From the age of 8-14 i was seen at hospital for Scoliosis for years i would have xrays and check ups, since then nothing? confused! because i was young i only know that i have a lower curve of my spine (sorry dont know technical words)
More recently i complained of lower back pain which my doctor agreed and gave me cocodamol as nothing i was taking worked. I am also currently waiting for a physio appointment as my dr said that it may help? not sure but i will try it, however that has been 3 weeks and i still have heard nothing!
Since complaining of lower back pain though i am now having more problems, the spasms are becoming more frequent and shooting up my back and making me gasp when they are bad, these are slowly getting worse. Again i spoke with my doctor and he didnt seem concerned, i however am.
I am working and it is a desk job but i can walk around and split the length of sitting down. Also a hot water bottle does help when i am at home at work is slightly more difficult. I currently have to sleep with a pillow under my back so i am more comfortable. I am also sleeping seperately from my hubby as his matress is way too soft for me to sleep on.
This is driving me mad and i just need the pain to stop. Can anyone offer advice please?
I have seen my GP the same one i might add twice for this in the last few weeks, the problem with my surgery is you cant get an appointment for weeks! not helpful.
I know i have scoliosis that has never been in doubt i just need the pain to be eased as nothing i am doing is working.
I have cocodamol which i take if it is to the point where i cant function, i have had 2 so far today and every time i move today it is hurting like mad!
Hi Dawn, I was the same from the age of 14 -16 ny hopital appts were like yours then nothing. Oct 2012 I was in agony with pain in my shoulder. After 10 weeks my GP referred me to our local muscula skeleto clinic. Saw a physio who said that I just have pain and it will go. Devistated, and also refused an MRi or ultrasound I went private.
In2012 I had a trapped nerve in my neck, and went to see an osteo who made a remarkable difference to the pain, but could do nothing to the pain in my back due to the scoliosis. The osteo referred me to a consultant who I initially saw privately who did spinal injection in my neck. He also is the top surgeon for spinal surgery and specialises in scoliosis. I guess I struck lucky. He transfered me to his NHS list Feb 2014, and Feb2015 I had my scoliosis operation. Top curve 71degrees bottom 48degrees. Iam 6mths post op and can honestly say all I can feel is the tightness in the back due to the fusion. A few aches and pains now but I generally feel great. Couldnot make me fully straight as over the years the spine stiffened but my top curve is now 37degrees and bottom curve almost straight.
I would go back to your doctor and demand he transfers you to see a specialsit as a GP does not have the kowledge of a consultant in spinal problems. He cannot refuse as he will be compromising his position as a GP.
I am not saying you need an op, but at least seeing a consultant who specialises in scoliosis can give you an honest opinion.
Not sure where you are in the world, but if you are in the Uk and can afford a consultation at a BMI hospital -- roughly £200 you would get an answer. Lot of money I know but at the end of the day if it gives you an answer as to how you are and what can be done for you then worth doing i thinkn. You do not have to have a referal to do this I believe.
while I was in great pain I used ice packs and sat in hard seated chairs and did not slouch around. Obviously pain relief from the docs as well.
Good luck with whatever you decide. Remember you should not be inpain if there is a solution.
Dawn I too was given horrendous painkillers which worked for a day or two and then stopped working. After sitting for any length of time I was writhing so since the Physio made it worse too, I decided to try a TENS machine. Three days of using this stopped the pain completely (I bought the one that is normally sold to the NHS from the biggest general online site there is). I went for my next session of Physio which started up the pain again, so used the TENS for three days again (both times as they suggest - about 8 hours the first day, I think it was, reducing the next day and the next day, and that kept me completely pain free) and haven't needed to use it since - been pain free for about 6 weeks or so now. The TENS was around £25 and is the best £25 I've ever spent! BUT, I do understand they don't work for everyone. I just hope it might be a solution for you.
Dawn, you can actually hire them from pharmacies, but we were told it was £15 to hire it and it was only £25 to buy it and the one we bought was much better than the one we could have hired. The one I got was the dual channel medfit, and I see it's now £26.95 (with free next day delivery on Prime). But like you, I'd tried the heat pad, and then when the physio made it worse, really this was a last ditch attempt but it was absolutely amazing! The pharmacist where I'd enquired about hiring one told me they only work while you're using them. This wasn't true - it somehow affects the nerve so it works permanently, which to me is little short of miraculous:-)
After deciding physio was not for me, i went to see an osteopath who said my lower spine has become inflammed at the joint hence im finding it hard to move. Also the muscles are inflammed as they are irritated due to me not moving correctly, she worked wonders and although i am still sore it feels much better than before and i am not relying on the pills either.
she advised pilates to strengthen my core muscles and to rebook for a couple of months time, although i can go back sooner if need be. This is going to be ongoing and then she said i may be prone to arthritis also when i am older! great!
just thought i would update you and thank you for your help again
That's good that you've got an improvement Dawn. I've started a lot more exercise now - got an exercise bike first and it was amazing how much fitter we both felt very quickly, and where before using that I used to feel my spine sort of pulling, I think its helped with that and I can't feel any discomfort at all now, and then we got a treadmill. I can't use that a huge amount because of the arthritis in the knees but do use it a bit to help with bone density, so it's all about finding what works for you. I wish you well with everything Keep us updated:-)
