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

Thanks Cain but the AD ship has sailed as its been 4 weeks now and I am fine.

I have never found dieting to be particularly difficult and have lost several stone several times ... its the losing weight part that is hard now ... no idea what's going on and yes I've tried 5:2 along with every other diet known to man (RL pals regard me as a diet expert). My appetite for food has now vanished along with my taste for alcohol and yet still not losing. Think something else might be going on but my GP is not interested (I guess he has heard many fat people claim to not be eating but I AM telling the truth). I'm sure I will work it out eventually but am baffled for the minute. Given I am off the ADs I am feeling quite calm about it all

Pavs! How very restrained!

Regarding the acupuncture, I imagine it would be because some people gets lightheadedness and nausea after Acupuncture. Eating beforehand would mitigate that somewhat.

My disc hernited back at the end of May and has just reherniated. GP says just add it to the list of things wrong with me, I thought there were surgical options? To give him the benefit of the doubt he is very much a hands off / wait and see GP and perhaps has seen poor results from surgical management of disc problems. Anyway, I'm pleased that I have an arsenal of pain killers to turn to.

Thanks Matilda. We kind of know it will be OK but everything is suddenly askew...DH is so nice and I love him so much...I really feel the rejection for him though I know it isn't a personal rejection.

Berr1e - still quite long though eh?

Look, if niceness counted none of us would be here, right?

Nay a mere note by Pav standards!

Too true Matilda.

Can I ask if others get that unpleasant fizzy numbness keeping them awake? I find it quite annoying because I keep waking in between half dozing, trying to get a better position to get rid of it the way you would if the numbness was due to cutting off the blood supply with the other leg or similar. (Every time I move I worsen the back and leg pain). I have it sitting too but can usually get rid of it by standing. Any ideas how to reduce it?

You already know I have problems there Maggs. Its changed from a dull ache to a sharp pulse after treatment from physio (after the fizzy, numbness of many years). No idea if this is good or bad. Like you standing or walking gets rid of it briefly and I am experimenting with different positions (wish that was as exciting as it sounds! ) along with fake walking whilst sitting or lying which helps for only a few seconds. Am also using a cushion under my legs when reclining at night which does actually help. Let me know if you find anything else that helps and I will do the same. Diagnosis at the minute is tendonitis but I'm sure that will change or wander into the grey unknown of "its your back". Hey ho ... have a nice day!

I get fuzzy foot which sometimes turns into a fuzzy leg at night/if I sit too long/lay completely flat for too long. I find it eases lying on my side with knees bent, but often have to keep shifting my leg to get it feeling 'normal' again. Is this new? Mine was worse when my disc was prolapsed and compressing the nerve first time around - I had fuzzing/numbness/pain all at once, which I never knew was possible, sort of felt like leg was detached from my body but still hurt and still had pins and needles too. For me, it's definitely nerve stuff.

Can't help much with how to fix it, I think meds would work, but I can't/won't take them.

I ask if it's new pain/numbness as wonder if you have a reprolapse or something newer pressing on nerve.

this is new for me in that it was only ever fizzing/numb ... but now actually quite painful over last few weeks

Mine is not new either, but it has got more troublesome (and no position seems to help although in the past it has) over the last week or two. I also keep getting cramp - or muscle spasms. I am used to leg and feet cramping, but now the muscle at the top of my leg and into my hip and back keeps cramping up, and I don't know how to fix it.

Hi everyone, I was hoping I might be able to get some more advice on my situation as Doctors are being a bit useless at the mo!

I have been suffering with leg numbness/stabbing/aching since the end of July. It wasn't any particular leg and I could not associate anything that would aggravate etc. I did not always have back pain with the leg pain. I was prescribed Gabapentin 300mg 3 times daily and was referred for an MRI. Had the MRI and it states that disc L2-3 is degenerate, has loss of normal signal intensity and loss of height. There is an anterior disc bulge and small posterior osteophytic/disc bar. After this I was referred to a Neurologist in December. I have been taking codeine when the pain has got particularly bad and was advised to increase my gabapentin to 600mg 3 times a day.

On friday just gone, the pain in my left thigh got unbearable and I couldn't walk or put any weight on it. Ended up in A&E and have had a weekend stay in the hospital, which has not been particularly helpful! I have been told to take paracetamol and ibuprofen regularly as well as the gabapentin and codeine (these two are currently making me feel like a zombie!). They have also requested that my neurology appointment be brought forward.

I am in a lot of pain today but have been told to basically carry on as normal. I have a 1 and 3yo and so have a lot to do!

Is anybody in the same kind of position? Able to offer any advice! I just feel so lost about it all and you all seem very knowledgable (unfortunately!). Thank you!

Hello accol, what a horrible situation.carrying on as normal with two tiny DC must be somewhat difficult . It does sound as if getting the neuro appointment brought forward is the most urgent task. You don't mention any physio but it may well be beneficial. I have a weekly massage plus rehab Pilates session and even when I'm completely crocked up it does help. Spasmy muscles around the disc and spine can compress the nerves causing the leg symptoms.

Does heat help? Or ice? I prefer heat but both worth trying. I'm currently loving the Thermacare heat wraps on dodgy days. Also do try the constructive rest link above, it helps eliminate unnecessary muscle tension and release the spine into its correct alignment. You also get to lie down and do nothing for ten minutes . Making sure you have regular rests is vital. Don't feel bad about this. Read up on Pacing in Pain Management, it's a key component.

Have you tried a stronger anti inflammatory than ibuprofen? If you can tolerate them they can be very helpful. I take naproxen, others here swear by diclofenac. You need a stomach protector alongside these. Do carry on with paracetamol alongside your codeine as it actually enhances the opiate action which means you may even need less opiate.

I hesitate to mention further meds that might add to the stupor but I take amitriptyine at night as well as pregablin ( recent change from gabapentin and a bit less dopey on it). A tiny dose of amitriptyine helps me get through the night.

Do hope that helps a little and that you are getting some help with all this. Keep posting and let us know how you are doing.

Oh dear Accol and with 2 wee kids too ... I do feel for you. Can't add anything more than Matilda other than chase that appt (cry if you have to). We have all had that pain/still do have it so completely get it here. I get by with amitriptyline and ibuprofen and co-codamal (or paracatamol with separate codeine) mostly but I am post-op. Alcohol is also helpful .

Sounds very similiar Maggs we are in tune! I will keep you posted as to what it is/anything that helps. Mine is now all over my leg and last night was awful as could not get comfortable at all .

Hello everyone, i'm so glad I have found you i have been suffering from sciatica since July and becoming frustrated and depressed by the lack of recovery I am making.

in July I moved somethng and hurt my back. I had 3 or 4 days of agonising pain just in my back but within the week had turned in to sciatica. Initially I was given Naproxen but they didnt help so I now take sopladol and paracetamol (one of each) 3 times a day and two solpadol at bedtime, ibuprofen x 6 and amiltrypiline (2 of these). Luckily walking around is less painfull than other positions so I have been able to carry on working, although at times this has been difficult. I am a TA so luckily I am on my feet a lot. If I had an office job there is no way I could carry on.
i am still in constant pain despite all these tablets although they do take the edge off. The pain I feel is through my buttock, hamstring area, side of calf, side of foot and under foot. although I have no numbness, the sensation has constantly changed in my little toe and next and the ball of my feet. I have fizzing and pins and needles on and off all day and I feel a bit scared that I wont ever get better. The worse part of it all is that I cant sit for long and I find this frustrating and exhausting. I have to stand to eat breakfast as my pain killers have not reached a point that makes the pain tolerable. At lunch I can manage sitting for about 20 minutes but it is uncomfortable. I am exhausted all the time and after I have fed everyone and made the packed lunches, I go upstairs and lay on the bed as thats the only way I can rest.
I have seen an osteopath and am having weekly physio which I am hoping will start working soon.
I feel alone in all this as although I get sympathetic lookds, most people don't want to hear about it and think I should be better now.
The GP thinks its not a disk and the physio says probably not althouh she is umming and aahhing a bit now. I have had no xray or scan, is this usual?
Thank you for reading this and I know a lot of people are much worse off than me but itd nice that other people understand how horrible this is.

Hi Meg How rotten for you. Have they said anything about nerve compression following a herniated disc?

I'm no expert but surely an MRI is needed now? Can you go to a different GP and request one or a referral to a back specialist?

Meg, I never very rarely do this, but today I make an exception. I would eat my hat if you haven't got a disc prolapse and I'm going to guess its L4/5. Possibly L5/S1. You need an MRI. After all this time you need a diagnosis. Depending on where you live you can ask either your GP or physio for a referral. It might take a bit of a battle which is very wrong but persist. Or, what I did was to pay for it because I was just desperate to know what the feck was going on.

There Are either meds you could through into the mix such as gabapentin or pregablin which are good for nerve pain but really you deserve to know what's going on before popping yet more pills. They do work, though.

Another thing to consider is taking time off though you will have had the long summer, I guess. No, get assertive and get an MRI. Then if it does prove to be a disc prolapse you at least know where you are and can address the problem with treatment options.

Thank you so much for your replies you lovely people I am gratful for the benefit of your experience. I have physio this afternoon so will ask her about it. It seems so back to front because if there is anything else wrong with you they scan you first, for example endoscopy, ultrasound etc but for backs they seem to try everything except scan, which involved at least part guess work from the doctors.

Yep Meg totally agree with Matilda. This has gone on too long to resolve itself and sounds very like prolapse so MRI needed to check. The reason they don't do this first (I believe) is that most back pain gets better ... until it doesn't! Lucky us eh? Keep us posted

Well I went to physio and told her that is was still no better she said maybe she would write to Doctor to suggest a possible scan. She then went to check with her superior who agreed to go back to Doctor but to get my pain killers more affective as she said the physio isnt working because they are unable to do the things they want as it hurts me too much as the nerve is too irritated. I have an appointment on Monday so I guess will have to see what they say....crikey, it's hard work..i will be self medicating tonight regardless of the do not drink warnings.

Another question for you ladies. I have been getting vaginal bleeding. Have had a clear smear so I wondered if the drugs I am taking could cause this does anyone know?

Meg, that's s sort of progress but frankly a bit wishy washy. 'Might write to suggest a possible scan' . I sergeant you see your GP and drum up tears. Say you cannot continue and work is becoming difficult. In your situation I would lay on the health and safety issues and say your employer is asking for a diagnosis as well. Be very clear. An MRI is expensive but not that expensive. Don't be fobbed off with an X-ray. My own GP at the time was very embarrassed when I returned after a self funded MRI showing a clear disc prolapse. As Ally says, in the absence of red flags most GPS do work on the basis that the majority of back pain and sciatica dies settle. But to most of us it is important to know.

If you do have a disc problem there are treatment options such as injections as well so there is value in knowing.

Sorry, I'm not aware of vaginal bleeding as a side effect of your meds. Probably nothing to worry about but of course mention it and make sure your GP examines you. Your pelvic are and lower spine are all related.

Good luck.

I am resting in bed after a mega day yesterday. A Big Birthday celebrated in style with dear friends and family. I might have a shit back but life can still be good. and my meds seem to ward off any hangovers

Again ditto Matilda ... tears usually work for me (and its never hard to do given the pain we all have). Yes its hard work .. we are tough buggers in here

Glad you had a good time on your birthday ... sometimes the payment afterwards is worth it!

We ignore the "do not drink" Meg ... its still the best painkiller I know