Debilitating back pain

I havnt posted here for a while as I've been really unwell. I had a hip replacement 5 years ago Due to OA . A few years after that i began to notice the odd niggle in my back. Over the last year it has got worse going in to spasm regularly. I can't even begin to describe the pain when this happens. Now my lower back from the base of the spine upwards and also across my lower back is in constant chronic pain. I've had a few x rays as have been advised the pain may be referred pain from the other hip? It is not!!! My other hip is still relatively healthy so this is a back problem?? I've been taking co codimol with tramadol , diazepam and naproxin ( max dose for all) and it hasn't helped!!! But i guess its taken the edge off!! Have recently been put on morphine sulphate 5mg twice a day with 8 paracetamol. My back feels so raw now as obviously I've come straight off all the meds I was taking only a few days ago!!! I've to start gavapentin 300mg 1 a night as from today so have no idea what will happen after that? I've read all the side effects and not looking forward to it one bit!! Had an MRI yesterday but won't get results for a few weeks!! I just want answers? And to get on top.of this chronic pain. My poor husband has to do ALL my personal care as I can't stand up straight because of the pain. If any one has or is experiencing this I would be so grateful for any advice or suggestions. Im in the uk . Thanks in advance to all of you.

[oncesunny]

Hi Doora!

Sorry to hear of your dilemma but I can so relate to the pain.I have osteoarthritis in knees and lumbar spine area that travels into my hips and legs and when I stand or walk I get spasms too.I am so limited in what I can do.My only reprieve is lying down to avoid pain though sometimes my knees wake me up with pain.I wish I was in the UK cos here in the USA my insurance was 850.00 US dollars a month just for me alone. ( want universal care like you guys have) so i dropped it..Hope to get it back in the new year for a couple months because it's so bad I feel like I have bone cancer.How can this arthritis hurt so much.? Its complicated by My ulcerative colitis flares as well..Sorry not trying to hijack your post but to say your not alone! .I'm in my late fifties with a brain that says I'm still 22, lol..This is very isolating .Glad your hubby is so great.Mine trys but he still has to work part time even though he's 15 years older than me..No advice I'm sorry, just thinking of you and sending feel better wishes ! Hang in there as I know it's hard to do that..All the best ,

Sally xo

[Birchy]

Doora I sincerely sympathise with you as I have OA in my lower spine which causes flare ups and leaves me every 10 to 14 days very stooped and in chronic pain. I take Tramadol but the slow releasing one which helps a little but it does space me out and I tend not to go out when I'm in this condition as last year I nearly got myself and the dog killed as I stepped out into the road in front of a bright red car I had not seen!!! That's how spaced out they make me.

I have attended pain management and the physio advised me that ALL painkillers are only 50% effective but ALL have side effects so I really really try to stay off them as much as possible and only take when the pain is chronic.

You have to be persistent with doctors and hospitals as they tend to want to fob you off telling you there is no cure for OA and its all about managing the pain.

Keep at them and don't give in and I hope you find some relief very soon. x

[Hidden in reply to Birchy]

Hi birchy

Its horrible isn't it! And no one can possibly begin to imagine the chronic pain. I'm lucky I have an excellent gp who is very open to any suggestions. I recently had a consultation with the surgeon who replaced my right hip 5 years ago but i won't go in to that as basically he was indifferent!! The one good thing he did was to organise an MRI which I have to wait for the results off. My other hip is still relatively healthy so the back pain is not referred pain from this hip!!! I have been on a cocktail of very strong drugs which haven't touched the pain!!! I've recently been prescribed morphine sulphate 10mg twice a day along with 8 paracetamol a day. Gavapentin 300mg was introduced last night so I'm really hoping this combination works??? Too early to tell yet because I'm still in a lot of pain. I was on tramadol and they were fine but the slow release ones were lethal!!! I was literally seeing frogs!!! I guess it depends on each person what you can tolerate and what you can't!! I'm hoping in one way the MRI shows something But in another way I'm hoping it doesn't!! Stay strong and I hope you get meds that suit you soon.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi I just wandered what your MRI results were