Agonising back pain

[SmileyClare]

Any advice?
Ive had niggling lower back pain for several weeks- carried on with life/ work as recommended on the NHS website. I have a very physical job (self employed cleaner).

However at the weekend I tried to get up, felt like my back gave way (?) and couldn’t- the worst pain ever- lower back all down my leg- just horrific.

Im now on Naproxen, pregablin and coccodamol but can barely stand or walk without feeling sick with pain.

please can anyone advise? Is there an ongoing back pain thread on here?
I really need to return to work soon as I’m self employed. And get on with everything at home- two teenagers here.

Just feeling so desperate.

That's the trouble short term rest is such a relief after four grandchildren this morning I gulped down my nerves blockers in an ibuprofen sandwich

My ‘rest’ day off in my phased return is proving to be anything but. Have spent the day rushing about (in short periods) and the builder is coming tomorrow so still need to make the house look presentable ish.

I feel an unfuck your habitat crisis clean coming on.

😂😂

I did the first 20/10 and then poured myself a pimms in the 10. This will either help or not.

Hi glad to hear you’re both limping along making some progress with diagnosis and treatment. I really hope your injection provides some relief @justasking111 x
Four grandchildren sounds lovely but hard work !

Hope you didn’t over do the cleaning @RafaistheKingofClay and enjoyed the (medicinal) pimms
Its great your work will accommodate a phased return so make sure you are actually resting when you can! Sounds like your recovery’s heading in the right direction.

My back (fingers crossed) is staying in place- I’m back to all my customers. It still aches a bit. Tried working without the back brace today because I get so hot but definitely feels a bit sore now I’m home!

Been a bit lazy doing my core strengthening exercises but know I really should keep those up

Love to hear how you’re all doing now we’ve bonded over our backs 😊

I’ve some of those exercises in favour of new ones from new physio. More focus on mobility and flexibility than strength for now.

pelvic tilts are still in and most important. Doing lots of those. about 30 reps a couple of times a day.
lying on back with knees bent and moving them to side.
hugging knees to chest
seated pelvic tilts
standing pelvic tilts.

Those last 2 I’m having an issue with. Still can’t do them upright.
This week moving onto building up a bit of strength in muscles to support abs. So have leg exercises with a theraband and sideways crab walking to do.
None of which I’ve started yet. So I need to get on with it.

Ah sounds like you’re still in a lot of pain @RafaistheKingofClay but keep at it- little and often.

Its hard to motivate myself to do mine in the evening when I just want to collapse into bed but know how important it is to build up strength to support my back.

Your physiotherapist sounds great.
And good luck with the building work!

Is that the elastic band thing that uses resistance. My son men something a while ago

What is a pelvic tilt exactly? I was given a few basic exercises by the physio that I don’t think are goi g to do much good.

I've been watching some YouTube ones. I've done them before. My osteopath has only given me three different ones.

How are you all doing? OP, Just Asking, Rafa, everyone?
Had my MRI Sunday. Seeing consultant in 2 weeks.

That's great @Oblomov23 look forward to hearing the prognosis. I'm going for a nerve block injection in two weeks in my L2 vertabrae that should ease the pain so I can exercise a lot more. My left knee has given way a few times because it's having to take the load perhaps.

I was looking at electric bikes today. I may give one a try in Halfords you get a free trial.

Use ice rather than heat. Wrap a bag of peas in a tea towel and put it on the area for 15 minutes at a time.

Hi All, how you doing?
I had an awful appointment. They didn't have my MRI report despite me ringing to check. Got call from Dr to attend next clinic. He was very dismissive, saw 2 fractures but recommended nothing other than time to heal and paracetamol. I felt so fobbed off I told him that, and that I wasn't happy with that. I'm going to ask my GP for a 2nd opinion.

Is that their policy these days, to get rid of you as cheaply as possible, to recommend nothing other than time?

Sorry you say they didn't have the MRI report?? Who they

Had a hospital procedure today. Epidural, then he went in with a long needle and a camera, followed by steroids. I'm still numb, when that wears off I'll be in pain but in a few days should feel a lot better.

@SmileyClare @Oblomov23 @RafaistheKingofClay and all how are you getting on

Just asking is that for your back, or Z different issue?

My back situation got worse today: consultants secretary told me letter is still to be written, it's 'mechanical back pain'. This feels like a fobb off, ie we don't know. And other than referring me to osteoporosis clinic, they aren't offering me nothing, no diagnosis, no treatment, nothing other than paracetamol. I'm so angry but other than ringing GP this morning to ask for a 2nd opinion, I know not what to do next.

@Oblomov23 it was for my back lumbar region of the spine. I'll get a follow up in five weeks to explain the findings

I'm so angry with consultant being so dismissive. For him to just suggest paracetamol is staggering. But I don't know what to do now. Open yet another complaint, gets you nowhere. What else do I do?

My surgery phoned the GP wants to see me in 12 days to discuss the consultant findings. I should know more then

I came here, to post, as a safe place. I've been crying for weeks, in frustration. I'm ok for days and days, and then it just gets to me and I cry numerable times.

I can't see the consultant at MSK. My Gp has re-referred 3 times, and it's been refused each time. I fell over Valentine's Day, 5 months ago. I was in pain. Crying, I couldn't move, couldn't roll over in fed. Was in such pain. I'm better now. But not good. I can't walk more than 20 metes. I can't stand up straight. I'm stooped. My knees hurt. My back hurts. I can't food shop, I can't hang out washing, iron, cook - I can't cook a spag Bol because I can't stir for more than a few minutes.

I've complained to Surrey, mp, pals, 4 complaints I've got going on. Getting nowhere.

I haven't seen a doctor. My requests to be seen by the consultant are refused.

I was eventually seen by MSK. An ACP, which I now discover isn't even a Doctor. He ordered an mri. They lost it. No report. Went to see new chap. Turns out he's just a physio. He admits he doesn't know what's wrong with me. Suggests I take paracetamol. What? For the rest of my life? He reads my private notes, sees that the private person who did my steroid injection mentions bursitis, says that what it is. Plagiarism. He's stolen someone else's view.

He's not even a doctor. My GP is furious and escalates this higher. None of this helps me.

I'm crying, I don't know what to do.

@Oblomov23 hi, I'm new to the thread. Sorry you are having such a hard time getting the help you need. I hope that your gp can help you.

Is there no digital record of your MRI at all?

I'm sure you have, so apologies, but have you tried ibuprofen? The max strength Voltarol gel is reasonablely effective for me also, heat pad?

I've been having back pain, had MRI and physio. Nothing mechanically wrong, some degeneration of spine and I've been referred to a pain clinic. I'm waiting for the appointment.
Feels a bit like a cop out

@Oblomov23 Poor you. It's so frustrating to have chronic pain like that. I had sciatica for over a year and a half but my GP referred me to a private hospital. It's not been 100% as I've had to go back and forth a lot but I had an operation a few months ago and now 98% recovered. Can your GP refer you elsewhere? Also gabapentin saved me, I couldn't stand up, walk, cook, clean, gabapentin was a wonder drug.

@Oblomov23

I am so sorry to read this.
I have been through some awful health problems that I won't go into here, but my GP referred me to a completely different hospital for a second opinion. They are allowed to do that and it can be out of area, different trust.
I think you have got to the stage where even if you get an appointment with the original surgeon, the relationship has broken down and the consultation wouldn't go well.
I had been attending my local hospital and had been passed around 3 different locums and getting worse.
GP referred me to a regional centre where I saw a specialist who did all the tests again and some extra ones and made a completely different diagnosis. This was during Covid and my original consultation was on the phone. It worked out well in the end.
If your GP is supportive you could ask about this.
A referral to a physio doesn't count as a second opinion.