Backpain help needed

mikewebs

dbs wrote: »

Been told my backpain is down to wear and tear through out my spine.

QUOTE]

Hi
I have suffered with back pain for years so i can sympathise. However, no amount of machinery will stop what has happeene to you. Wear and tear is a catch all for arthritis - so now you can put a name to your problem!

Never beleive a doctor who says that they have seen your discs on x-ray and they are narrowing - the disc-space narrows not the discs and x-rays don't show up themselves on x-ray (AKAIK).

According to my recent 'coping with chronic pain' course, chronic pain is any pain that has lasted more than 3 months. You are then into chronic territory. Basically, from my understanding of my course and the information provided, neural pathways have 'hard-wored' themselves to transmit pain - sometimes even when the original problem has healed - this is why amputees report having phantom pains years after amputation. Often there is no visibly injury!

I think you should be doing the folowing:

1 Contact you doctor and ask for a referral to a neurologist or - if it's available in your area - a Chrnic Pain Management Course. Ours is offered by a Cancer Hospital and involves a psychologist and a physiotherapist.

2 Learn to pace yourself - eg. if you find that you can only walk for 10 minutes before you experience a rise in the levels of pain, try reducing the time before you take a break. Do the same for standing for any period and even for just sitting. We had to live with electronic timers beeping unitl we could 'clock watch' without actualy watching the clock!

3 Realise that any other problems you are having - depression, mood swings, even nausea etc could be a result of your chronic pain or your medication and not because you are losing your marbles - you are not alone - some research suggests up to 1/4 of people suffer from chronic pain at some point in their lives and often suffer similar symptoms.

4 And this one really help me - get hold of a copy of Coping Successfully with Pain' by Neville Shone ISBN no 0859698505. I found invaluable. Not a book to read cover to cover, but a really good one to dip into in order to get a clearer picture of what's going on.

5 Medication can cause further problems - bowel, stomach, psychological - and is not necessarily the answer. In fact do not believe any doctor that sayshe/she is going to pres.ribe pain-killers - there is no such thing just pain relievers

Finaly, and in my opinion the most important, talk to your family, tell them how you feel, how your pain affects you and your state of mind and your ability to do things and - most of all - say no when you really can't do something. You'll be glad you did!

I really can't stress enough that, although it seems harsh, you have have to move forward - don't grieve for your previous pain free life. Accept what you have and move on.

I really hope you manage to get the help you deserve - no-one should be ignored when the say they are suffering from chronic pain.

Good luck

edit - just read the board rules - sorry if this contravenes the rules!

ailuro2

Pilates is great for your core muscles and supporting your spine- as long as there is no underlying problem with discs etc. then this should help immensely.

dbs

dbs wrote: »

Had backpain for several years got plenty of movement in my spine been to physio,chiroprator,osteopath,accuputure,got relaxation CDs,inversion table,heat lamp, do 30 mins of exercises everyday but still no good.

Take cod liver oil,devils claw, glucosimine.

Only thing not tried is massage would this help?

Any other ideas welcome.

Just to add to the above list.


Done pilates

Blood tests ok

Just joined Backcare a charity for backpain sufferers

In the past year I feel I am in control of my tinnitus and IBS instead of being in control of me.

Trying to keep off medication due to potential stomach bowel problems

It just my backpain is there all the time now but I have plenty of movement,
also losing my job in 5 weeks which is a major concern because my present job is a mixture of walking and sitting down which is ideal for me.

Any other stresses in my life are being sorted money relationships etc,so I am feeling quite happy about myself.

Its just this nagging backpain that wont go away I dont expect to be pain free but just a few hours pain free would be great.

Thanks for all the replies will follow up all ideas put forward.

Savvy_Sue

Alexander Technique may help. Google Society of Teachers of Alexander Technique, and your area, I think that will find you someone local.

Tam_Lin

I second the suggestion of Alexander Technique. It re-educates the way you move, sit, stand, and with me it had a marked effect.

absfabs

Have you tried a TENs machine? Side-effect free, stimulates the nerves with buzzing/vibrating sensations, so they are too busy to transmit pain.

Doesn't cure anything but may give some painfree hours.

Try borrow one, through a pain clinic maybe. Does not work for everyone but has helped me and a friend of mine tremendously.