mustn't overdo it. I will therefore chose a couple of simple tasks such as ' check the table napkins' 'lay out guest towels' in the name of fairness. Then I will allocate all other chores to others. Sadly for DH both ds have gone to live elsewhere young adults, not removed by SS for neglect. Still, he likes to keep busy and owes me a million favours for attending the Christmas party at his mother Nursing home. Faint whiff of wee with your wine?.

Sorted . I really should rest now.

Magiandco good luck with the packing (hate packing) Hope you have a lovely time - when do you leave?
Matilda 8.5 stone? I think my leg weighs 8.5 stone!
Losty Glad the GP was helpful (or intends to be) Personally if I add things to the list I've already done or did after I wrote the list...it doesn't quite have the same satisfaction...bit like a tonic water without the gin...so yes cheating!
Oh the joys of internet supermarket shopping! I have 4 deodorants instead of one, three bottles of shampoo instead of shampoo and conditioner and 9 limes which were a great idea when I'd added a few bottles of spirits to the basket having decided to make some festive cocktails at the weekend but not so great once I'd guiltily had second thoughts and taken them out again! 9 limes - sigh! Have just had to go out to the supermarket to get the missing ingredients for my festive turkey, stuffing and cranberry pie for the weekend along with some roquefort, hazelnut and basil empanadas (as seen on TV yesterday.)
I wonder if they did Frosty early. She didn't come on at all today did she?

I am an obsessive list maker. Hubby has just gotten through his chores (clearly listed to avoid confusion) which is fine timing as he is back to work tomorrow. Shopping lists have to be very precise ie "rice" is not enough - has to be "large packet brown basmati rice" otherwise he brings back things I didn't even know existed bless! Still hoping to be able to eat by Xmas as can't think of something soft that would do us both.

Lasted only about 20 minutes outside before feeling faint but at least I got to see daylight and some fresh air. We live near the sea so its a nice walk but cold as hell with a wind. Could barely stand when I got back so not going out again without hubby to lean on.

I wanted to make some mince pies the other day so sent DH to the shops with a list, butter, flour, mincemeat etc. He came back with a pack of minced beef.
Glad you got some fresh air Ally mutters to herself about yet another who lives near the sea
I actually more or less live as far from the sea as it is possible to be in the whole of the UK!

Hollie we are a long way from the sea too! Does living near a small out of town shopping centre count? Its jolly useful at this time of year, but not quite the same as the seaside. Warmer perhaps. My Dh needs clear instructions too!!
Ally glad you got out and hopefully the
Phew got my shopping done!

This is where you all explain to me and Magiandco how perfectly horrid it is living by the sea. to make us feel better.

I've just come on to ask about back pain, so I hope it's okay to ask here with all the experts on tap as it were.

I don't get bad back pain, I've had it three times in the last 18 months where my back has suddenly for no known reason stiffened up and got painful. Went to the doctor the fist time and he said I'd pulled the muscles either side of my spine. I assume that's what I've done the other times too. I've had enough painkillers left from the first time, so have just taken them for two-three days until it's basically better.

What I was going to ask sounds really silly. But when I've back pain, I feel like I've shrunk, even if I'm able to stand up straight. As though my spine has compressed. Does anyone else have this?

The other thing is that I tend to sit/lie the way it's comfortable. But then I stiffen up in that position, and it's really painful to move. I find if I sit/lie in a position that's slightly uncomfortable then that doesn't happen. So am I best (for quick healing) to pick the comfortable position or the one I can move from?

Thanks!