Can someone advise me where to share this post please - back pain advice would be appreciated right now :)

[Leapoffaith00]

I hurt my back (twisted awkwardly) years and years ago. Now and again it would flare up causing pain so I'd rest it (had no choice as I couldn't move), take pain killers and after a few days the pain disappeared. I have lived like this for 20 years. Been to a chiropractor who helped but it wasn't long term. I have always been conscious so try to be careful in work and my day to day life.
I run for a few years (hurt my knee so never got back into it), went to zumba classes 3 times a week. Stopped it all about 2 years ago (time related, classes stopped). Probably had 2 flare ups since, but they would ease off. As I wasn't doing any exercise I decided to go to hot yoga about 4 months ago. Apparently, this helps with back pain too. I didn't start for that reason, just wanted to start doing something physically for my mental health. Anyway, it gave me migraines. I was so disappointed. The thing is now, my back pain is worse, not the same pain as before. It's more a constant pain. I went to my GP and she referred me to physiotherapy. They have said it's muscular, no damage. I have started walking but it aches so much. Recently started doing Pilates for beginners in the morning, its only 20 minutes long. Walking 30 mins at a reasonable pace but this morning my back hurts again. To the point it makes me walk as if I'm 100 years old and it gets me down so much, limiting what I can and can't do.
I'm really not sure if I should continue with the Pilates but apparently it's good for strengthening core and lower back pain. I wonder if I should stop doing any form of exercise.
Does anyone have any advice please? I would really appreciate it.

Probably health board.

This post is in relationships at the moment.

Leapoffaith00 my DP has back pain, my sympathies.

We haven't got to the bottom of it yet, but perhaps try swimming?

While pilates should be good - it was designed to help soldiers convalesce after all, it's quite easy to become a Pilates instructor. I wouldn't take them as experts on supporting back pain, necessarily. Do you think it's helping?

Also, I'd advise an osteopath over a chiropractor. They are much better qualified.

And, have you tried acupuncture? My DP was very sceptical about, but the first time he went it made a huge difference, for quite some time.

Oh, and I meant to say - to get your post moved, report it and ask Mumsnet to move it to somewhere appropriate.

30GilbertMarkham thankyou. Yes, I know, I posted here as it's where I feel it would be seen to hopefully direct me to the relevant place. I will look for health board, thanks.
11timegoingtoofast thankyou. Oh no, does he?! It's awful so I feel for you DP too. I'm not sure if it's working. I was just thinking if my core is strong, it may support everything else. I continued with it today, despite my back hurting and it's eased a little. I think it's occasionally worse after a nights sleep. Ok, I will look into a osteopath now. Thankyou. I jave never thought about acupuncture. Not even sure of the benefits. I will look at that now too. Glad it's helping you DP. Back pain can be so debilitating.

I would go back to the gp. I ended up getting pins and needles down my arm and an mri showed i had a herniated disc mid thoracic region. Just knowing i actually had something wrong with me made me feel better!

22Manontry thankyou. Oh no! Glad you found out what was causing the pain. What help did you receive?

Have you thought of trying an osteopath? If ever I have a problem, they always sort me out.

I've had chronic back pain for around 20 years. What medication has your gp prescribed? I'm on amitryptyline and in the past have also been prescribed naproxen and codeine phosphate. The first for nerve pain, the latter two for muscular.

don't stop exercising. You need to strengthen your muscles slowly but surely.

Also consider sports massage. Check Groupon for initial session discounts. I've seen a lady who gave me immense immediate relief from pain and she also gave me a lot of exercises to help strengthen my muscles.

if my core is strong, it may support everything else

Yes, DP has been advised the same.

Pilates should be great in principle. But I just wanted to caution that Pilates teachers aren't experts in back pain necessarily, and that you shouldn't continue if you feel it's hurting you.

I would go back to the gp

I'd agree with this. You need to keep on going back. DP has been very bad at seeing the GP and his back has got worse. It's taken a lot of nagging for me, but after physio didn't help, he went back, and saw another GP who happened to be working that day, and who recognised his type of back pain and referred him to a specialist / senior physio who said the physio he'd previously been doing was no good for his back and gave him a new regime.

Finally, after years of me nagging, he's asking for a scan and the GP has agreed but now it's a case of waiting for an appointment with the right consultant who can refer him for a scan. (Even though at the beginning they said the same they said to you, it's only muscular, no need for a scan).

This has all taken years. Yesterday he was in so much pain he didn't get out of bed till 6pm. (That was a particularly bad day).

You need to keep your GP informed that the pain isn't going away, and how it's affecting your life. Ask for a scan. Ask what else they can offer you. If you're not getting anywhere with them, see one of the other GPs in your practice or elsewhere if possible.

Also, how's your weight? DP has a beer belly which really isn't helping. I wish he'd give up, but he won't and I can't make him! Do you drink regularly? If so, it could be an idea to cut down or give up, just while you're trying to get to grips with getting on top of your back issues.

None! it still hurts

Tbh i have given up trying to cure it and just concentrate on keeping myself postive and cheerful. I do yoga, really mellow yoga and I walk a lot. If its really getting me down i take painkillers and have a really nice hot bath with epsom salts and olverum bath oil

Thankyou everyone.
Naproxen for the pain. The physio therapist just kept looking at me as if I was making a fuss over nothing. He kept saying, you can move, it's not damage. He said what is the worse that can happen? I explained excruciating pain and out of sorts for a few days. He then said, exactly. Anyway, I was embarrassing to continue.
I am over weight, probably about 3 stone for my height. I drink wine on weekends. I drink plenty of water.
I also use natural salts in my bath. Try to stay positive. Some days, you would never believe I suffered. Others, it's awful so difficult to stay positive sometimes.
Your poor DP. I haven't been bed ridden for a couple of years but remember how awful it was.
I'm glad your DP is awaiting a scan. I'm going to go back to my GP and tell them nothing is helping and they may give me a scan too.

I had this for 4 months before they done an MRI and realised I had two prolapsed discs.
I’m on morphine, gabapentin, Zapain, oramorph and amitriptline to help with the pain. It doesn’t take it away but it helps. I’m under an orthopaedic consultant and the pain management team. One thing I found if you can afford it (I no longer can since having to give up work through it) is acupuncture. I was sceptical but it really made a difference.

Back pain to me was worse than labour.