Hi, my name is susanpaul! help for my husband. Spinal stenosis

susanpaul

Hi, I'm here to get help for my husband. Spinal stenosis is the culprit the doctors say. It started June 2021 and today he's in more pain than ever.

susanpaul

Is anyone else going through the same thing or has been in a similar situation? I'm desperate to relieve some of his pain.

Alex_Alumni

Hello there @susanpaul and welcome, thanks for reaching out.

You are certainly not the only person here to have a query about Spinal Stenosis! To help those with experience of the condition share their thoughts, I'm moving this discussion over into our Chronic Pain and Pain Management category. 

What help is your husband getting at the moment from his GP, have they discussed a pain management plan?

chiarieds

Hi @susanpaul -  & welcome to the community. I'm sorry to read how much pain your husband is suffering. In this category we have some tips which may help with such chronic pain. Please see: https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/102784/resources-and-tips-for-those-living-with-chronic-pain

susanpaul

Thank you for your comments. I talked with his doctor last week and all she could say was she isn't a magician. Sometimes she is useless. My husband is almost deaf although he has a hearing aid and needs desperate cataract surgery which was postponed 2 years ago because he was in the hospital. He was on a couple of pain medications but finally stopped it because he started to get too confused about his surroundings. I thought he was getting dementia but after he stopped taking the pain meds, his mind is more clear. It's hard to concentrate on anything else when your in severe pain because that's on top of mind. The health care worker had sent information about chronic pain management. I think it's time to revisit it again. Thanks  to all.

L_Volunteer

This sounds really difficult for you @susanpaul. Although you know she isn't a magician, she is who you look to for some answers and support 

Please don't hesitate to let us know if there's anything we can do to support you and your husband 

runningal

Hi SusanPAul, I have had back pain for years and its been getting worse since Feb 2023. I have Stenosis and osteoarthritis. My GP's Pain Management advice was Exercise, Lose weight, Posture. Swim , Drugs and Swim. I'm afraid most of this fell on deaf ears. I was also told to stay positive and distract myself. its hard to be positive when you are in constant pain

CountryMimi

@susanpaul welcome to the forum! 

I'm so sorry, I know you'll both be having such a difficult time - I too have spinal stenosis and my mum struggles seeing me go through the pain too so I'm sending you both massive hugs.

I personally don't have a great amount of joy with painkillers - I'm currently alternating dihydrocodeine & paracetamol with gabapentin, but the effects of the dihydrocodeine & paracetamol wore off months ago (I was first prescribed this after my op last July) & the gabapentin doesn't ever seem to have taken effect.

I'm also really sorry to hear about the doctor - I don't know about you, but at my GP I've been able to request to be seen by a doctor that I've found to be really good and it seems I've been placed under her care - I have other health concerns ongoing as well as the stenosis, but I recently went to see her about one issue and within 24 hours she had put in a request for a referral to be made. I could have cried with happiness!

I am waiting for an appointment with pain management clinic, but I was waiting for the appointment for a while. I don't know about your area, but where I'm located, both my Mum and I (we're a right pair) have been given the option of attending either the local hospital or NHS appointments within private hospitals and it's my Mum's understanding that you can request to be referred to a private hospital that is providing NHS appointments - this could be wrong though! I've attended one appointment for a separate concern at a private hospital - within 24 hours of referral being made I was able to book an appointment and had said appointment within a couple of weeks. Scan was days later and follow up appointment booked for this week (a few weeks later, but was offered an earlier appointment if needed), it's all very timely, which is so nice.

I'm so sorry I can't be of much help re managing pain as I too am having great difficulty with this. I really do hope that you manage to find something soon though. Please do feel free to message 

CountryMimi

@runningal 🥺 it doesn't sound like your GP has any understanding of what it's like at all

Sending lots of love xxx