Luckily the pain stopped a few days later, but I was left with an intermittent back ache, and occasional pain, which has persisted ever since. I've no idea what's causing it and I don't think my doctor does either. When I spoke to her on the phone a few days ago she thought it was a "musculo-skeletal weakness" and said she would refer me to a physiotherapist.
Chronic pain afflicts an awful lot of people - over 40 per cent of the UK population. Some 17 per cent suffer from back pain. Yet back pain is still hard to diagnose because there are so many possible causes. Which means it's also hard to treat successfully.
After two friends recommended it, I tried a chiropractor who relieved me of a large sum of money but had no effect at all on my back.
I must say I was disappointed by the doctor's response. Obviously I have a "musculo-skeletal weakness" (how vague is that?) but the question is, what's causing it? I was expecting her to suggest scans or X rays or some other investigation but she didn't. I'm doubtful physiotherapy is the answer, as some years ago I saw a physiotherapist for a different condition and she concluded that physio wasn't helping me and wasn't the right treatment.
My back ache/pain is especially annoying when it spoils one of my favourite activities - walking. It often occurs after I've been walking for 20 minutes or so. It's bearable but it mars my enjoyment somewhat.
All I can do is keep googling back ache and see if anything useful comes up.
You could try acupuncture. I had six months of dreadful pain in my back after a day spent telling at an election and foolishly taking to my bed the next day. Painkillers had me woozy and the pain always returned, then I tried acupuncture - not thinking it would work but willing to try anything. It worked...and no back problems in the forty odd years since.
ReplyDeleteFly: I did think of acupuncture but I don't know anyone who's tried it. Your recommendation is helpful. No back problems in 40 years is quite something.
DeleteI hope it gets better or, at least, doesn't worsen.
ReplyDeleteI had a herniated disk in 1996. After a week of bed rest for it, I rolled over in bed to reach for a paper and had the most excruciating pain I've ever felt. An ambulance ride to the hospital... waiting to see a doctor for what seemed like forever... waiting to see what if anything they could do... got an injection for pain in the area.
I already had an appointment for a neurosurgeon set up. After the injection, the next day or so, the pain really subsided and by the time I saw the neurosurgeon, it was much, much less. We decided to wait for a while to see if surgery was needed.
I still have occasional symptoms, sciatica, but never had the surgery.
Mike: Do you remember what you had an injection of? Luckily I don't have sciatica - the doctor asked me about that.
DeleteThat was a long time ago. I don't know if I ever knew.
DeleteI read something years later that said that, often, for conditions like I had, the long-term (over several years) prognosis would be very similar for those who had surgery and those that didn't.
I had a flareup of sciatica in 2018 while on holiday and got an injection from an urgent care facility in Idaho. I don't remember what that was, though it's probably digitally available in my records.
Mike: Yes, I've often read that back surgery is very hit and miss, it might be curative or it might not. It might even make the problem worse. And you'd have to be very certain you knew exactly what the problem was before operating.
DeleteI did something similar while lifting bags of topsoil into a wheelbarrow. I think my back hurt for six weeks, but the older we get, the longer the recovery. The problem with chronic pain is that the only thing most doctors do is prescribe pain killers, which has led to the opioid crisis. I think your best bet is a physical therapist who can give you exercises to do to strengthen your back.
ReplyDeleteBijoux: The doctor did suggest painkillers but like you I like to avoid drugs of any description. Unfortunately, due to the endless underfunding of the NHS, I have a long wait to see the physiotherapist.
DeleteDoes anyone else recommend acupuncture?
ReplyDeleteGood luck! Back are notoriously hard to diagnose and treat.
ReplyDeleteJean: They are. Hopefully I will find a way forward.
Deletemy father and my husband both suffered with severe back pain.
ReplyDeletelately a friend sent me a documentary that I watched and became a believer in trying its scientific findings.
I think it's been out a few years yet I knew nothing about it. you might be familiar with it already.
I've had bursitis (that's what they called it anyway) in my right leg for years. I had just learned to put up with it. I have tried the grounding mat here at home and the pain is GONE. I'm taking it all slowly and with a healthy skepticism. but I have to say... it also has stopped all swelling in my feet and ankles.
so I'm encouraged. the premise is that all pain is from inflammation. I definitely found it worth watching.
back pain is the Worst because as you say... it interferes with your enjoyment of life!
in case you should be interested...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44ddtR0XDVU&authuser=0
Tammy: I've never heard of a grounding mat. It seems to have been helpful with your leg pain and swelling. Could be worth a try.
Deletethe best of all is apparently just barefoot on the earth itself! but I live in an apartment and can't easily do that. I definitely would check it out. I do feel better. and I HATE drugs and most western medicine. this is natural. and there are NO side effects. that alone made it worthwhile for me.
Deleteapparently doctors and scientists are testing it now with their MRI's etc... and have found inflammation where there was some... is gone.
enough to make them take notice and begin studying it anyway! good luck Nick.
Tammy: Interesting that the inflammation seems to disappear. Barefoot on earth would be hazardous in our garden - lots of prickly leaves from the holly tree, and the odd bit of pigeon crap!
DeleteLOL!!! no thanks. ya gotta watch that pigeon crap! :D
DeleteTammy: Bloody pigeons, crapping wherever they fancy....
DeleteMy posture is the main cause of my back pain. When I can remember to stand correctly the pain goes away. It seems wrong to not let the pain bend me over but doing so only makes it worse.
ReplyDeleteLinda: I'm a bit hunch-backed as I have a noticeable curvature of the spine. But that never bothered me until two years ago.
DeleteBest wishes, Nick. I broke my back, literally. Crushed a couple of lumbar discs. Nothing has fixed it.
ReplyDeleteJoanne: Indeed you did. So you must be on a permanent regime of potent painkillers. Most unfortunate.
DeleteDespite my hips having been replaced and revised with no more possibilities of revisions, I practice yoga with asanas that do not put any strain on my hip joints to avoid problems with my back. Since I started that routine, I have never had any back ache at all for the last thirty years.
ReplyDeleteRamana: I tried yoga once but gave up after several lessons. I think I just didn't have enough patience or persistence, being a restless twenty something! No back ache for 30 years is quite something.
DeleteI'm so sorry to hear this. You've received a lot of good advice here. Perhaps you just need enforced rest and an anti inflammatory meds for a few weeks/months. Something obviously happened and needs to heal.
ReplyDeleteColette: All the health advice online seems to be don't rest but stay active. I might try anti-inflammatories for a while and see what happens.
DeleteI've had debilitating back pain a few times in my life, brought on by ridiculous things like putting clothes in a drawer, leaning round to close a door or brushing the dog. My doctor gave me a couple of exercises, which I've been doing regularly and so far, touch wood, I've been ok. I think yoga helps too.
ReplyDeletePolly: Maybe I should reconsider yoga. It does seem to relax the muscles, which might help.
DeleteBack pain is terrible. I'm sorry they aren't doing enough to figure out what is causing it. it took almost 6 months for Ken's doctors to figure out that he had fractured a vertebrae years ago. He had to have surgery to fix it. I've cramped my back up a few times and that was bad. I hope the pain isn't too bad and it either goes away or they figure something out.
ReplyDeleteMary: Shocking that it took six months to diagnose the problem. But at least they did some proper investigations, which my doctor doesn't think are necessary.
DeleteAsk for the X ray. Say: Please can I have an X ray and they will most likely refer you for one. It has taken me a while to learn that talking to a doctor is a different game these days, i.e. you have to suggest what is wrong with you and they will say 'yay' or 'nay'. I think they expect you to Google the life out of your symptoms and self-diagnose, either correctly or otherwise.
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, I have learnt, and when I asked for an X ray for my knee I was immediately referred.
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P.S I am also on the physio wait list - I think it might be a long wait.
Ms Scarlet: Useful advice, thank you. I haven't had much contact with doctors the last few years so I hadn't thought about being more demanding. I must say googling back ache hasn't thrown up anything very helpful - my symptoms are rather different from the ones they mention.
DeleteI had the exact same problem with Google - nothing matched my symptoms, and then my doctor claimed bafflement! People have said to me to be firm when I consult a doctor - firm and clear about what I want so there can be no misunderstanding. I hadn't consulted a doctor in over ten years - it's all changed! Be firm, Nick, and don't let them fob you off. Remember, their main objective is to get through the list of patients they have to see as quickly as possible. Your objective is to find out what's causing your pain - and how not to cause more pain.
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Ms Scarlet: Thanks for that. I shall bear all that in mind when I next see/talk to the doctor.
DeleteAlso, I think doctors are more tolerant of younger patients - I think they are bored with mid-lifers who present with wear and tear - because that's generally what we we have - wear and tear.
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Ms Scarlet: Do you think so? That might explain her rather cursory response.
DeletePerhaps spinal x-rays are in order, especially if the physical therapy doesn't eventually relieve the pain. Muscular exercises can take a while to take effect for muscle strengthening. Might be spinal disc issues affecting the nerves among other things. Hope you get an answer.
ReplyDeleteJoared: It's all very puzzling. I'll see if the physiotherapy does any good.
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