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

Yep moan away .... I don't have kids but I am a moany old git (with toilet issues). You fit in fine mystic Other people don't get it but we most certainly do!

Berrie it actually was on my bucket list (actually written down too) so I am really hoping its not a hoax

When would you know?

Hello everyone, I am away on his but thought I would check in it's raining. Back not loving the holiday experience as usual. I always forget how much sitting I have to do on planes, car, restaurants and so on. Still, it's warm rain and I've wasted the entire afternoon on MN .

Mystic, hello and welcome. Most of us here have back pain and sciatica from a multitude of causes. The CES warning is there to hopefully be courage people to seek urgent help when it all goes wrong. Sorry you seem to be on the receiving end of this. What happened? (Obviously only if you feel like sharing). I do have loss of sensation but from scarring and nerve damage and very fortunately I don't need catheters but do need to remind myself to go to the loo. Anyway, do settle in and have a and a whine if you fancy it. We are in it for the long haul. It's quiet due to holidays but you are not alone. Far from it.

So where are you Matilda? Go on - thrill us with a description of your view! I do belueve we evem had a picture last time! Db has been sending me pictures from his holiday for the last 2 weeks and am kind of gutted now he is back and all is quiet. I do enjoy a vicarious holiday!

Oh thank you everyone, massively jealous of your holiday Matilda! Sorry you have the same sort of symptoms. Its bloody awful isn't it.

I had a car accident 6 years ago. It was really serious at the time, tumbled and rolled across 3 lanes of a motorway and then down onto a slip road hitting another car. I was trapped in my car and free'd at the scene by the first people to stop who said they were off duty A and E nurses, but even with loads of ambulances and fire engines not one person suggested a spinal board or anything. I woke up from the crash having lost feeling in one of my feet and very sore but other than that i was physically ok. I had sciatica but I could walk, When the ambulance got me to A & E I was the only person in there (It was the middle of the night in a remote location) and they literally just asked me a few questions, asked me to try and touch my toes and gave me cocodamol to go home. Absolutely no checking of anything.

I went back to work and the sciatica got a lot worse down that leg, not being able to feel my foot turned into not being able to feel my leg. I tried to keep active and do what everyone advised and GP referred me to a neurosurgeon but non urgent so it took a few months before i could even get a date for an appt, and the appt was another few months later. The numbness and sciatica gradually spread up the other leg and then I just found myself pretty much unable to move. A&E admitted me to an ortho ward and dosed me up on morphine to the point where I was sweating and ulcerated. They couldn't understand why I hadn't been to the toilet, or why I couldn't move so they kept trying to force me out of bed. I begged for people to help me go to the toilet and they kept saying if you want to go then walk were not bringing it to you. So they kept pushing me out of bed and wondering why I would fall and couldn't get back up.

I was kept in the ortho ward for 2 weeks and treated worse than a dog. Told I was bed blocking and that i didn't look like i was in enough pain. They were fighting to get me to use crutches and discharge me home, and then one day my appt for the neurosurgeon came through at a different hospital. They said they would let me go to the appt in an ambulance and then return to the ward and as soon as I got to the appt the doctor threw my file on the desk really angry and said "why haven't i seen this already".

He told me it was CES and that I may never walk again or go to the toilet again and operated within an hour. I got some feeling back and can walk now some of the time just fine, sometimes not at all. Id say its about 50/50. Its the nerve pain I struggle with the most though. A hot bath used to be lovely and now its torture.

Oh good God Mystic your story makes me so angry. I wasn't treated any better in hospital (which took years to get over) but luckily for me I was recovering normally and nothing else wrong. I don't get much nerve pain since the op but still remember how awful that was and have frequent "nerve memory" just in case I forget (as if!). I never found anything that helped pre-op but the other ladies here have different drugs so maybe can help more. Ice packs help?

Are you suing them? If not you should and I'm sure the others will agree with that too. I don't have anything else other than the last one helps briefly!

Mystic, you poor thing. That's a horrific story and makes me furious for you . I hope you did complain and seek compensation since you have been left with life altering injuries. Not that compensation helps you get better, of course. But being disabled is expensive and depressing. I hope you have good support around you.mdid you have DC after all this or are they a bit older? Anyway, I'm very sorry this happened to you.

Berr1e, not anywhere terribly exciting this time.mwas hoping for a week lazing by the pool or beach but the weather hasn't been all that good. We did do the beach this morning but it's cloudy again now. Luckily I've been catching up reading and on MN so haven't minded too much.

Where is everyone else? Come and entertain me, please.

Mystic that is a terrible story.
I've been well now for many years bar an episode last year when I slipped while standing in a washing basket. (Which brought me here)
I also was ignored for years- left to rot on wards - still not receiving proper investigation and treatment and suffered what felt like abuse when recovering from the emergency surgery it was finally realised I needed. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be uncommon on here
You are in the right place and I hope people here can be helpful in your case. If not it's still a great place to offload.

Matilda we are having staycations this year too (in the worst summer for 30 years lol). Having rained on hubby for all of July's holiday we are hoping for snow (NOT!) on his September ones which start on Friday. We used to go to the pub when it rained but that's not an option anymore so forced to chill in other ways (mostly shopping for me and sports watching for him). Hope you get some sun on yours though!

How is the holiday going Matilda?
DH got made redundant yesterday. Not entirely unexpected but a huge shock nevertheless.
Any Zombie film news Ally?

Oh no Berrie that's not good news at all. Its something OH and I have both had several times but it does not get any easier. Sending you good luck wishes for him finding another job soon.

No zombie news yet but might be soon from the gossip

Hi lost you all for a while. I think I have caught up. Did not have a reliable web connection whilst away and theres no peaceful MN use during school holidays anyway.
Sorry the weather was poor whilst you were away Matilda, I hope you had a smooth return journey and are now recovering at home. Sunshine today at last!
Berrie sorry for your news. I hope your Dh finds work he like soon. My Dh is in the process of changing roles - which is different I know but its worrying, and I can imagine your shock even if it is expected.
Ally hope you are feeling better and adapted to your medication change.
Mystic I am so sorry for all that happened to you. Makes me mad too.
I have longstanding leg back and hip pain, (and altered sensation) but am doing OKish at present - just when I am due to see the orthopaedic surgeon! Its taken a long time to get to this stage (decades). ( I have DDD, disc prolaspe L4,L5 scoliosis and spondylolisthesis). I only work 1 day a week so am lucky enough to be able to go back to bed once ds is at school. It was much harder when he was little.
I hope everyone is having a better day!

I'm sorry to post a demand without reading, this is rude of me. I've just asked this question on the 5:2 thread as I've started fasting; my appetite has reduced so much it's been a breeze and I really need to lose weight!
My question is:

Does anyone know why you have to eat before acupuncture?
Last time I went, I was fasting but it was about lunchtime and I grabbed a boiled egg before I left the house as its a half hour walk each way.
He said 'that is better than nothing' but to make sure I'd eaten before the next appointment, which is tomorrow.
I was going to have a mini fast tomorrow but I've remembered about the appointment.

Any thoughts please?

I'm going to catch up now, I hope everyone is well and has enjoyed some summer?
I've been away on hols but will see what news is already on here before I update.

ATB

Can. ..sorry no idea.
Thanks for the good wishes. DH okish at the moment but I just keep crying then feeling ashamed because no one died and there are worse things.

Berr1e huge fat hugs from me. Dh was made redundant the week Ds2 was born, it was so crap and is depressing.mis he in an industry where he should get something quite soon? Try not to cry too much, it will be ok.

Waves to everyone else. cCain absolutely no idea . All I can say is that these things vary so much. Some people are nil by mouth before injections etc others not. I've had a few different acupunctures and never been told this before would be very tempted to fib.

I'm better than expected following journey home and the inevitable work involved with getting back especially when ds2 has been house sitting. I have just completed the ironing mountain and all the sodding putting away and am collapsed on the sofa. I'm wondering if the pregablin has possibly helped. Not with actual sitting because that was awful on holiday and made worse by sitting in restaurants be very night. At home we slump on the sofa . I might open a chain of restaurants with sofas and no tables,many one interested?

Well this thread was so quite before I didn't think anyone else would be posting!

Allypally, I've yet to have an appointment to see the surgical consultant but have since been told 'they cannot guarantee' I would not end up paralysed.
Well, I know they will say this. Nothing can be guaranteed but I want to know what the odds are. Having said that, I'm not sure what odds I'm willing to risk it on. Currently having acupuncture prior to being able to start physio. I'm putting my all into that fixing me TBH. I'm not sure any odds of paralysis are worth it when I still have another option.

Coming off ADs cold turkey is such a bad move, I hope you have reconsidered that?
I've been losing weight anyway as my appetite shrunk to nothing but I've also started 5:2 which has been revolutionary in my recent weight loss. Have a look at the threads in the forum at least to consider it? It's not as hard as you think!

Bassetfeet
My heart goes out to you after reading your post. I'm pretty sure my back problems are quite minor compared to yours and others on this thread because I can still walk. And I refuse to stop doing it. I managed three miles today and yes it hurt, my legs went weak ( I nearly fell on my face ) and I got home feeling like I'd been kicked in the spine but I'm just not prepared to give up my physical health. Bloody mindedness runs in our family
I get scared too though and I feel for you. Very much so.

Diagonally
So sorry, my holiday was last minute and I had meetings with work and didn't get to read the thread. I'm very glad you booked the trip. I got an emergency prescription of diazepam which helped me survive the flight and the break did me the world of good. I packed my pills in the boxes with prescription labels but customs (France) didn't even take a look so no worry there. I hope your break helped?
As I've said above I'm really, pretty much discounting surgery unless I just have no other option.

Acupuncture seems to have changed my symptoms; the numbness and pins and needles in my right foot have gone but I now get an icy stinging across the top above my toes. This could be good or not as its now in both feet. I have another session tomorrow so will be asking. Other than this, the leg pain seems to have mostly stopped other than the odd pulling in my buttock and thigh which is fairly painful. It's clearly the sciatic nerve.
Back pain is another matter, I've tried to reduce my Gabapentin dose but the pain and my movement also then reduce. I'm sticking with Gabapentin, slow release ibuprofen, paracetamol and codeine as I need it.
Im still fuzzy, a bit confused at times and jumble up words. I also spend a lot of time wondering what I have forgotten.

mysticlogistic and Jesus. H. Christ that is bloody criminal neglect.

A wave to everyone else, hope you are all coping...
It's nearly the weekend!

Oh, I meant quiet of course...

Hello, can I join?

I'm struggling lately with my sciatica, it used to be just pain but I've got leg twitches now, weakness, and pins and needles and heat / cold sensations.

Exciting variety!

Matilda I like your style, I may have a full English breakfast tomorrow.

Hello Burnet, sounds like fun and games for you .... are you getting some help with that?

ladies. I am still around. Not having a great week or so. So rather than moan, gonna lurk a bit. But am reading.

Hi Pavlov, I've realised I can offer no help to you but am happy to listen/read if you need a moan. Can't see sleep on the way yet. Did you enjoy the time off you had booked? It was you wasn't it?

Thanks cain very kind, and you lot are all fab at listening to the moaning but it's all I do! Had like a week of almost feeling like I didn't having a completely fucked up back life and now it's all gone horrendously back to normal/worse than normal. Struggling to walk at all/work/manage pain/be anything other than a fucking burden.

But despite lots of pain had a great two weeks of work. It was after that I had a good week which surprised me. Probably tried to do more than I should have.

Pain clinic doc says either bad flare up or things gone south again. Urgent trigger point injections (within 4 weeks. Urgent. Ha!) then MRI if still not much improved.
Fucking stinks. Been on this roller coaster for so long. Tried so hard to fix it. And it's not working. Nothing bloody works. Not even positivity.

There. A shortened moan (as we all know I can post essays)

That is a bummer, especially when you were feeling so good for a week.