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 already tried something very like that Hexie and hated it .. kept going back to it but its in the bin now ... glad it works for you.

I am currently road testing a cool pillow from Dreams which was £50 so fingers crossed. I have exactly the same problem Cain - 2 is too much and 1 not enough. I'll let you know how this one works out.

Oops not only posted too soon (again) I did it twice ... dunno how that even happens dur!

Anyhoo ... was about to say I am pretty stupid too between drugs and menopause but I think I just proved that

Nice weather? You clearly don't live in Scotland .. we are having a continuous winter this year and just skipping summer altogether.

It's abysmal, isn't it, Ally? And when it does dry up my bloody back's too sore to do any gardening

Cain I've only had the pillow about a year or so but it's lasting well - hasn't sagged at all.

Does anyone have any hints and tips about toilet times when getting onto the toilet is nigh on impossible?

Sorry you struggle with this Hexie .... I do too but not in that way (life long bowel issues and my bladder joined in 30+ years ago so can be double incontinent). You can probably get a bed pan for the house if that would help .. just Googled this site:

Sorry you struggle with this Hexie .... I do too but not in that way (life long bowel issues and my bladder joined in 30+ years ago so can be double incontinent). You can probably get a bed pan for the house if that would help .. just Googled this site:

damnit!

www.betterlifehealthcare.com/browse/bed-pans-and-urinals/?gclid=CKu-2-zxh8cCFWQTwwodVdEPwQ

this site! jeez I have no brain anymore

Thank you, Ally. It's more a raised toilet seat I think I need but I've found them on that site. Will certainly look into it. Am not in so much pain today thankfully so I'm not panicking so much about loo visits.

Sorry to hear about your troubles - on top of your back issues? Or caused by?

Matilda how are you?

Ahhh ic sorry wrong thing posted-should have realised you meant raised not confined to bed. On top of (prior to) but not helped by if that makes sense. The joy!

sorry for radio silence. DH is in USA. I am using this as an opportunity to declutter which I find almost impossible when he is here. Along with doing stuff with the children, I am exhausted but my back has been bearing up ok. I have stuffed the painkillers down and got the fuck on with it. Am currently ignoring the leg pain and pretending it's ok! I have got rid of 3 bin bags of crap from the hallway. One bloody area! Just hording shit in various places (things like a waterproof jacket of DHs with a huge rip under the armpit that he won't throw away). Plus gone through the children's drawers and the huge washing pile and got rid of a bin bag of clothes that no longer fit/aren't good enough to give away to friends. They do a Phil the Bag thing at school where they sell all donated clothes per weight. I could do it myself, but I'm lazy and the proceeds go to the school so I am happy enough. Not being thrown away. Have also cleaned the oven and the grill tray (not a great job but better than it was).

AND, I ordered some things from Ikea, asked DH while he was drunk un the USA if he was happy with me doing that to help organise a bit, children's chest drawers are rubbish and don't open/close well, so not in their bedroom. Bought some nice new ones, and some shelves, to organise there room better and free up some space elsewhere.

I am, basically, just 'going going going' I am a little bit scared of stopping as I suspect if/when I do, everything will seize up. Pain is still there, but I am just doing my utmost to ignore it/medicate it. I can't bend well, once I bend, I can't easily get up again, so find I spend a lot of time moving around bent over to avoid having to straighten then bend again, when i do that more than a few times, that's when I hurt so much I have to stop for the day and lay flat. Not sure how much has to do with ADs that the doctor put me on a few weeks ago.

But, I just can't live like we are. I want to be able to have people round spontaneously, and I can't, have to plan so we can firefight, and don't want to do it anymore. My biggest problem now is the washing. I just can't keep on top of the drying/putting away as it involves so much bending to get in and out of the washing machine, tumble dryer, into wardrobes/chest drawers. DH starts it, puts lots of washing on, but never finishes. So I am thinking of paying someone to come in once a week to wash/tumble/put away/clean the tumble dryer when it needs it. I don't think I will ever get around to a full cleaner, but this would free up so much time/stress.

Having trouble with my neck now. Have for a while, it's stiff and painful to bend to each side, and feels like it's pulling forward and that the 'bend' is sticking out much more than normal. Doc has said last time I saw him it was no more prominent than it should be, as I am bony anyway, wasn't too concerned, but it's not gone away. I have to sleep with a small pillow only and probably would be better if I slept without one at all.

Still have problems with acne on one side of my face, had it since surgery, from february onwards, won't clear. Had ABs as had something similar before christmas, Doc said it was skin infection. This time the ABs worked for a short time, but it's come back. he has given me some cream which is not hugely helping. Not sure what it is but it's there constantly, not full spots, sort of little tiny red blisters, but not quite blisters. Also had a blister infection on my fingers, gone down now, but like a coldsore, lots of tiny ones of them near the nails and around the knuckles. And similar on my feet. Feel like I'm falling apart !!!

Sorry for the moan.

sorry for the absolutely fucking EPIC moan

Morning all, sorry there is still so much pain around though love the de cluttering talk. It makes me feel so much freer to get rid of crap. My wardrobe could do with a very hard prune at some point. Otherwise there will be no space for little autumn purchases .

Re the loo, as well as a raised seat( although not used one) I suggest a grab handle to aid getting up and down. It makes a huge difference. The suction ones do work ok but be very careful as I do know someone who had one slip and he was injured in the shower.

Am in a huge sulk with DH. Last night I was in agony after doing too much for a few days. He just wouldn't/ couldn't offer up a few words of sympathy and instead drank too much and was a general arse. Today he's gone to play golf which will be followed by watching the football and then his dad over for dinner. Which leaves me with a dog to walk and a dinner to prep. It's the London bike ride today with my road basically hemmed in unless I take a massive detour also good walking chum who generally helps me on Sundays has got severe sciatica and cannot help so am trying hard to support her, too. Feeling very glum that DH can prioritise himself so very well. He played golf yesterday as well.... Ok, rant over.

Am in the midst of planning a birthday party for my Significant One coming along. Have food and drink sorted, bunting and fairy lights, chap with guitar to play for a couple of hours. What else might make things lovely? Very much hoping to spend a lot of the evening outside though if it rains we have indoor options. Will provide a stack of car dies and wraps for those silly enough to come underdressed. Any further ideas? Have two clothing options, yay! No shoes as yet. Simply cannot do the heels thing and fear I've missed the sandals boat. So easy party shoes ideas welcomed.

Ok, must get up. Have a good day, everyone.

Nothing beats a good clearout eh Pavlov? I hear you on the going/going too - sometimes you just have to pack it all in while you are in the zone for fear you won't be able to later.

Sadly I too could have written most of what you said above. Re washing - its a constant struggle - I find I can spend longer down there if I squat like a toddler (legs akimbo) - tip picked up by Alexander Technique.

I am also struggling with my neck and have a big bony bit too which was x-rayed (or maybe scanned) but only shows normal "wear and tear" so I guess I am stuck with the pain. Physio helped a bit and I am trying out a new pillow. Spending time at the computer is soooo bad but I am an addict lol . I also have a rash on my face which I can't get rid of - am on 4th lot of cream and going back tomorrow to get another one.

Sorry your OH is being an ass Matilda - hopefully he will realise and come back with flowers. Wow a party - haven't had one of them in years nor been invited to one. Have fun but sorry have no smart ideas!

Went for a lovely walk with ds2 and his gf. Dog had a major workout courtesy of their ball throwing and his swimming . Ds says he has a friend who paints action paintings at events so everyone can watch and get involved and you (hopefully) have a nice momentous of the evening. I'm quite taken with this idea.

ally are you me? Am I you? I have cleaned oven, thrown another bag of crapnout from spare room/my laundry room/storage room, AND get this, I have over the last week washed, dried and out away ALL the washing. ^all if it* except 10 socks which I am hoping I can pair up once I tidy the kids bedroom tomorrow. And when I mean tidy, I mean proper de clutter.
Wow goodness knows where this energy and pain management had come from!! I also managed a walk to local park with the children and friend and her children. Glorious weather (bit further than park at the end of our road). That was probably too much after the cleaning as sciatica is killing me, but back pain is ok enough, possibly because being off work I've ramped up the tramadol to the max. Not necessarily the best idea if j wanna be reducing needs but fuck it, enjoying cleaning! Who'd ever gave thought I'd be saying that!

matilda I love parties! Used to hold amazing parties pre children when we had more space. Have friends who play guitars so that's always key for our parties (except when younger, then it was DJ friends!). I think it already sounds great and love the idea of an artist. Can't think of what else to make it good apart from what you already got coveted with drinks and food. Must have wine to make it a good party. Or/and cocktails. Maybe have a friend be cocktail maker, dressed formally? That would be fun!

ally meant to respond to washing post! My washing machine and tumble dryer are in different rooms but I do find sitting on the floor to take out the tumbled washing helps. Just can't get back up again?

My neck hurts all the time. I would not go so far as to say it's as bad as lumbar pain but definitely annoyed me and starting to interfere with doing stuff. I just don't want to make a big deal about yet more shit with the GP. Did you get a scan easily or did your GP make you feel daft for a while first?

Oh cocktails - that's a good idea - yum!

GP usually makes me feel stupid but I have complained about my neck a couple of times in the past so must be believed now lol. As you say not as bad as back but annoying and stops me doing stuff (mostly on computer) ... 40 years of office work to blame he reckons!

Yes I agree with floor comments Pavlov I can get down there (but not gracefully) but getting back up is much harder so I try really hard not to go there. I think we must be twins separated at birth lol!

I use one of those little gardening stools for getting up and down, or whatever's handy in the house. My arms must be stronger than my legs now because I can't do it without leaning on something. That's on a good day, on a bad day I wouldn't dream of bending let alone kneeling. I can't do squatting at all now - it's all such a PITA, as you'll all know.

Those of you with neck problems, you'll obviously know what you can and can't do but I found these exercises helped. Yes, re sitting at a computer, Ally, my pilates teacher said "We get the posture we deserve". A sobering thought, which has actually made me spend just a little less time on it than I used to

What about a grabber for the washing machine? It's not perfect but does help a bit. I find lifting the basket of wet stuff the most difficult but if I do it in stages I can manage. I usually lean on the worktop with my arm and put one leg behind me and bend like that. Do you all know about the hip hinge? For keeping your back straight when you bend? That's been a revelation to me but was a fat lot of good when the disc popped out the other day, or whatever it was that happened.

Pardon me if I'm teaching my grannies to suck eggs here

Pavlov, what will your DH say when he comes home to find you've chucked his jacket ? Mine would go ape.

Matilda, I had a similar experience with my DH when I had another disabling problem a few years ago. It was really quite telling and will never be forgotten but he has stepped up to the mark this time, thankfully.

Thanks for that Hexie .. very similar to what I am doing apart from the "holding" which I will add in. This is going to be an epidemic soon with all the "smartphoneitis", "i-poditis" users having to go to physio. In my humble opinion they should have seen this coming as it looks sore when you see them all sitting on the bus tapping away but its not my generation so what do I know.

Am not a granny but right age for it lol. We are never too old to learn though.

I do like the grabbers (I now have one upstairs and one downstairs as I never seemed to be in the right place when I needed it) .. they are great for picking up the mail. I think my legs are stronger (all that squatting at the washing machine, etc) as my arms are sore from my neck (if you can get sciatica in your arms from your neck I think I have it). Still better than leg pains from back though so shouldn't complain

I know what you mean, Ally, I think the back pain is so limiting compared to other stuff, which is bad enough. If my upper back flares up I think "Thank God it's not my lower back, that would be so much worse" and vice versa. I now think the lower back's definitely worse for the time being ...

Matilda I forgot to say thank you for suggesting the grab rail. We're planning on getting one or two when we have the bathroom done up.

Yep lower back sucks

I couldn't manage without my grab rails now .. I have one as I get into the shower (masquerading as a towel rail) and one wee one beside the shower in case I slip .. or panic. The bath has handles too but I rarely manage to get in there lol

I was going to say I couldn't remember the last time I had a bath but I do remember not being able to get out of it even with handles

If I win the lottery I'm going to have a bath made that I can stand up in, with steps down into it and many hand rails. And it will be big enough to go for a gentle swim too. Sheer luxury

Evening, ladies. Seems this thread is getting a little full.

So, since I have always liked to get the last word sorry to my parents in particular on this point

I have created a Brand New Thread

See you all over there ....