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Extreme Back Pain. Dr's seem to not care! Advice needed!

Posted , 5 users are following.

SarahOlivia
SarahOlivia

OK, really long story so here goes!

I'm a 25 year old female. I'm a mum to 3 children, with about 18 months to 2 years between each child. My back ache started before having my last child, who will be 4 in July so we're talking 4 + years. The pain itself seems to be getting progressively worse. I've been to the Dr's multiple times, and I am always told the same thing, muscle pain. The pain I'm having is lower back pain. Which is progressively worse in the evening/night. The pain radiates from the lower back (mainly on the right hand side) and down my bum, and then continues all the way down my leg, (it's not a sciatica pain, as I have experienced that before) I also get pain in my ribs which causes great pain when taking a deep breath in. Painkillers don't seem to be helping, I have taken everything you could possibly think of, paracetamol, ibrupeon, naproxen, tramadol, and even diazpam. I've tried heat packs, cold packs. I also tried going to a clinic for a deep tissue massage, which had started out fine and then my 2nd appointment was hellish. The pain was unreal and I ended up being sick. The man who was doing it had first thought that my pelvis was maybe misaligned with me having my children close together, however he then proceeded to think it may have been one of my lower vertebrae giving me the pain.He then refused to carry on with my treatments and asked me to see a chiropractor. However I can't afford to see one, so decided to go back and see my doctor, who told me yet again it was muscle pain I was experiencing (this was without even looking at my back) she then told me to phone the new national number for a physiotherapist, but basically told me I could wait months for an appointment after them getting me to jump through hoops! Can anyone offer advice? I'm completely at my wits end and can't bare another day with back pain, there isn't one day that goes by where I don't have back pain. I can't even walk far or for long periods with my kids as I suffer badly because of it. Please someone must be able to help! Thank you!

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • elizabeth20203
    elizabeth20203 SarahOlivia

    Posted

    I am sorry your suffering so much pain with your back. I have suffered with my back for 20 years so can understand the issues you experience. I cannot sit in any chair comfortably. What i would suggest is to see a different DR in your practice for a second opinion. Often DR's don't know the causes so will just keep going round in circles with drugs etc. Ask to see a consultant or at the least a pain clinic specilist. Ask for a scan and be firm and assertitive. I have had accupunture that didn't help and all the drugs for pain. Mine is Osteoarthritis which, because i had arthritis as a child, caused degenerative discs. Hopefully yours is not the same. I can tell you that Amitriptyline is a drug i have at night which helps relax the nerves around the spine to help with sleep. Other than that i pace myself and make myself as comfortable as possible. I have learned to live with itas with degenerative discs there is no cure. I really hope you can get to the bottom of this, and your first step is to go back to a Dr to get a referal as only then will a consultant do the relevant tests ie scans or blood tests etc, once your through the hosptal door will things be taken more seriously. I am assuming your in the UK. Don't give up, in the meantime pace yourself as much as you can, difficult i know with children to look after. Will be thinking about you and if you want to let me know in the future how you get on, i will be happy to talk. 

    All the best.

    Elizabeth.

    • SarahOlivia
      SarahOlivia elizabeth20203

      Posted

      Thank you so much for replying! Yeah I'm from the UK, here in Scotland. I'm hoping that I can go see the chiropractor at the end of this month, I hate repeatedly going to the Dr's and keep getting mugged off. If the chiropractor isn't much help then I will just have to bite the bullet and stick to my guns. I was actually considering maybe going private - that's how desperate I am. Currently out of 10 (10 being the worst) the pain is at 9. I just can't see myself going on like this much longer. I currently suffering from BPD (Borderline personality disorder) and the lack of sleep, and aswell as being in so much pain is really starting to affect my mood. I really appreciate you replying. I hope your keeping well xx
  • Aubrey1803
    Aubrey1803 SarahOlivia

    Posted

    Sarah

    Sounds very similar to my story. Poor Muscle tone but getting worse.

    So sorry but you are not alone.

    I have just gone through a load of test. Consultant did not seem to appreciate the pain levels.

    • SarahOlivia
      SarahOlivia Aubrey1803

      Posted

      It's crazy isn't it.. They are meant to be health professionals but a lot of them lack sympathy! I feel your pain! Im completely at a dead end as what to do. I hate being in pain(although who does haha) How did you manage to get to see a consultant may I ask? Hope your keeping well xxx
  • Aubrey1803
    Aubrey1803 SarahOlivia

    Posted

    Sarah

    Sorry keyboard issues.

    I live in West Sussex and luckily my work has private heathcare.  But i have still had to push for a consultant.  The painkillers are naproxen and co-codramol which is causing me upset stomach and headaches.  I need to go to see a pain specialist to get some better or more targeted pain relief.  The consultant helped speed up the process but he was very quick to state that the issue was poor muscle tone and if i went to a physio it should sort itself out.  I am very sceptical about this as the pain is so bad.

    He did not give me the time to really discuss a more targetted pain killer it was me asking and pushing for it .  If you go private it will cost you about £500 to £1000, have you had an MRI..   I guess my suggestion is do some research and find out about the consultant first.  If you are going to spend the money you need to be sure it is going to be worth it.

    Hope all is okay and sorry about the incomplete messages.

    Alan

    • SarahOlivia
      SarahOlivia Aubrey1803

      Posted

      Hiya! Well I went to the Dr's again this morning after a really uncomfortable night. I practically begged her to help, and asked her for morphine (this is the same Dr I seen last week who told me it was muscle pain) she finally examined me and could see how much pain I was in. She has prescribed me some more tramadol, diazpam and something new - pregabalin. She suggested that I phone the national help line for the physio, which I finally caved in and done. They want me seen urgently however I could still wait 10 weeks for an appointment! My mum is convinces I need an mri done, because she has cervical spondylitis, which can be heditory. I just can't deal with this pain anymore. I really appreciate you taking the time to reply. Hopefully me and you both can get to the bottom of our problems. X
    • elizabeth20203
      elizabeth20203 SarahOlivia

      Posted

      Pregabalin is very similar to Gaberpentin which i take. It is very strong but should be effective. They maybe strong side effects. I don't really have side effects to the Gaberpentin, but everybody is different. I take Gaberpentin for nerve pain. 

      Elizabeth.

  • Aubrey1803
    Aubrey1803 SarahOlivia

    Posted

    Hi

    Your mum is right MRI might be a start, NHS are reluctant to do these because of cost so you have to push.  For me they showed no sinister stuff but just showed the poor muscle tone, which meant my lumbar spine has little or no protection hence the pain. Still skeptical becuase of the intense pain so I have made an appointment with my doctor again for next week re getting the painkillers right and have pushed the NHS to get some xrays done.  However, never heard of pregablin will look it up.  

    You have to keep on your doctors case, I know it is hard, also we have a Chronic Pain Clinic at our local hospital.  If I can not get the medication right I will be pushing to get an appointment there.  You might want to see if your local NHS can refer you to a Pain Clinic.. try......

    Anyway, keep trying and thanks for replying.

     

  • Starryeyes83
    Starryeyes83 SarahOlivia

    Posted

    I feel for you, I have suffered for last 8 years and have two slipped discs.

    I would firstly advise you request to see a different GP. They don't all sing from the same hymn sheet so don't give up just yet. I would probably tell them that you feel the only way forward now is to have an X-ray and MRI scan to rule anything serious out. I don't know what your Dr's rules are but I am in North Yorkshire and our Dr's can request a back MRI but only the lower back.

    In the meantime I would highly recommend cranial osteopathy as it is very gentle. There's no powerful manipulation and you can sometimes hardly feel them working on you. I appreciate money can be an issue, trust me I've been there but sometimes we have to put ourselves first.

    Im 32 and I feel at the moment my life has come to a holt as I have had an awful flare up. I was admitted into hospital in March and I'm still not sorted yet so currently off work. On a positive note, I am now under a different consultant who is a back specialist and he is starting from scratch with me to try and get to the bottom of my problems.

    Keep your chin up and keep fighting. Please let me know how you get on.

    When things get tough, look at your children and think "yeah, I need to keep fighting for them".

    best of luck chick

    Abbey

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