This discussion is now closed.
Check out other Related discussions
- Feel like **** every day
- Accutane side effects?
- Anxiety about uni for compsci due to poor gses
- Period cramps
- Urgent response
- No one helping me with my health issues and bullying me about it - please help me!!
- back pain
- Extra time in A-levels
- eating disorder ruining my life
- I havent sat most of my GCSE's
- Stress and symptoms advice needed..
- Failing A Level Law?
- Constant fight with mother
- Disability support at Durham - help please
- Blood clots on the pill
- Failing A level law
- Love or Self Preservation? Should I Stay for His Surgery?
- any ideas?
- Headaches
- Can my dad be classed as disabled for this?
Sick of constant pain
This might sound like an odd question, but I'm having great difficulty getting any practical medical help with my back pain, and I was wondering if anyone has any advice as to what to say?
A little background: I ripped a muscle in my upper back 12 months ago when moving house. Two GP appointments and six months later I was referred for physiotherapy as it hadn't healed - every four or five weeks, something stupid would trigger it, and I'd be in pain for a week again. I still haven't had any physiotherapy yet, and the trouble is I haven't got any adequate pain relief either. I go in, explain I'm taking various painkillers (e.g. two 12.8/500 co-codamols with two 12.8/200 ibuprofen with codeine) and am still in pain; but I come out having been thoroughly fobbed off. For instance, one GP suggested I just took ibuprofen and was unable to comprehend my doubts about fewer painkillers providing better pain relief
.
Anyhow, my main problem now is that the pain isn't for a week at a time any more - it's been steadily escalating since the start of December, and is about as bad as it used to be for a week, but now all the time. The pain is affecting my ability to concentrate, and limiting my ability to travel to and from work. I went to see a GP a few days ago, and am prescribed a tube of NSAID gel to use with oral ibuprofen and paracetamol. This combination, as you might gather from the fact I've posted all of this, doesn't work.
So what on earth am I supposed to say? If anyone knows the magic words to get something which might actually work, please tell me. Or, if anyone knows what to specifically ask for, I'll try that approach too. Right now, I have no ideas beyond asking for some reasonable analgesics (dihydrocodeine, tramadol...), but I sense that GPs are fairly unwilling to prescribe them and I don't want to appear too desperate in case they suspect me of abusing them. So if there's anything they're more likely to be willing to prescribe, that'd be useful to know (excluding diclofenac, which I've tried, and Baclofen which made me paranoid, anxious and confused in the middle of Tesco
).
A little background: I ripped a muscle in my upper back 12 months ago when moving house. Two GP appointments and six months later I was referred for physiotherapy as it hadn't healed - every four or five weeks, something stupid would trigger it, and I'd be in pain for a week again. I still haven't had any physiotherapy yet, and the trouble is I haven't got any adequate pain relief either. I go in, explain I'm taking various painkillers (e.g. two 12.8/500 co-codamols with two 12.8/200 ibuprofen with codeine) and am still in pain; but I come out having been thoroughly fobbed off. For instance, one GP suggested I just took ibuprofen and was unable to comprehend my doubts about fewer painkillers providing better pain relief
.Anyhow, my main problem now is that the pain isn't for a week at a time any more - it's been steadily escalating since the start of December, and is about as bad as it used to be for a week, but now all the time. The pain is affecting my ability to concentrate, and limiting my ability to travel to and from work. I went to see a GP a few days ago, and am prescribed a tube of NSAID gel to use with oral ibuprofen and paracetamol. This combination, as you might gather from the fact I've posted all of this, doesn't work.
So what on earth am I supposed to say? If anyone knows the magic words to get something which might actually work, please tell me. Or, if anyone knows what to specifically ask for, I'll try that approach too. Right now, I have no ideas beyond asking for some reasonable analgesics (dihydrocodeine, tramadol...), but I sense that GPs are fairly unwilling to prescribe them and I don't want to appear too desperate in case they suspect me of abusing them. So if there's anything they're more likely to be willing to prescribe, that'd be useful to know (excluding diclofenac, which I've tried, and Baclofen which made me paranoid, anxious and confused in the middle of Tesco
).
It might not be medication that you need. I have been having a similar problem, although not with my back. Physio isn't helping with the pain, which is affecting my sleep, my concentration and my temper, and makes it impossible for me to drive, brush my hair, dress myself, and a load of other things that I used to take for granted. I've now been referred to a consultant neurologist to see if we can work out what's causing it.
I suggest you go back to the GP and ask if they could refer you to a specialist in pain management, because you don't want to take pain killers indefinitely, and the situation is becoming unmanageable.
I suggest you go back to the GP and ask if they could refer you to a specialist in pain management, because you don't want to take pain killers indefinitely, and the situation is becoming unmanageable.
I have had a back injury for three years now, all I can say is that excercises are your best bet. I know it probably isnt the answer that you want but fixing the problem is always going to be better than covering it up with painkillers. Waiting for the NHS to get round to treating you is pointless, you might as well spend a bit of dosh on going private, its about 30 quid a pop at my physio and they give me special stretches to loosen everything up and although the pain and stiffness never really goes away (I havnt finished treatment yet) it makes it a lot more bearable. Another thing to consider is your posture when sat on the sofa or at work/college/uni, for the past hour Ive been vegging out on the sofa and am paying the price for it now- incredible pain!!! lol
ES - ever tried amitriptyline or gabapentin?
Crowgirl - if they'd told me it would be six months, I would have paid privately. After 8 weeks the 'just take ibuprofen' doctor told me I should have had it by then, and fool that I am I believed her
. I should really stop building my hopes up, but it keeps me going....
Renal - I keep an eye on that side of things (I check the BNF before taking anything, which does note that codeine is too constipating for long-term use) and no problems yet - I eat ridiculous amounts of veg
.
I haven't asked to be referred to a pain clinic yet, but I will bear it in mind. I suspect the answer will be 'wait until you've tried physio', but maybe they'll take me seriously at least. Thanks all .
Crowgirl - if they'd told me it would be six months, I would have paid privately. After 8 weeks the 'just take ibuprofen' doctor told me I should have had it by then, and fool that I am I believed her
. I should really stop building my hopes up, but it keeps me going....Renal - I keep an eye on that side of things (I check the BNF before taking anything, which does note that codeine is too constipating for long-term use) and no problems yet - I eat ridiculous amounts of veg
.I haven't asked to be referred to a pain clinic yet, but I will bear it in mind. I suspect the answer will be 'wait until you've tried physio', but maybe they'll take me seriously at least
. Thanks all .Okay, I am going tomorrow to see a GP with a good reputation for not just fobbing patients off, hurrah. Fingers crossed, on Friday I'll be able to get through 9-5 being productive, rather than conking out every two hours and having to wait another two before I can take anything to help .
.
My GP had to talk me into Tramadol rather than out of it. He wrote up a prescription for the stuff knowing I may never 'cash it in' so to speak.
I seriously suggest going to your GP and basically demand for a referral for physio and stronger painkillers. The only way you're going to get better is if you make the moves - GP's are far too complacent so I usually end up saying 'this is what I have, this is what I want' rather than saying 'ooh I'm in pain, what can you do for me?' lol.
ETA; Bingo, a good GP
I seriously suggest going to your GP and basically demand for a referral for physio and stronger painkillers. The only way you're going to get better is if you make the moves - GP's are far too complacent so I usually end up saying 'this is what I have, this is what I want' rather than saying 'ooh I'm in pain, what can you do for me?' lol.
ETA; Bingo, a good GP
Dont think i can give much advice but i have a funny back and i also have a bad hip, which is just like what you describe. Sometimes it doesnt hurt for weeks, sometimes for a few days, sometimes it absoloutely kills for more than a week. I think its so weak it gets strained at the slightest pull. I've never tried any physio for it though, because by the time i think about it its all better.
My dads got a bad back and has a pain reliever thing from the chemist. It sends pulses and it does to help a bit. I got m pain from having horses and overstretching myself. But i do know how you feel!
My dads got a bad back and has a pain reliever thing from the chemist. It sends pulses and it does to help a bit. I got m pain from having horses and overstretching myself. But i do know how you feel!
Helenia
Physio does take ages though - I was referred in March and didn't get seen till October. Hope you get seen soon!
He said he'd ring up today and speak to someone, rather than just filing an enquiry through the automated system. And now, I have a cancellation on Monday morning
. Damn, he's good.I know the feeling of being fobbed off - my doctor when I moved away from uni diagnosed me as "weird" and my current consultant is a bit "I think this is wrong with you and nothing else". It's good that you got somebody though Kepp hold of the good doctor! I'm considering resorting to taking regular trips home and getting mum to make an appointment with my nice old doctor to be taken seriously
Gabapentin - I've had that, didn't take to it very well, ended up nearly suicidal on it which was rectified within a week of being off it. I get Trazodone which works relatively well but not completely.
Kepp hold of the good doctor! I'm considering resorting to taking regular trips home and getting mum to make an appointment with my nice old doctor to be taken seriously Gabapentin - I've had that, didn't take to it very well, ended up nearly suicidal on it which was rectified within a week of being off it. I get Trazodone which works relatively well but not completely.
Related discussions
- Feel like **** every day
- Accutane side effects?
- Anxiety about uni for compsci due to poor gses
- Period cramps
- Urgent response
- No one helping me with my health issues and bullying me about it - please help me!!
- back pain
- Extra time in A-levels
- eating disorder ruining my life
- I havent sat most of my GCSE's
- Stress and symptoms advice needed..
- Failing A Level Law?
- Constant fight with mother
- Disability support at Durham - help please
- Blood clots on the pill
- Failing A level law
- Love or Self Preservation? Should I Stay for His Surgery?
- any ideas?
- Headaches
- Can my dad be classed as disabled for this?
Latest
Trending
Last reply 1 month ago
Engineering vs. Medicine: Stuck Between Dreams and ExpectationsLast reply 1 month ago
heyyy , im new heree and im willing to have some friends xxxLast reply 1 month ago
Im 16 and never had a gf and it doesnt feel ok.
