Can't stand this pain, it keeps moving?

Darlyd

belfastgirl23 wrote: »

I was going to suggest a physio too if you can afford it. Ask around and get a recommendation from someone. They can help you to identify the source of the pain and give you exercises to do (if appropriate) to help relieve it.

Poor you, this sounds horrible.

My brother who is a physio has given me many exercises to do, but sadly I can't do them at the moment, hurts to much to even try. But I will defo have it done when I am better, I know of one who charged £30 an hr, she goes to some of my clients..

elsien

darlyd wrote: »

Wouldn't know where to start with a union.

I don't think I want to go back to this job, office staff are horrible, I love the job but it's so much bending, twisting, in out of car etc is to blame. (doc says). I have a further 3 weeks off, but going by what office said about other carer I will lose my calls, and they will go to someone else. Talk about !!!!!y!

Union - Unison or Unite. Unison does tend to favour public sector workers and treat the rest of us as poor relations. I don't know if Unite are any better.

Re the bending/twisting/getting in and out of cars. Manual handling training is a mandatory requirement and should be updated every 2 years - have you done this and are you following the guidelines? If you are not able to support people in a safe way (both for yourself and them) then you need to insist on risk assessments and the proper equipment to be able to carry out the role. For example I refused to take out a 12 stone person in an unpowered wheelchair up and down hills(I am 7 stone) because it wouldn't have been safe for either of us.
No job is worth risking your health over and your employer has a duty of care towards you. It's up to you to make sure you are not having to follow unsafe practice.

Humphrey10

Which anti-inflammatory? Diclofenac? CHECK WITH YOUR GP OR A PHARMACIST FIRST but I was told I could take paracetamol as well as diclofenac and codine at the same time.
Also read all the leaflets with the tablets, if you are not on the max dose and are still in pain ask your GP if the dose can be raised.

I would consider ringing NHS Direct (they can put you straight through to a doctor on the phone), going to an out of hours place, or going to A&E if the pain is that bad though.

Poppy9, you have to laugh, I was prescribed diclofenac for chest pain following a car accident, whist waiting for an appointment with a cardiologist (I think that is the right name for a consultant for heart problems?) following an abnormal ECG. I do suspect GPs of trying to hasten my death, sometimes.

lessonlearned

I'm a long time back pain sufferer. I am also a carer for my OH who is severely disabled due to a neurological condition which only exacerbates the problem.

I find the best long term relief is definitely physio. If you have private medical insurance then physio treatments should be covered by the policy. Your physio will give you some homework exercises too to strengthen your back.

As well as pain meds you can get short term relief by alternating hot & cold treatments applied to the area, ice packs (a bag of frozen peas) and then hot water bottles. If you can manage it, a soak in the bath with epsom or dead sea salts. If you can bear it lavender massage oil gently rubbed in will help ease the muscle spasms. Those lavender wheat bags are good too.

Whilst rest is good you also need to keep moving too, so your idea of moving around every hour or so is spot on.

Good luck with the consultant. Hope you get sorted soon. Try not to worry about the office staff - they are not paying your wages. Just make sure that you get better properly before going back to work.

When you do go back make sure you get help re handling procedures and training etc.

Darlyd

elsien wrote: »

Union - Unison or Unite. Unison does tend to favour public sector workers and treat the rest of us as poor relations. I don't know if Unite are any better.

Re the bending/twisting/getting in and out of cars. Manual handling training is a mandatory requirement and should be updated every 2 years - have you done this and are you following the guidelines? If you are not able to support people in a safe way (both for yourself and them) then you need to insist on risk assessments and the proper equipment to be able to carry out the role. For example I refused to take out a 12 stone person in an unpowered wheelchair up and down hills(I am 7 stone) because it wouldn't have been safe for either of us.
No job is worth risking your health over and your employer has a duty of care towards you. It's up to you to make sure you are not having to follow unsafe practice.

Training has to be updated every year, and yes of course I follow what I am taught. The only thing that we have been complaining about is:

A certain large one legged lady we go too, is so lazy (so lazy she calls out of hours to come pass her a tissue which is reachable but she didn't want to stretch) she does not help herself when being changed to turn over, we have to push/pull, and when she is being lowered into chair using hoist we have to pull her hoist back far so she is sat correctly into chair. (I also go to a one legged gentleman of same age, who gets himself into bed/shower chair himself, he is very independent)

A muslim lady who requires us to assist to wash her bottom with a jug of water at each call whilst she is sat on the toilet, requires us to twist a little. Also she gets herself onto commode (which we wheel over the toilet) but it's horrid to pull/push as they have this plastic matting on top of their carpets.

So many more, but can't think, we have complained and complained but office tell us they report it (apparently) but nothing is ever done.

Darlyd

Humphrey10 wrote: »

Which anti-inflammatory? Diclofenac? CHECK WITH YOUR GP OR A PHARMACIST FIRST but I was told I could take paracetamol as well as diclofenac and codine at the same time.
Also read all the leaflets with the tablets, if you are not on the max dose and are still in pain ask your GP if the dose can be raised.

I would consider ringing NHS Direct (they can put you straight through to a doctor on the phone), going to an out of hours place, or going to A&E if the pain is that bad though.

Poppy9, you have to laugh, I was prescribed diclofenac for chest pain following a car accident, whist waiting for an appointment with a cardiologist (I think that is the right name for a consultant for heart problems?) following an abnormal ECG. I do suspect GPs of trying to hasten my death, sometimes.

Yes Diclofenac (my hrt flutters too, doc don't seem concerned, but I do anything to get rid of this pain), 60mg codiene, paracetomol and omeprazole (cus of the burn from above).

seafarers_wife

i would echo everyone else's recomendation to see a phisio asap! even go see an osteopath to rule out something more sinister with your back.

my doc kept signing me off with low back pain and pumping me full of painkillers which were only just taking the edge off the pain. i couldnt walk/sit/stand/drive/move etc without being in agony and crying and was on a very high combination of tramadol and diazepam for the bad days and dicolfenic, codeine and paracetamol for the not so bad days. went to the osteopath who diagnosed me straight away with an inflamed sacroiliac joint, did joint manipulation on me and told me to go back to the docs and chase up my phisio refereal.

phisio arranged for me to have cortisone injections after a few weeks and the releif from that was immense, was almost back to normal and then i got pregnant and its all come back again however its not at the extent it was previously and managing fine with osteo and phisio appointments. the osteo is expensive (£33 per half hour - 1 or 2 sessions needed a week) but is worth her weight in gold.

Molly41

Im really interested in this thread as i have suffered from a bad back for many years. Mine is as a direct result of work as a Home Birth midwife being stuck in awkward positions (IYKWIM). I would say those stresses you describe are contributing to your back pain which is cumulative. For me it was the shower after a hard days work that sparked things off on many occasions:eek::eek::eek: It is very hard to protect your back in the home setting but means that you need to be extra aware and assertive.

Re the Osteopath - I saw one on Friday and now have a huge bruise spreading across my lower back. has anyone had any experience of this as it doesnt feel right to me?

MrsAtobe

I normally see a sports injuries physio, but had back spasms when working away from home, so went to an osteopath that was recommended. All I can say is ouch!! My physio warms up the muscles before he does anything, the osteopath didn't. Sayig that, my sister has seen another physio who left her bruised .

I would second the suggestion of seeing a physio, but I'm not sure one would treat without at least an x-ray to check that there are no skeletal problems.

wibbble3

I have suffered with a bad back for 20 years (sciatica, compressed discs and trapped nerve). I have just started going to see an accupuncturist. I had resisted for years thinking it was a load of mumbo jumbo, but it has really helped. I am sleeping a lot better (minimal pain) and I am far more mobile.

For drugs you could try Tramadol instead of codeine, I would not recommend morphine as it is highly addictive and you end up needing to take higher and higher doses.

There is a newish cream/rub on the market called Axain, which is based on the active ingredient in chilli peppers (capsaicin). Wash your hands thoroughly after use and do not use on groin or areas with thin skin, as it will burn like mad, but it really helps to relax the muscles. If you have a hot shower before applying it really helps. Social Services should be able to help with a shower seat if you are struggling to stand in the shower

Another problem with diclofenac is that if you are on it long term (more than a year) it greatly increases this risk of gastro bleeding and liver/kidney problems. I only found this out after being on it for 6 years.