FlyTVR said:I've suffered with a bad back since I was 16. Having a hard time of it right now
I realise there is no one cure for all, but just wondering what has helped you in the past?
Cheers.
Dav
That ^^^ reminded me that heat really helps me and every doctor I've ever seen says it helps to strengthen your abs. A Strong core will take some of the weight off your back and ease the stress on your painful area
have you actually been to see anyone about it?
we could sit here and suggest things until the cows come home but they could have completely the opposite effect for your issue.
16 years is a long time to have a bad back, could potentially be something that needs therapy to rectify.
Thanks all.
I have had scans (including Mri), and they have revealed nothing
Tried -
Osteos,
Chiros,
Accupuncture,
Alexander technique,
etc
I think the key for me long term is going to be more gentle exercise. Being a t a desk is not for me
Dav
have you had a full workstation assessment done by your employer?
I've had issues with my lower back for years. Went to an Osteo spent over £800 and nothing got better, he referred me to my GP who said exercise more change my mattress etc... Bow I Only weigh 9.8 stone dont smoke and am very active.
I asked for a second opinion at the reception and cut a long story short Had an MRI scan shows L5 & S1 bulging and degenerating. I have tried the Steriod injections but they dont last long.
I have now had a Discography and I now have to have A 2 level PLIF Fusion in 3 months time. :-(
So my advice would be to get an MRI scan to pinpoint your problem
I used to suffer a lot with a bad back when I was younger but luckily not so much any more. Ive been to the doctors about it a few times when its got really bad but the best diagnosis I got was Dont worry about it, its totally normal for a person of your height. So for all you people that are 6ft4, if you suffer from back pain that is so bad you can barely get out of bed in the morning then stop whinging about it, its completely normal and there is nothing you can do about it ..according to the NHS doctors that we pay lots of our taxes for.
totally agree with you about getting an MRI scan
i too have had back problems for many years.around 1999 i had several visitsto ahighly regarded ostepopath who after several visits had actually made me far worse.he had not noticed that due to a motorcycle accident many years before where i had smashed my Fema to pieces,where it had healed i had one leg almost 12mm longer than the other and he had tried to straighten my posture.i ended up in hospital where the physiotherapist managed to calm my spasms.i had x/rays which were inconclusive and after another 4 years of pain i had my 1st MRI which showed the damage to my lower ligaments in my spine,the3 cartlidgehad gone and the bones had clearly gone through years of trying to heal themselves by virtually grafting to each other,without actually doing so.eventually i was offered the same PLIF Fusion but 'bottled' it due to being told what the procedureinvolved and the poor success rate of this in 2003.after years of strongpainkillers and a 2nd MRI cscan i started having steroid injections in 2009 and am due now to have my 7th procedure in january.fortunatly for me they do work and have given me some relief for upto 4-5 months,the mainproblem with these is that the bodygets used to them and they can become less effective,but they are backed up with Amytryptilene,Lyrica,Gabapentin,Tramadol,Buscopan,Meloxicam,Morphine Patches and Morphine Sulphate(liquid)...yes im on the lot
i worry about the long term solution butmy back pain is under control
i had several visitsto ahighly regarded ostepopath who after several visits had actually made me far worse.he had not noticed that due to a motorcycle accident many years before where i had smashed my Fema to pieces,where it had healed i had one leg almost 12mm longer than the other and he had tried to straighten my posture.
totally agree with you about getting an MRI scan
i too have had back problems for many years.around 1999 i had several visitsto ahighly regarded ostepopath who after several visits had actually made me far worse.he had not noticed that due to a motorcycle accident many years before where i had smashed my Fema to pieces,where it had healed i had one leg almost 12mm longer than the other and he had tried to straighten my posture.i ended up in hospital where the physiotherapist managed to calm my spasms.i had x/rays which were inconclusive and after another 4 years of pain i had my 1st MRI which showed the damage to my lower ligaments in my spine,the3 cartlidgehad gone and the bones had clearly gone through years of trying to heal themselves by virtually grafting to each other,without actually doing so.eventually i was offered the same PLIF Fusion but 'bottled' it due to being told what the procedureinvolved and the poor success rate of this in 2003.after years of strongpainkillers and a 2nd MRI cscan i started having steroid injections in 2009 and am due now to have my 7th procedure in january.fortunatly for me they do work and have given me some relief for upto 4-5 months,the mainproblem with these is that the bodygets used to them and they can become less effective,but they are backed up with Amytryptilene,Lyrica,Gabapentin,Tramadol,Buscopan,Meloxicam,Morphine Patches and Morphine Sulphate(liquid)...yes im on the lot
i worry about the long term solution butmy back pain is under control
umm, arent you supposed to tell them of anything like this before any diagnosis?
my osteo wanted to know the ins and outs of a cows bum back to when i was an infant..
Losing a significant amount of weight (around 20%) has helped my back no end and has also improved my posture which has also helped. Then again, I was close to 21 stone before the weight loss, so a bad back was the least of my worries!
Might be worth seeing if any local Yoga teachers are offering classes aimed at back pain sufferers.
yes is the awnser to your question.and yes he was told of my bike accident.what the osteopath had failed to consider was that i had one leg longer than the other,and this was something that even i was unaware of until 'measured' up by the physiotherapist i saw in hospital who began the muscle relaxent treatment.it was never in my medical notes either until then.the motor cycle accident happened in 1976 and i made a full recovery.the phsio was treating me for extreme back pain and spasms caused through trying to lift a large heavy gate out of a frozen padbolt in the ground,the gate did not move but my back snapped.
both phsio,gp,and the consultants that have treated me since are all sure the pain ive been in since is a direct consequence of the gate accident and the immediate follow up osteopathy treatment.
what i forgot to mention in my previous comment was that when i was 1st offered the opp to weld the spine.it was the consultant basically saying that "your back is broken fella" and "has been for years by the looks of this MRI scan".it may sound odd to anyone reading this that i have personal issues for not having this opp.my dad died a few years after breaking his back.he was a dock worker in 'royal albert docks' in north woolwich area of london.this was in very early days of containers being lifted of ships and one of these fell on my dad nearly killing him,he spent a year in hospital on a 'spit' to heal his broken spine.he was told he would be paralised waist down and never walk again.within 6 months of coming out of hospital he was out of his wheelchair and walking.he died a few years later after several massive heart attacks.my family all know they were caused by the years of massive pain he was in with his back.i guess my issue on having back surgery revolves around this.
when having the steroid injections the surgeon uses a scan to direct the injection.the surgeon also uses the scan to advise me of the latest condition of this area.over the 3 years of these injections there has been some but very little worsening of the joints but you are correct,the opp is still stongly suggested as a solution.something that for some years i have not been able to come to accept.i know i should and i know i cannot
Neil: please do keep me updated on how the surgery goes.including aftercare and how you are progressing,improvements etc,all would be much appreciated
Thanks all.
I have had scans (including Mri), and they have revealed nothing
Tried -
Osteos,
Chiros,
Accupuncture,
Alexander technique,
etc
I think the key for me long term is going to be more gentle exercise. Being a t a desk is not for me
Dav
You might want to look at getting a different pain specialist. One of those is for abdominal cramping associated with the Gi and GU tract.
This sounds very like the way my back is. I feel for you it's horrible.
Sometimes I'm in so much pain I can't sleep and somedays can't put my own socks on or wash my lower half in the shower. No way to be at 24
I'm a Chartered Physiotherapist.
OP
You history is quite a common one. For most people there is nothing structurally wrong with a painful back - i.e. nothing broken, ruptured, out of place. So MRI scans don't usually show anything useful.
For most people the best programme is:
1. Keep active - do sport/exercise. Choose things you enjoy and which don't aggravate your back. (walk, swim, gym, cycle, dance, badminton etc etc)
2. Core muscle strengthening. This is NOT sit-ups etc. An NHS physiotherapist will teach you how to do this. Or a good Pilates teacher (not a gym instructor who does a bit of Pilates on the side)
3. Avoid static positions. When you are sitting at home/work get up and move briefly every 15-20 minutes. Go for a walk at lunch time.
4. Think very carefully whenever you bend or lift. ALWAYS bend your knees when bending or lifting - make it the habit of a lifetime.
5. Use pain control as needed. Don't be a martyr about it. Use heat, TENS, tablets (speak to GP/pharamcist first), gentle massage, movement (eg walk).
There's lots more to say, but the above should make quite a big difference. If I see someone in my clinic I would always do a thorough examination as well.