Chronic back pain

[foxyferret]

I went to the Doc about 18 months ago with very bad back pain at the base of my spine, sometimes on the left, sometimes on the right. She did a very quick check up and said pulled muscle, take ibuprofen and use the gel as well. Followed instructions, no result. I mentioned it to a different Doc at the hospital when I was there for something else. He gave me a long spiel about how the spine wears out when you reach a certain age, and basically that was that. Surely everyone of a certain age does not have back pain so badly. I am 57.(I was at that appointment for suspected brachial neuritis, he said he would send me for a scan and I havent heard anything since. Is the waiting list that long?) I have now suffered for a long time, extremely painful first thing in the morning and I walk around hunched over for about half an hour before it eases enough to stand up straight. I have an excellent bed, recently bought with back pain in mind. I have lost faith in the medical profession because of the above responses, I know I should go back to the doctor but I think what is the point? Can you go private for a one off opinion or do you have to join something like BUPA for a year? (Sorry to moan, I am not one to go to the docs anyway unless absolutely necessary)

[Sqad]

Anyone can have a private second opinion whether you have private medical insurance or not.
A consultation fee will cost between £150-£200.

[boxtops]

Go back to the GP and ask for a referral, you are quite entitled to do that - or see a different GP in the surgery if there is one. You should not have to suffer this long without your pain being investigated. However NHS referrals can take a while - you can refer yourself to a private GP or consultant as sqad says, any treatment will probably be much quicker. You can have an initial consultation with a private clinician and be under no obligation to do anything else privately, just pay for that consultation. My OH saw a private consultant for a problem, the consultant gave him options that he would either operate privately or he could refer back to the GP to arrange treatment on the NHS. We opted for the first route and he was done in a matter of weeks, as against an anticipated 18 months on the NHS at that time.
The National Back Pain helpline might be useful to chat to http://www.nationalbackpainhelpline.co.uk/
If you want to go private, ring your local BUPA or similar hospital and ask where the pain consultant works from, ring his secretary and ask for an appointment - it's very straightforward to do, and anyone is entitled to a second opinion.

[woofgang]

Bupa hospitals are now called Spire. if you phone they will tell you up front how much a consultation will cost, also if they recommend anything, they will tell you up front how much that would cost as well.

[coccinelle]

I suggest you ask around for someone who knows a good osteopath. There are good ones and hopeless ones. A good one can put you right in one session ( two at the most ). The walking around hunched up for half an hour was a problem my sister had until she met my osteopath, she was cured within a session. I've had tennis elbow and sciatica cured too.

[LoftyLottie]

I agree with coccinelle. Find a really good osteopath. My GP recommended one to me and I suffer with similar problems. My back will never be cured by the osteopath gets me up and running when things get really bad. They are far gentler than chiropractics (who I have no faith in) and work on soft tissue damage as well. Fortunately, we also have a brilliant physio who works in conjunction with our GP practice as she is equally as good as the osteopath in many respects.

[LoftyLottie]

p.s. A good osteopath will assess you and if if he/she thinks it necessary will simply not continue to do any work on you until you have a diagnosis. They will recognise any untoward symptoms that need investigation.

[Sqad]

Lofty/coccinelle

This was her question:

/// Can you go private for a one off opinion or do you have to join something like BUPA for a year?////

foxy didn't ask for alternative treatments.

[LoftyLottie]

Never mind Squad. I am sure she won't mind.

How often do you stray from the subject matter? It won't hurt going to an osteopath who might ease her present discomfort and she may not need to go through BUPA at all.

[Sqad]

lofty LOL....you disappoint me........you took 3mins to take the bait.........LOL

[Sqad]

So, what is the diagnosis?

"Bad back" is a symptom, not a diagnosis.

[LoftyLottie]

Right, as a 'respected' doctor, would you agree with my posting, ie. A lot of back problems can be eased by a good osteopath who will have a pretty good knowledge of what is going on with a back and that a good osteopath who is doubtful will not treat anything they suspect is really serious unless they have a proper diagnosis.

[Sqad]

Lofty.....so I ask again.....what is the diagnosis with foxy? and how would the osteopath know what the diagnosis was, unless of course you are suggesting that she sees the osteopath for a diagnosis.....surely not.

[LoftyLottie]

Oh Sqad. You are pedantic. I am suggesting that an osteopath will relieve her present discomfort and might actually never recur!! If her discomfort is relieved then foxy still has the choice to go to BUPA or wait for the NHS if she still wants an official diagnosis, but she won't be in pain waiting and she might decide BUPA isn't necessary. If the osteopath suspects anything really serious he/she will say so and won't treat and then foxy will probably go straight to BUPA.

My head hurts!!

[Sqad]

Lofty....BUT...what if the osteopathy makes her pain WORSE or indeed turns a treatable condition into an untreatable one?

[LoftyLottie]

Blows raspberry!!

[Sqad]

Lofty...."blows kiss"

[foxyferret]

Many,many thanks to everyone above who responded. I have taken on board all your suggestions and will take some action. I have got to the stage where I will try anything, I will pay whatever it takes to get some relief from this as it is making me fed up, and I am not a fed up person. Usually mad as a hatter according to my friends. Thanks once again, love to Lottie and Squad, please don't get into a verbal on my account, life is too short.

[LoftyLottie]

Foxy. We love each other really. We always banter like this.

Good luck with your back xx

[midagetrolop]

I have been in that position, go and see an orthopedic specialist and pay your money, as squad says could be £100 to £200 for consultation, but a least you will get a proper diagnosis, and they will put you right! So stop messing and get on with it! Your health is precious.

[foxyferret]

Midagetrolop.I haven't been "messing". I have been messed about with by various doctors. I foolishly thought that they could diagnose my problem but as I have already said, I am going to take action a different way whatever the cost. Making it sound as if this is all my fault is not particularly helpful, the exclaimation marks were not necessary. I asked for advice, not a slap on the wrist.