Hmmmm, how I would loved to have never even heard of this......
Back pain started when I was 19 years old, I'm now 39. Im a roof tiler by trade, bottom of my spine has no liquid between the bottom plates so they grind together and now I have wear and tear to my hip joints. Also have some kind of nerve disease which I think is called lumbers disease, sciatica has come and gone nearly every other week for that whole time. Painful to say the least. I've had -
Acupuncture
Acupressure
Physio
Steroid injections x 2
Radio frequency therapy (this kills off your nerves) and lastly
I got sent to a therapy group where you had to sit in a circle and talk about your pain! Being someone who has worked in a building trade where piss take is the main form of communication that one was highly amusing as a younger man! Not one person was under 80 in there I reckon and I was around 30. Only went once 😂
Drug wise - wow honestly don't think I could remember them all, they go through what is called the umbrella of drugs until you get to the ones that suit you. Normally involve anti inflammatory drugs and pain killers. I'm on both but also a drug that stops pain signals from your back reaching your brain. Who knows what damage you are doing then! On bad flair ups I have taken 10 co-codalmol (strongest ones) before I have left for work in the morning, that's just to get me upright. I have a very high tolerance for drugs as I have had so many years taking them.
2 years ago I woke up and started realising what I was doing to myself, I have never had a day off from work for this, now you might think that it can't be that bad then but believe me, I've had my missis dressing me before I leave for work and my work mates getting me out of the van etc. Once you get moving it always eases off. Anyway the NHS said that they could no longer help so I though sod it and started going to the gym. I can only do limited cardio as my back and hips can't take the jolts of running etc but I get on the weights and have built up more upper body strength (only a skinny lad but building bulk was not the idea) with this I work a lot on my core. After nearly 2 years of this I now only take a few tablets in the morning to get me up and about (due to not being active when I go to sleep my muscles go into spasm a lot) and that's it. I know get no sciatica, no flare ups, nothing. I know I have to be careful and I know my issues are still there but my physical life has completely changed. Gone from easily 10-15 tablets a day to 3.
Strength is the key as far as I'm concerned, the stronger your muscles are the less strain your bones have to endure.
Hope your pain eases as it is without doubt horrendous. Remember, prevention is better than the cure.
Back pain started when I was 19 years old, I'm now 39. Im a roof tiler by trade, bottom of my spine has no liquid between the bottom plates so they grind together and now I have wear and tear to my hip joints. Also have some kind of nerve disease which I think is called lumbers disease, sciatica has come and gone nearly every other week for that whole time. Painful to say the least. I've had -
Acupuncture
Acupressure
Physio
Steroid injections x 2
Radio frequency therapy (this kills off your nerves) and lastly
I got sent to a therapy group where you had to sit in a circle and talk about your pain! Being someone who has worked in a building trade where piss take is the main form of communication that one was highly amusing as a younger man! Not one person was under 80 in there I reckon and I was around 30. Only went once 😂
Drug wise - wow honestly don't think I could remember them all, they go through what is called the umbrella of drugs until you get to the ones that suit you. Normally involve anti inflammatory drugs and pain killers. I'm on both but also a drug that stops pain signals from your back reaching your brain. Who knows what damage you are doing then! On bad flair ups I have taken 10 co-codalmol (strongest ones) before I have left for work in the morning, that's just to get me upright. I have a very high tolerance for drugs as I have had so many years taking them.
2 years ago I woke up and started realising what I was doing to myself, I have never had a day off from work for this, now you might think that it can't be that bad then but believe me, I've had my missis dressing me before I leave for work and my work mates getting me out of the van etc. Once you get moving it always eases off. Anyway the NHS said that they could no longer help so I though sod it and started going to the gym. I can only do limited cardio as my back and hips can't take the jolts of running etc but I get on the weights and have built up more upper body strength (only a skinny lad but building bulk was not the idea) with this I work a lot on my core. After nearly 2 years of this I now only take a few tablets in the morning to get me up and about (due to not being active when I go to sleep my muscles go into spasm a lot) and that's it. I know get no sciatica, no flare ups, nothing. I know I have to be careful and I know my issues are still there but my physical life has completely changed. Gone from easily 10-15 tablets a day to 3.
Strength is the key as far as I'm concerned, the stronger your muscles are the less strain your bones have to endure.
Hope your pain eases as it is without doubt horrendous. Remember, prevention is better than the cure.
In reply to Post #46
Very similar story to what I have had. I had to finish manual labour I simply dare not lift anything. On my medical records it shows I overdosed on Paracetamol, they did nothing, I had to have blood test for liver damage, I went through all the levels of drugs until I got to Tramadol, the next step was morphine which I am so glad I didnt have.
I had injections in my spine a few times that did nothing except really hurt when they did it.
Exercise that suits you is the answer to a lot of problems, start of low and very very slowly build it up.
Very similar story to what I have had. I had to finish manual labour I simply dare not lift anything. On my medical records it shows I overdosed on Paracetamol, they did nothing, I had to have blood test for liver damage, I went through all the levels of drugs until I got to Tramadol, the next step was morphine which I am so glad I didnt have.
I had injections in my spine a few times that did nothing except really hurt when they did it.
Exercise that suits you is the answer to a lot of problems, start of low and very very slowly build it up.
I suffer with sciatica as part of dealing with Multiple Sclerosis & degenerative disc disease. I have to lay on the firmest of bedchairs else I simply cannot get up off them without struggling like a fish out of water! I have spent so much money over the years - & lost most of it - in buying bedchairs that I am now certain that I have found the right one for ME.
That bedchair is the Solar C Spec Bedchair. Not the lightest by a long shot but I can sit on it without sinking down as well as not having to bow over in the Tempest Brolly V2 to sit upright on it. Since using it I have slept fantastically on the bank & better than I do at home if I am to be perfectly honest. I am always going to struggle with chronic pain, but it doesn't get worse using this bedchair compared to others I have owned & used in the past. I am on some serious medication for my conditions including 50ug Fentanyl patch, 80mg instant release Oxycodone every 4 hours and 2mg Lorazepam at night as required.
That bedchair is the Solar C Spec Bedchair. Not the lightest by a long shot but I can sit on it without sinking down as well as not having to bow over in the Tempest Brolly V2 to sit upright on it. Since using it I have slept fantastically on the bank & better than I do at home if I am to be perfectly honest. I am always going to struggle with chronic pain, but it doesn't get worse using this bedchair compared to others I have owned & used in the past. I am on some serious medication for my conditions including 50ug Fentanyl patch, 80mg instant release Oxycodone every 4 hours and 2mg Lorazepam at night as required.
In reply to Post #46
also a drug that stops pain signals from your back reaching your brain
That's likely to be gabapentin. It didn't seem to do much for me.
also a drug that stops pain signals from your back reaching your brain
That's likely to be gabapentin. It didn't seem to do much for me.
In reply to Post #49
That's likely to be gabapentin. It didn't seem to do much for me.
Ditto & same with Pregabalin (Lyrica) and the other so-called "nerve" treatments
That's likely to be gabapentin. It didn't seem to do much for me.
Ditto & same with Pregabalin (Lyrica) and the other so-called "nerve" treatments
Let's face it, we are a bunch of old crocks.
I actually fell out of bed last night - not something I've done for a decade or five - and today my back is in bits.
It looks like some of you guys have hit the 30/500 Co-codamol quite hard. Word of warning, a lot of people on strong pain killers are involved in road accidents etc as they numb the brain as well as the pain.
Gabapentin too, it sends me in a daze. I have tried it once or twice but it was like sleep walking.
With any drug we tend to build a resistance and keep upping the dose. As I already take a fist full of meds each morning I tend to reach for pain killers (apart from a background Paracetamol and Naproxen each morning) only when the pain is extreme and above the usual daily level. Opiates should be used as short term remedies in my opinion.
I know that when it's extreme, back pan is all but unbearable but one strong pan killer and an hour's sleep does wonders for relieving the spasms.
I actually fell out of bed last night - not something I've done for a decade or five - and today my back is in bits.
It looks like some of you guys have hit the 30/500 Co-codamol quite hard. Word of warning, a lot of people on strong pain killers are involved in road accidents etc as they numb the brain as well as the pain.
Gabapentin too, it sends me in a daze. I have tried it once or twice but it was like sleep walking.
With any drug we tend to build a resistance and keep upping the dose. As I already take a fist full of meds each morning I tend to reach for pain killers (apart from a background Paracetamol and Naproxen each morning) only when the pain is extreme and above the usual daily level. Opiates should be used as short term remedies in my opinion.
I know that when it's extreme, back pan is all but unbearable but one strong pan killer and an hour's sleep does wonders for relieving the spasms.
In reply to Post #49
Yep that's it. Too be honest I don't know if it works or not, all I know is that I'm so much better that I don't dare stop taking it! Sorry state of affairs really.
As for the morphine etc, I got offered but declined as I got told to give up my job.
Before I started the gym my doctor told me not to lift anything over 3kg! She even said not to lift the shopping bags etc up. Funny though as my physio laughed at that.
Yep that's it. Too be honest I don't know if it works or not, all I know is that I'm so much better that I don't dare stop taking it! Sorry state of affairs really.
As for the morphine etc, I got offered but declined as I got told to give up my job.
Before I started the gym my doctor told me not to lift anything over 3kg! She even said not to lift the shopping bags etc up. Funny though as my physio laughed at that.
In reply to Post #1
One other thing that has helped me that an Osteopath mentioned was that I have flat feet, this causes posture issues with knees and hips which can then lead to lower back pain. I have the shoe insoles that you can buy from Boots.
Theres a bit of info in the product details in the following link;
www.boots.com/boots-full-length-orthotic-large-10146887
One other thing that has helped me that an Osteopath mentioned was that I have flat feet, this causes posture issues with knees and hips which can then lead to lower back pain. I have the shoe insoles that you can buy from Boots.
Theres a bit of info in the product details in the following link;
www.boots.com/boots-full-length-orthotic-large-10146887
In reply to Post #53
Stretches are the single best thing you can do imo...if you have a gym near you that has a reverse hyper machine that's even better, it decompresses your spine, stretches you and works your core and glutes at the same time.
As mentioned earlier opiates should only be used as a short term fix, also be aware of the strong NSAIDs as they can have serious side effects if used too long too.
Gabapentin and Pregabalin became controlled substances in April as they can become habit forming, in reality they are probably just as bad as opiates, they are often misused in high doses.
Stretches are the single best thing you can do imo...if you have a gym near you that has a reverse hyper machine that's even better, it decompresses your spine, stretches you and works your core and glutes at the same time.
As mentioned earlier opiates should only be used as a short term fix, also be aware of the strong NSAIDs as they can have serious side effects if used too long too.
Gabapentin and Pregabalin became controlled substances in April as they can become habit forming, in reality they are probably just as bad as opiates, they are often misused in high doses.
In reply to Post #50
I had that, it did nothing for me either.
Thats why I keep saying it about various subjects, we are all different.
I had that, it did nothing for me either.
Thats why I keep saying it about various subjects, we are all different.
In reply to Post #55
So..... thanks for all the post guys. Got the MRI results back today and it's 2 x bulging discs touching the nerve. As least I know what it is now. Surgery I think awaits
So..... thanks for all the post guys. Got the MRI results back today and it's 2 x bulging discs touching the nerve. As least I know what it is now. Surgery I think awaits
In reply to Post #56
I had it terribly bad from Feb 2017 to April 2017 for the first time, so much so I had to use a walking stick I was in so much pain. After a suggestion from a family friend I went and saw an Osteo and had a remedial massage. I kid you not the most painful massage in my life... but I walked pain free at end out the door. One more session a week later and I have not had it since!
I had it terribly bad from Feb 2017 to April 2017 for the first time, so much so I had to use a walking stick I was in so much pain. After a suggestion from a family friend I went and saw an Osteo and had a remedial massage. I kid you not the most painful massage in my life... but I walked pain free at end out the door. One more session a week later and I have not had it since!
In reply to Post #56
Now you have that info I would still go and see a good Chiro and see what they say, could still be possibly corrected with the correct exercises, surgery should really be the last resort, good luck with it all anyway.
Now you have that info I would still go and see a good Chiro and see what they say, could still be possibly corrected with the correct exercises, surgery should really be the last resort, good luck with it all anyway.
In reply to Post #58
It was my chiro who referred me. The trouble is I can't even do the most basic of tasks like sitting down standing up for more than a few minutes. I also can't stand not been able to work, I'm more than happy to delve into the savings pot and pay private. I have a private consultation next week but I was with my GP yesterday and his feeling was they would try the injections first and with physio hope the bulges go back. If the injections don't work than it's my prerogative to go for surgery.
It was my chiro who referred me. The trouble is I can't even do the most basic of tasks like sitting down standing up for more than a few minutes. I also can't stand not been able to work, I'm more than happy to delve into the savings pot and pay private. I have a private consultation next week but I was with my GP yesterday and his feeling was they would try the injections first and with physio hope the bulges go back. If the injections don't work than it's my prerogative to go for surgery.
In reply to Post #59
Ah right, sorry I wasn't aware you'd already gone down that route, best of luck with it then buddy
Ah right, sorry I wasn't aware you'd already gone down that route, best of luck with it then buddy