Back Pain - how to get the GP to take action?!

[PistonRings]

Sorry, this has turned into a massive essay whilst writing. Tldr at the bottom...

Long story, I have a long history of back issues since 2003. Jan 1st 2021 I slipped a disc running, knew instantly that's what it was and drugged up for a few days but wasn't improving like before so called GP and was told it was probably a urine infection....

8 months later after multiple calls to the GP, 111 calls, A&E visits, black outs etc, I finally got my GP to refer me to a specialist (after going in to the surgery and demanding they read my notes from A&E) who immediately refers me for an MRI which subsequently showed a prolapsed disc (L5-S1). Urgent referral for a nerve block however with these things you have good days and bad days and come nerve block pre assessment they declined it and told me to return when it was bad. A few days later I was back in agony and on the phone to the consultant to be told I'd been fast tracked before, but was now on the normal wait list.....that was November. They've now told me to go back to the GP and start the process again.

Since November, I've had 3 major episodes of pain, one so bad I blacked out on the landing narrowly missing introducing my face to the wall or going down the stairs. I'm pretty sure these are when the disc comes out, and it then takes 3-4 weeks to feel OK again, then it happens again.

My GP just gives drugs, however much I put across the impact this has on my life, they aren't willing to do anything more. Although I've had 3 major incidences of pain, every day I'm struggling, I couldn't put my socks on today for example!

How can I try and get this to move forwards? I've tried to transfer to a different GP, tried going direct to the specialists, tried the consultant, but nothing is working.

I'm generally one to just crack on with things and not be deterred trying to live my life, but psychologically this is having a much bigger affect on me than physically, I love riding, driving, running round and playing with my kid but for the last year and a bit those times have been few and far between, often resulting in me regretting it in the evening being in agony. I'm worried that if I can't get something done soon, it might have a long term detrimental affect on my physical health. I joke with my wife she'll be my primary carer before I'm 35...

Not a powerfully built director so not really in a position to go privately. If its the only option I'd find a way...

Tl:dr - GP won't take issue seriously, can't change GP's, how can I get them to take action? Or do I just stop whinging and go private?

[Don1]

Go private, also look for a good soft tissue physio type - I went from much the same and 30 years of back pain to being pain free. I hope the same for you.

[Sheets Tabuer]

I've had L5 go too, I know it's extremely painful however I had the luck of a brother with the same condition at the same time. he took one route and I took the other. He went the surgery route and is now in a wheelchair with constant pain, I went the 12 months of pain killers and I'm almost pain free (albeit with the occasional flair up.

I went to the gym, did squats, and kept mobile, I'm doing very well, he's falling on his arse and can't stand.

You take your chance I suppose.

[joshcowin]

My wife had serious problems the gp did their best CT scans MRI x Ray all completed during covid times but in the end we were waiting so long for treatment we ended up going private

[numtumfutunch]

Sheets Tabuer said:

I've had L5 go too, I know it's extremely painful however I had the luck of a brother with the same condition at the same time. he took one route and I took the other. He went the surgery route and is now in a wheelchair with constant pain, I went the 12 months of pain killers and I'm almost pain free (albeit with the occasional flair up.

I went to the gym, did squats, and kept mobile, I'm doing very well, he's falling on his arse and can't stand.

You take your chance I suppose.

Pretty much this as successful treatment for back pain appears a bit of a lottery

I had an L5S1 disc squish lifting weights
Was nasty with constant pain and I was dosed up massively on painkillers
This was before Covid and I was fortunate to see a surgeon quickly who basically told me 90% get better on their own and an operation wouldnt guarantee cure and could possibly leave me worse off with complications
2 months of hell later the disc bulge wasted away and Ive been fine since

A pal had a similar experience and had surgery with a different surgeon
His symptoms were milder than mine
As you may have guessed he took ages to get back to normal after the op and is in exactly the same position with back pain as he was beforehand

Good luck

[PistonRings]

Cheers all, hearing go private, stay mobile and try and wait it out.

Will investigate options tomorrow

Don1 said:

... I went from much the same and 30 years of back pain to being pain free. I hope the same for you

30 years glad you got it sorted and thanks for your wishes

[sutoka]

Have a herniated disc, black disc and dengerative disc on L5S1 since someone slammed into my stationary car at speed over three years ago and it's been a tale of woe ever since. Had to quit my job then misdiagnosed 6 times by a GP, followed by an X-Ray, 10 rounds of physio, 3 rounds of hydrotherapy. Then a MRI private, then some epidural steroid injections private, they didn't work so been on the NHS waiting list for the last two and bit years. In that time I've had more X-Rays, two more MRI, a bone scan and CT each time you wait months for the report.

Basically my life is a nightmare. Can't shuffle and limp about more than 20m without being in immense pain, can't climb steep hills, can't go shopping without the risk of painful leg cramps, several of those a day. Stairs are very difficult. Can't lift anything more than 2kg. On the days I do venture out I am physically exhausted the next day and legs feel very numb. Sciatica almost every day which shows some sort of nerve damage (still awaiting a test)

Last time I spoke to my GP he said he couldn't help me other than prescribe strong opioids which he wouldn't advise I drive on or even leave the house alone while taking. His idea of me having a life is sitting doped up in front of the TV watching mind numbing daytime TV.

Then add to that as a fairly young man my social life has all but disappeared due to the mobility issues, not really supposed to drink either and confidence and self esteem has all but gone so not going to be the life and soul of any setting.

So yes I went to my GP a day after the accident, went to NHS consultant, private spinal consultant several times and still I'm not further on medically or legally. Several years of virtually no life, over £100k in lost wages not including the few thousand I spent going private for scans. Unfortunately for me spinal surgery just happens to be the most expensive kind of treatment so I just cannot afford the tens of thousands to go private.

This is the reality of an L5-S1 injury I'm afraid.

Edited by sutoka on Monday 7th February 04:26

Edited by sutoka on Monday 7th February 04:27

[PistonRings]

Woah Sutoka, that sounds horrific. Can I ask how old you are?

I'm clearly not as bad as you, but can sympathise, I have the same issues the stairs, sciatica, heavy objects, legs twitching and hitting the deck etc

Hope you find a way to get better soon, I'm going to investigate options today as, like you, can't spend a life dosed up

[sutoka]

PistonRings said:

Woah Sutoka, that sounds horrific. Can I ask how old you are?

I'm clearly not as bad as you, but can sympathise, I have the same issues the stairs, sciatica, heavy objects, legs twitching and hitting the deck etc

Hope you find a way to get better soon, I'm going to investigate options today as, like you, can't spend a life dosed up

Was 30 when it started and just turned 34. The problem is that my GP keeps referring me but says it's up to the consultant spinal surgeon whether he deems it an emergency, urgent or routine. He told me six months ago he was limited to one session of surgery a week because of Covid so he does one day a week on the NHS and another 4 at two private hospitals. I recently found out there are 10,000 on the orthopaedic surgery list.

All the GP says he can do is prescribe strong opioids or anti-depressants both of which I don't want. I don't need mental help just physical help but it is mentally draining. I've definitely losing moving and feeling in my legs but that can't be proven as nerve damage until I'm sent for tests which I'm on the list for.

Personally strong medication left me unable to function so leaving the house for the few weeks ad possible. Holding down a full time job is impossible as you don't know if your legs are going to work that morning, are you going to get a leg cramp on the way. Can't sit down for long and can't stand in the same place for long either.

[joshcowin]

sutoka said:

Was 30 when it started and just turned 34. The problem is that my GP keeps referring me but says it's up to the consultant spinal surgeon whether he deems it an emergency, urgent or routine. He told me six months ago he was limited to one session of surgery a week because of Covid so he does one day a week on the NHS and another 4 at two private hospitals. I recently found out there are 10,000 on the orthopaedic surgery list.

All the GP says he can do is prescribe strong opioids or anti-depressants both of which I don't want. I don't need mental help just physical help but it is mentally draining. I've definitely losing moving and feeling in my legs but that can't be proven as nerve damage until I'm sent for tests which I'm on the list for.

Personally strong medication left me unable to function so leaving the house for the few weeks ad possible. Holding down a full time job is impossible as you don't know if your legs are going to work that morning, are you going to get a leg cramp on the way. Can't sit down for long and can't stand in the same place for long either.

You need to see another surgeon and get a different opinion.
You have been failed by the NHS up until now, you need to make big noise and big demands otherwise you will continue to get fobbed off!

What trust are you under? I would be making a formal complaint about your gp and the specialist also.

[Largechris]

Obviously can’t be done if you are in the middle of a chronic episode, but I always point people at Dr Eric Goodman on YouTube, sorted my back out and a lot of testimony in the comments:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=4B...

Very important to do the movements exactly correctly, weight through the heels etc etc

[cheeky_chops]

Was suffering sciatic twinges years ago - picking stuff up, turning round, just normal daily stuff. I noticed kids would be bolt upright sitting at table and id be struggling to not slump into my cereal....

Static supermans sorted it out, then id forget about it, it would kick off and i do them again etc etc. Then got a PT, who said my whole posterior chain is weak so we progressed to deadlifts/squats/core etc and never get sciatic problems now (other pains are still there but im 50 now!)

[theboss]

Read about Cauda Equina red flags and if you have anything that correlates, particularly around bladder/bowel/pelvic area neurology, make sure you emphasise this. Also ask for anything they say to be put in writing. CES is something of a worst-case outcome for severe lumbar disc herniations and its also a huge litigation risk area for the NHS. I know this because I'm one of the statistics and will live with the consequences of inaction for the rest of my life.

[gazza285]

Private physio isn't that expensive, and I have found it to be a massive help with my back.

[jeff666]

gazza285 said:

Private physio isn't that expensive, and I have found it to be a massive help with my back.

I have been paying £50.00 per session,

Not really helped if honest so I have seen a chiropractor guy, had one session and felt a lot better and a lot more movement. (booked again this week)

The physio thought an MRI scan may be needed and mentioned the NHS don't like doing them, I found a place in Bridport on the net who quoted me £350.00 private.

None of this stuff is cheap but like most I can't sit around at home and wait to get better.

[twohoursfromlondon]

I see an excellent chap in Romsey, Hampshire. He is by far the best I’ve had in over 30 years of back problems (I am almost 49 now).

I had L4/5 fused and I have spinal stenosis and adjacent disc disease as well as cervical spine issues.

My consultant, who is a former surgeon, identified that my hips had rotated and this is what was causing me pain / stiffness. Had two sessions and I noticed a measured improvement which meant I had a good number of months feeling fine, until I did a 5k run and fked it again.

Happy to share his details if it helps/you are local.

[m3jappa]

The nhs is fairly useless tbh, private in my experience is very keen to operate.

I have damage to l4 and l5 and also i believe now s1 as well is the latest. I am awaiting another epidural which is of some help.


The biggest thing for me is to remain active. Believe it or not i do paving for a living which is a brutal game tbh. Part of the reason for the back problems.
Anyway, i have found after several years that the best thing is for me to go to work, to remain active, do not just stay at home. When i have time off work it gets worse and worse rapidly, for example sundays are bad as by then im tired and need to rest anyway, but often by midday its properly fking hurting. If im not too tired then its ok as i keep active washing the car and that type of thing.

Standing still is generally quite bad and can really hurt after a while.

Of course if you've got that initial put your back out type pain then yes you've got to rest but once it subsides you've got to move.

Now i literally lift nothing but i just keep moving and i am ok, just. A lot of the work we do is done when your sort of squatted down so it actually relieves the pain where the pressure is off the nerve.

It has at times been deeply depressing, struggle to lift my daughters at times. I am never ever not in some degree of pain though but when its good like now its down at about 2 out of 10.

Im 41 now and i initially put my back out at 17. Never been right since

[APOLO1]

I had same problem on L5/S1 back in 16, went private on day one MRI and consultant, after about 9 months was still in pain as described above was about to try an epidural injection into lower back, then was recommended to give Acupuncture a try found someone that knew what they were doing paid 40.00 for one hr visit expectations were very low at this point as was in so much pain, after the first time I was 50% pain free it took another 3 months and 6 visits to get to 90% pain free, the last 10% came though exercise work etc.

[joshcowin]

jeff666 said:

I have been paying £50.00 per session,

Not really helped if honest so I have seen a chiropractor guy, had one session and felt a lot better and a lot more movement. (booked again this week)

The physio thought an MRI scan may be needed and mentioned the NHS don't like doing them, I found a place in Bridport on the net who quoted me £350.00 private.

None of this stuff is cheap but like most I can't sit around at home and wait to get better.

My wife has had an MRI on the NHS recently, amid private appointments, she explained the situation to the GP who actually took her more seriously once she explained that she was in such pain she was willing spending thousands to try and get it sorted.

[ATG]

joshcowin said:

You need to see another surgeon and get a different opinion.
You have been failed by the NHS up until now, you need to make big noise and big demands otherwise you will continue to get fobbed off!

What trust are you under? I would be making a formal complaint about your gp and the specialist also.

I'm afraid this isn't likely to achieve much. There are currently 6 million people waiting for consultant-led elective care. Shuffling the prioritisation within that backlogue is fiddling while Rome burns. You are being held in a queue, your call is important to us ... it just isn't important enough to Joe Average UK voter to give a government the mandate to spend a lot more money on the NHS.

Edited by ATG on Tuesday 8th February 12:43