Doctor won't prescribe stronger painkillers

[verystressedmum]

I've got really really bad back pain and even worse sciatica, I'm on diclofenac and co codamol at the moment but it's not really touching the pain and I can hardly walk or stand because of the pain.
Called the doctor to see about different pain killers and he said I'm on a really strong combination and he can't prescribe anything else I'll have to go to A&E.
Is that right? He said I must feel woozy because the painkillers are so strong, I said no I feel fine but they don't really help the pain.
I can't help thinking it's such a waste of everyone's time to go to A&E for painkillers.
I've read the threads I know there's other painkillers out there so how did you get them?
I'm in really bad pain so I may have to go to A&E but really....

Grimbletart 17 years!! That's awful but I do know how it can cause other problems, I'm tilted to one side because if I straighten up it pulls so badly on my leg and it's agony. If I bend forward I can walk without a lot of pain to my leg, I think it's opening up the disc canal and taking pressure off the nerve. It's fine when I'm at home and it means I can sort of get things done, but I can't walk like that when I'm out so I tend to not go out much.

Thanks Thatsnotaknife I can't wait to get my MRI to find out the extent of the problem and then I will know what can be done about it.
Luckily the GP I saw seemed to know all about it and wasn't afraid to prescribe the gabapentin. I'm so annoyed at that other GP who flatly refused anything even though he would have been able to see the x ray report and my symptoms and that its most likely nerve pain.
And also luckily the doctor I spoke to in the out of hours surgery knew all about it as her husband had suffered the same and had surgery (she told me) and was happy to prescribe diazepam until the gabapentin started working.
The only problem seems to be now that I took 5mg diazepam today and it didn't seem to take the pain away, it knocked me out for a few hours though!

It's concerning that it's got worse over the last few weeks, I definitely wasn't like this before. Maybe it's just a flare up and it will settle as its done this before - it's really really bad then eases a bit, then it's bad again etc.
Wonder why this happens?

Thank you so much for the support on this thread. I'm going over to the back pain thread to join you

Verystressedmum, I used to walk like that due to ms (that bit's working better now so I don't any more); please don't let it restrict you like that. You don't need to close your horizons down to the 4 walls you live within.

I'm not criticizing you btw. I do know how hard it can be and how vulnerable you can feel. I used to laugh about it, while crying inside, when people commented. But I got outside, which was worth it, and the only people who ever commented were people I knew, and they were always nice comments.

On reflection, getting out and about, despite walking strangely also meant I got more offers of help - lifts to and from school, help with shopping etc.

Thanks Jux

I get put off going out as I do look ridiculous walking bent forward and tilted to the side, but also because when I walk the pain builds up until it's excruciating and I need to either lean forward on something, squat down or sit down to relieve the pain in my leg.

I actually think my stomach/side muscles are locked in that position and if I try to straighten up it hurts a lot. Can that happen?

I think I need a walking stick or a frame of some sort. I saw a lady on a little mobility scooter and I really want one!
A bit sad as I've just turned 40.

They can seize up - mine do. Sometimes that can be helped by either a cold compress (packet of frozen peas) or a hot compress (hot water bottle). Not guaranteed, and depends upon what the cause is. My back was helped by frozen peas, but that was ms, and due to inflammation and compromised nerves endings etc. Worth a try and if it helps keep doing it!

Mobility scooters are fab!!! My life changed and my confidence soared once I got mine. I tried them out at Shopmobility first, hiring one for a day/half a day every so often, until I'd tried a few different types. Powered chair, small scooter, medium scooter.

Then I looked on the internet and found a second hand place not too far away and bought one for a fraction of the cost of a new one. I didn't want to use my DLA as we needed it to get through, and I saved for a very very long time! I still have that one and it's great, I use it every day. You have no idea how amazing it is to be able to get down to the shops and back on my own.