Too Much Pain

[babebatista]

When I was two years old I fell of a trampoline. When I was 16 years old I was diagnosed with scoliosis. I was informed that I needed an operation. I never got the operation because my parents couldn't afford it. I have always struggled with my back. Years later as you know I have been diagnosed with M.E, fibromyalgia and a nerve condition that affects my whole body and I now have to use a wheelchair anywhere I go and my husband is my full time carer. Yesterday and today I have been in so much pain with my back. It hurts to breathe, stand, sit or move. Its my entire back from the top down to the bottom. It just hurts and I just wanted to post on here because you guys always give encouragement and support when I really need it. My family are superb and always give me support but I do wonder if any one else here suffers with their back? I pray for you all and send you gentle fibro hugs and love.

Kimberley

Xxxxx

[ukmsmi4]

Hi there.

My main issue is CFS/ME but I do have some issues with my back. Though for me it is much less serious as it is just "normal" mechanical degeneration of the lower back where a few of my vertebrae are pressing on the nerves just above the sacrum. It does give me referred pain in my hips and when it is really bad (for me) it goes down to my knees like sciatica.

Unfortunately the main thing that helps keep it at bay is exercise but with CFS/ME that is severely restricted so it's a bit of a catch 22. Other than that it's heat packs, tense machine or painkillers for immediate relief.

You do have my sympathy. I hope you feel better soon.

Look after yourself.

Margaret. xxx

[Miep in reply to ukmsmi4]

Hi Margaret, I just saw your post and wanted to let you know that you are not the only one with the problem! PM if you like, even if just for mutual sympathy

[Miep]

My back is screaming in pain right now and I haven't done a thing today except get out of bed!

[linlow]

Hi Kimberley sorry to hear about your struggles but to answer your question.....

I started with back pain at age 19.  There were days, if I bent down, I couldn't straighten for it.  The GP said it was muscle strain but it never went away and 5 (or was it 9?) years later the hospital confirmed arthritis.  By that time it had spread to just about every joint.  I wasn't as badly off as my friend, she was curled up in a wheelchair, but that didn't stop it hurting.  The quack I was under by then prescribed painkillers of varying strength that seldom worked and always came with side effects, some worse than the pain.  I tried all sorts of alternative therapies, getting the best relief from cranial osteopathy (I coulda kissed the guy!).  Mind you after a move the next one I saw was nowhere near as good.  Eventually, for various disassociated reasons I went vegetarian.  That was absolutely the best cure ever!  It sorta snuck up on me because I wasn't expecting it but one day I just realised I hadn't had any pain for ages.  Wow!!

Of course life has moved on since then and taken its toll and I have pain for different reasons these days, mostly to do with cfs and/or the immobility that that brings in its wake.  I can control most of the pains but I have this one, across/down the middle of my back, that no treatment will stop.  I can't really understand it because, as far as I can tell, it is neither in the muscles or the bones so it must transfer in from somewhere (I wish it would go back wherever it came from).  Mostly coming on when I have done too much, that pain has me beside myself, so bad the old brain cells stop functioning and I can think of nothing else.  I have tried physiotherapy on top of everything else but, as soon as she heard I was diagnosed with cfs, she wrote me off the books.  Fortunately it normally only lasts till the next day, or the day after.  Having said that, the last episode lasted 9 days, the first 3 of which I didn't eat - partly because I couldn't move and partly because I upchucked everything that went down, including liquids (good job really cos I haven't the foggiest how I would have made it to the loo).   The last 3 were a slight improvement because, after 6, I managed to call the doctor out and he prescribed Tramadol.  I don't know how I'd cope if it was all day every day.  I guess you have to learn to but even so....

Unlike you, I am fortunate that I am not yet wheelchair bound (my house is all stairs, being built over 3 floors) but I am mostly confined to it because I just haven't the energy to get out.  Some days it is all I can do to get to the bathroom - eventually!  But I am on my own here so have to do everything for myself.  Still, gotta look on the bright side, I do wake up breathing every day

I hope that you too have found some relief from your backache and send hugs right back at you.

Linda