hi suffering from back pain for years latest flare up off work 3 weeks on naproxen +co-codamol been to see osteopaths, chiro ,sports clinic

[deke631]

still in pain they all tell me different exercises but it makes back worse my question is going to pain clinic

help me in any way

[frame1]

Hi Frame here. Hopefully pain clinic will be able to help. I was lucky to benefit from this. They looked at my meds and really listened before trying a new combination which helped. They also made me feel ok about doing very limited exercise as this was adding to flare up problems as I was doing too much because everyone seems to be pushing me especially physios who want to help but don't always understand that a painful condition can not only change daily but from hour to hour. They also introduced me to tens machine which helps me if a use it before pain builds too much. Some people can benefit from this after only one session and relief may last for a few hours. I get some relief when I wear it but not when I take it off. They also got me physio with acupuncture although now no longer on NHS in my area. Another good point is they are happy for you to reduce meds whenever you have steady improvement and up the meds again as necessary. This is achievable because they take time to listen, look at your history and weekly progress/feedback. My only problem with them is they are so busy it's hard to get hold of them if they sign you off and you then have a flare up as you are out of the loop but they do try and they are a good source of info on other agencies too.

So give them a go and I hope you get some benefit. Good luck. Let me know how you get on.

[earthwitch]

Hope the pain clinic can help you. I'm off to see them on Monday as well.

If you have had long term back pain that wasn't initially caused by an obvious injury, then have you seen a rheumatologist and been assessed for Ankylosing spondylitis or other forms of spondyloarthritis? If not, ask the Pain specialist if there is any possibility that its an inflammatory arthritis, because if it is it would need antiinflammatory treatment rather than just pain relief. Spondy is quite difficult to diagnose as there is no one test for it, but it involves very careful looking at xrays and MRIs plus your history, and I suspect there are a lot of folk going around with pretty severe back pain who have undiagnosed ankylosing spondylitis.

If you want to check it out, google "inflammatory back pain" or check it out on the nass.co.uk website, and if you do tick all the boxes, insist on a rheumatology referral as well. If there is any suggestion it might be inflammatory arthritis (or ankylosing spondylitis, AS), steer well clear of chiropractors or anyone doing any kind of manipulation - AS bones get very brittle and one wrong twist can cause permanent damage and paralysis if a bit of bone snaps and pokes into the spinal cord.

[deb25426]

Pain clinic can tailor your pain relief to you. I have a tens machine and it doesn't work for me! But the pain meds they prescribed do!

[Nora1]

You won't know unless you go, obviously. I've been and the reassurance and talking to someone helped. You could also try to locate a Chronic Pain Management Course. I'm hoping to start in the new year, not to make the pain go away, but to help me live with it and be in charge, at least most of the time. You should try anything that's on offer. I have also tried massage, vitamin B12 and acupuncture. None of them worked, though I love massage, but I didn't know til I tried. Good luck with it all.

[Dammy]

It sounds like a visit to the pain clinic might help; if you don't go you won't know, and you've nothing to lose ! I too would say to keep off the chiropractic approach at the moment and also don't do any exercises that you're given with too many repeats or enthusiasm. Everything should be gentle ! But also try to keep moving about; don't sit still for too long. Have you tried any anti-inflammatories ? Like Ibuprofen either by mouth or by rubbing in ? (or both together when in extreme pain) This is something the pain clinic can help with too--what you can take together with what. Hope you feel better soon.

[deke631]

hi again thanks for all replies been to doctors this morning she said up to 6 months wait for pain clinic gave me amitriptyline to take with naproxen feeling a bit better, walking gently around the place going swimming tommorow has anyone tried power strips american product some one recomended them not cheap im going to

stay clear of physios chiro osteopaths etc for now ,thanks again for all your help

[Hidden]

Hello BOB here

Depending what is wrong with your back, swimming will help as you will exercise all the associated muscle groups in your back, also the water will help supporting the body.

I seem to remember something about power strips on an associated site, Think person mentioning them was chased.

Mind I am not sure about that. Have words with the GP before you purchase any.

BOB

[Reykua]

Hi Deke631,

I know this sounds like I'm coming from left field, but someone I met at an Alexander Technique class I used to attend, spent years trying to manage their back pain - including having a titanium rod or disc implanted - can't remember which.

The pain lessened after the op but did not go away and after a while, she started to complain about sciatic pain in her left buttock and problems with her knees only to discover that the original complication was actually down to some sort of misalignment of her hips and very specifically, how she walked!

I'm probably not explaining it properly but it may be worth checking it out with your health care providers and I'd definitely recommend the Alexander Technique to anyone who can afford it. Unfortunately, I can no longer afford to attend but I have learned a lot which I combine with some Callanetics.

[Bridgettedaniels]

The doctor. Always say it come down to stress levels if u have been a accident of any kind it not good for to operated on the back or leg and it doesn't take away the arthritis which u have had for many years