Back Pain Blog

Well my week started off with a trip to my local Hospital for a lumber epidural to help with my back pain. The ward was extremely quiet which was really strange as normally it is really really busy, but apparently the stomach bug which is going round at the moment meant quite a few cancellations from patients and from staff so I was soon in the theatre for my injection.

My pain consultant is soooooooooo sympathetic and kind and puts you at your ease straight away and I had it done on two levels under xray, I'm just keeping my fingers crossed it lasts a lot longer than the last one. We had a long chat about my pain in my lumber and thoracic and with all the medication I am taking it was decided my next move would be a referral to a Neurosurgeon at the Hospital to talk about having a Pain Pump or Spinal Stimulator fitted. I am still finding out about these forms of pain relief but I wont know the full details until I have my consultation with the Neurosurgeon. I do know that this is like the final thing they can do to help with the pain but I am so ready for this to help with my thoracic pain which is driving me mad.

I seem to be able to control my lumber pain with the medication and injections and just rest but the thoracic is just constant but I would love to hear from anyone who has a similar problem or anyone who has had a pump fitted to compare notes or to just find out more about that sort of pain relief.

The last lumber epidural put me in bed for two days but this time it only irritated by back for 24 hrs and I had two of my best nights sleep in ages and was very excited about how well it had gone but soon realised I had spoken tooooo sooooon as my last few nights have been the usual bad ones but I am definitely in less pain in the lumber region which is just great.

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I would love to hear from anyone who has any knowledge on myofascial pain, fibromyalgia and failed back surgery as to whether they are all the same thing or seperate chronic illnessess.

Having being diagnosed with each one at separate times under different specialists I just wonder if it is basically the same thing with three different names. My mission this year is to get my pain control under better condition and started searching the Internet for anything new or helpful on pain management but ended up with so many pages to read through that I just didn't know where to start.

I have been keeping a pain diary ready for my next booked epidural in January as my back has been playing me up something awful over Christmas but I know this has something to do with the circumstances so I'm not too worried about it but I do find it very baffling to see so much information to try and read through.

Look forward to hearing from someone with better knowledge than I have on these syndromes (if that is the correct word for them)?

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Posted By BarMc to BarMac's Diary on 1/01/2008 07:24:00 PM

Well I've been back for another of my sessions at the local hospital. The plan in the day surgery centre was for me to have a nerve block in the side of the neck this time rather than an epidural in my spine. As usual the ward was buzzing with people having pain relief in one way or another and after only about an hour it was my turn to go into theatre.

My consultant had a quick prod around first, to check where the pain was and it was then that he decided that maybe we could try something less obtrusive as I have so much pain in the thoracic area as well as the arm. Soooooo off we went with two injections this time into my shoulder and underneath my shoulder blade into the muscle. I never find the pain of these needles too much as it's only a matter of seconds and we are hoping that these will help more than the previous epidurals as that will mean I can have then every few months, so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

I slept for England when I got home and again today and it just feels a little sore but other than that no change yet but I don't expect miracles just yet.

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Posted By BarMc to BarMac's Diary on 11/13/2007 08:33:00 PM

Hi - i've had one of those weeks this week !! My heel pain behaved itself when I was away last week but this week its driving me up the pole.

It's their first thing in the morning, then its settles down and then its back again by lunch time and then I'm hobbling along all afternoon and the stupid thing about it is that after my afternoon rest it still hurts.

The only good thing is that I've had my hospital appointment for my next epidural and its only two weeks on Monday - yippee !!!!

Sorry about this boring blog but I just get a bit fed up with it sometimes and some how it helps to write it down. I can get comfy typing with both my arms resting on cushions but even trying to hold the newspaper this morning was just so painful.

That's it no more talk of pain. I will be back again shortly to write a blog on us going to Spain again.

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Posted By BarMc to BarMac's Diary on 10/27/2007 09:53:00 PM

I'm really gutted I can't give blood. It was one of my New Year Resolutions this year that I would give blood, lose weight, and learn to speak Spanish. So far, I have achieved my weight loss and started learning Spanish at home with a private tutor. Everything was going hunky dory until I needed to cancel some lessons due to some family commitments ( Dad had his knee operation). My teacher was then off for Maternity leave and although she is now back working again I have not booked any more lesson as I just cannot commit myself to "anything" at the moment until my brother-in-law is back home and settled.

After my last spinal operation (some 9 years ago) I had to have a blood transfusion and ever since then I have vowed I would join the list of blood donors. Then after hearing that my brother-in-law also needed a blood transfusion after his operation it promoted me to finally get it sorted. So, off I popped yesterday, eager to give my blood at last when the nurse gave me the bad news that I couldn't give any. "Why?" you say, well its all because I have had a blood transfusion 9 years ago and it is possible that I could be carrying Variant CJD from it.

It wasn't until December 2003 that evidence came to light that a blood donor may have transmitted vCJD to a patient via a blood transfusion. Scientists are not 100% sure that this is the case as it is still possible that both donor and patient separately acquired vCJD by eating contaminated beef. Even so, in the light of this case donors who have received blood in the UK since 1st January 1980 ( the date BSE became present in the UK food chain) to stop giving blood. People who have received blood since 1980 now belong to a large group that together has a potentially slightly higher risk of exposure to vCJD than the general population. At the moment they are saying it will be OK to give blood after 20 years have passed since my transfusion or if a test comes out that can see if you have it.

What this has meant is that many thousands of blood donors will have to stop giving blood for the time being. Over the coming months and years, this will add up to an enormous number of donations that will be desperately missed. (Medical Fact file August 2004 - National Blood Service)

So, you lot out there - if you haven't given blood yet then please do, you never know when you might need it.

I saw my Doctor today - my usual 8 week check up and chat. As I arrived at the surgery I was given a survey to fill in on what I thought about the surgery, the doctors and waiting lists etc. I've never had any problems with waiting myself as I have such a good Doctor that I feel its better to be late than the Doctor to have rushed you and missed something important.

I was the last appointment of the day and my Doctor knows all my history on my back problems and surgeries and just like to keep up to scratch with what I am having done. She could see I was in a mess with my walking and was as disappointed as me that the epidural had only lasted 6 weeks. She always has the time of day for me and genuinely seems interested in helping me with my back pain which to some people is just not worth worrying about.

She could tell I'd lost weight and wanted to weigh me to see how much I'd lost and has booked me in for another lot of blood tests to check everything is going OK with my liver because of all the drugs I take.

I know I'm lucky to have a Doctor who has the time for you as they are such busy people but it isn't half appreciated when they give it to you.