Lower back pain

[gulshanmunshi]

Hi My name is Gulshan Munshi. I am 68 years old and suffering from lower back pain which travels down to my legs which makes it very difficult to walk or sit for a longer period of time. I get kind of strange type of pain in my right leg e.g. vein or bone getting on top of each other and until that comes down the pain is very severe. Sitting is not comfortable either, I get pain / moving veins in my buttocks too.

Since having 2 caudal epidurals in my lower back in 2021 my condition has worsened. I wish I did not agree to take these. I have been asked to lose weight. In Sept 2022 my we ight was 91 kgs. My consultant has asked me to get my BMI down to 30 before I am put on a weighting list for a back surgery. My weight at present is 83 kgs. I am on various medications e.g. Neurontin, Losartan, Amitriptyline, OMEPRAZOLE, Methotrexate, Furosemide, Amlodipine, Atorvastatin, Eternacept Injections, Prednisolone, Folic Acid, Aspirin and Aciferol(Colecalciferol).

[KittyJ]

Best of luck with the weight loss and I hope the surgery improves things for you.

[gulshanmunshi in reply to KittyJ]

Thank you very much, KittyJ. Since then my life has become extremely miserable. I have lost my independence and always tearful. I much appreciate your response. Take care of yourself.

[Madmusiclover]

Just to say I’ve never lost weight on my own. I’ve tried most slimming groups and can recommend Slimming World. I think GPs can prescribe it for 12 weeks. They used to be able to. If not it’s about £6 per week.

[gulshanmunshi in reply to Madmusiclover]

Sounds good..Many thanks.

[Haz58]

Hi Gulshan. You have done so well loosing the weight you have already lost 🤗 I feel your pain you are having in your buttock and right leg. I had the same for going on 6 months. Could not sit for more than 5 minutes and could only liebon my left side with pillows galore around me. I cried lots too it is so miserable. This happened after I had a broken vertabrae. Don't know if it was connected at all. My GP put me on pregabalin and butec 10mc per hour patches. I was tried on all sorts of pain killers before these and nothing worked. This combination has worked. I hope you continue to loose your weight it's not easy especially when you cannot move about easily! All the best. 🌹

[gulshanmunshi in reply to Haz58]

Thank you very much. Losing weight is difficult when you love food ha ha. However, I got to do it..Take care.

[Tourk]

Hi gulshan you've done well to loose 8kgs in such a short time. I know all to well how hard it is to keep weight under control when mobility comes with pain. Sciatica is a special type of pain, there are things you can do to help CBD oil for instance. Maltodextrin helps as well, since I've been taking it I haven't a pulled nerve in my neck. Such a relief 7 weeks of agony and frustration. I don't know why was always 7 weeks other than 7 is an earth number.

I was told sciatica only lasts 7 weeks as well, mine was constant for years. Creatine monohydrate that I take for my RA seems to off sorted that one out along with most of the pain in my hands.

[gulshanmunshi in reply to Tourk]

In my case, the doctor who gave me caudal epidural injections seems to have damaged my nerve and then he tell me that apart from surgery he has run out of options. Anyway what can we do? Thank you for your response.

[rabbits65 in reply to Tourk]

yes I agree, I’ve had sciatica since the age of 21 years old. I am 70 now , so look how long that is !!!

[Tourk in reply to rabbits65]

Mine was after an accident in 1984. I can't do anything about the damage to my spine but already the sciatica has pretty much gone. I'm on a two week break from creatine (one week down another to go) . A lot of pain is coming back my hands are swollen again this morning and I've been so tired. my feet where playing up yesterday felt as if they where cut alone the bottom. Even trying to stand up was to much. It was raining so a chill day in bed playing xbox

[gulshanmunshi in reply to Tourk]

I am so very sorry to hear this. Pray to God that all your pain goes away.

[Tourk in reply to gulshanmunshi]

It is what it is, their are people who suffer far worse than I. Somethings one can't do anything about so have to make the best of it.

Herbal remedies along with a selected few Pharmaceuticals keeps things bearable.

I get reminders of how effective they are at time like this when I'm taking a two week break from creatine monohydrate.

[oldtimer2]

I'm afraid that treatment for back pain and pain from nerve pressure in the back is not good. There's a recent article reviewed in the British Medical Journal comparing injections with surgery and neither are very successful. It's very common, but it isn't something that excites medics like heart disease!

They usually try the injections first as that's less invasive (and less costly!) and does help for some people. It helped some of my pain going down my leg when I had one last year, but the spinal surgeon said that the pain in my back was 'too widespread' to respond to another. He also said he would only operate if I became paralysed (that's nice - something to look forward to!)

I'm sorry that you are in such a lot of pain, but I don't have any suggestions except using as much distraction , heat and gentle movement as possible. It is clear that keeping still (our natural reaction when something hurts) is not the best thing to do with back pain - gentle frequent movement is best.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to oldtimer2]

I agree old timer. I had a couple of steroid injections back in the 1980s. I had a herniated disc and sciatica and was in a lot of pain. The first injection took effect at once and lasted for about a year and a half then I went back and had another one which took longer to take effect but which stayed effective until a couple of years ago.

The consultant I saw back then said he *could* operate but didn’t want to because I didn’t actually have backache and the chances were that I would end up with it if he operated! Also he said he had a 100% success rate and he didn’t think operating on me would be a success. Needless to say I did not push for it and had the steroid epidurals instead.

I find very regular, gentle exercise the best thing to keep me moving, in fact I couldn’t function if I didn’t exercise. I do Pilates in a group of people who are in the same sort of condition as I am - I’ve got osteoporosis as well as a arthritis and a lot of problems with discs that overlap and impinge etc plus I fractured my sacrum a couple of years ago, not very pleasant at all. My class involves a lot of stretching. Exercises for balance and fall prevention work and I also walk for about an hour every day. I would say that keeping moving is the best thing you can do to help back pain. If you don’t move you seize up - in fact the less you move, the harder it is to move when you want to. We have a rule in class though that we don’t do anything that hurts / causes pain , even if it’s an exercise we’ve done lots of times before or even if our teacher tells us to do it. That’s not to say we don’t work hard.

Well done on losing all that weight though, that will help your back. The slimming group is a good idea or your doctor should know about online groups where you can get support. There’s a good one called Second Nature that is about a lot more than just losing weight, you could ask to be referred to something like that.

[gulshanmunshi in reply to oldtimer2]

Thank you I cannot work out if it is Sciatica in my leg or something else that causes the pain - what happens is like I am sitting down with legs stretched and then I try to bend my legs and suddenly excruciating pain starts in my right leg. Itfeels like a bone has stepped on another bone and then it comes down when I get relief. Thank you once again for reacting to my post and sharing your thoughts..Take care.

[rabbits65 in reply to oldtimer2]

we have to be a doctor to ourselves these days, with trial and error techniques. I agree , gentle movement , gradually increasing exercise where possible and plenty of heat, the old fashioned hot water bottle works well for me. My worse enemy is carrying shopping , if I try the sciatica comes back with a vengeance , alongside all the other arthritic pains. Each day I push myself to walk my two active poodles but I am finding tiredness can go off the scale. We must not give up….

[gulshanmunshi in reply to oldtimer2]

I agree. Thank you for your advice.

[zen4]

Hi There

I am sorry but there is no easy answer to this and we are all different I have a lot of damage to my spine and some is in the lumbar area. I had severe sciatica for about 18 months and I had to continually change positions it was so painful. I tried various pain medications but none were successful In the end I used a TENS machine for about 90 mins a day on my lower back and most of the pain went. I just have very small amounts now in the early morning.

Having said that I am very uncomfortable walking and can only manage 10 minutes walking or standing which is frustrating. I try to be active for a few minutes at a time and then do something sitting down for 30mins or so and alternate during the day when I can. If I need to sit longer then I always walk or exercise for 5 mins every so often as it really helps to keep me moving and reduces pain.

It also helps if you are able to do some things that you love For me its singing, a small amount of gardening, cooking, socialising. I also volunteer a few hours a week and I have a mobility scooter to to get out and about for longer distances and I drive to see friends and attend a couple of U3A groups.etc having stuff to aim for and take your mind off really helps.

It s great that you have lost weight. I am sure it will help and as some people said slimming with others would probably be positive too

[B3ntl3y]

hi sorry to hear about your pain it must be very difficult

I am on methotrexate and filigitinib

I am just going to start injections of methotrexate due to them making me feel sick and an upset stomach

[Mmrr]

Hello, I too have severe lumbar spine issues and have had several surgeries. Apart from the sciatica, I get altered sensations of burning, itching, numbness, cramping and that intense boney pain at times too.

It is so difficult to know what is causing what.

I find heat works best to temporarily relieve the pain, with very gentle stretching my legs out whilst lying on my back.

It is difficult to lose weight when mobility is not so good, but you have done well.

[rabbits65]

I have lower back pain too and sciatica down the leg. Certainly losing weight does help a bit, so I go to slimming world and even though I am only losing a half pound say every 2 weeks every bit helps.

[rabbits65]

P S. well done for your weight loss .

[Al1954]

I have terrible lower pain it gets worser when i am still.i put heat and cold 3 times a day that at least keeps me goung i have R A and i am on pregabal8n 25mg once a day as i dont tolerate meds.I am 69 and have had all palologys one can imagine but i cant bare medicatiom it makes me worser so i try to work my mind because its what kills body i am on therapy since 20 years ago has helped me alot.i have gone trew cancer i have neurophatic pain after shingles lung fibrosis have not received any covid vaccine had covid with blood expectoration refused to hospital as i have oxygen at home.So y am greatful to God and lifecfor still beeing alive.My best greetings and good health to all this comunity but remember psiquis runs ower body so we must work on it.Sorry my inglush i am from Argentina