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 feel like somethings 'twisted' near my hip now has anyone ever experienced this?

It's very uncomfortable!

Sounds quite unpleasant gardens

Garden, is it buttock type pain? A toothachey sort of thing? It seems to vary a lot but could well be pain from nerve compression caused by your back problem. Rest and see if it improves? Keep an eye on the symptoms and see how they fit together. Do you have any pins and needles or lower leg pain? I find a hot water bottle tucked under my buttock helps...if it's not on my back, that is .

Happy Easter, everyone.

Hope everyone gets an Easter without too much pain. I'm trying to go without the painkillers because I want to enjoy some wine (which I dare'n't do when taking tramadol)

Hi all, please can I pick your collective brain? DH broke his back about 15 years ago, smashed to bits (not the technical term) at waist height, compression nerve and disc damage at the bottom of his neck- he sort of folded z-shape. Short version is he avoided surgery but the last 2 years it's got a lot worse, from waist up he's mostly numb apart from electric pains down his left arm, waist down swings between numbness (interesting walking style) and what the GP calls classic sciatica down both legs, top of his right foot ( not felt his left foot since injury).

2 weeks ago he gave in to the pain (has an almost pathological fear that any medical intervention will automatically lead to surgery) and was prescribed 20mg amitriptyline to help him sleep, naproxen, and codeine to fill the gaps. He can't stand still because of the pain, and his legs twitch. He's barely sleeping and getting very depressed now, not that he would admit that, he's of the 'grow a pair and get on with it' sort. The amitriptyline will run out before his next GP app as she's on holiday and they upped the dose from the initial 10mg since he was prescribed it, but he's talking about letting it finish because it's not kicked in anyway. I've told him I think he should go to another GP while she's away to keep it up but he gets very bad tempered, not like him I imagine it's the pain.

I feel quite desperate now for him to be helped, any words of wisdom please?

Forgot to say, he'd previously been prescribed sleeping tablets and valium but they didn't seem to work either. Regardless of what he takes he's wide awake by 2am and pacing the house in pain for the rest of the night.

Me again, sorry, sleeplessness has wrecked my thought process. His last MRI was 2 years ago, was referred for physio but they wouldn't do it because they said it was too precarious (ffs) and nothing happened after that. He's been referred for physio again this time but the department seems to be avoiding taking him on again.

Squidgy, whata horrible situation for your dh. Amitriptyine does take some time to start to work and usually the advice is to build the dose gradually to about 50mgs per night as side effects allow. It's very safe to take long term so may well be worth persevering with.

Has he been seen by a spinal specialist recently to assess his current conditions? Also a pain management clinic could discuss what they might be able to offer. It sounds as if he has struggled on without much support for a long time. Another nerve pain med could be added, lots of us find pregablin helpful. I take that and amitriptyine. Certainly getting some physio might help in terms of regaining as much core strength as possible. Heat and massage help me as does water based exercise. It's possible injections could offer benefit and even a spinal cord stimulator if all else has been tried. They can be really helpful.

So yes, back to the GP for more meds and some new referrals. Nobody should be in this much pain.

And I really get the fear of surgery but it sounds like there is more that could help him before even considering that.

Matilda, thank you so much for replying. Heat negatively affects it, and he's been told not to swim as he bends in the middle (spine sort of floats where it's broken). So much useful info in your post, I will make notes and I think go with him to the GP. Thanks again.

Yes, he clearly has a really specific set on injuries which is why the physios are scared to touch him! Walking in water at chest height is good for core strength and as a swimmer, I do front crawl with a float between my legs to keep in a straight line.

Another couple of randoms...Alexander Texhnique is great for reducing tension, see above link for that. As well as many drugs I do ocassionally use a lidocaine plaster which delivers anaesthetic through the skin.

He needs a proper assessment and a long term management plan.

Thank you Matilda. Is the assessment something we can push the GP for? To be completely honest I don't know what DH has said to the GP, and what the GP may have offered him but been declined. I will ring for an appt in the morning and go with him.

Nothing much to add other than sypmathy and to agree with Matilda and that you should go with him to the GP. AT is very light (as in less hands on than physio) but helpful too. Hope he finds some ease soon ... we all get the walking around at 2am thing but it should be a rare occurrence. I am not very tolerant of drugs but the amitriptyline (spelling?) is fine for me (I currently take 30 but can do 50 with no side effects that I notice).

Pain clinics often only see people when other options such as surgery have been exhausted but not always. All of the meds discussed on here can be prescribed by the GP anyway but not injections etc.

With such complex problems you could look into getting a referral to somewhere like Stoke Mandeville Hospital for a proper multi disciplinary assessment. Worth considering.

Thanks both. I have been looking at AT this afternoon after Matila recommended it. I'd heard of it but DH has previously been warned off chiropractic, osteopathy etc and in my ignorance I'd lumped it in with those, but it looks like it could be worth a shot.

Matilda, would a referral like that come down the line if the local hospital are unable to 'fix' the pain? I'm definitely going with him to his next GP appt, thank you so much for all your input, it's fantastic to hear useful information from people who actually know which way is up. My mum was here this afternoon telling DH her friend has a back 'just the same as his' which was sorted with a daily aspirin. Bit of a chill in the room to say the least.

Anyone is entitled to request to be seen at a hospital of their own choice. Your GP may or may not be encouraging but in a case like your dh's there may not be much resistance. The local teams have refused to touch him and he is in worsening pain. It makes sense to get the most experienced opinion possible. Since there are multiple areas affected it's almost certainly not just one person involved.

Pain clinics are great but can be regarded as the scrap heap and generally not involved in diagnosis as such, just pain relieving methods.

Haha re your mum and her miracle friend. How your fingers must have itched to give a quick slap.

Good plan re going to the GP with your dh. Worth writing a list of major concerns and getting the ball rolling. In the meantime there's no reason at all not to get better analgesia started ( other medical factors notwithstanding ).

Oh dear .. you have discovered already how daft people can be ... makes you want to slap em silly! I'd like to say you get used to that but you don't really!

Hello all. My back seemed to improve - still sore but nothing like it had been - but has flared up again.

Luckily I'm at the chiropractor's now - we'll see!

Hope your DH can get help Squidgey

That's good that your back seems to be improving gardens mine is improving too, only need to take one painkiller a day, if that, think I'm definitely healing now so no need to go back to the doctor.

yay! improvements

Oh if only a daily magic aspirin could solve all woes!! (Hollow laugh)
Squidgy, its wise to go back to the GP if referral paths seem to stop. I have seen 2 physios - 1 was quite unhelpful but in fairness had not seen my MRI (was still waiting at that stage) and the second who had seen the MRI was really helpful in adapting to avoid my particular back problem.

Hi all, hope you've had a decent few days.

Thanks for the info and support, much appreciated. DH's physio appt came through for the 28th April. All the decent GPS seem to be on holiday this week so he's sticking with his prebooked one for next week (which i will go with him to) but he has picked up a repeat on the amitriptyline after much nagging...

Place marking for later! I need this thread :)

Can I join please? really hurt my back in 2014 and since then alongside the constant pain I get bouts of pain where I can't move at all. I know it's nowhere near as bad as many of you but it's starting to ruin my mental health...I have a really high pain threshold but today I'm stuck on the floor, vomited twice because of the pain and am waiting for a call from a doctor who will likely be No help just be nice to not feel alone

Sorry you have to join. Sounds pretty bad to me (and its not a competition!). Hope doc gives you some good drugs. I've been there with the spasm thing twice over the years and not keen for any repeats. I am on anti-d's and I do find they help.