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 went.

It was quite nice.

Thankyou for the replies. I have rang in sick for tomorrow so they have plenty of time to get cover.
With regards to reception work I can only do bank shifts so will not get the same amount of hours I get now.
I am worried that I will be called in office again re my sickness, even though I haven't had any problems since being bk in November.

Hello everyone. Hope you are having a good BH. I'm lying on my bed sulking due to leg pain and an inability to find ways of dealing with it that aren't drugs.

Pink, yes, just stay off for now. Better to be off for a week or two than several months. Fwiw employers much prefer a block of sick leave rather than odd days scattered about. It's such a shame you can't simply transfer to reception work. Have you applied anywhere else? I'm sure you would be much better doing something like this.

Hope everyone else is ok.x

Hi everyone, I am back taking naproxen and amitriptaline again, its more nerve pain in thigh, and bum cheek, I dont seem to have much discy pain.
I can start my reception training next Sunday but its only bank, so as and when, probably wont be enough to give ne same amount as I am contracted to in my care role.
I am looking in Internet most days for either school job, reception hjob or jobIn our hospital for hca with peads or the maternity unit.
I think work will be funny with me if I go sick again, I wouldn't put it past them to try and get rid now. Especially after the words we had regarding my contract two weeks ago. But thats a whole other story.
Bank holiday hasnt been too bad, dd had a party to go to saturday, yesterday she played out with the girls, there are about 6 if them that live in our cul de sac and are near same age. Today she is full of cold so bit grotty, school tomorrow.

Oh dear Matilda! I hope it wasn't the swim. I hope you are in less pain today. Are you trying some new technique to try to persuade your pain away rather than use medication?
Pink hope your back is calming down. Could bank work lead to a regular post in the near future?
I'm a bit sore after doing a little too much (including sitting in a car,shopping and wandering around museums) at the weekend. My own fault. However it was nice to get away and pop in on family.
I hope everyone had some good times over the bank holiday.

Hi Ladies!

I had a lovely bank hol - hubby had the Monday off and we had a voucher for Crieff Hydro (always wanted to go) which we upgraded to a duplex apartment. It was very nice but the weather was awful and the bed hard so was in pain yesterday but I hardly ever meet a hotel bed I like so not their fault. Sorry you are all having a sore time of it

Mags, no I'm not trying anything new. It's a bit unusual for my leg pain to really flare up, the drugs do keep it quite controlled. Unfortunately it doesn't respond all that well to opiods so if I want it gone then I have to really dope myself up and that's annoying day after day.

Hello can anyone help, I'm in severe pain in my lower back. Been to my doctor he said sciatica due to a slipped disk, he's given me diflafenic and paracetamol but its not helping :( can't take things like morphen based drugs as allergic. Sitting is aggony standing and walking round are better but not pain free. Any suggestions to help me feel more comfortable?

Yet wig, sorry I can't reply now bit if you have time do some reading back. There must be some meds you can tolerate, ask your GP and pharmacist. A lumber belt can be helpful, heat, rest and very gentle massage.

When you say allergic what do you mean? Sorry, I don't mean to sound patronising but I've heard others say that when what they mean is that they get bad side effects like itching or nausea.

I have to get up and go out ( very bad idea) but will pop back later.

Hi yetwig not an expert here but in my experience ....

Good news is that slipped discs mostly just "slip" back in again ... bad news is it could take a while (6-8 weeks). Sounds like you need some mind-altering drugs. Some of the ladies here take some scary things but the softest option is Codeine (as Co-codamol or on its own) but your GP needs to agree to this. If he does remember you might need laxatives as it does "bung" you up. We are all familiar with that nerve pain which is what you are having ... try to find a comfortable position (lying down probably) and use the heat pads (or ice pack) whichever helps. I just mean mind altering in the sense that they don't actually remove the pain they just sort of remove your brain from the problem .. hard to describe.

I usually find that sobbing all over my GP gets me somewhere .. you could try that if just telling him you need more help doesn't work. There are a lot of drugs I can't tolerate either but codeine I can (although as Matilda points out there are side effects). Good luck!

Well ladies, here is my story for the week, I had been off work a week with a flare up, had gp note to say light duties, went into work today as usual, I explained yesterday to the nurse when she rang me and asked if I was doingmy shift today, my line nmanager said today that I need to go home, as they can't carry me at work and maybe need to look fir another job, can you believe this after everything I have done for them. I was fuming. So went to see big boss and I can start my reception training tomorrow, I explained about note and he said reception is fine.
How can I get rid of the leg pain, I am taking naproxen anf amitriptaline still, does naproxen help pain as well, because I take it in the morning then pain eases until 4pmish and starts again.

Pink, hurrah for you!! Well done for finally ignoring your charmless manager and going higher up. It makes no sense whatsoever for you to be doing heavy work when there is other suitable work waiting for you. As soon as you have settled I suggest you have a meeting with the top boss and formally request to switch permanently. Your manager has been totally out of order with you all along. So pleased for you. Hope your pain settles soon.

I am officially having a flare up. Hasn't really happened for ages but after two trips to London and too much of everything it was all too much. On a brighter note I now have a really lovely new pain consultant who seems to want to be helpful which is a novelty.

Yes well done Pink .. shame on your work for taking the hard line with you. I think Naproxen does help a little imo. Hopefully you will find reception work easier to bear.

Hi, I have just had this weekend on reception and I loved it, it is only as and when at the mo but have emailed big boss and told him I want to see him asap and get everything off my chest, he himself leaves in june to go to another home, so I need to be quick, think he is deserting a sinking ship.
I still got to see the residents, book their trips fir them, deal with any telephone enquiries, meet visitors and other bits. I used to do reception few years ago for a hotel chain but that was very busy, what I anm doing now is alot less stressful.
hope everyone has had nice weekend.

I will apologise as I haven't read the whole thread but does anyone have anklosying spondylitis?

Sorry sausages this place is a little quiet at the minute .. no idea where they all went. I'm sure someone does have that but no idea who ... maybe stick a query on General Health with it in title to grab their attention?

That's great news Pink glad things are finally working out for you

Yes,there was a poster with AS, I will try to find her for you.

Pink, fingers crossed for you and your meeting with the Real Boss. I suggest you make some notes including the fact that your GP has recommended modified duties which your crap manager has blocked. You must stress the severity of your injury and the very real risk of it reoccurring. Equally stress how much you like working there, are an asset and love the reception work. Then finish by handing him a letter with all your points laid out formally. Good luck, you totally deserve better treatment.

I've recovered from my very bad spell and have been walking around garden centres choosing my summer plants. Every year I vow to buy stuff which will mean my beds are full and will never need to do this again. Still, I love this time of year.

Well laddies, you wont believe this, I am sat here in tears. As you kniw I am a care assistant for private company, I re hurt myback and got note from gp for light duties. Gp would of signed me off but I asked not ti as had 5 month off last year, so got note for light duties. Well my line manager told me to go home as cant work likr that so I did reception ovet the weekend, I was rotaeed on again next week for more reception, I also saw big boss and said can I pick uo some shifts in other departments that are lighter. Well gets a call today saying there are no other depts with lighter shifts and also I have been taken off reception as my line manager has said no, I can only do it if I do care light duties or normal duties. Basically they are showing me the door. I started there in November 2011. I am so upset, after all the extra shifts I have done at short notice for them.
how do I stand on this.
I feel they arent giving me any choicr other than to get signed off.
and also think they are trying to get me out.
the stress is not helping my back.
I am sat here in tears and can hardly see the letters on tablet.

Pink I am so sorry your work are being so rigid! Do you have an occupational health department who could help? Sometimes rules and insurance issues (which should be there to protect workers health finances or privacy) can be couterproductive. They may not want you to work to prevent causing you injury (and then being responsible - you have a doctors note saying you cannot do your normal heavy work - it is I think illegal to allow you to do that heavy work), but doing lighter duties for a different manager (outside your contracted duties) could be stepping on politically sore toes so to speak.
I have no idea how you stand - but hopefully someone will come and help. Are there any permanent light duties posts you can apply for? Could you pop around to other managers in the group (as you like working there and the residents) and ask if there may be some lighter duty posts coming up? You have been a loyal employee, but you own health needs must come first. Try not to take it personally. See it more as your company not wanting to cause their employees (Something to due with duty of care - its decades since I was at uni and that one law lecture) permanent harm (OK really I mean getting sued for causing said harm)
As someone who had to drastically downscale my employment due to poor health (and finances) its a hard road (sending a gentle hug and a cuppa). Could the money advise unit (if it still exists help with the legal side?

Perhaps the legal eagles in 'other stuff' - legal issues I think it is called could advise?

Hi! Not meaning to hog but I have good news! At last I have a date for my MRIs! And it is only next month! I think it must be coming up for a year since I was referred- it might be longer (I saw the specialist before Christmas-whom I saw first). I had my second visit to the hospital physiotherapist this week, (the first was for assessment and she chased up the MRIs) and she did some gentle massage and gave me an exercise sheet of stretches. I saw a private physio a year or two ago who did not listen to me, shouted at me and said all my back troubles were due to a weak core - so it was hard work getting my GP (who had a letter blaming lack of exercise) to refer for an MRI. This new hospital physio listened, and said almost the opposite (tight muscles pulling things out of line- best to lay off some of the core exercise) - and chased up the MRI. I know there is perhaps very little that can be done for my wayward back (its a case of managing rather than cure), but there is a huge difference between getting that message from someone who doesn't listen (and may have come to a wrong conclusion) and someone who is thorough and listens.

yippee!

Just a quick update, gp has signed me off for week, rang my boss and she said "ok, we will refer to occ health, ti see if you fit for job, they will then make a decision as to whether you have to go".
I feel its a bit unfair as the work has contributed to the problem originally.
So, what normally hapoens with occ health, do they try and get rid or find you something within company.
also my gp has asked me to go in when this flare up has subsided for a chat and discuss options, I said surgery is out the question, gp said there are different options. What did she mean by that.
I did say that this is the only flare up since I had it before, which was summer last year.
Maggiso, glad you are finally getting your mri.

Well at least someone is doing something for you Pink .. occ health are supposed to help you get back to work (ie on your side) but if management want you out not sure. Work pretty much contributes for all of us (as does life) so that's a mixed bag too. Hopefully someone smarter can advise you more.

The yippee was for Maggs obviously, not you!

Ally thanks for the Yippee!

Pink - in theory OH are there to protect your health, and to advise your work how best to do that, so they can keep their valuable staff (and not end up with lawsuits). It might mean modifying your working environment or duties, giving you extra rests for example or deciding you are not fit to work at present. I am sure bad backs are something they are very used to. OH can have quite a bit of power. I know of a small work place where all the light bulbs had to be changed to ones that do not emit UV light to protect a UV sensitive employee. It was quite expensive and quite a bit of work but had to be done. The employee was not sacked! I had help from OH after I was very ill (not back related) and needed a long period of reduced work. In the end it became obvious to me I could not return to my old hours and I resigned from some of my sessions. However no-one tried to push me out, although early retirement was mentioned by a manager. At the time I was both too young to retire, and expected to recover whilst the OH doctor specialist possibly knew I would not - I was not ready to see that. OH where I work is run by a nursing team but they can ask for (and pay for) expert opinions from specialist consultants if required.
As to what could be done other than surgery - well that depends on what the flare up is and that requires examination and possibly tests, so I imagine you may need to see the back specialist again to determine what is happening. Pain killing and steroid injections into the dodgy areas were mentioned to me- but there are different treatments. I am also getting physio advice. Hope you are feeling a bit better today. Its bad enough being in pain and with reduced mobilty without worrying about your future and finances.