Upper back pain

[Deyjxh]

I have been on a waiting list for over a year for upper back pain; this is between my shoulders. I am on a neurosurgery list at St. Georges Hospital London.
I don’t think that I am on the right list! But I don’t know where I should be.
My back pain is getting worse. I stand to long, I am in pain. I sit in a car for more than an hour, I am in pain. I carry a small shopping bag I am in pain. I breathe in deeply I am in pain.

I just don’t know where to seek help. Daily life is getting worse.

I am 56: I knee and hip pain in my left side. I have osteopenia and I take Vitamin D for this. I also take HRT. I don’t take any pain killers, as they don’t really change the pain I feel.

Everyday I have to lie down for an hour. Just so I can carry on with my day.

Are you waiting for an initial appointment? I was seen by neurosurgeons in 4 months at Imperial (st Mary’s).
Have you had any scans done?
What painkillers are you taking?

no initial appointment, I have now completed to NHS forms saying I want to stay on the list.
Bone density scan done - nothing else.
Just over the counter - paracetamol and ibuprofen

It sounds like it could be from a rib, where they attach to the spine. Have you seen a physio or musculoskeletal, or have you just been referred straight to neurology?

Physiotherapy seems a logical place to start, the exercises can massively reduce pain.
GP should definitely be able to offer strong painkillers while waiting physio

Straight to neurology. I have seen a physio in the past re a shoulder injury. LHS. About 4 years ago.

My back pain has been there for 30 years. I could never carry my baby in a sling. It just hurt. I went to a trampoline class when I was 23. Loved it but suddenly had a pain that made breathing difficult. Stopped instantly. Went home. Still went to work next day, but couldn’t pick up ‘coin bags’ from the floor (I worked in a bank) and they would have weighed 5kg. Physio told me this was ‘learnt pain’ and in my head. I carried on with life.

But it is now really affecting me day to day. I have a high pain tolerance. Gave birth twice no pain killers; broke a bone in my wrist, just ignored for six weeks until it healed; collar bone as a child 24 hours before hospital. it takes a lot for me to say I am in pain.

Try physio, and gentle yoga. I have upper back pain which is much better when I do a bit of yoga or pilates every day.

I have just joined Nuffield Health Joint pain program. In honesty it is making things worse. week three, but I now exercise twice a week. I also sit with others who are in pain, we share experiences

You can self-refer on the NHS for physiotherapy. Search up your local area and then self-refer physio and it should come up. Then film out the form detailing your issues.

Also try and use as little painkillers as possible, because you look like you'll be waiting for a while, and you don't want to really build uo your tolerance but if you feel you need something stronger you can get Co-codamol from the pharmacy without prescription but you have to talk to the pharmacist first, it's 8/50mg maximum I think. A higher dose needs a GP to prescribe. You do seem like you need some Co-codamol - use it as needed. So not a regular dose of 2x in the morning etc but when you actually need to but if you need to rest for 1h a day, I think you should get some.

The joint pain programme is good, it will make things worse before it gets better. But there is a limit to what it can do without surgery/further medical intervention.

Can you ask to be moved to orthopedic waiting list? It sounds more like their area over neurosurgery. It is neurosurgery right and not neurology?
It is not learnt pain clearly if you couldn't pick up coin bags. Go back to your GP, tell them everything you've said here, how you have a high pain threshold and the examples you've used, the not being able to carry a small bag, coins etc. Ask for an MRI perhaps on the area?

That way when you see neurosurgery they won't say let's send you for an MRI, you wait 3/4 months to get it and then another 2/3 months to see them again and go through results. You can tell them the results of a recent one already. Also if it comes back showing certain things you may be able to get your referral expedited.

Have you had the breathing issues investigated? Have you mentioned it to your GP? If not I would get some inital tests just in case there is also an issue there.

That sounds so tough, I’m really sorry you’ve been left waiting this long while in so much pain. If you’re worried you’re not on the right list, it might be worth going back to your GP and asking for a referral to rheumatology or a pain clinic as well as neurosurgery. Sometimes it takes a few different departments to get to the bottom of back and joint pain. In the meantime, maybe ask about physiotherapy support too – it could give you something to help while you wait. I really hope you get some answers and proper help soon.

I wanted to up date this thread. After two years of waiting (one year on the wrong list) I had a phone conversation with a doctor. They have agreed a face to face and repeat X-rays - for back only. They have said that it may be fixed with an operation, but 1 in 1000 will result in complications. Which includes death and paralysis.

I have been told to focus on core exercises. And this is what I will do.

I had a conversation with my husband today. I am 57. I have been concerned about my memory for a while. He confirmed my thoughts - which scares me. How do I know if I am heading for dementia? He says I repeat conversations; my son and daughter often say - we have told you this mum.
I am the right weight for height.
I walk most days.
I eat a good diet.
I drink TOO much
I sleep badly. I have been awake since 2am it is now 7pm. I will be in bed in two hours. I am always tired.
I take HRT this has helped with the brain fog and other menopause symptoms.

What is the test for dementia? GP? another 2 years wait list? can I or should I go private? or should I give up alcohol? go on a health kick? make other changes?