Endless Back Stories. Support For Back Pain and Sciatica. Thread 8.

[MatildaTheCat]

Sadly there seems to continue to be a need for this thread as many of us continue to suffer from back related pain. There are many causes, the pain and misery is shared here and hopefully some comfort derived from knowing we are not alone. We are strictly non competetive and newcomers most welcome.

We can offer advice on medication and effective drug combining plus other methods of pain management.We have used different treatment options from hydrotherapy and physio to surgery. We can share our experiences of navigating the big and baffling medical world, both private and NHS 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. . We are not doctors just people who have trodden the painful path of obtaining a diagnosis and dealing with our conditions.

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.

If you have advice, need advice, need a hand to hold, want to do some shopping another skill obtained along the way , then come in. We are friendly. We talk a lot. Come in, have a and say hello

Our Last Thread

Cauda Equina Syndrome. A must read for severe acute pain with Red Flags. Please Read

Constructive Rest. A Simple Exercise Anyone Can Do

Arse presses t

Sorry in bath and fingers slipped!

Thank you - I'll discuss it. I suspect he will say "hypermobility syndrome" and wave me off.

I could at least get repeat bloods. It's the way my spine is getting so appllingly stiff and the type of pain. Today my whole central skeleton utterly aches and nothing got rid of it.

Maybe there is some fibromyalgia (except I will not get dx with this, do not want more pigeon holes)

Dansonsia hi, that sounds so painful. Have all surgical options been explored already? Not that you want surgery, obviously but 25years is a long time ago. When you say 'disc area' do you mean lumbar spine? Not being picky, just curious. Heat helps me, too...lots of it. . Other non drug things that help my severe low back pain are massage, Pilates, walking, Alexander Technique, a lumbar support belt for when I'm going to be out for a longish time, water based exercise and, weirdly, counselling/ Mindfulness.

You mention not wanting to build a tolerance to cocodamol but when I was in your position I almost did need to. I mean by that that I needed to get used to it enough that I was no longer affected by the side effects like feeling sleepy. Taking it regularly most definitely helps control my pain better than rationing it. If I am addicted, that's a separate issue and not one I actually need to address. Actually I forget doses occasionally so maybe I'm not addicted. Tramadol is a funny drug, it sent me completely lala the first few times I had it...I can even understand why people get dependent for that reason, lovely floaty feeling. That passed and now I do sometimes use it just to change things around but for me it's not really as effective as cocodamol. I can't see any problem asking your GP for a trial and saying it helped. BUT, Tramadol is well known for being addictive and can be a total bugger to come off so if that's an issue for you beware.

Have you talked to your GP about getting your pain properly controlled? It sounds as if maybe you are trying to manage it alone which is difficult. My GP was extremely supportive and helpful with this. Another option may be adding a nerve pain med like amitriptyine at night and / or pregablin. These have helped me greatly. Pain clinics can also be really helpful and have a range of therapists and doctors. For chronic pain like this it's likely that a whole lot of small things will help rather than there being one single 'cure'. I'm sure you know that!

Sorry for the essay, it's such a huge subject.

Matilda - thank you so much for your very helpful post.

Disc area is lumbar down to buttocks I suppose. My acupuncturist says I take a lot of the strain in my bum.

My daughter's consultant said he would be willing to fuse me from the top of my lower curve to my pelvis so in effect my whole spine and pelvis will be fused. He said being this fused isn't advisable while my kids are young and it may not work anyway.

Yes, I think you are right about getting help with pain management. A GP once listed a load of different drugs I could try but I said no. I know, I know. Since then I've been seeing two other GP's at the surgery about different issues and I guess I didn't want to be seen as a hypochondriac.

I take time off work for my daughter's hospital appointments so don't want to add my own.

Anyway, thanks again for all of your insight - it really is appreciated.

Oh, and can I ask what might seem like a trivial question? I don't drink alcohol at all if I take painkillers. I had a lively youth and get fearful for my internal organs. At the moment, I rarely drink but I like to on social occasions. Festive period coming up so nights out a-go-go in prospect.

Would you take a cocodamol in the morning (weekend) and then a few drinks in the evening? What I'm getting at is am I too careful? by having a blanket ban?

Does anyone know if cervical spine issues can cause sciatica? I thought this was related to the lumbar spine. It's not that bad at the moment. I am just worried that the discs at c5-c7 are compromising my spinal cord in some way as this is a fairly new symptom (my worst are in my arms _ weak now slightly numb and clumsy left and painful right from neck across the shoulder down) though I've had it occasionally- especially in my second pregnancy.

I have neck issue so looked it up for you- Cervical stenosis,seems unlikely to cause one specific condition that comes and goes. seems you'd be worrying about more general weakness. Am not a doctor though! do you get regular mr s?

Dans, the short answer is yes, I do still drink alcohol with my other meds. The main risk is that you will be more susceptible to the effects of the alcohol so it's worth practising at home first . I love your description 'lively youth'. Luckily the liver is a forgiving organ assuming you weren't lively to the point of wipeout... Anyway if you enjoy a glass of wine or three on a night out you should be fine.

gandolf I know a few people who have had both lumbar and cervical disc issues. Sounds unlikely that a cervical disc is directly causing sciatica though backs are odd things and altered posture and muscle spasm can cause issues elsewhere. Can you see a physio or similar?

Thanks Matilda. I had a few wines last night. Home and in bed by 10.30pm though.

I had my liver tested about 2 years ago, just to put my mind at rest and it was normal. Or whatever the 'no cause for concern' terminology is. I'm getting my 'bloods' done the week after next because of exhaustion so we'll see what they pick up.

On a cheerier note - does anyone else love dark and gloomy weekends? I've pottered about all day and it's been great. No pressure to go out at all.

I've got my first physio appointment tomorrow so am hoping it will help

Hope it was helpful

Thanks, Miss Triggs. It went well. She can't guarantee it will work but she's going to have a good. I have some exercises to try at home. I'm going to make sure I do as I'm not very good at doing things like this nornally. In the session, she was very thorough and did all kinds of things, pressingbon nerve points. Currently, there is a lot of muscle tension in my upper back which is part of the problem as well. She seems to think the lower back issues are unrelated to the neck. It could be a discs further down but symptoms are milder than in the nect though so she's not too worried about it so I'm going to leave that for now

Can I ask some questions about painkillers and side effects. I'm crippled at the moment. I'm a teacher, and just don't know what yo do. Any sort of movement or activity makes the whole thing worse, and teaching is such an active relentless brutal job..

I've taken Tramadol, but it made me feel really down and anxious as did Naproxyn. I felt much much better when I wasn't taking them apart from the pain of course. I'm ultra sensitive to any side effects... So what do I takenow? Cocodamol makes me feel sick and weepy too. I'm really struggling on on paracetamol and ibuprofen. The only thing that stops it hurting is rest. Doctor took me of pregablin and switched me to amitrtiline, but it doesn't seem to do much.

How can I hold down my job like this?

Did the pregablin actually work? I take pregablin and amitriptyine so no reason why you can't take both. does your GP not have further ideas re meds? I wonder if you would get used to the side effect if you take time.mi have although I'm certainly not sensitive in the way you are. There are other anti inflammatory meds to try. Cocodamol is available in other strengths as is Tramadol which is also available as a slow release which is helpful.

Sadly maybe you do need time away from work to recover. Sorry but I can't remember your diagnosis? I've listed above some of the non drug things that help me. Above all its rest and heat. I had a very active career but that has had to go, it just wasn't possible. My lumbar support belt is very good for days when I need to be up and out for some time. ( cheap from Amazon).

Sorry you feel so bad. I can only suggest a proper session with your GP and a decent trial of meds whilst perhaps on sick leave to get control over the pain and try to build tolerance to the meds.

Pacing the room here waiting for him to come out of theatre. I guess recovery starts here.

i need to come and sit in here with you all.

I've had back pain for years, i have a very deep lumbar curve in my spine that is slowly compressing the discs. I'm 34, we just hit the point where its now causing Sciatica in my right leg.

I've had physio, and it doesn't help. I can't take naproxyn anymore because of my asthma. Co-codamol does nothing.

the pain is horrendous, i can barely walk, some nights i have to crawl to bed, i'm not really eating or sleeping.

Can anyone suggest how the hell i can talk to my GP about something useful?

so sorry - how long has it been on and what does your GP say?

its a looong story, lol. but basically i've had an issue with my hips since i had serious SPD in my last pregnancy, on top of the long term back problems.

In june i got bursitis in my hip, and its just snowballed from there. I have been on 500mg of naproxyn twice daily from then until last month when it suddenly started affecting my asthma and i ended up having to come off the naproxyn.

I've been trying to battle through, taking co-codamol, seeing a physio, doing their exercises..etc but it is not helping. The last 2 weeks i've been in this state of just constant overwhelming pain and having to literally crawl around my house a couple of nights.

Yesterday it was radiating right down to my toes so i caved and took some of the naproxen again, it worked, but triggered my asthma again, which isn't something i can keep doing.

This is the first time I've stumbled across this thread and I feel like it might save my sanity. Can anyone join?

I'll sit with you both till folk with more experience pop along. It won't be long....

All welcome here. Sorry, no time to post right now but can come back later.

Skully, very quickly, look into meds like pregablin and amitriptyine for leg pain they are very effective and contrary to what GPS often seem to advise, they can both be taken at the same time. I have three doses of pregablin in the day and a dose of amitriptyine at night. You do have to get used to the side effects, though.

Welcome all new peeps . I'm no expert but am 8 years post-surgery. I don't take half as many drugs as the others in here but am here for sympathy and advice on recovery, etc. All are welcome .. pain is pain and we all get it here!

Hello all. Some terrible stories here, I feel extremely lucky by comparison.

I have had coccyx pain since I was 18 (I'm 34 now) and I was told that I'd just have to learn to live with it. Since giving birth to DS 2 years ago the pain has worsened, pushing during labour was excruciating and I ended up with a ventouse delivery, which has brought its own ongoing problems. I also had SPD during pregnancy due to an already unstable pelvis (I already had sacroiliac joint dysfunction and hypermobility when I got pregnant) which has never resolved. I have also had myofascial pain syndrome and sciatica for the past 12 years or so.

After splitting from my partner in the summer I over exerted myself decorating my new house - I knew I shouldn't be doing it but I had no choice, I needed to get it shipshape for me and DS. Since then the pain has worsened considerably, prompting me to see a new GP and pour it all out. She has referred me for an MRI and given me some diclofenac in the meantime (which isn't really touching the pain)

I came off painkillers years ago as I was taking 10 per day and feeling no effect and I was worried I'd build up a tolerance but currently my life is so affected by pain that I have no choice. I struggle to pick up DS, especially getting him in and out of the car, do housework (especially vacuuming) push a shopping trolley, carry anything much, stand for longer than 5 mins, drive for longer than half an hour, sit on the floor to play with DS and get up and down. I can't run about and do things that I want to with him like soft play etc. I spend my evenings with a hot water bottle and a heat pack and a bottle of wine and I can't remember what it's like to not be in any pain.

Luckily I have a wonderful private physio who treats me with dry needling and manual manipulation but my pelvis will simply not stay aligned, I visit him weekly and it is expensive, despite the fact that he has reduced his rate by almost half for me out of sympathy.

I would love another child but I really don't think my body could manage another pregnancy and that makes me so sad. I don't feel that I'm the mum my DS deserves anyway but I love him so much.

Sorry for the extremely long and ramble post, I hope I don't kill the thread! As awful as it is, I find it comforting to read all of your experiences and see that you are getting through your lives, it makes me feel more positive that I can do the same

I too feel pretty lucky in here. Is there no treatable cause for the cocyx pain? Sounds very restricting and hard to believe they just leave you like this. The painkiller thing comes up in here often ... others have felt that taking so many is counter-productive in the end and have bravely struggled to reduce then hopefully take much less to start with though its a long painful struggle. Maybe the MRI will show something that is fixable?

I really hope so Ally, I was never given any reason for the coccyx pain and have suffered for years but it's only recently I've decided to push for some more answers and help as I feel it's all getting too much. New GP has suggested coccygodynia (?) and that injections of painkillers/steroids might help but waiting for MRI findings.

Still, having read many of the stories above I realise it could be an awful lot worse. It seems so unfair that so many people suffer so much with so little help.