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Lower back pain

jayuk
jayuk Community member Posts: 63 Courageous
Hi everyone hope you are all well . I have had back pain from my late 20s I've always had constant lower back pain and every now and then will completely go on me and then I'm in agony... I've recently been diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knees mild they say, but for me its painful. I've been off work for 10 months as I had a partial Achilles tendon injury which is better now. I was referred to rheumatologist for my back pain. I had a mri scan and when I went to see my gp I asked if there were any results and this what she printed out for me ...L4-5 there is disc bulge and a radial annular tear, some facet joint arthropathy but no neural compromise. At L5-S1 there is bilateral broad-based herniation which is with some joint facet arthropathy is causing narrowing of the neural foramina but no neural compromise....                                          I've returned back to work and doing a phase return. I've not mentioned my results to work as I need to wait for rhymatogist appointment and see what they say. I'm really struggling with work, the constant back pain from sitting to walking and when i get home I'm so fatigued and snappy as in totally drained. I'm not even really doing anything on shif..I'm a support work for people with learning disabilities.  I'm in constant pain and already on gabapentin and don't feel like it does anything for me, I have other health conditions, underactive thyroid,  fibromyalgia,b12 and folate deficiency, osteoarthritis in knees and hands. Just so fed up and I feel like when I go to rheumatologist are going to play it down if you get what I mean...

Comments

  • EmmaB
    EmmaB Community member Posts: 263 Pioneering
    Hi @jayuk
    I'm writing an article about pain management for a magazine at the moment... I was told about this great website by one of the contributors, I'm hoping you might find it useful / of interest:
    https://my.livewellwithpain.co.uk/
    The Explaining Pain leaflet is useful as many people think pain means damage, obviously sometimes it does, but not always.
    The general consensus is that we need to be more creative when it comes to managing pain, particularly as long term use of opioids is ineffective for most people. 
    Unfortunately, there's no quick fix for pain management but there does seem to be lots of ideas out there now, and maybe this website could be a starting point to give you some ideas?
    Best wishes.
    Emma
  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Community member Posts: 16,007 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @jayuk I'm pleased to be the first to welcome you to this great community, 'tho sorry to read about your problems.

    Unfortunately I can relate as to lower back pain which began when I was a teenager; at first it was intermittent, but has been my constant companion for about 25 years! I feel that constant pain such as this certainly wears you out.

    I get a bit fed up when a specialist says you have a mild form of a disorder..... no, you have that disorder, but it 'may' be in their opinion that you're only 'mildly' affected by it. Pain is so difficult for another to understand, if you haven't lived with it. However, I believe your rheumatologist should take onboard your MRI results, & you might discuss your medication with them.

    On a purely personal note, I tried Gabapentin, which didn't help. I was later prescribed Pregabalin, which is in the same sort of family of medication. Even 'tho a lower dosage of this is used compared to Gabapentin, it worked for me. We're all different; for some Gabapentin is better; for others Pregabalin. There are also other medications to consider, so please see if perhaps your rheumatologist, or GP, might better help you as regards the pain you're suffering..
  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Community member Posts: 16,007 Disability Gamechanger
    edited October 2019
    Hi @EmmaB - I've looked at your link, & downloaded the 'Explaining Pain' leaflet, which I was sorry didn't include any mention of exercise, which is perhaps the most effective coping strategy for many, or may be used in tandem with other coping mechanisms. I then saw this was mentioned in the 'Ten Footsteps to Living Well with Pain' leaflet.

    I certainly agree with you that opioids are not effective for long term management of chronic pain, & there are other avenues to explore. However, unless I've missed them, as admittedly I only took a brief look, this website might benefit from knowing who are the clinicians mentioned to give it more credence? When was the medical information given, & when will it next be reviewed, thinking of the Information Standard?

    IMHO there might be better resources to explore, sorry.
  • jayuk
    jayuk Community member Posts: 63 Courageous
    Thankyou for your replies, I will just have to wait and see what they say. That's a good idea doing a diary. I will have a look at the link. 
  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 10,821 Scope online community team
    Hello @jayuk and a warm welcome to the community. 
    I hope you're not waiting too long for your rheumatology appointment and that they'll have some answers for you. Please let us know how you get on. 
    Community Manager
    Scope
  • EmmaB
    EmmaB Community member Posts: 263 Pioneering
    Hi @chiarieds
    If you don't rate the My Live Well With Pain website then how about this campaign which does focus on exercise for managing pain by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy:
    https://www.csp.org.uk/networks-campaigns-influencing/campaigns/love-activity-hate-exercise
    Research has shown that it is more effective to find ways of managing pain rather than going from professional to professional in search of a 'cure'... And opiates are not effective for long term pain for most people. The problem people have to face up to is that managing pain is hard work and there's no quick fix.... Personally I find mindfulness incredibly effective but you only have to mention that as a solution and people tend to get on the sceptic wagon BUT if you read about the science behind chronic ie long term pain it makes a lot of sense... It works for me and I think believing something can work is sometimes half the battle.
    Emma
  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Community member Posts: 16,007 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @EmmaB - My apologies if I came across wrongly, I was just disappointed not to see more about exercise. I certainly like your link from the CSP webpage being a physio myself ('tho I haven't practiced as such for a long time). I've seen the benefit of exercise with many patients, & now in my own case as I have generalised osteoarthrosis (due to having the hypermobile type of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome). Exercise is my mainstay, together with distraction, relaxation, mindfulness (in agreement with you there) & visualisations.

    Might I suggest you change your link from that for CSP members, to those for patients, i.e.https://www.csp.org.uk/public-patient/keeping-active-and-healthy/love-activity-hate-exercise-campaign Best wishes.


  • EmmaB
    EmmaB Community member Posts: 263 Pioneering
    Hi @chiarieds
    I actually used the link you suggested in the article I wrote not sure why I sent you the other one ?.
    I think athe Live Well With Pain website is a new venture run on minimal money (as all good things are!) So hopefully they will grow their content.
    I'm a big convert to stretching as a pain reliever too. I guess it's about finding what works for you but also realising pain relief is often not found via a bottle ... 
    All the best.
    Emma
  • madness
    madness Community member Posts: 13 Connected
    Starting to worry about burning back pain goes on for days.
    Trying to change my job for a year now. 
  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Community member Posts: 16,007 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @madness - Sorry to read about the problems you're facing. It might be an idea to discuss these with your GP or any consultant you may be seeing.
  • Chloe_Scope
    Chloe_Scope Posts: 10,586 Disability Gamechanger
    Welcome to the community @madness! It sound like things are really difficult for you at the moment, I'm sorry about this. Have you spoken to a doctor or GP about these symptoms?
    Scope

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