Back Pain after 5 operations

[mikecom1]

I am living with server back pain after a botched spinal fusion in the lumbar region which fell apart inside me five operations later the pain is worse than my presenting problem, I cope on pain killers. Here in Devon the health service is still hiding behind Covid I have waited over 12 months for a face to face appointment after an MRI scan. Lets hope the new health minister actually sorts this back-log out.

[sassy59]

That sounds awful mikecom1 and I hope things get sorted out for you soon. It horrible to be in so much pain. Xxx

[peege]

Ouch. Im so sorry you're still suffering like this Mike, its must be awful for you. Very best wish that youre seen as soon as possible. P

[RoadRunner44]

Hi Mike, most of us humans suffer with some form of back pain during our lives. However reading your post I can personally sympathise with you. My pain started a month ago and got worse including developing stomach pain and it was horrendous. I was at my wits end with the pain and it was so bad I tried to ring my GP surgery without luck and was forced to ring 111 and was taken into A&E. After spending all day having tests I was sent home and told they couldn't find the cause and to contact my doctor. This led to an Ultrasound scan which showed my ovaries and uterus were clear. By now my doctor decided to send me to The Rapid Diagnosis Centre. I had a cat scan which has shown scoliosis of the spine and a small thickened lump in my stomach (worrying). The scoliosis is not related to the lower back pain. Further scans are now going to be arranged including an MRI and swallow type scan. The consultant said I may have hairline cracks or osteoporosis but cannot say as yet what is causing such severe back pain.I have written all of this with understanding of how you must be feeling. Living daily with pain is absolutely dreadful.

What caused you to have your operation and do you mind me asking what pain control you use? I am taking the maximum dose of eight co codamol a day and using a heat pad but is not sufficient to allow me to go about daily life.

I know I am lucky to have been referred so quickly and hope they can get to the bottom of it and a solution found.

You will obviously understand how I feel being in similar circumstances yourself. I do hope you get to see a consultant soon to help you so you too can enjoy some quality of life.

Sent with my very best wishes.

Chrys

[Yatzy in reply to RoadRunner44]

Back pain is so debilitating, feel so sorry for you both. Just wondering whether you’ve tried a TENS system, four pads placed according to directions for different pain, attached to a small battery. I find it works when tablets etc fail. Gives some welcome relief usually. You can tuck the battery plus wires in a pocket or similar to move around. Doesn’t always deal with severe pain fully but helps some. Available on Amazon. Recommended to me by my physiotherapist daughter.

[Bkin]

Good morning Mike, that's an awful long time to be coping with severe back pain, I hope you will soon get an appointment follow up after last year's MRI. All I can advise is keep contacting your doctor every 3-4 weeks explain your discomfort and how long you have been waiting, and (if you are) say you are happy to attend at short notice if there is any cancellation etc.

Its the same here, I've not seen a doctor or had my usual annual checks for coming up 2 years now, same for dentist with the backlog, although I do have an appointment end of next month with dentist.

Hope you can get someone to drive you or get a taxi when you get your appointment.

Best wishes BK

[mikecom1]

Thank you all for your kind words, I am however very disillusioned with our health service. I do some voluntary work teaching IT to beginners and I get some awful stories about people that have trouble contacting their GP and when they do the doctor is reluctant to see them. My first operation on my back around 2010 the screws holding the fusion to the bone fell out and despite visiting the casualty it remained undiscovered for several gruelling months, four more operations later its much worse than when I started the journey. I wish I had suffered the bit of sciatic pain I had then. Now I seem to have been written off for something they messed up in the first place, i don't know whats happened to the Hippocratic oath?

[Alberta56]

I hope you get some relief soon. no-one should have to suffer like that.

[Mavary]

That is awful. I’ve been suffering with back pain for a couple of years now. I had three vertebrae go two or so years ago and went on to calcichew and terapatide injections which I gave myself. You can only have the injection for two years because of a risk of cancer. They then five months ago put me on to another injection which the Nurse at the surgery gives me six monthly. Bear in mind I’ve been on them five months and have now got another four fractures. I phoned my Consultants Secretary and the Consultant came back with it takes twelve to twenty four months to work. I wonder how many more will go by a year?

Good luck with getting yours sorted. I’ve not seen anyone apart from being in hospital with breathing problems obviously caused by my back.

[mikecom1]

Wow you have had a rough time, steroid and local anaesthetic help me but only last a few months then you have to fight to get it done. I think I'm going to try a chiropractor it seems during this pandemic self help is the only answer, definitely thinking of legal action against the health authority when the open it up.

[Izb1]

I am so disgusted with the health service when I read these posts, leaving people with such trauma is just not acceptable. When people are in such pain they should be referred to the private hospitals if the nhs cant cope. I feel so sorry for you Mike and hope that you can get seen to in the very near future. Keep chasing up your gp x

[Ergendl in reply to Izb1]

I agree. If we left animals in such pain we would be taken to court by the RSPCA, but when it is humans being treated by the NHS, that's OK!

[mikecom1]

The flood gates will open at some stage and the legal action will commence. Such a shame our NHS used to be a shinning star to the world. Mind you is it the NHS or the politicians? Boris with his Indian take away for the country has set us back.

[Izb1 in reply to mikecom1]

It was in the wrong direction before the pandemic. The whole system needs a good shake up. As for covid, they should have kept a dedicated hospital just for those patients, the rest should have got on with their daily lives. We are going to have to learn to live with this virus like it or not, some of us will survive some will not, just like bad flu years , we just have to keep looking after ourselves. You take good care and keep us updated x