Frustration

[moll 61]

Hi all

Since September last year I have been suffering with a bad back, this has cost me a few weeks off work, at present I am on amended duties which hopefully is working quite well, have only had to have 2 days off since,

 

Originally my GP sent me for an x ray at our local hospital which showed a damaged disc, I had Physio for a few weeks but it got worse especially the sciatic nerve.

 

In March this year it was progressively worse so my GP sent me for an MRI scan which showed up a prolapsed disc plus some degeneration. She made an appointment for me to see a consultant, however the waiting list was 3 months.

 

when I finally got my appointment, it took me longer to get out of the car after driving 50 miles than i actually spent in the consultants, he said the mri scan was next to useless as it was 3 months old!

 

He told me to cut down on the Gabepentine over a period of 6 weeks to see if my leg still hurts, I feel absolutely devastated as I expect my expectations were probably too high, but after 10 months of pain I do not know what to do

 

I am on at present Tramadol, diazepam, naproxen, gabepentine and omeprazole, plus Zapain as and when required.

 

any advice please?

[Nystagmite]

Are you on pain patches at all? You really do need to see if you can get a second opinion.

[moll 61]

Have not heard of pain patches. Do I ask for a second opinion through my GP?

am now on my second week of cutting out one gabepentine tablets and can feel slight numbness on my left lower leg. it feels though i have an elastic badage on.

 

Totally fed up with it all, cant get into Gp today so will have another go in the morning.

 

My main worry is if it is getting more serious as I have pain higher up in my back, sometimes feels like a shooting pain in my spine

I am 51 and expect the odd ache or pain, but not continuously for 10 months

 

thank you for the reply

[Sali]

Well, my advice would be definitely to revisit your GP as soon as you can and don't hold back on explaining how much pain you are in and how this is blighting your life. It must be horrendous to suffer continuous pain. I can only think the pain patches referred to are Fentanyl transdermal plasters. Does your hospital have a pain clinic that you can be referred to whilst your condition is investigated further? Perhaps try to do some internet research on your condition. There maybe other people out there who have found treatments that your own GP/consultant has not presented to you due to cost or just plain lack of awareness. It's easy for me to say, but try to stay positive and believe that this is only temporary.

[moll 61]

Well, my advice would be definitely to revisit your GP as soon as you can and don't hold back on explaining how much pain you are in and how this is blighting your life. It must be horrendous to suffer continuous pain. I can only think the pain patches referred to are Fentanyl transdermal plasters. Does your hospital have a pain clinic that you can be referred to whilst your condition is investigated further? Perhaps try to do some internet research on your condition. There maybe other people out there who have found treatments that your own GP/consultant has not presented to you due to cost or just plain lack of awareness. It's easy for me to say, but try to stay positive and believe that this is only temporary.

 

 

Been back to GP, told me to go back on Gabepentine due to numbness returning, told me as long as i can elevate myself on my toes and heels there is not much they can do, they will only consider doing anything when I am unable to do this, explained that pain is now further up my back than previously, and have been told to stick with the anelgesia that I have been on for what seems like forever.

No mention of pain clinic, which we have at a hspital 15 miles away.

Thanks for your kind words

[Feebee_71]

It won't help with getting referred to the pain clinic but, when I had a change of physio last year during treatment for my bad back (MRI showed prolapsed disc pressing on sciatic nerve and degeration of other discs), the new physio recommended I google McKenzie exercises and start with the most basic level - lying on my stomach and resting my head on a pillow then gradually raising my upper torso over a number of weeks using more pillows and then resting on my elbows until I was able to rest on outstretched hands.

 

For me it really did take a lot of pressure off my back and eased the pain I was suffering. However, the real star for me was getting facet joint injections 4 months ago which have given me back my freedom, reduced my reliance on Tramadol and got me off the NSAID pain relief altogether!!

 

Good luck,

 

Feebee_71

[moll 61]

This is obviously a common predicament, after 11 months of it, I would have thought some of the above would have been mentioned, I notice on Backcare.org.uk that Surgery is necessary after 6 weeks.

After trying different anelgesias at £7.65 a go, it was only after 3 months that I was told of the pre pay prescription card which reduced my outgoings on prescriptions. I am synical that due to my age money is being saved somewhere.

 

Unfortuantely at present a chiropracter is out of my price range.

 

As my Dr said in so many words "live with it"

[unclebulgaria67]

This is obviously a common predicament, after 11 months of it, I would have thought some of the above would have been mentioned, I notice on Backcare.org.uk that Surgery is necessary after 6 weeks.

After trying different anelgesias at £7.65 a go, it was only after 3 months that I was told of the pre pay prescription card which reduced my outgoings on prescriptions. I am synical that due to my age money is being saved somewhere.

 

Unfortuantely at present a chiropracter is out of my price range.

 

As my Dr said in so many words "live with it"

 

This will get worse when GP's control the budgets. They will managing budgets, by judging how much their patients are suffering and can they afford to do anything. If you had private healthcare, you would have had the necessary treatment by now.

 

See if you can make a complaint and if necessary receive treatment outside of your area, if you are willing to travel.

[fightingback99]

With back problems they won't normally offer surgery unless it presents as an emergency or constant extreme pain. And their opinion of what constitutes extreme pain and our's is somewhat different unfortunately. As there's no guarantee it will work , and it carries the risk of making things worse.

 

The feeling of the elastic stocking is coming from nerve irritation.

 

Its important with back problems you keep up with any physio exercises they gave you . I'd also push your GP for a referral to the Pain clinic as they can offer a wide range of different treatments including the injections which can help, and they can also change your medications to something which suits better.

[moll 61]

Really bad couple of days, will be seeking out the pain clinic soonest

 

thanx for the replys

Moll

[moll 61]

Back seems to have resolved itself however am now going through Tramadol withdrawal, has any one else been through this, I am surprised that my GP never told me about withdrawal and addiction, am weaning my self of 1 x 50mg a week, and so far it has been unpleasant. If any of you are prescribed this, please discuss the addiction and withdrawal with your GP as it is very unpleasant to say the least

[Sali]

Moll61, I don't have any experience with the Tramadol withdrawal, but I'm glad your back is better. Best wishes.