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Agonising back pain

466 replies

SmileyClare · 06/03/2023 14:11

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.

OP posts:
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endofthelinefinally · 14/07/2023 09:30

I meant to say, I was referred to a national neurological centre in London. Your GP could refer you to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital for example, as it is a centre of excellence available to everyone.
It was just a case of writing the letter then they rang me to make the appointment.

RafaistheKingofClay · 14/07/2023 09:52

Yes, see if they will refer you elsewhere. Also will they do a referral to a pain management clinic. I’m not suggesting à that as an alternative to sorting the problem but you do need more than paracetamol if the GP can’t prescribe something else.

justasking111 · 14/07/2023 10:08

I'm baffled by paracetamol for this condition my GP put me onto Gabapentin which did take a while to work because the dose was increased slowly

Oblomov23 · 15/07/2023 11:34

Thank you all. I knew you'd be nice about it all.

My Gp has now referred me to next local hospital. Which is fine, but it means I now have to wait to be seen there. Plus I'm not happy that it lets local hospital off the hook - they've been so shit, but instead of forcing that them to address that, we now let them off completely, because in desperation we've been forced to refer me elsewhere. How is that ok?

I have now been given gabapentin. I asked GP twice based on this thread but was refused.

I saw an ACP. Then a Consulting Physio. He said paracetamol. I asked him : Is that it? Told him I've already been on paracetamol and anti inflammatories for 5+ months. But this is what I can't accept and even the suggestion of taking gabapentin. I can't accept that as a long-term option. he just completely dismissed me and said I'm going to refer you to osteoporosis clinic. but my GP said was that's fine but they're referring you to osteoporosis clinic because you do have osteopenia.

But said the GP said we also need to examine why you have broken your back into places - you have broken your back in L5. and another break in L1 last year. Why have you broken your back in two places in a short period?

why are you so susceptible to the fractures. is your osteopenia getting worse. neither the ACP, nor the physio, addressed anything. he sent me away, telling me to take paracetamol, has offered me any solutions, no diagnosis, no suggestion of what to do.

I'm 50. I'm hunched over stooping like an 80-year-old. I can't do normal functions : I can't walk more than 20 m. I can't take the washing out of the washing machine; I can't hang it out. I can't cook because I can't stir for more than a few me minutes. I can't do anything. I'm 50. my hips and my my knees are suddenly hurting because I'm probably overcompensating.

and the answer to this is to take paracetamol? what for the rest of my life?

he said he thought it was just mechanical pain, but now I've looked that up. Apparently that's a very old-fashioned diagnosis they used to give for 90% of back pain. but they shouldn't be giving it any more because they now have better resources and better imaging and better investigative procedures to find out exactly what the proper problem is, rather than just dismissing it as a general mechanical back pain, so I'm going to tell him that and tell him I'm not happy with that.

but we need to find out why this has all happened and what's causing it and what I can do to make it better. I don't want to take gabapentin long-term, you're not supposed to take it long-term. and you're not supposed to take paracetamol long-term and I I don't think that's a solution. It is not an answer. I want to know what is actually wrong and how to make it better I'm only 50 I need to know what's wrong and how to solve it.

I've got 4 complaints with Surrey heartlands, complaints, pals, my mp. I'm getting nowhere. It's been nearly 6 months since I fell. Which classifies it as long term and chronic.

justasking111 · 15/07/2023 11:49

My consultant whos done the MRI, spinal infiltration is quite happy for me to stay on Gabapentin it's such a low dose you can take up to 3000 mgs a day for some conditions. I'm officially on 300 mgs but often forget to take the middle dose. I'm not an addict. This is why they banned codeine because of addiction. Talk about throwing out the baby with the bath water.

Alcohol, cigarettes, coca cola, chocolate. All these and more can be addictive but they're not banned.

Oh and you're right about the knee trouble.

Take the Gabapentin and get some relief. Walking upright again will certainly help with the healing process.

Oblomov23 · 24/07/2023 15:52

I've been discharged by consultant. Thanks! So I now need to wait, start the whole process all over again at a different hospital. Terrific.

endofthelinefinally · 24/07/2023 19:09

It sounds as if you have osteoporosis and need to see a rheumatologist asap.
Can you afford a private consultation?
If so, find one that works in your local nhs trust AND does private practice.
Then ring their private practice secretary.
They will be able to bring you back into the nhs for treatment.
Spinal fractures are a huge red flag for osteoporosis.
If you have diagnosed osteopaenia you should have had an urgent DXA scan as well as urgent MRI.

Oblomov23 · 31/07/2023 22:29

Thanks, I did have a bone scan, 2 years ago from HRT clinic, that said osteopenia.

I'm ok holiday in Dorset. My back is killing me. It's got worse in the last 2 days abd I can't turn over in bed. Like back in feb 23 when I fell.

Btw Consultant discharged me, because I made a complaint. GP of 15 years phoned me saying she'd never seen an email like it.

So I'm now without anyone. Haven't even been seen by a Dr yet. MRI showed I've broken my bank twice: L5 Feb 23, also broken it in L1 in Dec 22, which I was unaware until now.

I've got bursitis, numerous pockets of fluid, but not temporary, they've been there for 6 months now, since I fell in Feb 23, and no one seems to offer me a diagnosis / explanation as to why. I feel let down.

I don't know what to do next. A GP has referred me to another hospital. Apparently the referral, initial appointment could take 13 weeks.

endofthelinefinally · 31/07/2023 22:48

Osteopaenia is the precursor to osteoporosis. 2 years is plenty of time to progress if you didn't get any treatment.
I am so sorry.
If you know where you have been referred, could you ring them and speak to the department secretary and ask if they would call you if there is a cancellation?

justasking111 · 31/07/2023 23:03

Have you lost height?

Oblomov23 · 15/08/2023 21:08

I've lost nearly an inch and I'm very small to start with. My referral to 2nd hospital was immediately rejected. So my GP has now referred me to a 3rd hospital. How can any of this be ok? I'm in discomfort. I haven't even been seen by a back doctor. I'm under no one currently. I've spent £3k privately. Got nowhere. I've got 3 complaints going with hospital, PALS, MP. It's all getting me nowhere. I cry with frustration sporadically.

RafaistheKingofClay · 15/08/2023 23:17

Oblomov that’s awful.

justasking111 · 15/08/2023 23:38

I suggest that you are tested for osteoporosis asap. I was recently with my back problems.

Oblomov23 · 16/08/2023 02:06

Thanks. I'm on the waiting list for osteoporosis clinic.

Oblomov23 · 15/09/2023 16:17

Thank you both. I've been fighting hard in 5 different areas, and finally making progress. I've been seen in rheumatology by a nice Doctor, first actual Doctor I've been seen by. He's prescribed me 2 things, a scan, blood tests, and an appointment to see him again. I have a physio appointment. I have an appointment at a different county hospital to see the main Doctor orthopaedics.

Oblomov23 · 15/09/2023 16:17

How's everyone else doing?

RafaistheKingofClay · 16/09/2023 12:57

Still waiting for the spinal clinic.

Did have slow improvement but have gone way way back since doing something at work that’s on the list of things that I shouldn’t do. Need to learn the MN phrase about no being a complete sentence.

RafaistheKingofClay · 06/10/2023 22:14

I have an appointment with spinal outpatients this week! They phoned on Tuesday to offer me one. Under no illusions this will lead to answers but it’s a step forwards.

Oblomov23 · 15/10/2023 21:38

I'm getting nowhere. I know not what to do next.

I'll write a more detailed post tomorrow and ask all of you for advice on what to do.

justasking111 · 16/10/2023 07:48

Sorry to read this 😔

Oblomov23 · 11/11/2023 17:24

Sorry I haven't posted. I've been totally overwhelmed.

Ive just seen someone else. I've got 4 fractures. Fracture : L5, L4, L2,L1.

I've been dismissed, by MSK, discharged and told to take paracetamol. What? For the rest of my life? Not happy.

Yes I've been referred to osteoporosis clinic, so that's good. Been seen, given tablets, had bloods and dexa scan, being seen again next month. But they don't address the pain I'm still in.

And my GP says that should've been addressed by MSK. But it wasn't.

To top it all off, I complained to pals, who MSK then themselves complained that I'd harassed all their staff.

Now harassment is a serious allegation. Not a protected characteristic. I didn't say anything about someone's race or sexual orientation.

I phoned up to ask if there was someone who could see me because I was unhappy with being told to only take paracetamol for the rest of my life. No other treatment suggestions. But in return I'm accused of harassment.

I feel let down. I know not what to do. I'm taking paracetamol and gabapentin. It's not helping. I'm in pain. Yes I'm a whole lot better than I was in February when I fell and broke L5. But I'm still not right. I can't walk more than 50 meters, can't hang a load of washing out. By 3pm I'm in pain and so go to bed. Is that quality of life?

Oblomov23 · 11/11/2023 17:30

I've also lost 2.5 inches in height.

RafaistheKingofClay · 11/11/2023 23:48

Oblomov I have no idea what to say but didn’t want to read and run.

I just want to come and give you a (very gentle) hug.