Bergs back

[Greybeard]

.....
the good news is i am managing to walk around the house full of my own pain killers using two walking sticks and the agony is easing into spasms of pain.
.....

😘

[RDfella]

Bit late, I'm afraid, Bergs. Meant to write this a couple of days ago.

First, over 50 yrs ago was getting severe back pain regularly (caused by too much leaning over car engines, I presumed). Would be in agony for a week, unable to get out of bed. After several episodes, my doctor at the time (one of the 'old' brigade) suggested a well-known healer - a short, round-faced bald fellow. Sadly, he died 40 or more years ago.
Was a nightmare journey to his house in my Mk2 Cortina. Arrived, and stood just inside his front door. Told him I suspected a disc issue.
He touched my head and disappeared into a back room for a minute or two then re-appeared. I asked him what was wrong. He simply replied that I was alright, and I left. From that moment on, my back has never caused a problem. Don't ask me how / why anymore than if I understand water-divining (yep, can do).

Secondly, have you tried a decent osteopath? Approx 30 yrs ago was getting muscle pain, so saw a local osteopath (retired SBS man) and he sorted my issues (mainly leg / thigh). Remember he once told me of a patient (doctor) he saw regarding back pain. He asked if the patient had been playing golf at the weekend. Somewhat bemused, the doctor said 'yes'. Osteo then asked - did you twist your ankle? Doctor, bit stunned for words, said 'yes'. Osteo then pointed out the sciatic nerve runs from the ankle to high up in the back, and where you feel pain is invariably not where the problem is.

Thirdly, after my friend osteopath died, ended up seeing doctors re various muscle pains. Recall seeing one referral nurse, who, after nearly an hour's discussion, suggested attending a Sunday group where everyone could discuss their worries. About as much use as a gallon of petrol as a fire extinguisher. Was at that time I noticed a large notice on the wall - about 3ft x 2ft - that said 'There is no cure for back pain'. I left pretty quickly and asked around for a good osteo. Found one, though one of his employees is better. A nerve needs manipulation, and a round with this guy is like a round with an angry gorilla. But it works. A day or two later and you're back to 100%.
I'm no doctor, Bergs, but I'd suggest a good (not hospital type) osteopath.
And good luck.

[Joolstacho]

THX Bergs, I couldn't remember enough to give 'The Bricklayers Lament' a credit. That version was The Dubliners version, but if we could see or hear the original Gerard Hoffnung version it's brilliant, - he's a scream!

here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZUJLO6lMhI

[berger]

thanks jools    that took me back 60 odd years when my dad had it on tape, i have now caused distress to my back laughing out loud to that. and i now know where hoffman came from , bearings.

[muskrat]

"Osteo then pointed out the sciatic nerve runs from the ankle to high up in the back, and where you feel pain is invariably not where the problem is."
Yep, my sciatica was from two blown discs. Some days the pain in my "foot" was so bad I couldn't put on a sock.
Cheers

[berger]

musky i still can't put a sock on or pants without my gf help  , but i am on the mend now , i will try to do these things on my own tomorrow.

[Joolstacho]

Bergs see:
https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/productdetails/1122504781/surgical-basics-sock-aid?srsltid=AfmBOooSZRWB3cJc-rttWvdZOZ4dq13Mq5IwoZX82iMCMagTUOrxzi-A

[berger]

o my word jools you're making me feel 96 not 66, i managed to get dressed on my own this morning , now the pain is mainly on the left side so now on the mend thanks, nice thought tho mate 

[berger]

update for those who care about me  i got to docs reception on monday and ask for appointment to see a doc, after a 5 minute conversation with the front line gestapo she typed loads of stuff into the computer looked up at me and said o yes you called 999 no i didn't i said i called 111 and after phone tennis with the triage crap got told to go 2 miles away at 11am to see a doctor , this after i told them i couldn't get out of the house. i explained everything AGAIN and she said i will get another triage call. the next day i got a call and they have now got me an appointment next monday to see a bone and muscle person; [ i think there is a medical term for these people but i am now past caring ] i had to get a friend to get the scaffold sections out of my van that a rendering person wanted to use and ask him to carry the two 30L cat litter bags into the house . the girl in shop who carried both these on her shoulder to my van was tiny and i said how the heck have you done that and she replied i have horses , so that answered that didn't it, hay bales etc. anyway today i got out to the garages project and managed to mark out some plywood ready for cutting to face one of the doors that i discovered before becoming inactive is a old garage door with frosted glass. now the bar is open, thankyou for listening have a nice day *beer*before pic and after pic

[muskrat]

G'day Bergs.
Chin up mate. Sounds like UK's health system is third world. Down here ours is second world.

What prevented me from working on my bikes. I started at a new job today at Silly Solly's one or two days a week to compliment my two to three days a week at Total Tools. So now I'm a total tool behaving like a silly solly 
Cheers

[Black Sheep]

If you can't get out of the house I would have thought 999 was the way to go. Up here in sunny Scotland healthcare seems to be a lot better. I went to the GP recently (next day appointment after phoning) about back pain and got immediate referrals to Cardiology, Orthopaedics and Gastroenterology. 

[Worty]

If you can't get out of the house I would have thought 999 was the way to go. Up here in sunny Scotland healthcare seems to be a lot better. I went to the GP recently (next day appointment after phoning) about back pain and got immediate referrals to Cardiology, Orthopaedics and Gastroenterology.

Maybe the difference is the size of population.  Sue works for the NHS in W Yorks (heavily populated), and they simply cannot cope with the numbers through the doors - waiting lists are terrible.

GPs are a different story where we live.  We moved from a 'family' of GP practices to an independent, and have never had any problems with appointments, etc, since.

[berger]

black sheep they shout at us to call 111, in the good old days a doc would have come out to see someone , maybe not straight away but they would have come. me calling 999 in our country would be me waiting up to a day for an ambulance then laying in a corridor for 9 hours. many people in my area have commentated on docs waiting rooms being empty compared to a few years ago. what are they doing...the whole system is broken. a nurse with years of experience could not even get some blood from both my arms a few weeks ago. i had to go back and a young nurse got it with me hardly knowing she had been in with the needle. if you have read my previous posts about the many triage calls i had you might think the same as me that they no longer want to provide a service of any use.

[Worty]

Thing is, little seems to have changed.

20 years ago I had a bad case of viral meningitis, and was taken to A&E by ambulance.  I was on a slab in A&E for hours before being assessed and taken to a ward.  Whilst there, a doc came in and said I was to be taken to a specialist hospital because I had a bleed on the brain which was discovered on my CT scan.  When my wife, who just happened to be visiting with my baby son, said I hadn't had a CT scan, they checked, came back very apologetically, and said they'd got me mixed up with an elderly woman!!!

When I was admitted for Covid a few years ago, I was assessed and sent home after one night even though my SATS were dangerously low (in the 70s).  My wife took me back the following day and I was in intensive care for 10 days.  A week after that, I had to go back in for a chest infection, and spent 26 hours in a treatment bay in A&E as there were no beds.  I also didn't get fed enough in hospital.  I was almost emaciated when I left hospital and my muscles had atrophied to the point I could barely walk.  When I got home, Sue made fish pie with lots of creamy mash and a cheese sauce.  I ate two large plates of it in one sitting!!!

[berger]

HNS horror story . when i had my heart attack my local hospital put my wrist band id on . when the nurse at the northern general saw it after my stent was  fitted it said Mrs mary taylor d.o.b - - 1926 , just think if i was another old lady and got the treatment or drugs that could have been fatal . the nurse cut it off while mumbling f k n chesterfield AGAIN! i wrote a nice letter to my hospital asking for answers , no reply and on follow up every door shut in my face.