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

dansonia I am on pregablin and find it very helpful. At first it makes one feel a bit sleepy and/or tipsy- this wears off a bit afetr a week or two, sometimes quicker. I currently take 150mg twice a day

Thanks Maizie. I'm going to try having a positive attitude.

Would it be best to avoid alcohol totally? I rarely drink these days but tomorrow is Christmas.

There you go! I woke with a splitting migraine but have just taken some codeine (which I save for really bad days) so hopefully not care soon. Personally I drink with painkillers as its the best painkiller but check first!

I switched to pregablin from gabapentin this year and I'm very impressed with it. I initially hoped it would give me less cognitive issues ( jury is out but yes,mthink it's helped) but have also found it's given better pain control, too. It has a reputation for increasing your appetite so just beware of that. I have gained a few pounds but am a difficult age. I do drink and am fine. I imagine it might just make you a bit sleepy if anything.

Tough, hello and nice to see you! I cannot conceive of telling the suave Mr S that information, although I guess you must. Oh, how mortifying . Sorry your pain is so bad, though. 5pm on Christmas Eve is a slot to test your keenness. Hope he has something helpful to say.

I'm about to get up. Dh had his work do yesterday and has a face like a slapped arse. Feel like giving him a real slap. He's also come up with a load of annoying jobs he has to do which will bite into the day and leave me to do any last minute real jobs.

Hey ho. Happy Christmas, everyone.

Thanks Matilda. I'm still in bed too. Watching tween guff on Netflix with DD.

Although, this film does have an ageing yet ruggedly handsome Dennis Quaid in it.

One of my first loves.

Dennis Quaid is a dsih- love him in "Inner Space", "The Big Easy"-romance and "Undercover Blues" is haliarious, with Kathleen Turner. and "DOA" if you like film noir.

I found the pregablin made me get a bit light-headed and (weirdly) I would go on unwanted shopping sprees- so I guess it made me a bit impulsive. I now only take it am and pm, not at lunch- it took a while to get used to 150 as i was doing 100 x3, but apparently it is advised to take it twice a day.

I think you would be fine to drink as long as you are only having a bit- and just be aware it makes the alcohol work more strongly, so drink as if you are 12 again! also on a fullstomach, proably would be anyway on xmas day! I also find the pregablin makes me a bit scatty-headed, hard to find words, etc but it's better since i switched to 2x a day, it was more pronounced on gabapentin and since i lowered my amitrytyline- i used to be on 50, now 10/20- still tinkering, was fine at 10 then i have been much, much worse in general since around october and then worse again this month and so i took 20 last night.

I think my slide downhill is combo of time /year, spinals from august worn off and being v busy at uni which means working/studying more and having less time o do pilates etc and mediation. I have been awful with exercise the last 2 weeks + I know this is stupid, must get back into the habit.

Hope you all have an amazing xmas and new year and wishing you low pain as possible for tomorrrow and 2016 to bring new adventures , fun, happiness and pain relief!

oh and x 20 and for all tomorrow so you all

I watched 'The Big Easy' in my early teens. Man, it's hot!

Hello everyone. I lost the thread for a while so am delighted to find you all again.
Hello to all the new comers, sorry you find yourselves here but it is a great supportive thread.

It has been a bit of a rollercoaster here recently and none of it is to do with my back, I've been a bit down about it but the last couple of days have given me a lift.
On the positive side I've been doing lots of peroneal and core muscle rehab prior to some surgery early next year. I have a triple prolapse and am having it hoicked up and reattached to my spine. Surgeon reassures me that the tether will not antagonise my SI or my disc problems. Surgery, surgeon and hospital all French so I don't even know what the surgery is called so researching outcomes is all but impossible.

Hello everyone, and an Happy New Year. We fell off the page and disappeared for a while so I hope everyone is doing well. Merde the surgery sounds scary, I hope it goes well and isn't too painful.

Tough, it's odd, Mr S told me that my pain was all down to scarring. I have since had conflicting views on this. Some think scar tissue shouldn't cause pain at all . So where do you go from here? I know from another thread that you have other matters to deal with and really hope you are doing well and at home now.

So, 2016 has arrived and no real change here. I've been pressing ahead and getting out there and doing real stuff which is great. Luckily I have kind people who take me and help me because otherwise it just wouldn't be possible. One huge joy has been discovering the Everyman cinema chain where they have sofas...such a pleasure, I hadn't been to the cinema for four years and used to love going. Now I've been twice and another trip planned.

A quiet week at home for me as dh has just gone away. I'm ok with it but it is a little daunting TBH. Nobody to ask to reach, fetch and carry. Ok, I'm sounding spoilt . I do do all I can but by evening I'm usually flaked out and pleading for hottie refills and the like.

How is everyone else? Any newcomers welcome.

Great minds Matilda - I came on to update you about the Pregabalin.

I took 25g twice a day for two weeks and then upped the dose to 50g twice a day last Tuesday. It has made a difference. I still feel pain but it's different. Less exhausting. Less limiting. Less debilitating.

Hopefully, this will last.

Yay people again! Happy New Year to you all!

I hear you re the being alone Matilda .. hubby has a 2 day thing with work every January and I hate it ... am all clingy and pathetic when he gets back and he won an award which means he will be away another 3 nights in June this year too (not a first either). I am useless without him but have at least gotten used to sleeping alone.

I have made a few wee resolutions for 2016 so am trying to keep them going and one is to fix the things I can so here's hoping (minor health things which I shall pay to make go away fingers crossed).

Again similar to Matilda I have discovered I can still "do" the theatre so have been twice yay!

Anyone any advice. I fell this morning onto my bottom very hard. It was exceptionally painful. I have been Xrayed and have fractured L1. Not serious but jolly painful. Hospital advice is once acute pain is out of the way, manage with painkillers and carry on as usual if you can. Be sensible and it will get better.

I have had lots of back problems over the years and do have osteoporosis which is being treated and am otherwise fit and healthy.

Any experience or advice.

Eek Just that sounds painful.
I got thrown off a horse a couple of years ago and landed on my back, damaging an already arthritic spine. I understand the pain you may well be in.

Really focus on managing your pain. Speak to your GP to get adequate pain relief and strong anti inflammatories. Rest for a while then begin to mobilise with gentle movements. Don't worry about house work and unnecessary stuff.
Avoid situations where you could fall - skiing, horse riding (!)
Are you working? If so, speak to occy health to get adjustments made if needed.
Just my thoughts, not professional advice. I wish you well

Thanks Merde just contemplating I can get myself washed and dressed and to the docs if I can get an appointment!

Thanks Merde just contemplating I can get myself washed and dressed and to the docs if I can get an appointment!

Maybe ask for a phone consultation? Sounds really painful and getting up and out wouldn't help. Agree with Merde's advice on pain management.

Do you work? If so definitely take some time off. The mantra here is Rest, Potter, Rest. So not total bed rest but nothing very much. Build some cosy nests around the house and wrap up with a blanket and mumsnet a good book.

Washed and dressed. Apt at 10.20. Just booking taxi. Phone consultation will mean they want me to collect a prescription so might as well go. Yes I do work. Staying home,this week - hope to do reduced hours next week.

What I'm finding today is that everything else is stiff as well from the fall. Would love a hot bath but don't dare. Heat wraps very comforting.

Yes I'd steer clear of baths as you might slip getting out and make things worse (or is that only me?). Heat wraps are fabby (except in the summer of course). Sounds like you have all the good advice already!

So, I've been prescribed:

Omeprazole (for the tummy)
Naproxen 500mg am and pm
Co-Codamol 500mg (1 or 2 tabs) four times a day (max of 8 in 24 hours)

.................and some laxatives lest the tablets make me constipated. I must say the Co-codamol does seem to have hit the spot.

Does that sound about right for all you experts?

My taxi came at 10, was at the doctors for about 45 mins, and then slowly walked through the village from the docs to chemist one and then onto to chemist two to get some heat wraps. Got home at about 12ish by taxi and feeling very tired.

Glad to hear the co-codamol and naproxen are doing the trick just sounds exactly right to me.

On sofa, with cushions and blanky. Laptop, phone and daytime tv.

I think I'm coming out of the shock of it all.

Thank you so much for hand holding.