It was at the beginning of August that I finally relented and spoke to the doctor about my bad back. I do tend to suffer with things until they get so bad that I have no option but to seek help. I had a telephone consultation and the doctor thought I was suffering with Sciatica which I tend to agree with as I have a terrible pain shooting from my back down my left leg. The doctor referred me for physiotherapy but warned it could be a long time until I got an appointment.
I didn't mind waiting as the pain I was suffering with in my back had abated. I finally had a telephone consultation with a physiotherapist on the 21st of October, not as long a wait as I was expecting, and was given some exercises to help strengthen my back. By pure coincidence, I'd had some twinges again the day before the appointment but they were only twinges and nothing bad.
There's sheets of exercises which the physiotherapist recommended so I got straight on with them. He said it was important to keep up with them daily so that's what I've been doing, however, the twinges I was having in my back were getting worse. Last week, my back was so bad again that there was no way I could keep up with the exercises, in fact, I couldn't do very much at all. I don't think it's the exercises which have aggravated my back as I'd had those twinges the day before I had my appointment, I think it's just one of those things.
I'm pleased to say that my back feels a lot better again this week so I'm back on with the exercises and I'm trying to do more than I was doing last week too. I do feel better if I sit and rest but I know this won't help me in the long run.
I'm hoping that in time, the exercises will help strengthen my back and will prevent these bouts of pain. We'll just have to wait and see.
It's the worse thing to have a bad back, I'm lucky mine is not too painful and not so often, I hope you get yours sorted. As for waiting in hope it gets better, I'm the same, hubby is always on to me to call the doctors/dentist.
ReplyDeleteHope it gets better soon - persistent pain really is a pain.
ReplyDeletePlease be careful with the exercises, Tom had a bad back and some of the exercises just made it worse, pick and choose which one's are best for you and let's hope it soon gets better.
ReplyDeleteBriony
x
Do you take any supplements Jo? I had terrible back pain and spasms. I was spending £27 every other week on a Chiropractor. Then I read an article about Omega 3. I started with a high dose 1500mg and now just have a 250mg and touch wood I've not suffered since. If I do get a twinge I up the dose! I hope you find a solution because it is so debilitating and depressing.
ReplyDeleteI don't take any supplements but I shall definitely look into this, thank you.
DeleteBack pain is so horrid, isn't it? It stops you from doing even the most basic of things and you just feel so useless. I do hope your physio exercises help. Just as an aside, my back pain was (eventually) diagnosed as psoriatic arthritis which was a complete surprise to me as I don't have psoriasis! I am on meds for that which cleared the back pain - unless I do too much sewing but I just sit for an evening with a hot bag at my back and I'm usually as right as rain the next day.
ReplyDeleteDear Jo
ReplyDeletePoor you - back pain is not something that can be easily ignored and you don;t realise how important your back is until it hurts! I hope you improve and the pain goes.
Best wishes
Ellie
My sympathies, and I hope that you feel better soon. Take care. xx
ReplyDeleteI feel so sorry for you Jo, my back first went off at work 22 years ago and i've had flare ups on and off ever since. I hate these telephone consultations you need a proper examination and a physiotherapist needs to be with you when you first start to do the exercises to be sure they are being done properly with follow ups to see if they are working and to change them if necessary. I hope it improves soon. xx
ReplyDeleteI do hope you feel better soon. I am not keen on these telephone consultations but I suppose its better than risking contact. Take care.
ReplyDeleteSorry you are still suffering with your back Jo, hopefully it will improve over time once you can get back into the exercises. They do say to keep moving not sit too long with a bad back, that's hard when your'e in pain though. Take care x
ReplyDeleteJo, I do feel for you with back pain & you really need to keep on top of it & "do not" wait till it gets worse. Having been in severe lockdown here I've had to wait for everything till now & can do some catching up & one of course has been my back, as you know I've scoliosis & osteoporosis & with my age, it's never going to get better, so management is the only way to move forward. I also see a physiologist & I'm lucky that my massage lady is a trained physio too who now only does her regulars for massages, though I've not had one since February, but hopefully, very soon. Take care, stay safe & huggles.
ReplyDeleteOh, sorry to hear about your back pain Jo, it's awful when it kicks off. Good to know you have been seen to and have exercises sorted. Here's to a pain free Christmas.xxx
ReplyDeleteI do feel sorry for you, back pain and sciatica is awful. My husband is a sufferer and takes strong painkillers. He's had all sorts of treatments, I remember him having acupuncture which didn't help much. I do hope you feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the exercises, I hope your back responds well to them and that pain goes away.
ReplyDeleteI hope you feel an improvement soon, Jo. Back pain is so debilitating. In my very limited experience of discomfort I found some gentle yoga helped. X
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you're having problems with your back, it can be terribly painful I know. Hopefully the exercises will help.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to read your back is still causing you pain and problems. I do hope the exercises help.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine found that Pilates helped, but with anything like Physio, Pilates, Yoga I think you need to make sure the instructions etc are clear and you do target the correct area.
Omega 3 may also be helpful. This is quite a good article to read:
https://losethebackpain.com/omega-3-fatty-acids-for-pain-relief/
Hoping you do find relief soon, sending healing wishes.
All the best Jan
I am really sorry to hear that you are suffering with back pain Jo, that must be so debilitating. Like Jules I find yoga so helpful for any aches and pains that I have. I can thoroughly recommend Yoga with Adrienne, she has many free videos on her website or on YouTube, I am willing to bet there is one there for back pain.
ReplyDeleteOh Jo, poor you! I'm sending a virtual slice of chocolate cake and a big, strong hug.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
I hope the exercises do the trick Jo, there is nothing worse than being in pain. My friend suffers from sciatica and she swears by yoga, she's found a lot of gentle yoga sequences on YouTube.
ReplyDeletexx