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

Not sure I ever feel the "urge" to clean but it has to be done .. occasionally

I had a "frozen" back for a very long time Pavlov and the area round the op site is still stiff now. I think the whole area goes into shock for a bit but comes back to life slowly. Still have some numbness in my left leg too. With exercise/physio or acupunture things should gradually improve but you may never get 100% back to "normal". I apparently achieved 80% which is pretty good. Like I said age is a key too so I was never going to get 100% although it is possible. Stay positive!

Oh Pavlov that sounds grim. I hope you got some relief with the diazepam and that the acupuncture helps too. Each time you have acupuncture (in consecutive treatments) the results last longer, it's accumulative.

Not too bad here, the second steroid shot massively helped. While I can feel the steroid leaving my body (I was artificially buoyed by the steroid for a while and had some energy, now I'm crashing and have no energy at all) my back is feeling better than it has done in a long while. Hurray - just in time for Glastonbury.

Sorry I maybe sounded a bit dismissive there - keep forgetting we are not all the same hope you are feeling better today pavlov

Hi all. My partner has permanent back pain. Do you know if there is a similar group on mumsnet for partners of people living with back pain?

Hi knicker, I've never come across such a group but then again there wasn't a back pain group until I started it. You would be most welcome to join in. I'm hugely conscious how much my injury and pain has impacted on my DH. He doesn't talk about it what with him being a man but I know it can be very difficult.

Re back muscle spasm the things that help me are, in no particular order, heat, diazepam, massage, hot jets in a hot jacuzzi, lying down and not attempting to move. Not all are achievable and some might just be making me care less. Oh, silly me, I forgot the most important one...alcohol

Seriously pavlov, try to rest. I'm sure it's part of the whole acupuncture thing.

Hope your back is less rock like now Pavlov, and feeling better. I got very frustrated when recovering from illness (most vital bits failed) - recovery was so slow. It helped a lot to know that it was normal and would take years -and not just my body being stubborn. I know it is different from surgery- but I understand the frustration. I don't think I ever had a cleaning splurge!
It seems my recent MRI shows a disc prolapse pressing on a nerve so now I wait to see a surgeon. As its all very long standing I am not at all sure surgery could help much - I have some sensory loss in my leg, and fall over sometimes, but it would nice to be in less pain! I do not know what surgery will be suggested.

Aw Mags, that's awful. You've been so brave always saying, 'I've just got long term problems.' Yet it was something new and unrelated. Injections might still be helpful. Anyway sometimes it just helps to know what the heck is actually wrong and that you haven't just lost the plot. Sending you and . Are you taking proper painkillers?mif not and if you can, do see your go for something to help the hell that backpain truly is.xx

I have been out for a lovely evening with dear friends. It is so fabulous to be home in bed with my hot water bottle. God, I'm an old fart.

Lol Matilda me too .. nice to be home after surviving a night out (and have a nice cup of tea)!

Oh dear Mags hopefully they can still help ... some people wait years for surgery so it could still be an option to help you? Fingers crossed

Hello all, does anyone here know much about steroid injections for sciatica? I have a prolapsed L5 disc for a while and currently very bad episode of sciatica for the last 8 weeks or so, feeling done in by the constant pain and not being able to sit for more than about 10 minutes without it starting to gnaw

Consultant said he'd "keep surgery up his sleeve" but try this first, then have some physio. I don't really know what to expect.

Well, injections can be very effective for sciatic pain, less so for back pain. IMO definitely worth a try to allow healing to take place. Try to limit your expectations,these are nothing like an epidural in labour, the effects take a while to kick in and are variable but some people do get great relief for many weeks and in that time the disc can settle.

Feel free to ask anything else.x

MatildaTheCat answers this much better than I could.
I have had steroid shots recently for sacroiliac pain. I just happened to have a prolasped disc with sciatica at the same time. The steroid shot, while not given for the disc really helped reduce its pain and increase movement. Great stuff!

I read somewhere that sciatic pain needs both pressure and inflammation (swelling). Steroid injections can damp down the inflammation and therefore the pain. My physio said some people are then able to move better and more normally which is enough to get some recovery for many people. I guess its a bit chicken and egg.
I suspect I will be offered injections.

Morning people, I searched Gabapentin and this thread came up so I'm hoping someone is up at this time of the day. This episode of back pain started at the beginning of June and got progressively worse until I was suffering spasms in my lower back and pins and needles in my legs and feet. Saw GP last Friday who prescribed Gabapentin. I took the first dose on Friday night and woke on Saturday without spasms but with excruciating sciatica, the pain is in lower back and right leg and foot, sitting is impossible and trying to drive is unbearable. The leaflet says it can get worse at first but I'm now taking 30mg codeine 4 times a day plus 30mg of diazepam to get to sleep at night and it's just getting worse.
In your experience just how much worse is this going to get? How many days into taking it did you start to feel any pain relief?
Thanks in advance.

Oh I hope Matilda is around soon cos she know way more than me. I wasn't given much in the way of painkillers before surgery so can't say how they would have helped but they should kick in right away I think? I believe you can also take paracetamol and ibuprofen as they are all in different groups and it might spin out the relief you get? Can you still stand and walk (and work?). I had to stop working and was housebound before surgery but that was nerve pain due to slipped disc (both sides) but it sounds like sciatica is the same pain ... sorry that's all I have.

oh and welcome cain

oh and don't take more drugs till you check with someone or Google it cos I have no idea what's in gabapentin

Hello Cain, firstly huge sympathy. That sounds awful. I am on gabapentin so can talk about that. It is a nerve painkilling drug so theoretically doesn't affect spasms or back pain but should help with leg pain. I wasn't aware it might make things worse before helping. It is important to titrate the dose up slowly due to the side effects and also stick with it if/ when you get the side effects such as feeling sleepy or dopey. Most do improve. It does take a while to a) build up a therapeutic blood level and b) get used to and gradually increase the dose. I am now on 600mgs x3 /day. It controls my leg pain plus amitriptyline at night. If you cannot tolerate it, Pregablin is an alternative but you do need to give it a decent chance.

For your back pain you can safely increase the codeine up to 60mgs x4/day and if you aren't on cocodamol, DO add full dose paracetamol. Not only does this work in it's own right, it actually enhances the effect of opiates. You don't mention any anti inflammatories but these help, too. Naproxen 500mg x2/day plus a stomach protector such as Omeprazole IF there are no good reasons you cannot take them.

Diazepam 30mgs is a HUGE dose. It's highly addictive so might be worth discussing with your GP. Amitriptyline helps me to sleep as well as, long term helping the nerve pain. This might work with a (much) lower dose of diazepam.

In case you haven't had much advice many of us find heat very helpful, very gentle exercise (pottering about) and a LOT of rest when acute. Lying with legs supported under the knees by cushions. Forget work, driving and anything much else for now. Does your GP have a plan? MRI? Referrals elsewhere?

Hope that helps. Do, of course discuss any med changes with your GP. Hope things improve for you soon.

phew Matilda is here

Hi Matilda &Allypally

Thanks for that, yes, for some reason my drug addled brain thought the diazepam dose was the same as the codeine, its 2mg!
I've been taking slow release Ibuprofen 1600 mg since 2011 with Omeprazole. I had an MRI scan back in 2012 with showed up a couple of protruding discs and was referred for physio twice. Both times I had to stop going to physio due to pressure from work but this time I have insisted I be able to attend appointments. This episode is the worst I've ever had. Fortunately, I have a sympathetic senior manager this time but I'm sure my line manager still thinks I'm putting it on.
I have to call for an appointment fo physio on Friday.
Even I could bear to drive I'm so spaced out I couldn't do my job properly so I've called in sick again today.
I've actually just got back from Dr who advised me to go straight to 3x100mg Gabapentin 3x per day to speed up the process. She said it's not ideal but it's ok to do.

Thanks for the replies, was feeling a bit desperate before but am reassured now, I guess it's a matter of time for the pain relief and then the physio will sort the problem when I get there.
Much appreciated.

Phew, re the diazepam! That is in fact a tiny dose. For acute spasm the protocol is 2-5mgs x 3/ day for 3days. It's effective but don't expect to get much else done. As before the codeine can go up but will be better for back pain than leg. Sorry, it's basically just a bastard.

I hope you get physio soon but just to be the voice of doom, so feel free to disregard, this is unlikely to resolve very quickly. Having a history of previous episodes makes you vulnerable to a severe episode. Keep going with the resting and pottering and get signed off as long as you need to.

Keep posting, we all 'get it' on here.

hope the physio helps .. we are all in different stages so hard to advise but let us know!

Hi Matilda, the prescription says one or two x 2mg 3x a day but I've just been taking one at night, might up it to 2 until the Gabapentin kicks in as I'm waking up in agony about 4 am every morning.
I've been trying to take as little of these as possible, I also have a tramadol prescription but they are all so debilitating, I feel spaced out and lethargic on them.

I've decided I need to do a major overhaul of my health and fitness and not let work stop me going to physio otherwise it is only going to get worse.

Thanks for your help and the invite.

Hello all thank you for the thoughts on the injection. Seeing pain specialist on Monday for assessment. It seems strange how much GPs differ regarding the painkillers / approach. I'm taking naproxen 500 mg x 2 day and co-codamol. Was given oramorph for night time if it's really bad (it is) but only taken it a few times as the smell makes me heave a bit. No mention of gabapentin or similar. I was given diazepam too but I only take it if I've had to sit for ages and everything's gone into super spasm. I guess I'll carry on with current meds until the injection, fed up with trailing back& forth to GP.

Sorry, keep losing you all! And this time it was because you were RIGHT AT THE TOP!