Chronic back pain

blueeyes19

I have had chronic back pain for the past 3 years now and had all sorts of painkillers Physio, acupuncture ,back braces every cream you could amagine I can't walk most of the time cause it hurts so much between my back and hips every time I go to my doctor they tell me the pain is in my head I was also diagnosed with ostapenia at Xmas time but they said I shouldn't be in pain with that its getting me so depressed a don't no what else to do xx

JennysDad

Hello @blueeyes19, and welcome to the community. It is good to have you here, though I'm sorry to hear you are having so much difficulty.
I've had a quick scout around the site and there are a number of discussions about back pain. If you put the term 'back pain' into the Search box at the top of the page it will take you to a list. Select 'discussions' from that and you'll see what's there. You might also try:
https://community.scope.org.uk/categories/chronicpain
In a post from late last year I found a reference to specialist pain clinics and have put the link in here:
https//www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Pain/Pages/Longtermpain.aspx
And you might consider making a post of your own.
It astonishes me, really, the extent to which professionals who live in a world of bad design - bad shoes, cupboards, drawers and working surfaces at 'average' (almost always too low) heights  - are so quick to suggest that back pain is psychosomatic. I think most of them should be stretched on a medieval rack!
Anyway, have a look at those links, have a look around the site, and get back to me.
The more you can tell us about your condition and how it affects you, the more easily we may find ways to help. We will certainly try.
Warmest best wishes to you,
Richard

Pippa_Alumni

Hi @blueeyes19, and welcome to the community! So sorry to hear that you're living with pain. I've moved your post to our ask a chronic pain advisor category, where you'll hopefully be able to have a chat with Claire about your pain. You might also like to check out our previous chronic pain discussions. I hope today is as kind as possible to you!

ClaireSaul

Hi @blueeyes19 - I'm very pleased to meet you, I only wish it was under different circumstances.  Can I ask you a couple of questions - this might help me to give you some better advice and support?  Which area of your back is the pain in?  I know that the majority of back pain is lumbar/sacrum (low down), but a lot of people, myself included, suffer with pain at a higher level.  Do you have an underlying condition that you know of, or did you suffer a trauma/injury which started the back pain?  
Richard has already pointed you in a couple of directions, but I will wait to hear a little more from you - but please do not despair as having a supportive community like this who understand the difficult nature of chronic pain is really worth its weight in gold.
Claire x

Waylay

Hi there, 

I've had chronic back pain for a decade now, and I hear you on the "It's in your head" thing. My GP has always believed me, because I turned up at the surgery the day after my injury, and could barely move. I'm very lucky. However, the facilitator of my group therapy group clearly thinks that it's all in my head, as does my NHS care coordinator (for psych stuff). So frustrating!

There are some people who feel pain for psychological reasons, but so what? It still hurts! What's more likely, however, is that you're suffering from central sensitisation or peripheral sensitisation. Look 'em up. Fascinating stuff, and it explains so much.

Basically, central s. is when the central nervous system has become extremely sensitive to signals from nerves, so things that wouldn't hurt other people get magnified by our nervous system, and hurt a LOT. Basically, it's like someone has turned the volume on our nervous system up to 11. 

Peripheral s. is when the nerves that transmit signals to the central nervous system become oversensitive. Even the littlest thing causes those nerves to send a "THERE'S SOMETHING BAD GOING ON" message to the CNS, which the brain translates into pain.

If you're really lucky, you can develop both of these things!
There isn't a cure for sensitisation yet, but research is ongoing. 

Another interesting thing: emotions affect your pain. Anxiety, stress, anger, depression, etc. "turn up the volume" on the pain, while "love, happiness, excitement, etc. "turn down the volume". 

Waylay

So one thing you can do is try to reduce stress and anxiety in your life. Obviously this is easier said than done. Positive thinking, relaxation exercises, patting an animal, etc. can help. I suspect that changing your GP would also help!! Most docs who aren't pain docs don't know about sensitisation, or the role of emotions, so they just don't get it!

I think that a pain clinic would be a great thing for you. Find a new GP and get a referral. Pain management is very, very helpful. In the meantime, keep moving. I know that walking hurts (it does for me too), but staying still makes it worse. Even if you can only stand and walk for 10 seconds, do it regularly. Start doing gentle stretches for your whole body. That'll keep the tension in your muscles down. 

And look up "Mosely pain" on YouTube. Great videos, and he's pretty funny. 

Good luck!!!

blueeyes19

Thanks everyone for getting back to me its very much appricated I have tryed everything to control my pain I have been put on morphine in the last couple of days as I can't take the pain much longer it all seems to be my lower back hip area and top of my thighs I  ant straighten my top half up I walk slouted over at a 45 degree angle cause am so sore I've been back to my gp and I've been referred for a urgent appointment in the back clinic in the Hosp so hopefully I can get so.e answers now xx

ClaireSaul

@blueeyes19 - pleased to hear your GP has sent another referral for you.  Waylay has given some really good advice above, but I suspect you are in a bit too much acute (onchronic) pain to be able to focus on destressing completely, but it is so true that anxiety does push pain levels up. Let me know how you get on and if you need to chat meanwhile just send me a message (I have taken morphine too)
Claire

angelfitz

Hi I also have spinal problems I have arthritis to my lower spine and crushed discs to upper and middle parts of my spine. I had disc replacement op in my neck 3 years ago and found that along with my painkillers using an electric blanket helped more with the pain than painkillers it may sound silly but leaving it on on a low setting after heating up at nights is enough to help me with the pain both daytime and night.

[Deleted User]

Hi see another doctor if your having pain it's telling you something is wrong. The thing is it costs money for xrays, ultrasound and MRIs. Insist you want an MRI. The GP is not a specialist ask to see a rheumatoligist and they will send you to have an MRI. GP's will fob you off. Like try swimming I could hardly get in the pool. Be persistent eventually they will give in. I have a degenerative lumbar spine. I wish you all the best in your endeavours to a favourable outcome . @Purposeful

ClaireSaul

angelfitz said:

Hi I also have spinal problems I have arthritis to my lower spine and crushed discs to upper and middle parts of my spine. I had disc replacement op in my neck 3 years ago and found that along with my painkillers using an electric blanket helped more with the pain than painkillers it may sound silly but leaving it on on a low setting after heating up at nights is enough to help me with the pain both daytime and night.

I also use an electric blanket and like @angelfitz find leaving it on a low setting really does help.  I also have a small electric heat pad that I use on my lumbar when sitting on the sofa (my fusion is here). @Purposeful is right in that your GP is not a specialist & neither is a regular physio - I would not be able to swim either and a physio tried to get some movement into my lumbar...after it had been fused! 
I hope that the back clininc (which might comprise of  a mixture of neurosurgeons, orthopaedics, physios, nurse specialists, psychologists) will order some scans for you and refer you on for pain assessment too. 
It is important to remember that X rays don't show soft tissue damage (discs or other) and that not everything shows up on an MRI either - my own personal experience - but hold on to the fact that you are not going mad and it is not in your head.
Please let me know how the appointment goes,

Claire

shaylan11

Hi!

I’ve been searching google for a back pain treatment and reading some reviews but there’s very limited info on a lot of the popular online back pain programs.

I’m a Mom of 3 and I really need something that I can do at home, at anytime of the day and I NEED to get back into old days so I can eventually feel comfortable in my life again.

I was thinking of buying a program like My back pain coach one or something like that, but this review made me look into it more https://extremehealthguides.com/my-back-pain-coach-review/ which is how I found your website. It’s also made me think that popular might not mean it’s worth the money. There’s not many reviews on google. 

But, I am just wondering what makes a relief for lower back pain? What more should I do, and will I need more then just a back pain program that I can do but online?

I don’t want to waste money and all of the reviews make good points and offer some good alternatives. It’s confusing me a bit lol.

I would love to get your opinion or anyone else’s if I can ??

Kind Regards

Shayla xx

arethamorce

hello! have u ever try MMJ for pain management. Experts recognize THC for its powerful ability to reduce pain. It 

does so by potentiating the glycine receptor, including and even helps to relieve neuropathic pain. Additionally, studies show that THC can be incredibly beneficial for individuals suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS). The use of THC was able to lessen their symptoms and improve their overall condition. The different strain has a variety of uses and effect depending on your needs. You may check this [removed by moderator] This strain has a very potent effect on chronic pains like back pain and joint pain and a lot more. 

zakblood

hope you get sorted soon, from a long term 20+ year suffer, i know how you feel and tbh it's a long road your going to travel on and sometimes the DWP won't agree with what are medical findings either, that's life with the DWP and WCA etc, but as this is on advice and not on any of this, here's mine, a XRay only shows bones, so while i can work for some, it's not as good imo as a MRI, which shows tissue and muscle, so for most, that's the better one, but normally your given both anyway, over 20 years i've had 5 XRays and 4 MRI, all shown a worsting of mine, so the diagnosis way back in 1999 was correct then, and still is today, ever mind the WDP says other wise, i was found to have one of the common one's or types, so nothing fancy and quite easy to spot, but not so hard to fix and cure, 

spondyloarthropathy, spondylarthritis.

canal stenosis with posterior disc bulges at L2/3 and L3/4, sagittal and axial T1 and T2, degeneration of lumber spine.

A degenerative disorder of the lower back, can see why she a WCA nurse failed to write it down, maybe had no idea on the words, as both degeneration and degenerative both implies getting worse with age and wear, so doesn't really tally in with a 0 score, that was given on the day and failed me so are now at MR and 60 days later, still no progress, with 4 previous passes behind me, so life's never so simple for hidden stuff for any of us.

but that's again behind the point, a simple error to make on looks alone, for anyone who isn't medically trained, but another story for those who are, but again i'm off topic, so options, well depending on findings, there's a few choices, some work better than others and all have side effects, so consider them carefully when you finally get a diagnosis, as for me, what was offered 20 years ago, didn't feel right at the time for me, but now looking back, i have somewhat of a different view on it, as long term tablet use, gives more illnesses than what ever you had in the first place.

so now i'm back at the pain clinic on this Monday and seeing what else they can do for me, as my Sciatica can't no longer be sorted or fixed with Tramadol alone, so something else is required for me, i'm hoping for surgery and also hope the % chance it makes me better not stiffer has come on somewhat more than the chances first offered 20 years ago, and depending on your place on the spine, is how much stiffer you will be if a given type of surgery is preformed, for me right at the lower back, losing a larger % of ability to bend 20 years ago but less pain wasn't to me a good idea, but now, i'm all for it and will take what ever is offered as lived with it for me, far now too long and can no longer cope with it now getting so much worse, what i had 20 years ago has now increased in length and amount, so now anything to help will be jumped on, well slowly rolled on anyway.

can't advice on money spending options, not got any to spend so never was an option for me, it's NHS or nothing, which is what i've used now  and so far have been good to me, so i can't complain, most don't get the good GP's in the first place, as mines great, has no idea when i hobble through the door, so just passes me on to those who do, sorted, and much better than those GP's who think they know it all, and then years later you understand they haven't got much of a clue on somethings at all.

so good luck on what ever you do and sorry your in pain, can't say will change any time soon or if at all, but at least some times you can or should be able to manage it better, sometimes

rohan007

[Deleted User] said:

Hi see another doctor if your having pain it's telling you something is wrong. The thing is it costs money for xrays, ultrasound and MRIs. Insist you want an MRI. The GP is not a specialist ask to see a rheumatoligist and they will send you to have an MRI. GP's will fob you off. Like try swimming I could hardly get in the pool. Be persistent eventually they will give in. I have a degenerative lumbar spine. I wish you all the best in your endeavours to a favourable outcome . @Purposeful

There's also Digital Spine Analysis, Identifying and Isolating the root cause of the pain. 
Essential in restoring the mobility and function of the spine.
Found a really helpfull clinic which helped me in resolving my lower back pain

Chloe_Scope

Welcome to the community @rohan007 and thank you for this advice. Is there anything we can help you with?

johnmuller75

JennysDad said:

Hello @blueeyes19, and welcome to the community. It is good to have you here, though I'm sorry to hear you are having so much difficulty.
I've had a quick scout around the site and there are a number of discussions about back pain. If you put the term 'back pain' into the Search box at the top of the page it will take you to a list. Select 'discussions' from that and you'll see what's there. You might also try:
https://community.scope.org.uk/categories/chronic pain/ back pain relief /chronic pain
In a post from late last year I found a reference to specialist pain clinics and have put the link in here:
https//www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Pain/Pages/Longtermpain.aspx
And you might consider making a post of your own.
It astonishes me, really, the extent to which professionals who live in a world of bad design - bad shoes, cupboards, drawers and working surfaces at 'average' (almost always too low) heights  - are so quick to suggest that back pain is psychosomatic. I think most of them should be stretched on a medieval rack!
Anyway, have a look at those links, have a look around the site, and get back to me.
The more you can tell us about your condition and how it affects you, the more easily we may find ways to help. We will certainly try.
Warmest best wishes to you,
Richard

I am a back pain patient. I have been suffering from lower back pain for 2 years. I am doing exercise and changing my sitting and sleeping posture. My pain is now almost under control. Thank you for your advice.

Coach_RobbieJ

I can relate to what you’re going through and can only imagine the pain you are putting up with since I only had to put up with my case for about a year and this was before I started by fitness journey.

Well, to take you a while back before 2012, I’d pay a visit to the doctor a couple of times a month and even though painkillers such as ibuprofen could suppress the pain for a while, it always came back which wasn’t something anyone would want to put up with.

Fed up with shoving painkillers down my gut each day, I decided to try out physical therapy. So, here are the steps I took to get back on my feet:

·         First things first, you should accept your limitations; basically know how much you are able to bend in what direction and how long you’re able to stand or sit down without shifting your posture among other physical activities.

·         Try out meditation and yoga- as someone who has been through this and overcome it, I do realize that chronic backpains can be straining not only physically but emotionally as well. Because of this, go ahead and seek out the aid of a meditation psychologist who will then teach you how not to focus on the pain

·         After trying the above, go ahead and ty inversion therapy. Since the pain is severe, an inversion table would do. I myself used a teeter hang up variant which had a variable angle of elevation. This is basically what aided most in eliminating the backpain since my case was a herniated disc which resulted to sciatica.

·         Avoid highly inflammatory diets. This could be a contributing factor the intense pain on your back but should only be verified by a doctor. It’s also important that you check your weight which could ease the backpain by reducing pressure on your spine.

·         Muscle inflammation could contribute to the backpains and in such a case, taking anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants could help relieve the backpain. I’d however, advice against this since they might come with side effects. There’s really no point of creating another problem while trying to solve one, is there?

All in all, you owe it to yourself to get your health back on track and I really hope I’m of assistance. Feel free to hit me up if you need to know more on posture correction exercises.

Good luck,

Coach_Robbie

harry1098

Hey there, that’s a great question, there are actually many ways to cure back pain. I have found a video on YouTube that shows you some exercises on how to fix it.
here is the link 
it will direct you to a place that says very that you are not a robot and then do that and you can see the video.

Topkitten

Sorry if this sounds like a moan but the concept of always associating back pain with spinal issues and vice versa is far too common and often absolutely wrong. I expected more of people here than I do from the community in general.

I have massive spinal issues due to a degenerative condition and about one third of my spine is damaged and yet I get no back pain at all except from sitting badly for long periods, the same as anyone else would get.

Back pain is most commonly caused by muscle issues and GP's have to eliminate that option first. Unfortunately, if you suffer another condition not muscle related, it takes much longer to isolate and diagnose. As has been said, bad posture from our living conditions can easily cause such muscle related problems, hence the GP's attitude.

Regarding psychosomatic pain........ my feeling on this is that it occurs much more often than most people think because people have so much access to information and expect some things to hurt and so they do. Doctors, I think, often suggest this at some point to everyone suffering pain simply to judge results. Psychosomatic pain is easily possible to be gotten under control once the sufferer understands how it has come about. A lady I used to know could get about quite well and with little pain until I started spending time with her and her friends. Being more ill myself I spotted her almost copying my pain issues simply to get more sympathy. After I was no longer able to spend time with her and friends I heard she got better again, going back to how she was before we met.

Beyond all this everyone must remember that pain and suffering from it is always purely subjective and it is possible to assume that you cannot cope with anything worse until it does get worse and you still cope as before. My degenerative condition has been causing chronic pain for almost 15 years and I now cope better with pain levels way above what I thought would be the worst pain ever and yet still function somewhat. The body can get used to literally any level of pain so long as you don't give in to it and allow yourself time to adapt. I get worse every 8 weeks or so now and yet still walk a little eve though it feels someone has poured petrol onto my leg and set fire to it. Given time and stubbornness anything is possible.

Yes, I should be in a wheelchair full-time but the lack of support I get means I am still living in a totally inappropriate home and get no help from carers.

TK

elisaFrag

i have been suffering from back pain since for 2 years, it's really make me tired early in the day.