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

Loon Good luck with the cards :)

frosty That is such good news, bar the fainting! Agree with Matilda that if your main thought was pudding it's probably just a general op wooziness thing.

Berrie I am and now devoutly praying as a militant atheist! that nothing I have wrong needs surgery. That is appalling.

My news for today: pain, pain, pain. I was meant to get up at 7am as I have a choice between travelling to Head Office tonight and paying for another Travelodge stay or tomorrow morning on the 0630 train (meaning up at 0545). I couldn't do it, I was unwakeable and eventually managed to drag myself out of bed at 0900, so tonight and Travelodge it is. Also couldn't manage to space my medication out so am waiting for a crash in about an hour or so as I had to take the ibuprofen half an hour after the paracetamol. But I am managing to get some work done from home. Ended up calling in sick yesterday as I was pretty much insensible. My whole right side felt numb in my head - it's very strange, it feels numb/unmovable but if I think about it and make effort I can move relatively normally. It buggers up my typing though as my fingers aren't agile enough and don't move like I need them to, basically my hand doesn't work like I am telling it to and I type so quickly that I am doing loads of typos as my right hand just goes 'khjubi' on the keyboard. I still have numbness in my bum, although not where the doctor felt no such thing as dignity with this.

I have another GP appointment this afternoon. Will ask for: absolute confirmation that I cannot be doing myself any more damage by going to work (and I want that recorded); a copy of my notes to date; a referral letter to a consultant as the hospital told me I am not allowed to speak to the consultant and the physiotherapist or GP will advise on treatment, which I find bizarre and to ask to come off the amitrip. as it has reduced the tingling on my left hand side but I still have loads on the right - right hand side is completely unchanged so I don't see the point in taking something that completely knocks me out for little overall benefit. I also want noted that the pain is continually getting worse and Tramadol isn't as effective as it used to be. Plus recorded about the numbness/reduced sensation in my bum. Again.

Question I am considering paying privately for a very good consultant to assess my results and give me advice. Could anyone recommend one via PM please? Travelling is not a problem, i.e. London. The costs for advice, when I was looking into getting the scan done privately, were about £300 which I wouldn't mind paying just for peace of mind before I agree on a course of treatment. Thanks

Ooh frosty just cross-posted. Excellent news about DD, I am so happy for you :) Cafe is probably just as clean... all the Germans I know are militant about cleaning

PS - plus if you go to the cafe I bet you can get your mousse. Or cake.

Tinselaffe I think you are right to demand - don't take any nonsense. I realise thus US easier said than done on NHS. So sorry for increased pain. Isn't your scan soon? Get copies of everything. I had to chase radilogist for electronic scan copies.

It was pretty bad especially when I was feeling frightened, alone and vulnerable- I had forgotten about it. Still no harm done. Thank goodness for the morphine drip or I might have really lost it!

What do we think TIns does for a job? My guess is a reporter on the One Show. Sorry you are having such a rubbish time. I didn't get on with Amitrip either but Gabapentin was fine. Can't help with Consultant I'm afraid.

Thanks both :) Just what I needed to bolster me up.

Yes, frosty scan is next Tuesday at lunchtime. Tentatively excited about that!

Berrie deffo not a One Show reporter, I don't have the face for it!

Tins have sent you a pm. I'm guessing a junior government minister. Although maybe not. They probably all get private healthcare [fgrin[.

Hollie, I too had a vile overflowing bedpan experience. Horrid and a nasty male nursing assistant who angrily dragged me out of bed to drip the sheets leaving me in a wee soaked nighty crying. Then I saw a nurse showing a student the ropes and begged for help. I think from the looks on their faces that the mean one must have had form. God it was awful. I was up to the loo after that!

frosty, you are doing brilliantly. Hope the pain is controlled well. Keep resting and enjoy the period of peace.

Not a minister either! (Although flattered!) I have realised that even if you guess it I have to deny it, but I honestly promise you haven't guessed yet and I don't think you will. It's very obscure.

Thank you so much for the PM, that looks really promising in light of what the GP said. She is lovely, second week back from maternity leave and she was literally propping herself up on her desk. Gave me some solid advice on what constitutes fit for work or not - basically if I can't do my job to my usual standard or hours [tick], it's causing me a lot of pain [tick] and making me very tired [tick] then I should consider getting signed off... however she said it's also dependent on the employer and how they feel. Mine at the moment seems fine with me doing whatever I can. I have a performance review in January so I will ask to extend it and discuss the situation afterwards, when hopefully I will have a better picture of what is wrong.

GP won't refer me now as there aren't any results to refer me on the basis of but is very happy to refer me once they are in. So I will ask specifically for the one you recommended Matilda and see how it goes.

I have made DP promise, on the back of your stories Matilda and Hollie to take some time off if I need an op. I am at the experiences you have had. DP for a while was seriously thinking of ways to get me treatment in Germany but we aren't married and I can't get German citizenship unless we live there for 3 years probably to stop the kind of heathcare tourism we were considering so that is out.

Hmmm but it's so apparently identifiable Ins. That's the intriguing bit! How can it be obscure too... Thinking...Thinking. Radio presenter?

Don'y worry too much Ins...I was fixed and that was the main thing. My brother and family have a lot of healthcare in Germany. My German SIL's family can hardly believe the way it works here. Frosty got a crabby nurse in Germany too though...

That's true!

Basically if you put my job title into Google i come up, as there are so few of us. Tbh I have put so many details on this thread if someone I know reads it they would recognise me anyway. I'm not remotely famous or anything. I was on Blue Peter once but that doesn't count

On train back on DP's old tablet. Actually not old but he shut it in a car door a few months ago so it's mostly broken. Means I can read OK but typing arduous. Hope you all have a lovely evening \ couple of days. DP has persuaded me not to go to the Christmas party on Friday. Feel :( but know he is right. Will take some leave instead.

Hmm. Went to sleep before talking evening pain killer and diazepam. Woke at 4:30 am local time with legs cramping. Managed to get it under control with breathing. No real pain as such, bit uncomfortable around the wound in the back, big left toe a tiny little bit furry in feeling. Will mention on Drs rounds tomorrow. Tried to get on some fresh PJs rather than hospital gown for DH visit and because those things are breezy round the bum. Waste of time - was still trying to work out how to get on trousers when he walked in. DH's visit was nice but we left room to give just-operated-on Mrs Russian some peace. It was a bit tiring.
And I'm regretting sending him away with MIL Christmas cookies and chocolate away now. I wanted to resist stuffing face with hard to digest treats. 2 hours 20 minutes to breakfast.

Matilda what a shit bag nurse.

Yeah so not taking tablets at night = Physio is VERY hard work in the morning. Won't be that again.

That's a horrid story too Matilda
Frosty glad you had a nice visit from DH. When do they let you go home?
Ins Christmas parties - shudder - my idea of hell don't be
I haven't been careful on this thread at all but I like to think I haven't been mean about anyone or said anything I shouldn't so hoping for the best.
Have a good day everyone!

wow frosty can't believe you are still in hospital (and can't get my head round who is in Germany but that's the drugs) .. maybe not as long as it seems to me (drugs too)

we got asked to leave the next day but refused and stayed 2 nights but wish I hadn't as it was so horrible - neglected, told not to ring for nurse as we were "too needy", etc ... took me years to stop having nightmares about it all ... fainted on the toilet (which we were all forced to go to the same night) and tossed onto bed covered in blood and urine, left naked during visiting hours (straight after surgery) .... I could go on .... wish I'd had private cover in those days

Thing is for me that the operation I had which fucked my back up for life, was done privately. The nursing care was ok. Not special, very task orientated rather than patient centred, but ok. The salvage operation, in top London hospital with world class surgeon < have small pash on him> was were the nursing was truly crappy. Bedpans put on my table, no hand washing offered, bad pan incident and loads more. Although funnily enough the lady in the opposite bed had had a brain bleed and cried and screamed incessently but the nurses were very sweet with her, so I forgave them but not that bedpan one for being crap with me because I could, at least look out for myself.

frosty, did the physio come before 7am today? Bloody hell. I saw one once, walked me up the corridor, up a few stairs and sent me home. You sound as if you are doing brilliantly. Yes, take your painkillers, you will rehab better if you can move.x

Ally I am indeed still in hospital and in Germany. I arrived on Monday, operated Tuesday with expectation set that I could go home at weekend. But it's going quite well and looks like I can definitely go home Saturday latest. Can not believe your hospital stories. Awful awful awful I want to weep for you. Poor sods.

Matilda I'm an hour ahead but MN uses UK time to log posts. But the physio does come daily and leaves homework exercises. She Was also very direct about taking the medicine making the point you made about not being able to move = no ability to do necessary exercises.

Matilda that was my NHS physio experience too - you can walk, you can go - after 6 NHS sessions finished payed for private ones myself and she was lovely

I had no care as such but op worked I guess so I should be grateful not in Somalia or Peshwari as assume would be dumped at side of road as useless woman ... I try to be glass half full but was traumatised by hospital experience. Sorry to hear yours actually was private - so much for that eh?

Might move to Germany then if back gets worse eh ladies? Failing that wee cottage hospitals seem to be better (thinking Borders, Fife) too - awful that I am even thinking this lol

Being an inpatient (not back related - 6 years ago) was quite a shocking eye opener for me too. We patients definitely had to look after each other, (as has happened on previous admissions) but were mostly too ill to do so. The porters who pushed me around were to a man lovely. Mainly it was nurses who were overworked and frankly grumpy stressed and demotivated- everyone was so ill (most recovering from lung surgery/ lung cancer or serious pneumonia). Something very shocking happened to the patient in the bed next to me , (who was being infused unwatched with a drug I clearly heard her say she thought she was allergic to), and I knew she needed a crash team pronto, (no one came to call button or shouts for help- not that any of us had much shout), so I (the only one on the ward able to stand) ended up having to disconnect myself (O2 dependent at the time) and wobble off to the nurses office (where they were talking) for help. Once the team arrived she was well looked after, people scuttling everywhere for equipment, and she survived, at least till I escaped. I work in a specialist hospital in a very committed team, and feel valued by the rest, and was very shocked by some of the grumpy rude nurses - 2 to be precise, one the sister. Others were lovely - including the nurse who rescued me from getting stuck in a shower - (I hadn't the strength to unlock it). The out patient nurses where I work are lovely (as are those that have contact with my son)- but they don't work unsocial long hours like those poor overworked nurses on an acute/ HDU ward. I would think they burn out very fast.
Any way I went to a talk by someone who is involved with the care quality commission, and it seems unsafe staff numbers (especially of trained nurses, and overnight medical staff) has been flagged up as a problem and is one of the points that they specifically check for on their unscheduled visits at unsocial hours and can lead to an 'unsafe' rating so hopefully things should be improving, and already has in many hospitals.

Frosty glad to hear you are making progress, and feeling hungry. Hope your recovery continues smoothly. Tinselaffe Sorry you are suffering, and I hope you get the reassurance you need, and that your MRI goes well. It was pain getting worse that made me get my wrist Xrayed, so I do hope whatever is wrong can be fixed easily. If only it was as easy as a broken wrist bone! My DB crushed 3 vertibrae years ago in a long fall, and had to wear a full back brace (like a stiff gillet) but seems to have recovered well. Pavlov hope you have a lovely restful (by your standards) Christmas, and everyone else best wishes for Christmas (just incase I don't pop in nearer the time).
Must get back to my packing

frosty you did what ? you sent DH away with chocolate?! Is he returning?! Glad you are feeling ok, hope the fuzzy feeling goes away.

Tough how is dd2 getting on?

Mulled I know. Was confused. Fortunately DH came again today with dried apricots and plums so I did a partial swap with Mrs Russia in the next bed who had a big packet of lindt she insisted I share.

frosty, BEWARE THE DRIED FRUIT!!

After second op, in aforementioned London hospital of the dodgy nursing (same ward as Tough, in fact), I greedily scoffed dried apricots, needing to make up a days worth of missed meals. Well, I know as well as the next opiate user the difficulties of constipation, but OMAFG, I had an urge to 'go' only to find the loo was occupied. Manages to stagger to the next one and was told I couldn't use it because I had strayed from my designated bay. I replied that ok, I was actually going to defecate on the floor then. Allowed to use said loo but I kid you not, I had twelve hours of profuse, bloody diarrhoea. That's bloody in real blood.

Hideous, hideous. So please, go easy.

In case of any remaining doubt, I did not enjoy my hospital stay.

Oh Matilda who the hell are these bloody awful people? I will watch out with the fruit but the nurses ask me every day if I've been since the operation and today they said I had 24 hours left to go....

I dunno what happens if I don't deliver but I'm scared it might be a suppositary. And although I'm managing more steps every day, there's no way I could out run a determined German nurse with a bum bullet.

I've not got a Tele at home because we were too cheap to buy a receiver when tv went from analog to digital but it's been on pretty constantly in our room. Everyone is slim and young and beautiful. When did this happen? I've not really watched since the UK but I'm sure Wogan, Cilla, Forsyth, Paxman, Whitely, Richard and Judy etc were all pretty regular looking (no offence if any of you are on the thread)

Evening! I feel quite guilty... DP's tablet totally broken so sneaked on using my work laptop and Google incognito. Stuck in Travelodge counting down the painkiller hours. DP was right, I should not have come into work today. Dragged myself in this morning (overslept by half an hour despite staying overnight last night) and had an awful day.

Best bit about today was unwrapping my secret santa present - my boss gave me a bit of grief for missing the end of year party, I thought I was in trouble... turns out I think he was my santa and was upset I couldn't open the gifts in front of him. He had made me a handbag sized copy of my favourite piece of work-related legislation I am a total nerd, I bloody love that document and a posh local cheese (we share a mutual love of cheese). So am feeling very well regarded at the moment, it's the most perfect gift ever. He's on leave until January but I sent him a thank you anyway. And then I was so confused i went and left the bloody cheese in the fridge. So have texted a colleague asking if they will bring it to the station tomorrow morning, otherwise I have to go to the office and back and I really don't want to - I am only fit for going home and lying on the sofa.

GP looked at me cross-eyed for a bit yesterday and then said, "I'm trying to work out what the likelihood is that you broke your vertabrae and they have healed out of alignment, because you shouldn't be in this much pain."