hurt my back

Suzy,

Even with x rays it's sometimes hard to confirm a slipped disc. They usually diagnose by symptoms. If the pain radiates to your hip and down your legs they usually say it is disc related. The disc may not have completely slipped out of place it may just be bulging or inflamed. If you have a tight pain in your buttock with pain down your leg it is usually sciatica (trapped sciatic nerve).

Depending on your age and your life style it may just be wear and tear on your spine. Falling down the stairs 20 years ago may have caused some damage that you were unaware of at the time, may now with age and poorer muscle tone has now started to cause pain. Women should be aware that their stomach muscles play a big part in supporting their back, which is why after pregnancy when the muscles have been stretched they start to experience back pain. Also if you had a C-Section delivery your stomach muscles would have been cut. This is why abdomen exercises are so important.

With regard to returning to your type of work only you can decide. As I have a recurrent problem, I never lift/move heavy objects or carry children. If I have to carry shopping I make sure I have equal amounts in each hand to balance me. I have been provided with a fully adjustable supportive chair in work. The physio told me I would have to give up my job because I sit down all day and it compresses the spine etc. This was not an option for me as I need to work. However, I make sure I stand up regularly and flex my back throughout the day. Colleagues are used to seeing me do my exercises. They particularly like the one I do against a wall!!

Unfortunately if your pain recurs you will have to find a way to manage it. Painkillers are good for acute pain but I would certainly not take them everyday. The pain is there to warn you to be careful as you are not fully fit. Masking the pain might make you over exert yourself and cause more damage.

Final gripe about bad backs. Wouldn’t it be good if we could have temporary ‘disabled car badges’ to park in the supermarkets when have a seriously bad episode. When my back is really bad I still have to continue to shop for the family etc but I struggle getting in and out of the car and ordinary spaces are often too narrow to open the door fully.

Suzy

It is hard for the doctor to give a specific diagnosis as without MRI scans etc he has to make a judgement as to where the problem lies. I have sent in certificates to work with just 'severe back pain' written on it. My employer has accepted this no problem. They even referred me to our Occupational Therapist who got me a new chair.

No I don't have a disabled badge for my back as I am not permanently incapacitated. I just think they should only be issued on a temporary basis renewable at least every year. Locally I know of people who have them saying they have arthritis or a bad back (both of these complaints doctors have to take on patients say so). This is an insult to people who geniunely need them. They should only be issued to people who cannot walk more than a short distance or who need extra room to manoeuvre due to using a wheelchair etc. Where I live nearly everyone over 60 has one yet I see people on crutches due to broken limbs struggling to get in and out of cars miles away from shops. A friend & work colleague with rheumatoid arthritis was refused a badge as she was not permanently disabled even though for months on end she could barely walk around the office. Another colleague who had a badge for his bad back laughed and told her she needed to put on a better act for her doctor! Also given that users should have severe mobility problems there should be a time limit on how long they can park. Shop workers locally who have disabled badges park outside their place of work all day for free in a 1 hour space. To add insult to injury you see them carrying heavy goods to and from their cars.

No there are not being premature in calling in the Occupational Therapist. The OT will give you guidance on how to manage your back complaint. She will not be solely interested in your working time but home time as well.