One more with back pain

[Rainights]

Hi, I have chronic lower back pain. After numerous visits to the GP and various tests , I have been diagnosed with bulgic disk L4 L5 S 1. That was 4 years ago and I am on Co Codamol and Tramadol but I do not seem to get better. I try to be active, I do exercises that I lerned from physiotherapy , tried self help ...to no avail. Pain is not getting any better and the GP is not to sympathetic. He always play it down like is not really a big deal. It is to me because my life changed so dramatically and I am not able to enjoy anything anymore.It is frustrating that people don,t understand how pain affects us differently. How do I get my GP to listen and what else can I try? Thank you

[Dr Sandeep Bawa]

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your problems.

back pain is very common and can have periods where it gets worse and periods where you feel better. In general management involves strengthening your core back muscles, avoid heavy lifting/straininig, and by taking appropriate medication.

Sometimes injections can also help.

Physiotherapists, acupuncture and massage can/may also help.

Hope this helps

Dr Bawa

[Nicola Footman]

Hello

Chronic pain is debilitating and can often lead to low mood/depressive symptoms. I'm not surprised you feel frustrated.

When did you last see a physiotherapist? It might be worth seeing one that specialises in chronic pain. Understanding exactly what is happening within the body with regards to chronic pain is the first step to starting to feel in control of it and can help you manage the symptoms. Keeping a pain/activity diary can indicate if there are days when you are doing too much/too little which can influence your symptoms massively.

Exercise (any type - particularly something you enjoy) has been shown to be an effective way of managing back pain but it's important to find the correct level otherwise you can aggravate your symptoms. Once again, seeking advice from a physiotherapist can help. It's also worth considering other options, such as acupuncture.

Hope you get some help with this.

Nicola

[wendygreen]

Hi,

You've obviously tried very hard to help yourself, so it must be very frustrating to still be suffering from chronic pain.

I agree with Nicola - it may be worth asking for another physiotherapy referral from your GP to check that you're doing the best types and levels of exercise for your particular condition.

Other things you need to consider are your posture - bad posture can put the spine out of alignment and cause chronic pain. A simple rule for good posture is to try to keep your ears, shoulders and hips in a straight line. The better your posture the less strain you place on your back when sitting or standing.

Some people also find eating an anti-inflammatory diet can help relieve pain - that means eating oily fish at least twice a week, plenty of different coloured fruit and vegetables (for a wide range of anti-oxidants), olive and rapeseed oils, nuts and seeds,and adding spices like garlic, turmeric, cumin, chilli and ginger to your cooking.

Some arthritis sufferers also find that taking a supplement like glucosamine, chondroitin, turmeric, Indian frankincense, green-lipped mussel, or SAMe can help to ease their symptoms, so you may want to consider trying one of these. To determine whether or not a supplement is helping you, rate your symptoms from 1-10 before you start taking it and then again after 3 months, to see if there's been an improvement and it's worth continuing.

One final point that's been mentioned often in this clinic is the need to keep at a healthy weight, as excess pounds put extra strain on the back, and are a common cause of chronic back pain.

I hope this helps.

Wendy

[Stephen Kelly]

Hello. I'm sorry to hear that you are still having problems after 4 years. Disc injuries are extremely common and can become very painful if the disc material starts pushing on a nerve. Try to find someone locally who specializes in treating disc injuries. A personal recommendation is a good starting point.

Additionally, have you had an MRI scan, as this will show the exact location and size of the disc injury? If not you do have the option to pay for one privately (you would need to be referred by a GP/chiropractor/osteopath/physio). We use the Cobalt Clinic in Cheltenham and they provide an excellent service.

Hope this helps.
Stephen