Back pain

jackieann3

Hello would like to ask those of you that have had chronic back pain for some years and still do , is it any better than when it first started and can manage it or just have good days and bad, I was just curious when I've seen for some of you ,you have had back pain for years if it got any better at all, mine has just been just over 4 months and just started trying different pain medication to see what helps and the thought of having this for a long time makes me quite worried, I know we are all different and have different causes of our back pain but does get you down when it goes on a while and mine has only been 4 months but feels like 4 years ,hope everyone suffering with back pain does get some relief sometimes x

SueHeath

Good morning @jackieann3
Good question i have suffered with my back for over 30 years now, with my condition over the years different parts of my spine have deterioated, 
I find being happy with the pain killer helps, some days are better then others. 
I also think our bodies/brains get used to the pain we are in.
I also find when i have any new movement in my spine it can start settling or i get used to the new pain a bit more after about 6 months.
I know it's hard Jackie but try and keep plodding on you will get some parts of your life back and find ways of moving and working around your condition more. Distraction is another good one for me, especially when waiting for my meds to kick in.
As you say everyone is different and i am hoping others will give their opinion on this thread.

I do hope this morning is a good one for you.

jackieann3

Thank you sue health, yes my brain has definitely got used to the pain I sometimes think am I imagining it or am I making it worse because its not going away, I've had an osteopath come a few times and he has told me all about the brain and pain but I find it really hard to have positive thoughts when I'm in so much pain sometimes, I play games on my phone to try and take my mind off and keep getting up to do some gentle exercise and walk around to keep moving where all I want to do is sit with my heat pad , but I move around as much as I can would just like to do it with no pain lol yes I will carry on and try and be positive, thank you again and wish you well x

SueHeath

Yep your doing all the right things Jackie - you mention heat have you tried the creams/gels/or stick on patches if they help you.?

jackieann3

Thank you , yeah have tried them all I think lol that's what gets me frustrated a lot nothing seems to work but trying amtitriptyline now so hopefully get some relief only been a couple of weeks so will see fingers crossed x

SueHeath

Yep i have seen you on your other threads Jackie, and i agree it's a trial to see what suits you, i have spent £££ on different things ha ha - how you getting on with the new med ? 

jackieann3

Well at the moment don't feel that much different and no difference really to the pain but not been on them long only 2 weeks ,but I am sleeping much better it's once I'm awake and up on my feet that is the problem lol and dressing and washing puts me in even more pain afterwards all the stretching to wash and dry ,my husband helps a lot but I'm a bit private when it comes to things like that lol so once i can do things like that and not be in pain I will start to think I'm getting better,  I have a follow up review 12th of October to see how I've been on the amtitriptyline but think I will need a stronger one only on 10g at the moment not sure if 10 is any good for the pain but definitely sleeping better x

SueHeath

I think they are starting to work Jackie as you have said your sleeping better, try not to watch for your pain syptoms to see if any thing has changed from day today, hope that makes sense ha ha. You will naturally a just to find ways of doing things to avoid pain, i know what your saying about being personal in the bathroom, i'm the same with my hubby and we.ve been married for 44 years ha ha. Sometimes i will sit on the toilet to wash ha ha he does have to help me in the shower tho as we have a bath with shower over head. But he has promised to put in a walk in shower during the cooler months, well he is saying after Christmas now ha ha - but i will be nagging him as he will be finishing work the end of next week, so no excuses then ha ha.
It's been lovely talking to you i have to go and get ready to start my day, now the meds have kicked in, have a good day yourself.

jackieann3

Oh thank you so much for talking to me hope your meds work quickly for you, and yes we are getting a walk in shower after Christmas too ! Hope you have a good day x

L_Volunteer

You are welcome @jackieann3. It is the very least you deserve. We are all here for each other, even if that's just talking about things.

Good luck with getting a walk-in shower. We hope you have a good day too 

jackieann3

Hello I've had to stop taking the amtitriptyline it started to make me feel very unwell and felt terrible ,well the doctor told me to stop them to see if it was them so I'm not going to know if they would have worked or not I was very disappointed, so not sure what to do now I was told just to carry on with painkillers and wait for my appointment with msk but that's not till 19th of October and then it will probably be an examination and ask my history, will just carry on and see what happens ,all have a good weekend x

Tori_Scope

I'm sorry to hear that it started to make you feel really unwell @jackieann3. How are you feeling how you've stopped taking them? 

As your doctor advised this, have you booked in a follow-up appointment with them to review how you've been doing?

jackieann3

Well the doctor told me to just stop them but I've read you mustn't just stop taking them even on a low dose 10mg so I broke 1 in half and took that then I will take the other half tonight and do it gradually,  even though the doctor told me to stop them I didn't want to take a chance just incase ,there's nothing I've looked up that says stop taking them you have to wean off them even though its only been over 2 weeks I was still a bit worried, but I do feel a bit better today so will see how I go, no she didn't say about a follow up or anything just left me to it but I will get back to them if I née to will wait for my appointment at the hospital and see what they have to say , thank you for asking x

Alex_Alumni

Let us know how you get on as and when @jackieann3 and I hope you are feeling better this week   

jackieann3

Thank you Alex, I don't feel too bad in myself and back pain a bit more under control its when I bend or get up from a seat it starts or any movement that involves stretching or twisting its so frustrating because once it starts it's there for the rest of the day, it seems anything triggers it off makes me feel its never going to get better, but I live in hope 😌 x

jackieann3

Hello Adam thank you for your reply, I have done exactly the same but with a heat pad you heat in the microwave, I have burnt my skin terrible but I have to have it on my back or I can't cope, i don't even feel the heat much now where my skin has got so used to it so I do it hotter and hotter so I can feel it but I had to stop while my skin healed ,not a good thing really but I'm glad I'm not the only one, but yours must of been so sore for it to bleed Pam I do feel for you but I know how it feels to need that heat in your back, have you had a diagnosis for your back? Mine just started 1 morning when I got up and hurt when I walked and just got worse in all different places over my back its at my lower back at the moment and buttock very painful just waiting for appointment at msk all I know its not bone problem there saying muscle but gone on too long for muscle I think but will see, hope your feeling well today x

jackieann3

Hello Pam sorry I just see it said Adam in my last message lol I did put Pam but it's this predictive text lol I am sorry to hear about your back what will be done about the tumors ? I'm sitting here with a heat pad on my back as well lol I feel like it's all I do does make me depressed, hope you can have a good day Pam x