Back problems

[horsegirl]

Hi

This might be a long shot but i dont have any other options.

When i was carrying my last child i developed back problem and ended up on crouches. To cut a long story short 2 years later and i am still on them. All the docs want to do is pack tablets down my throat and give me injections 3 times a year to kill the pain (these only last a couple of weeks at a time). I have had a mri scan but it all came back clear, and now i have been told that there is nothing else they can do. Just have to get on with it. Not very happy with this though as the pain gets really bad and i have 2 children that are full of life and need me.

I was just wondering if there is anyone else that has had these problem and if so did they manage to get anywhere.

Thanks in advance

[northener]

Difficult to offer any advice whilst not really knowing anything about you. And I wouldn't say I've got any possible answers, maybe just a couple of pointers.
I used to have a lot of problems with severe back pain following a motorbike crash many years ago. I was told that one more hard 'hit' could cripple me for life. It took me a long time to get sorted, although I was not as bad as yourself and didn't require crutches long term.

What physical damage did you sustain?

What physio have you had?

Have you consulted anyone privately? eg: a chiropractor?

[poppett]

Have you asked for a referral to a pain management clinic? Sometimes the painkillers cause a chemical pain and it would benefit you to find some techniques to use to ease the pain without the need for (so many) tablets.

[horsegirl]

Hi

I do use a tense machine when i can but i tend to leave it till the kids go to bed or i am wearing baggy clothes to hide all the wires.

I have been to physio. chiropractor, mactimity chiropractor( very sorry for spelling) and all the other ones you can think off. One person has worked but it costs me £40 a go and sometimes only lasts a month. I cant really afford this all the time.

Its my lower back that is affected. My Sciatic Nerve and Sciatica that is the problem

[Katy]

I can throughly recommend Donna Chisholm in Inverness she is a McTimmony Chiropractor she has worked wonders with me after also suffering very bad backpain after my 2nd child.

She does the most amazing work and all painless too (which is great!!). Unreal how it works but well worth the trip to Inverness!

The first consultation costs £50 then £30 there after. But I can honestly say it is well worth every penny to get relief from a sore back.

Her contact number is - 01463 712 656, any problems getting through on that number get in touch and I can give you another number.

I must actually get another appointment myself as over due oops!!

Katy xx

[horsegirl]

Thanks for that katy.

Been up and down road to her before and after the birth. She really helped me through the pregnancy though, she was the only one that would try to reduce the pain just a shame that it would not work after that though.

[northener]

Well, you have my sympathies. I know how debilitating it can be and it sounds like you're doing all the right stuff.

Bearing in mind your lack of success with 'normal' methods, has anyone discussed surgery (Microdiscectomy) with you?

[horsegirl]

Just been told this is me for rest of my life. Nothing else they can do. Maybe if i am lucky i can reduce painkillers later.

Never been offered surgery or anything.:(:(

[ShelleyCowie]

I really feel for you! My OH has had crippling back pain for a while now. (Carrying no children as its a man) but he has been to physio and whatever else.

He just had a consultation and he has damaged the bottom 2 vertabre (sp) of his spine. Its totally abnormal for his age as he is 28, the problem he has is more common for people 50+. They have offerd him cortazone (sp) injections but thats it.

He has been on pain killers for months but is still in agony because he has to be fit for work. So the pain killers are weak and barely make him able to do anything.

Back problems are horrific! I cant imagine how you must feel. my OH has 3 kids (one of our own who is 1) and he feels bad everytime he says he cant play with them because he is too sore.

I hope something can work for you! I really do. Have you tried a tens machine?

[northener]

Just been told this is me for rest of my life. Nothing else they can do. Maybe if i am lucky i can reduce painkillers later.

Never been offered surgery or anything.:(:(


OK. It may be that surgery is not an viable option in your case.

But, bearing in mind the severity of your condition and your relatively young age, I would certainly be looking for more than one opinion on surgery - seeing as all else appears to be failing.

Perhaps asking why you haven't been offered a surgical option would be a good starting point?

I must point out that I'm just offering potential ideas in good faith, I certainly don't have any expertise in these matters. I'm just relating your problem to my own personal experiences. HTH.

[Fran]

so sorry for you, back pain is terrible. could it be slipped disc which doesnt show up on x-rays. Have you had a ct scan or a lumbar puncture? Sometimes the position of the baby lying pressing on the spine can cause discs to slip, but then you would have pain down one leg to your knee. hope you get sorted.

[Rheghead]

Psychosomatic injury? :confused

[brandy]

what about acupunture?(sp) i have heard a lot of good things about it up here,

[Phill]

Horsegirl, try getting in touch with these, I understand they are pretty good:

http://www.newcastle-hospitals.org.uk/services/musculoskeletal_services_specialist-spinal-surgery.aspx

You may have to go private for an initial but then if there is anything they can do you might push it through the NHS.

Certainly worth investigating a few professional opinions whatever you do.
Have you tried googling/searching your actual diagnosis on American websites.
They are often pretty advanced with these kinds of things and it may turn up some pointers to try.

Shelley, every case is different and I am by know way knowledgeable in this area but have they discussed fusing them together?
Quite a common injury in rugby players and the like, I know a couple of people who are quite young in comparison and have had their vertebra fused and bits of iron work put in.

[horsegirl]

Thanks very much for all the kind replies. Will look into the web sites and see how i go.

[Ricco]

I had back pain years ago and the doc kept prescribing pain killers. Eventually I asked to be referred to a sports physio clinic. They sorted me out in 7 sessions. Hope this helps.

[Westsider3]

I found Helen Maughn in the Beauty Box, Thurso was excellent at helping me with my lower back pain. Might be worth a try? Hope you get some relief soon.

[teenybash]

An idea might be to try an inversion table to reverse the stress of gravity on your sciatic nerve..............if you know someone who has one and in a few minutes you will feel the difference..............they can be bought relatively cheaply....

[topotheuk]

Hi, Sorry to hear about your agony, just to let you know that instead of travelling to Inverness, we have a McTimoney Chiropractor who visits Caithness every couple of months. She will travel to your house to see you, so you can be seen in the comfort of your own home. If you'd like details, give me a shout, :)

[Turquoise]

You may laugh but I cured my gran's sciatica using reflexology. She was very sceptical but admitted it did work. It certainly seems to work on nerve related injury. I did a bit of reflexology on myself for a frozen shoulder which had been treated in many different ways previously but nothing had worked. It was literally gone after 2 or 3 days. You can look up diagrams on t'internet and DIY.

[horsegirl]

Hi. Thanks for all the advice. I would maybe be interested in seein the McTimmonty (sp) chriopractor as it may make a difference not having to travel the whole way up here after my treatment. Please could someone give me details of when and how i can get an appointment. If this does not work i will defo try any other the other options as if i dont try i wont know if they will work or not.

Thanks again