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

I am neck too though the root causes are whole body

I had an mri early because they suspected multiple sclerosis
Was told by gp result was" normal for your40s" and told the osteopath that.

In factI had a bulgingC7 disc and osteo would like to have known.... it is a big learning curve because there is no multidisciplinary approach and you are blending nhs with private

Have you sen an osteo? their key skill is deep tissue palpation. You can refuse consent to the bone popping stuff

Whify why does chiropractor advise against mri?

did you increase your range of activities when you felt better in week3?

I thought you need an MRI so am glad to see other people saying it too ... very odd for a HCP to advise against it I thought (but lacked the conviction to say it) ... some of these ladies here know more than any HCP I've ever dealt with

Thank you. Yes I think the Chiro was of the school of thought that MRI leads to more intervention and said that neck trapped nerves have a good 'natural history' ie will get better by themselves. That the scan would show on anyone disc issues etc then surgeons are keen to operate.

Yes I did increase what I did in wk 3 as almost felt normal. Unfortunately I can never totally avoid lifting etc. as I have an 8 month old, 4yo and 7yo and DH is away with work 6.30am - 830pm. I probably stupidly carried the baby in a front sling for about an hour on Thursday and (tmi alert) had sex on Friday night inc a bit on top supporting myself on my arms until I realised that was uncomfortable. (As I was feeling better thought I should give it a go since it's obviously been absolutely ages). It was saturday i woke up and first noticed it was worse.
Last night I was tearful with it and it was proper writhing pain, didn't help that dh abroad with work so was on my own.
I've got a telephone appt with the GP tomorrow so will discuss meds and ask for MRI referral. I think insurance will cover it.

Does anyone know - does 500mg naproxen twice a day sound appropriate? Would there be any relief from increasing that? I know it wojldn't tackle the arm nerve pain but the muscle ache in my neck and shoulder is back.

Whiffy, I have a combination of nerve and muscular pain so take a combination of meds. After a long time of adjusting here's my current list:

Naproxen 500 X 2/day ( enteric coated)
Omeprazole 20mg X1/day ( should be prescribed with naproxen)
Cocodamol 30/500 2tabs x4/day
Pregablin 75mg x3/day
Amitriptyine 10-20mg at night

Then if desperate diazepam, oromorph or Tramadol 150 mg sr.

It's mainly effective if but highly dependent on what I do. No amount of drugs will work if I do daft things like sit for too long or carry heavy shopping. I rest intermittently throughout the day. With three young DC it must be really,mreally hard so you can only do your best. Try to be mindful of everything you do so you can check your posture, not picking up baby or toddler at an awkward angle etc etc.

Look into Pacing as a method of pain management it does help a lot. Boring but necessary. Good luck with your GP. With these levels of meds you really need to know what's going on.

Actually your chiro is right that discs do get better mostly but a) he doesn't know it is a disc and b) it is reassuring to know why you are in agony and c) there are other treatment options other than surgery or indeed chiro, sorry just not a fan.

Sorry, me again. That is the correct dose of naproxen. If you look into pain mechanisms there is value in getting good pain control because the body starts to interpret and process pain wrongly after a while and chronic pain is harder to treat. So take everything you need, rest and don't feel guilty.

you're going to have to rethink the sex

(feels quite exciting to say that on a backache thread!)

Do let us know if you want suggestions!

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I had I think a good appt with the Chiro today whereby I cried when he asked me how it had been. He totally agreed with the plan of asking for referral now and mentioned I could be offered injection following MRI. He is good I think, he's v experienced, has a particular qualification in pain and works part time for NHS in a physio department. He talked about how there's the volume of pain then the 'nastiness' and how nerve pain is such a particular nasty type of pain. He hasn't given me much guidance on posture apart from to keep my chin in so I feel I could do with more help on that, maybe from a physio?

I think I have been guilty of carrying on as normal today. Made a pledge today not to carry baby in car seat anymore, even if that means waking her up. previously thought that carrying the seat with my 'good' arm would be ok. Also trying my best to minimise driving.

My appts with the Chiro twice a wk have consisted of a bit of massage which feels good at the time then acupuncture type thing with a bit of electricity through it like a tens machine which I think has given me some relief today.

It's not quite as bad as last night I think as its constant but I can be distracted from it for a short while ie. Writing this. Fingers crossed for a helpful chat with the GP.

I will look into pacing - I have twigged that walking seems to help and I have to walk on school run anyway (pushing buggy with one hand!)

walking helps my neck too.
am working on my posture right now! (in fact will stop typing.)

Walking is lovely exercise but Pacing is, sadly a lot duller.

In a nutshell, rest, potter, rest.

Your chiro sounds a good chap,mi take back what I said. It's all about the right person at the end of the day.

Ah, have googled pacing now - I thought you meant literally pacing up and down! (Which I have also been doing).
My pain is still such a mystery to me, so much to learn about it and what I can/can't do. What is true improvement and what is meds. I don't even know what in particular I did in the first place to cause it and I hate not understanding stuff.
I desperately hope it leaves me before I have to learn all that.

Got another 6 weeks in a TLSO brace. Seven done already after 6.5 weeks in hospital. 1 vertebrae has healed with the front edge half the back height so it's a wedge shape. Disc is damaged permanently. Start physio soon

Sorry to hear you are going through all that TheFuzz. How are you feeling about it?

GP was helpful today, I've now got 200mg pregablin twice a day plus tramadol if it gets really bad tho am nervous of taking it as I don't know how it would affect me.

I've got an appointment on Wednesday with a consultant who specialises in pain. Am hoping he'll order MRI to see what's going on and if injection is appropriate which he could then do.

It's pretty unbearable right now but have just taken my 200mg pregab for the first time. Hesitating on the tramadol as leaflet says about interaction with fluoxetine which I'm on. Think I should check dr twigged about that.

Hello,

I haven't posted for a very long time, apologies!

I've got hypermobile syndrome but really worsened by some issues with thyroid meds which weakened my muscles. It's possible I've had mild asthma for a little while - I've just been diagnosed - which also may have contributed to fatigue. And small child - lots of heavy lifting and night waking! I was starting to recover and had been finding swimming and gentle skipping helpful (for some reason really helps my upper back too) but then caught an epic chest infection that led to the asthma diagnosis.

So - my back etc went backwards, mainly weakness and having to sit up all night for 10 weeks.

During this I've found that benylin chesty cough medicine helps my back and sleep (can't do amitriptyline). I then found I couldn't take it when they decided i had asthma, but now it's a fair bit more under control, I tried again last night and it's really helped.

Then I found out that Panadol night has the same antihistamine in it. Two tablets is double the benylin dose so I'd only take one if I needed it - it's not all the time. It seems to help with the itchy cramping that nothing else helps.

Does anyone else use it and is there anything to be aware of? Does it really help? I'm assuming not best to use too often and I gathered not if having asthma symptoms?

In actual fact cocodamol doesn't really help the 'pain' other than help me sleep so seems a better alternative.

(I might be best starting a new thread but thought I'd check with you knowledgeable ladies first!)

Welcome back clarella .. sorry I can't help with the drugs but I'm sure someone else can.

Whiff ... Tramadol and anti-d's made me very sick so approach with caution. I had the same with co-codamol and the anti-d's too so am left with few painkillers I can take now.

I'll give a little summary and an update. All this talk of MRIs has promoted me to do so.

Mid Jan fell very hard and suffered compression/wedge fracture of L1. A&E response, simple safe and stable. Go him and get on with it taking pain relief. Yeh, if you control the pain go back to work when you like. Left in a cab with no pain relief or recommendation about what to take.

Went to GP next morning - not sure how I got out of bed and into a taxi. She prescribed a carrier bag of pills: Naproxen 500, Omeprazole 20mg, cocodamol 30/500, and laxatives and refused a consultant referral but reluctantly agreed a physio referral as the wait was 8-10 weeks.

Hard week but got back in the car after five days. Week two started doing school runs and returned to GP for a sick note and was offered two weeks or three weeks and insisted on one week. Also insisted on consultant referral on the basis that I worked full time, was expected to work until I was 67 and it was much better for me and the NHS if everything was done to keep me working, earning and contributing. The referral came through gobsmackingly quickly. So, week two on a slightly reduced dose I managed: School runs and activity pickups, Dr, dentist, hairdresser and coffee with a neighbour.

Week three I went back to work, extended the cleaners hours but did full days and even went to Chelsea to get dd to a hospital appointment.

Week four - back at work, reduced cocodamol to 15/500 two or three times a day. Sat through a two hour school performance on an uncomfortable trestle which was unkind to the bottom which was still quite sore. Saw consultant the next day who was just lovely but confirmed the fracture was severe and collapsed by more than half. Very supportive person who respected me and my wishes to remain active. In fact one of those people who feels like a kindred spirit. Offered me something called kyphoplasty, ordered an MRI, and instructed GP to refer to the best rheumatology unit in the area (where my osteoporosis was diagnosed - we have moved).

Week five see physio and have MRI (MRI process was fine - I'm not claustrophobic and don't often lie down and close my eyes listening to the Carpenters). Getting back to normal and day to day jobs like the laundry and dishwasher getting easier. Can do everything (within reason), including picking up socks and pants from the bathroom floor, albeit a bit more slowly than usual. Swept the drive with a,slightly old ladyish gentle sideways swipe.

Week six (oh am doing The Cat since last week with physio's blessing). Having cut down the meds stop the co-codamol. After six weeks with only the first on the full prescribed dose and having cut down to no more than 2x15/500 twice a day I was shocked to feel exhausted, leaden and to have diahorrea for four days. Can see how they can be nastily addictive. See consultant for MRI results. Fracture slightly worse than xray showed and if she does the kyphoplasty she recommends fusing and screws. The bone has been pushed onto the spinal canal but not quite touching the cord. We agree that as the pain is manageable and I am getting back to normal that it's best to leave well alone unless it starts causing problems - in five, ten, twenty years. Apparently some people get away with it.

So in summary I have two degenerated bulging disks at L3 L4 (hence occasional back pain that I have managed for about ten years) and a badly crushed K1 pushing into the spinal canal but at this stage no unmanageable pain. I also have osteoporosis (but am not convinced this is wholly an osteoporotic fracture because I know the velocity at which I hit the ground).

My plan now is optimum treatment for osteoporosis, more physio, gentle Pilates and a big focus on posture which the consultant says is essential. Have had a naproxen this morning but am convinced the Saturday morning bisphosphonate kicks off bone pain for 12/24 hours within 12/24. I am being very cautious and suspect my days of industrial supermarket shops for a family of four and entertaining are over but that can be delivered. I can't get to the bottom filing drawer or the bottom drawer of the freezer with ease. In the first weeks was thankful fir a walk in shower and will buy myself one of those kneeler things with arms for the garden. I hope I'll be able to do some gentle gardening by Easter.

Am hoping and praying have got away with it but feel I have a plan if not. If I 've learnt anything from this it's not to be fobbed off by GPs and to go armed with why you want a referral and why it benefits theNHS to have one. Awfully calmly and nicely of course.

Oh, and listen to Matilda

I hope everyone is ok and managing as best as possible and am sorry that turned into an essay but I think the lady who mentioned the doom and gloom on fora resonated with me because googling and researching has been so depressing

Fingers crossed for you Belle and I second the "listen to Matilda" comment .. she is very wise!

First time posting on this topic and could use some advice. Four months ago a car rear ended me and lower back been sore ever since. I am at risk for osteoperosis (i have no parathyroid and a problem keeping calcium in range) and two weeks ago I felt that my back was about to go 'out'. Last week, the pain got more severe and travelled down my left leg, as though the muscles were being pulled taut.

Saw my GP who ruled out Cauda Equina and diagnosed Sciatica. Offered physio but as I had physio for six weeks after the accident and they totally ignored my lower back pain and shoulder pain (I had undiagnosed torn rotator cuff) I refused. Four days on, the pain is more or less gone until I move a certain way, slightly arching my back, and then it's horrific, truly horrific.

I suppose I'm wondering if this sounds like it could be anything more, like a fracture and where the best place to go from here is.

Well I'd go back to the GP and request a referral to a neurologist and an MRI. The GP has no concrete facts upon which to base a diagnosis and without that you can't have an optimum treatment plan.

Thanks BeaufortBelle, that's the way I'm leaning too. GP did say to come back if it worsened to be fair so I will ask for the referral.

I must say, ever since my epidural in labour I've had a weak spine. I wonder if this is a common thing.

I don't know about the epidural but my first was posterior (back to back) and I don't think my back was the same again after that.

It does sound like nerve pain (sciatica) but agree back to GP for referral

Thanks again for all the advice on here. Have been pacing myself more, paying attention to what makes pain worse (sitting on sofa, sitting at computer, mumsnetting etc on phones, driving etc)

Re. Tramadol, yes I am worried about interaction with fluoxetine. As it is i thankfully have not felt the need for it yet as the increase in Pregabalin has reduced the pain by about 50% I'd

Oh, and have ordered a tens machine on Amazon!

A few of us have mentioned that being on mumsnet is bad for us. This is a major issue for those of us whose work involves computers or who really need support from an online community. I have been trying to use voice recognition instead of typing and wondered if anyone else is doing this too. Or even just if anyone has any questions about it.