The Back Pain Emporium is Open For Business. Browsers Welcome. Thread 7

[MatildaTheCat]

For anyone experiencing back pain it can be a terrifying 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 , 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 and say hello

Previous thread for anyone interested

I actually have a bucket list - oddly enough just ticked something off it today as hotel I have wanted to go to for years had a voucher deal - still lots left though!

No didn't see Next dungarees - are they really in fashion? I feel old!

Dry shampoo is for when you are really desperate - doesn't stop me keeping trying new ones though (I have one in a drawer that I haven't tried yet). Still looking for the rainbow hairbrush - I don't give up easy

Sprung memory foam mattresses are on Groupon today for £119 for a double, £139 for a king if anyone needs one.

Nervous about my physio assessment.

Really? Schmeegle is obviously right up to the minute and we are unfashionable frumps!

Oh ladies, you'll all be relieved to hear my obsession with dungarees has waned........ only to be replaced by JUMPSUITS!

Seriously, I'm sick. A sick sick person.

schmeegle

I am an unashamed frumpy (and fat) grumpy old woman and I don't care - off for some now!

OH.MY.GOODNESS!
Yes saw some of those at the weekend too. Similar sort of work wear theme going on then - boiler suit...
Very unhygienic Schmee the top bit brushes the loo/floor when you sit on it unless you bundle it around your knees and try and hold on to it with one hand. Don't do it! Think that XFactor winner woman...she didn't look good. I think you are toying with us!

Oh Berrie, if only I were toying with you!

I will resist, I will. I almost bought the next dungarees but instead I bought the kimono style wool cardigan and the bardot sweater Arrived yesterday. They are both gorgeous and look very expensive!

Thats a good deal on the mattresses!

Finally the results of my MRI are in.
I got a letter from the Physio/assessor saying my results show the same but worse (last MRI 2009) and I can discuss this with my GP and refer back to them if I don't improve with physio.
My GP has already told me he has limited knowledge of spinal problems.
I am going to get a copy of the results from the GP tomorrow and try and work it out myself!

Pffft!

I can't remember if i mentioned this already but in my down time post op I'm totally rehashing my wardrobe.

I'm going to loosely follow the concept behind project333 where you limit your wardrobe to 33 pieces, changing them every 3 months.

The aim is that you have a limited wardrobe but you actually love every single item of clothes!

YNK sorry the letter says your spinal condition is worse. We all seem to have to become our own experts don't we? Gps really cannot know everything about every area of medicine and it seems to me that there is a gap. I suppose they may have sent a more medically detailed letter to the GP? The person who examined my back said she would phone me after the MRI to discuss the next step. Could you call the clinic and ask to discuss what it means as your GP has not specialised in that area? they may have a call back system you could tap into if needed. Alternatively there might be a GP in your practice who has specialised in back condition or otherwise has more back pain knowledge.
How are you feeling?
Ally funnily enough I have several cans of dry shampoo (the ones that promise volume), and have only tried each one once.
Schmeegle I have always liked boiler suits. I tried one on the other day and it looked awful on me - made me look like I was wearing a sack tied in the middle and had a huge bum! Maybe that's the point since shapely bottoms are in fashion, but not quite the effect I wanted to achieve. As a lover of jumpsuits I find it hard to dissuade you, but they are trick with a stiff back! Your new purchase sound lovely - and warm.
Pavlov, I tried to get some of those lift and shape jeans too(as my bum is rather unshapely and flat) - and my size was also out of stock - perhaps the same size.
How are you Berrie?

I can't get an answer at the physio. I have been trying since yesterday.
I'm actually raging, plus my arse is killing me!
I feel totally fobbed off!

It's very frustrating YNK. Hope you find someone to interpret the results for you.

Mag I got some of those 'Enhancer' skinny jeans from Next too. Haven't tried them on yet but they look fab. I can just imagine what I would look like in a jumpsuit

Oh perhaps I should try Next since M&S is out of stock. There was an article in what may have been a Sunday paper (which showed a lovely slim lady looking flat bottomed in standard jeans and very shapely and round in the shaped type- so that's made them very popular. I tried a slim and shape set of jeggings on (as that is all they had in my size) and(apart from being a struggle to pull on) it gave a bulge like a top was tucked in, but not a rounded derriere.
YNK sorry you cannot get through to even leave a message - how very frustrating! Sounds like you need to talk to the GP, and then if that does not help you decide on a way forwards, possibly write for an explanation (through PALS -the patient liason service- if need be).

Girls, how would you know if you reherniated? I stepped up onto a footstool inadvertently this afternoon and felt a twinge as I got down. I now have a pain in my butt. :-(

Would you be in agony or would it be slight and then increase?

Up the walls now.

Quick post to berrie re Devon, as tried twice earlier and lost it due to stupid iPad freezing. I'll then go read everything and reply with lengthy posts as always as I am in bed seized up with spinal muscle lock and pretending the leg pain I have is not there.

Schmeegle I know how hard this is to do and how easy for me to say but, its one week since you had surgery. Quite major surgery for a nasty injury. Your nerves have been impinged and inflamed for months. There will still be inflammation plus surgical pain going on. Nerves take months to heal. Sudden movements etc will still cause twinges and sudden recurrence of pain.

Slow down. Take regular analgesia (are you and what?) Try hard to relax and try not to micro analyse every pain. Pain is normal and although it will subside, it will take months, or even years in total for allyand Berrie. Award yourself extra meds and a very low activity day tomorrow.

I know how hard the post op period is so and a sneaky whilst you research summer fashion and dream of your summer hols.

Thanks Mat.

in hand as I type.

I'm so glad I found this place.

woud help if I posted berrie

North Devon - Bude is the best main beach, big, rugged, lots of surf. A lovely little place near ish to it is Crackington Haven, nice pub, good surf, good walks. Woollacombe Beach is gorgeous, big, and when tide is out, huge. Woolacombe itself though is not my favourite place, v touristy as there are lots of caravan parks there so based mainly around that. However, there are lots of other rugged places to visit in the area which are beautiful. Saunton Sands is lovely and the drive along the coast is lovely.

However, being biased as it's close to where I live now, is South Hams area of beaches. Blackpool Sands is a lovely beach, but quite popular. Also beautiful is Bigbury-on-sea, and a place matilda and I will buy one day is a little village and beach on the other end of Bigbury called Bantham, privately owned. Not much there in terms of tourist stuff, but sand dunes, beautiful sandy beaches, a coffee shop and parking that is now better than pulling up on grassy muddy banks like it used to be.

If you go to this area, you can also visit Dartmouth, take a ferry over to can't remember the name off the top of my head, but where you can get a steam train, have a Devon ice cream, cream tea. Kingsbridge is also lovely. Or you can visit Salcombe, but might be best to get the park and ride as parking is terrible. There is a fabulous cafe/bistro type place called the Winking Prawn in North Sands, and if you don't want to eat, you can have an ice cream and go rock pooling. Or get a passenger ferry over to, again can't remember the little place, but it's nice for a walk. If you go to Salcombe you must have a crab sandwich from the corner deli in the main village/town, it's small, not well advertised, and cheaper/much nicer than the expensive restaurants. There is a nature reserve at Slapton Sands, a big pebble beach with a lovely cafe, it's beautiful as the water inlet runs alongside the sea in a strip (it's got a fancy name hasn't it, but am not clever enough

So, my personal preference for Devon Beach holidays is South Devon - Can you tell?

schmeegle I remember every twinge panicking that I had reherniated after my discectomy. I reached, twisted and fell once, and picked up something really heavy forgetting until my back 'went'. I would do as matilda said, take regular meds and try not to worry. Maybe keep a diary of symptoms and see if there is a pattern/if it reduces. Any sudden twist etc is going to jar your back and upset your muscles as they are also recovering from the surgery, they are easy to inflame and that also means they will pinch on your nerves until they subside. My physio in hospital told me that as I increase activity in the first weeks I will see increased nerve pain and some muscle spasms as everything inflames and pinches against each other and it will ease in time, not to panic. I am still panicking though

When you go to see your consultant for your review, you should mention your increased pain again if it continues, and he will decide if it's worth doing an MRI to check if there is a reherniation, but as said, one week is nothing in your recovery, you should be doing very little right now apart from gentle walking, resting, taking painkillers. slowly, slowly.

This is going to take time to heal. The surgery is only part of your recovery.

Pavlov, you've reminded me of how lovely Devon is, you forgot Totnes and Dartington, though . I suppose I need to visit my parents,then? should also mention that Bantham beach is HUGE when the tide is out and looks straight onto Burgh Island with its Art Deco hotel...

Berrie, what sort of accommodation are you looking for?

Devon sounds incredible!

Hi all sorry fell off the thread - I had hypermobility syndrome confirmed today at a rheumatologist appt (on top of hypothyroidism and low ferritin) so effectively me muscles is trashed!

At least I think it was diagnosed - if handing you a booklet on it and telling you to put your feet up, go shopping or on holiday till you're better is a diagnosis?! (I can't shop not travel!)

My last period was hell on earth due to whole body pain, but I've felt slightly better since. I'll try my best to catch up/ join in more.

Oh hec...falling behind again. It was parents' evening last night. I have only zoomed in on posts that mention ME so apologies if I miss something important.
Well probably we will camp especially if we do go to Greece with my brother but also cottages...any self catering really.
YIKES...look at the time! Sorry got to dash. Thanks though for recommendations...will catch up with those at the weekend.

schmeegle ditto what Matilda said. I remember those first panicky weeks/months when you kept thinking you'd done yourself some harm - its nothing - just blips and bumps - if you really injured yourself you'd know. If it makes you feel better 1 year after surgery I slipped and crashed into the coffee table breaking several ribs which laid me up for a while (not to mention freaking agony) - no impact on back though! Yes I am a famous clutz but even for me that was a cracker . As I lay on the floor wondering if I'd damaged my back and then hubby walked in - oh happy days - we were panicking but for nothing! I see Pavlov is also on board with the panicking - we've all done it then

definitely helps!

Morning Ladies and thank you all for your advice.

I completely overdid it yesterday. I was feeling really great in the morning and then had two sets of unannounced visitors during which I did far far too much standing about and walking and stood up on the footstool to look for something. Crazy. Naturally, I can totally feel it in my leg today.

I plan on having a very very low activity day today to help all my aching muscles and nerves calm down.

Re painkillers, I was discharged on Lyrica, Arcoxia and Solpadol.

I had to stop the solpadol on Sunday as, no matter what I try, no amount of senakot etc helped with the constipation. It was criminal!

So just on the Lyrica and Arcoxia for now.

Getting my staples out at the GP on Monday. Maybe she'll review things then.

I don't know what things are like where you all are, but it is bitter here today, wind howling, a great day to stay in bed

I'm going to spend the day online shopping for wedge car seat cushions!

I hope you all have a great day.

We all deserve the very best relief