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Chronic back pain

Posted , 5 users are following.

hypercat
hypercat

Hi I have suffered from back pain all my life since I slipped and fell in the rain as a teenager and landed directly on my coccyx. Most of my life it has been manageable but with the odd nasty flare up every 18 months or so.

Whenever I have seen a doctor they always tell me to see an osteopath and treat me like it is a slight twinge I woke up with that morning. They have shown absolutely no interest. Now I am a lot older I am just told it's old age. I have never even had an x-ray done as they said 'It won't show anything'. Well I have a private one done 20 years ago which showed 1 disc had worn away and another was going.

I was referred to physio on the NHS and am doing the exercises but it doesn't seem to help much and have been in chronic constant pain for the last 2 years. It's just getting worse and worse. It's so bad now I am contemplating getting a stick or even a walker. They told me it's manual. My doctor will only prescribe 15 mgs of co-codamol and even doubling up doesn't touch the pain. Nor does paracetomol or any over the counter meds.

I am not in pain usually when sitting but as soon as I stand up it starts. I end up walking a few yards before having to stop and the more I walk the worse the pain gets. I still do walk as I know this is good but am getting increasingly isolated at home coz I can't keep up with my friends.

I have other health problems too such as mild lung disease, depression, and a borderline under active thyroid and the accumulation of them is making me a prisoner in my own home. I can do little housework and my home is a complete mess. I have no family to help me and friends aren't interested.

I have very little money as can't work and I don't get my state pension yet. Can anyone advise me how to get the doctor to take me seriously please, and what more I can do to help myself. I am well overweight and am trying to lose some but with my thyroid problems and lack of exercise am finding it virtually impossible.

Any advice would be appreciated please. Thank you. x

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • andy15149
    andy15149 hypercat

    Posted

    hi

    i was in the same boat as you for 20 years until finally i got a cosultant who took me seriously.

    my journey is much the same the way i got through it was persistance!!

    you have to keep going at them until they listen to you. if its spinal damage physio my help but it wont take care of what ever the main problem is.

    In my case i have shuermans desease and kyphis with a 73' curve.

    My best advise is to keep going at them ring every day if you have too and just keep doing that until they agree to investigate.

    They will do it in the end. i am proof i was persistant and i am now scheduled for surgery in JULY

    Wishing you the best of luck

    SORRY ABOUT THE SPELLING I AM SITTING WITH MY 1 year old notceasy to type with one hand on mu phone

    andy

    • hypercat
      hypercat andy15149

      Posted

      Thank you very much for your reply, I appreciate it. I am going back to physio soon and will keep going back until they do something. I am afraid I am going to end up in a wheelchair if I don't. I do have to be more proactive and not take no for an answer. Thanks again. x

  • derek76
    derek76 hypercat

    Posted

    Can you get Hydrotherapy. That helps some. Although my wife has severe osteoporosis she swims 80 to 100 lengths three times a week at out local pool. People are amazed as she is 84.

    When I was having Physio at the hospital I asked about hydrotherapy. The physio thought it would help and asked his boss. He said that I would need it three times a week and they could only offer it once and that would not help. Typical of the NHS.

    • hypercat
      hypercat derek76

      Posted

      Many thanks for your reply. I can't actually swim because my back is so painful but I will ask. x

    • derek76
      derek76 hypercat

      Posted

      For hydrotherapy you don't need to swim as it is just exercising in the pool. Our local pool has two or three group sessions a week for patients who come from private hospitals. They pay about eight or ten pounds a session.

    • hypercat
      hypercat derek76

      Posted

      That;s a good idea and I will investigate thank you. Don't think I can afford to pay that much though as I am on a very limited income. x

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