I am being ridiculous and I am going to make a Dr appointment.

[EccentricaGallumbits]

I am a grown up. With a bad back.

I am also a reasonably intelligent grown up who happens to have a health related job.

Why am I scared of the GP?

Because whenever I see one they are usually patronising, rude and generally shite.

And I turn into a blibbering childlike moron.

All I have to do is say. hello Dr. I have a bad back. it hurts. I have taken painkillers. It still hurts. Please help me fix it.

But do you think I can? No. I put up with it because I am ridiculous.

I think you need some encouragement

1. Pick up the phone
2. Ring the doctor
3. NOW
4. Have cup of tea

Does that help?

My doctor is shit too so i do understand, but its not going to get any better without speaking to them is it?

I don't think you are being ridiculous at all I agree with your opinions about most GP.S

I have stopped my aches and pains by changing what i eat; I don't eat acid forming foods and i find that works loads better than any drugs. Good luck.

back pain is a bastard.

the only thing is that GPs can rarely 'fix' it unless it;s something that can be surgically corrected (slipped disc etc)

hence their frequent uselessness

usually the most useful thing they can do is refer you for physio

Yoga or Pilates is more likely to help than the GP is, tbh

can you book an appointment well in advance at your surgery?

book first or second appt in the day so everyone is fresh

ask partner (if you have one) to deal with children in the morning

ban telly that morning (if you have it on usually) and only have favourite gentle music on

have lovely breakfast with favourite drink, nice porridge, scrambled egg on toast, whatever

enjoy relaxing shower or bath

buy favourite newspaper or magazine to read in waiting room rather than ancient copy of Pick me up

smile at everyone on the way

pick/buy small bunch of daffodils and give them to the receptionists

smile at doctor when you go in

pretend doctor is a friendly cousin who does't know you that well but is nonetheless family

best of luck

have appointment for thursday.

i know there's chuff all that can be done but i need to make sure there's nothing really wrong before doing some pilates and i'm a bit fed up with eating anti-inflams like sweets..

I'm liking your list choosy

Try an osteopath, or a chiropracter.

Then bother the GP so they know you've got a problem (and maybe ask for stronger painkillers at the GP if you need them).

sorry but i'd say deffo go to the gp first

they may even be able to refer you to an osteopath or something, it's been heard of

dh has had 2 years of back stuff (well, 10 years, but 2 years of repeated relapses being unable to get downstairs etc)

gp eventually referred him to specialist Spinal Rehab physios locally

has been absolutely and completely amazing

he is now cycling 8 miles a week, having thought he might never cycle again, and planning a long-distance cycle in september

he is not completely free of pain all the time but quite a lot of the time he is, and he is doing so so much more

does pilates class 3 x week

but took a long time with the rehab - interesting that as soon as the physios said 'ok you can all do a bit more this week' every single one of them overdid it and had a mild relapse

i think back pain people tend to work through the pain too much IYSWIM whereas lazy sods like me who give up immediately survive better (touch wood)

best of luck