I am new to HealthUnlocked and looking for any advice regarding chronic back pain

[Crawford73]

I have suffered from chronic pain for the last ten years caused by the bottom two vertebrae pressing together as the fluid around them has leaked . My last MRI scan showed the disc in between these vertebrae is also damaged now.

[gindy]

Only advice I've got is that if you're not getting the treatment u need on NHS then pay to see a pain doctor privately, who'll recommend treatment for your gp to provide.

You'll skip the massive waiting list and tbqh it was the best £105.00 I've ever spent! Cheap at half the price I'd say!

[kiwitaramerlin in reply to gindy]

Hi gindy,

I am iterested about you advise what do you means a pain doctor privately and what kind of doctor when you say a pain doctor if i can find one for my husband who has always have his back pain.

Kiwitaramerlin

[gindy in reply to kiwitaramerlin]

kiwitaramerlin hi there, pain doctors are doctors specialising in the treatment of all types of pain. They'll operate from a pain clinic, which in the UK are available to see via referral on the NHS. But there's long waiting lists. You can pay (usually around £100 on the south east, may be cheaper further north) to see a pain specialist privately and they'll instruct your gp on what to prescribe. This will be on NHS, so you don't carry on paying privately.

I'd really advise your husband to see a pain specialist, and privately is the best route in my experience.

Good luck.

P.S. Just Google pain clinic in the area you're living and you should find one.

[kiwitaramerlin in reply to gindy]

Many thanks

Kiwitaramerlin

[mikejames in reply to gindy]

Hi Gindy.

I have been waiting best part of a year (in cronic pain) that's to long !!

I wonder, how do you make contact with Private pain doctor.

I thought cost would have been a lot more, IMAZING!!!

[gindy in reply to mikejames]

mikejames Find a pain clinic close to where u live, and just call them up. They'll be more than happy to arrange an appointment with a pain specialist, and will likely have a website that'll tell u the ins and outs of their doctors specialties.

They are after all a business, and you a paying client. My advice to anyone suffering whilst waiting for the broken NHS to fix a appointment is to just pay for it privately.

Once the consult is done it takes on average 2 weeks for the instructions to hit your GPs surgery, then u book in to see your gp who should follow their treatment plan to the letter.

Try and find out which pain specialist you're waiting to see, and then book in privately with them- is what I did. My pain doc sees 1 - 2 NHS patients a week the rest are private. Money really is the key, and so little, it's worth it imho.

Good luck, let us know how u get on.

[CLC3]

Hi Crawford73!

The fluid between your vertebrae is inside the disc, so you may have had a disc bulge years ago that has now started to heal too much? It would be worth speaking to your GP or another professional about what the results mean.

You have had the pain for a long time, so there are simple things you can try without causing any additional damage. Pain Concern has great resources, as does paintoolkit.org. You can get ideas to speak to your GP about the support you need.

Good luck!

[Crawford73 in reply to CLC3]

Thanks. Yeah I can't remember or fully understand the mechanics of what's going on with my spine. I have an appointment coming up with pain clinic though. At this point I'm just introducing myself and finding my way around the site.

[B4w131]

HI I have just wrote a post which may help you as it has greatly helped me I started doing yoga I never in a million years thought that any exercise would help I have to herniated discs and suffer Agonising lower back pain an Satica the yoga stretches really help the spine I go and do the yoga four times a week its brilliant!

[Crawford73 in reply to B4w131]

I was told this by physiotherapist but cannot imagine in a million years doing yoga in this pain.

[B4w131 in reply to Crawford73]

I was the same but the stretches actaully relieve the pinched nerve where disc is causing the pain and the yoga lnstuctors can really help you deal with the pain.I undrestand you the pain is unbearable.

[Hidden in reply to Crawford73]

If you have Nerve Entrapment it's excruciatingly painful!

I wouldn't be going out to hunt for a Spinal Surgeon before you have the true facts of what is going on?

I strongly urge you not to have any needles or what is called Epidurals in or anywhere around your spine.

Have you had any of these procedures Crawford73?

[Crawford73 in reply to Hidden]

It has been mentioned as the next step but I am reluctant too

[Hidden in reply to Crawford73]

What is this next step that you are referring to Crawford73

[Crawford73 in reply to Hidden]

I am unsure of the exact procedure but I am supposed to be discussing some kind of injection into the spine at my next appointment with the pain clinic

[Hidden in reply to Crawford73]

Be very carefull Crawford73 about what you consent to. Often,- no Really often, you are not told anything because we "trust" our Physicians. I had several Caudal Epidural Steroid Injections with the medication Depo-medrol. It is absolutely contraindicated for Intrathecal and Epidural Injections. Physicians will use the off label use at their discretion. I do advise that you do"not" question your Pain Management Physician about this as He/She could toss you out faster than you came in.... because:"AdhesieArachnoiditis" is caused by direct insult and injury to your spinal nerves. It is a True Medical Error. It will never be admitted to you and you"ll end up living in Burning Hell. I would not bring this up to your Doctor unless you feel extremely comfortable with the fact you are not going to be accused of using Dr. Google !!! Physicians will feel very insulted if you challenge thier Education. We " little people" are not to know such things. We do not have the "mental capacity" to do our own research. I did not Google any Dr. Google. I simply was trying to answer questions a sister of mine has about my nephew having a Tarlov Cyst as she knows I have a small syrinx in my upper Thoracic Spine. The Epidurals were for my lower Lumbar /Sacural Pain, (lots of Stuff going on). They worked "wonders". For a bit....

Take a piece of paper Crawford73 and that's all it takes, for that Epidural to go "opps" a sliver of a paper cut and you will be in more pain that you can not imagine with no cure, no amount of adaquit Pain medication wiil be given for your pain because you're not dying of Cancer. Have a look at "Adhesive Arachnoiditis" discuss it with any family or good friend first. I didn't have this. Now my life is shear burning hell. Paper cuts everywhere from my waist down, Douced in gasoline and a match thrown at me is exactly what the pain feels like.

No time to throw caution to the wind.

[Crawford73 in reply to Hidden]

They are not going near my spinal chord with anything! I know what you mean with the doctors, I am not going to tell them I know better than them about anything. Don't want to hurt their feelings

[Hidden in reply to Crawford73]

Or just simply put "Piss any one of them off !" You can't possibly know what they "don't" or more importantly "won't" tell you.

[Sazntef in reply to Hidden]

Please don't get scared of trying the injections, I had facet joint and trigger point injections over the years. For me I had great results the first couple of times with a happy manageable few pain free months. The efficacy decreased over time for me but for some people it's injections every six months and they are back to a pretty normal life. Not sure if it was done incorrectly in the car described here, but honestly this is not the standard result. Please talk all proposed options through with your doctor and ask the questions.

[Hidden in reply to Sazntef]

These are in your Joints. And trigger point injections probably - if I'm correct in or around muscle.

I'm talking about Epidurals Steroid Injections in one's Spine. There is a significant difference.

[Hidden in reply to Sazntef]

Steroid Injections are often used for joint pain example; osteophytes. Or muscle; to ease pain. Epiduris for a number of Skin issues. If just one and that's all it takes my friend - one goes just a tint teeny weeny bit too far into your spine the medication is now in your SPinal Chord. This is permanent Intractable Pain that there is no cure for. The victims of this small procedure suffer a lifetime of Shear Hopeless Hell. The nerves inside the Spinal Fluid are no longer nicely bathing in the Spinal Fluid like cooked Spaghetti still in its water. Drain the spaghetti, let it sit....it will stick together. That's exactly what happens to our Spinal Nerves within the Spinal Fluid that's in our Spinal Cord.

[Crawford73 in reply to Hidden]

I asked them straight out when they mentioned an injection in to the spine could they guarantee it wouldn't make we worse and they couldn't. I am supposed to discuss it at next appointment but I'm definitely ruling it out just now.

[Hidden in reply to Crawford73]

Crawford73

More often than not they do these Injections "Blindly".

There's no imagery showing the Physician "where the needle is". Point blank - it's a chance every single time. If you can, perhaps you could try Medical Canibidiol for your pain. You haven't mentioned any pain medications.

Many will , like I did and you were about to believe that these Epidurals Steroid Injections are wonderful ! Until one, and it does not take more than a layer of an onion skin and you'll be in more pain than I can describe. Doctors may turn their back on you. Why? Because as I said if your Spinal Nerves weren't damaged because of ...eg: car accident you'll be one out of a million if you're lucky enough to get anything that will even come close to the pain relief you will need if something goes wrong and ...it often does go wrong, very wrong. There are many people out there begging for relief from the excruciating pain the "Medical Experts caused" in the first place. These Medical Professionals long have forgotten their Hypocritic Oaths and just look at ........thier wallets ! While leaving (for me) unemployed and in hellish pain. I'm just able to barely keep a roof over my head. Do they, the Professionals that caused our Pain care Crawford73? The honest answer is no.

I would rather be "Physically Addicted" to the Pain Meds I was on before this happened and now I can't get what would be even close to managein my pain. This Intractable Pain has caused people to commite Suicides. They don't want to die Crawford73, these Human beings cannot get the pain relief they need and certainly deserve because a greedy Doctor is willing to chance "Harm" for $$$$.leaving many Physically and Financially Broken and Broke.

It's terribly Sad.

[kiwitaramerlin in reply to B4w131]

Hi chist1ne10, Are you still mobile to move to do yoga as my husband he is not mobile at all.

Kiwitaramerlin

[B4w131 in reply to kiwitaramerlin]

Yes I am but the yoga class I go to have one gent and two ladies who are disabled they exercise seated using a wobble cushion or wobble board I also use the wobble cushion your husband can either sit on it or put his feet on it they are brilliant for manipulating lower back stretching they also work feet ankles and legs physio,s are using them if you go on internet type in wobble cushion or board you will get the idea of how they could work for your husband you would not have to go to fitness center you could use at home I actually sit on mine watching tv so easy to use.Try U tube. there are some video,s you can see how they use them hope l have been some help.

christ1ne10

[kiwitaramerlin in reply to B4w131]

Thank you

[Heather-Bee3 in reply to B4w131]

Hi I really want to give yoga ago but just now recovering from decompression surgery. I have chronic pain I have for five year now and I did use to love exercise but I now know this is well out of my capabilities now but I have heard yoga maybe a good thing to start I gather it has been beneficial too yrself as you do it 4 times a wk can I ask where you very mobile an flexible before hand as I do worry if I'd manage it x

[Ade4272]

Ask if the discs are protruding and compressing the nerves. Look up Cauda Equina where you can see red flag warnings and what it is. Best be safe than sorry.

[adecyclist]

First off, hello Crawford73. I'm not going to offer you any advice on treatment or what to do or not to in terms of your treatment. It sounds like your GP is already taking care of the medical side of things if you have been referred for MRIs and you have an appointment for the pain clinic.

It sounds like what you are asking for is advice on managing your pain better. Is that correct? I attended the Pain Management Programme at the Astley Ainslie Hospital a couple of years ago. At first I was sceptical and didn't think that they could possibly help me, but by the end of the course I understood my pain better, had some great advice on how to live with it on a daily basis and most importantly I met some great people who were in the same position as me and understood what I was dealing with. I would highly recommend it and would suggest asking about it when you go to the clinic.

[Crawford73 in reply to adecyclist]

Thanks very much. Exactly, I need to learn how to live with this pain because it is unlikely that I am going to find a miracle cure at this point

[johnsmith]

See an Alexander Technique teacher. They should be able to help with developing pain reduction though awareness of how control muscle behaviour contribute to reduction of pain.

Hope this helps

[Crawford73 in reply to johnsmith]

Thanks

[ginger31]

I would second johnsmith's advice, just wish I'd acted on it earlier. Have only had a few lessons so far but it makes so much sense and already I can detect subtle muscle tensions which if attended to reduce my overall pain experience significantly.

[Heather-Bee3]

I feel your pain literally after many things physio,acupuncture, steroid injections constant pill taking and a chiropractor I eventually saw some one from pain management and although I will always have pain he thought me alot about coping and changing how I coped and dealt with daily pain and I had to change my life and what I could do according to my body and listening too it. I won't lie there are still many many down days but I do get myself out of this alot easier and quicker now.

[Betsy50]

Hi there sorry to hear about your back issues . I suffered sciatica for years after falling down the stairs on work bus . I was left for years until my disc L5 burst and cut into my spinal cord so had emergency surgery. Surgery didnt stop my issues cos I then have scar tissue wra6around my sciatic nerve so it's an on going issue. Tried spinal injections the lot but nothing worked so I have incomplete claudia equine syndrome. There is some red flags you need to watch out for which is having to force your urine out and bowels not moving so please take care and watch out for this