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

Hi all, DH saw the GP yesterday. She hasn't changed his prescriptions despite him still being in pain. She has referred him to a private physio to get him seen quicker, and he has to see her again in a month. If the physio hasn't worked she will send him fir another MRI and refer him to a neurosurgeon. Worrying thing was that although he's been with that GP surgery for over 20 years she had no notes on the original injury, or 'relapses' 10 and 2 years ago.

Hope everyone has a good day

Hi everyone - had my third osteo appt this morning. He seemed very concerned that I was still experiencing a lot of pain, but equally very confident that he could fix it. He wants to see me again on Tuesday, so we'll see...does anyone else find their sleep is disrupted through back pain? When I mentioned that I was routinely awake 3-4 times a night, the osteo said it was because the discs fill with more fluid when they are not weight-bearing.

Enjoy the sunny weather today if you have any!

That's interesting about the fluid wanderingclanger, sorry you're up all hours too. I can't believe how many people are suffering with these sorts of problems.

Fluid? Surely its simpler than that .. we are in pain! Have a good day people

Where did everyone go?

Hey

I've been trying not to admit mine is as bad as it is, but surround yourself with pillows and prepare yourself for my tale of woe.

Did a kick at a dance/exercise class two and a half months ago and the force from my leg going up meant my other leg slipped under me and I went down hard on my bottom. Then, when putting the mat away I 'felt' something go but it seemed OK and I thought I'd imagined it.

Twenty four hours later was walking back from an appointment with the bank when my back spasmed and this happened repeatedly over the next twenty four hours until I rang my G.P., who was in all honesty pretty dismissive and just prescribed pain relief.

Since then it's been - well, I don't know how to explain it to be honest.

Pain has been dreadful. I've gone from being this smiley energetic person to a wincing wreck of a woman. The pain shifts: today was awful in my thigh and bottom, like someone digging into me with knives, but usually it's lower back. It takes an age to 'straighten' after sitting. Any movement has to be done slowly especially swinging legs around so e.g. getting in and out of bed/the car is difficult.

I have seen a chiropractor four times now. There does seem to be some temporary relief but it doesn't last.

Its had a horrendous impact on my personal life. Six months ago I enjoyed the gym, walking, church and my job.

Now - ha! The gym is obviously out of the question and I can't manage walking. I've had to stop going to church as it hurts my back to sit for so long on the hard benches. My job has become (I'm not kidding) a mini form or torture. I am in pain from when I go in to when I leave and unfortunately it hasn't been made permanent (it's a long story but I was having horrible problems in my other job due to general weirdness and it was a 45 mile commute what was I thinking )and so when this opportunity came up I took it.

I've no way of knowing if the not-being-permanent thing is because of my back but even I have to admit my attendance has been patchy. Furthermore I just don't have the sparkle or enthusiasm, I'm always tired and out of sorts.

Pain relief wise - co codamol made very little difference, Naproxen - so/so but ultimately not helpful and so now I am on Methocarbanol and Tramadol. To be honest the pain has got worse not better over the months.

My relationship has finished. I understand why but I'm still so upset. I can't really even think properly about it. I feel vulnerable because if someone broke in (I know, unlikely but still) I'd be helpless. And how to think about meeting someone else in this state (I know that's not an immediate priority but long term I do want to marry, have children.)

I'm worried about money: my job finishes in June and I need to sort another one but my confidence is down the toilet.

Well that was a long moan! I have an MRI in early May so will have to see if anything comes out of that.

Oh dear sorry to hear this. Hope the MRI shines light on the problem. This is the place for you for sure. I understand how worried you must be about finances. Do you have a mortgage? Is there anyone you can move in with if you have to? Co-codamol doesn't actually deal with the pain ... it just shifts your perspective somewhat. Tramadol is strong so no wonder you are struggling at work. Not familiar with the other one but hopefully someone else will see this. Back spasms are the worst .. not sure if it is any comfort that the pain can't get worse than that? Have you tried anything else .. like physio?

Oh golly, that sounds awful. I must say that Tramadol strips me of all motivation and get up and go. Might be worth switching to something else, especially if it isn't even helping very much. Have you tried heat and massage? The pain moving around sounds muscular. Is work making any adjustments for you? Regular stretching, standing some of the time etc?

Keep posting for support if nothing else, it's a misery all right.

Thanks :) Just back from the chiropractor - it's all I seem to do now, rest surrounded by pillows, see chiropractictorl

I've tried heat and ice too, and the chiropractor massages the inflamed area which is very soothing but in all honesty makes little difference as far as I can see, but I feel pressured to carry on because I really want to point out to the hospital that I've exhausted all ways of self-care.

Work are making NO adjustments I get the occasional sympathetic look as I limp/hobble about but I think everyone just thinks this is 'me' as the injury happened so soon after I began.

I am lucky insofar as I don't have a mortgage to worry about but I do have - council tax, petrol, car finance, electricity, mobile phone and so on. I do need some sort of income.

I don't know what to do to be honest.

I know it seems life is a constant round of GP, hospital, chiro (physio for me) but what else can we do eh?

People can be very unsympathetic towards back pain (until they get it themselves). I don't know much about benefits but I think they would get you off paying the council tax and not starve at the very least so at least that exists if you need it although fingers crossed you find something else. Could you live on part-time work? Sorry I have no other suggestions .... a magic wand would be useful. We are here for you anyway at least!

Thank you :)

It's a beautiful day and I haven't been in that much pain, stiff and sore but nothing that's severely limited me.

Anyone help to stop me panicking?
I have ankylosing spondylitis and my latest MRI shows thickening of bone on my T8 joint of my spine. My nurse doesn't seem worried about this but I am worried it means something more sinister.
Anyone have any advice please

Sorry I read this earlier and didn't answer as I don't know anything about AS. I Googled it and it doesn't look pleasant for sure .. is it a form of arthritis? As well as my dodgy back (post surgery many years back) I have arthritis in my neck and tendonitis in my leg so am also a bit of a mess. What are you panicking about exactly? Would knowing more make you panic more or less? I am old (58) so my x-rays also show bone changes and narrowed joints but you sound younger? Sorry I can't help

Just sympatising with Enchanted

Am wondering whether someone who knows you well from" before" could go to the dr with you- perhaps even your priest/ church leader?

Roll on the mri. Do ring the hospital and tell them to call you if they get a canvcelation.I got one earlier than expected

Hi everyone, I've posted on this thread before but have a new name.

I had my MRI on Friday. Typically, my back seemed better last week (after ten long weeks of pain, chiropractic treatment, painkillers, ice, hot water bottles ... you all know the drill!)

I have to wait until a week tomorrow but the results have told me I have to see a clinician - not sure what it could indicate but it does suggest they have found SOMETHING. I'm glad in a strange way as back pain seems so badly understood - it will be in a weird way a relief to say 'I have a prolapsed disc' or similar rather than 'I have a bad back' which doesn't feel right because I don't consider myself to have a bad back exactly, I was just very suddenly in a lot of pain three months ago!

Sciatica is so badly understood as so many people have mild sciatic pain.

Anyway I've finally had my bikini area waxed so I might try swimming to stretch myself out and for low impact although I hate it.

Fingers crossed for you Matilda, enjoy your weekend :)

I was definitely relieved to know that there was something real wrong with me when I had my first MRI. It does sound perverse but, of course we know there is something significantly wrong and need the validation. Whether or not it can be sorted out is another thing altogether.

I skipped my amitriptyine for the last couple of nights in a bid to feel less dopey in the mornings. Last night I barely slept at all and my back pain has been far higher today so I guess that's the end of that little experiment. If only there were effective meds with fewer side effects.

I have read lots of the thread but I hope I am in the right place.
Have a severe L4L5 disc herniaton and am due surgery next week. I have been in severe pain since Christmas. When the neurosurgeon saw the Mri he said that there was no option but surgery as the nerves were severly compromised.
My question is can anyone tell me about the recovery I was given an information pack during my pre op but would love to hear practical information.
Just to give context I have a 14 month old and teach 5 year olds.
Thank you

I had my op (same region) 8 years ago and took 3 months to get back to work. I am older so you may recover faster Swit. I was up the next day (no choice in hospital .. actually up the night before as they wouldn't give us catheters) and walking slowly. Sitting takes a while to master .. a few minutes at a time and then build up as you will do with the walking. No lifting (hard with a small child I know). You will be given a little free physio but most of us keep that up as its useful. I still do exercises daily as I have found out the hard way that stopping is a bad idea. It is possible to have a 100% recovery but obviously the people in here don't have that .. I have around 80% which is at the good end here. We bought a single bed for the living room so I wasn't trapped upstairs and gave it away afterwards. A portable dvd or tv near you is a good idea too. Its a long boring process. I hope your partner can cook as mine can't . Take your own pillow to hospital as they are sacks of concrete there. Just ask if you think of anything else .. I am sure I am missing things.

Hi all long time no see, hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine.

I finally got an appointment with the nhs physio who seems to think it's a facet joint issue and that it should resolve in a couple of months with his help I am a bit cynical as I have had it since Dec. Still getting lower back pain but since doing stretches he has given me the pain seems to have moved round to my groin and upper thigh I would ask him about it but he is off now and won't see him till 2nd June now any ideas anyone ???

Not really ta .. it snowed here!

I've been having leg pain for months now .. first diagnosis was tendonitis but now it seems to be coming from my back (doesn't everything?) and am at different physio. Exercises don't seem to be helping me either. She says it might be coming from an impinged nerve at L3 (op was L4-5) and its scaring me. Mostly I am a great physio believer but am not so sure with this one. I feel your pain ... literally! I'm depressed now too ... connected I'm sure.

It ended up snowing here too at least we had an hour of the sun. I know what you mean about not being sure about the physio I was seeing one privately who wasn't great I hope it isn't a nerve problem. I agree I think it's a vicious circle you get down because of the pain then the pain seems worse because you are down fingers crossed things improve soon x

Leg pain might be nerve related. Does it hurt when moving or at rest?

Hello, Switswoo, am a bit knackered now but will post tomorrow re surgery and recovery. You will need help with the DC for a good few weeks but presumably you do now with such a nasty prolapse? Some people with severe leg pain wake up and feel instant relief though, of course the recovery period is quite protracted.

Thank you so much ally and Matilda for your replies. I suppose I was just focuses on getting rid of this crippling leg pain and really only realised how tough the recovery will be after the pre op.
I am in Ireland so will have to pay for the physio. My parents live 90 mins away but my mum is coming up for two weeks after. Have an amazing husband who will wait on me hand and foot but can't boil an egg and works full time. My little girl has gotten so clingy since this happened.
I'm getting really nervous now .

Its normal to be scared .. its major surgery after all. You don't need gourmet food (you will be lying down at first anyway) just a supply of things you can pick up like sandwiches, etc. That's nice your Mum is helping .. mine never came near me but that's another story ha!

Yes I think it might be nerve Matilda which is scaring me. Its only sore at night either at rest watching tv and sometimes in bed which keeps me awake and now cos I am sitting here. I can't keep on the move all the time though and no painkillers touch it. Its not too sore (like the leg pain before op) just constant ache more like a migraine in my ankle .. really annoying.

Swit Good news that you are getting the surgery done so soon. It's very possible that you will feel some relief straight away. Can you stock the freezer and fridge with very easy meals and get a meal plan ready so your dh can just follow the instructions? My dh has taken over almost all the cooking, it isn't a skill they cannot learn. . Also perhaps put together sets of clothes for your dd and a bag or box of toys and books that you can amuse her with when you are laid up. Unfortunately she is bound to want you and nobody else in the world so best be prepared.

After surgery I was up to the bathroom by the next day though otherwise in bed and home on day 2. I was bedroom based for a couple more days with some pottering around and by a few more days I was going for short walks which I gradually built up. I really do mean short initially, just up the road a couple of hundred metres.

Pain wise I carried on with the same meds as pre op. The surgical pain lasted for a couple of weeks, I think. The wound was a bit sore but not agony. They often do a laminectomy which involved shaving some bone away and for me, at my second surgery, that was quite painful for a while. I was able to shower after a couple of days and pretty much self care but did rest a lot. If you have help for a defined period do absolutely make use of it and rest, rest, rest.

I wasn't referred for physio though did actually get some as I worked in the NHS . It was nothing dramatic, just basic back care exercises. Unfortunately because I had a poor outcome from that surgery and have not done well I can't say how long until I was better. However, my friend's dh had a microdiscectomy last year and was back at work after a month or so. Surgery is the start really. After that it's really important to get yourself strong with walking, Pilates etc and do as little sitting as possible for as long as possible.

Good luck and feel free to ask any more questions, approaching spinal surgery is scary.