Hello im new

JJHOSM

Hello I'm new here im 50 years old. I started with pain in my back about 3 years ago the pain was worse when I was sitting at my desk in work but when I asked for a new chair I got no there is nothing wrong with your chair it's the way you are sitting or it's because your fleece is on the back of your chair. fast forward to mid 2024 after having a particularly bad back spasm resulting in time off work I was eventually had a scan on my back. I was and still am shocked to be told that I had 3 herniated discs and early onset atheritis in my lower back, I'm in the early days of trying to find what works for me. Since been diagnosed work have got me an ergonomic chair but I don't find it comfortable and have provided me with a manual desk riser. I'm just taking over the counter pain medication and have done the 6 week escaping pain course my doctors sent me on. I am struggling with getting a doctor appointment to discuss my next steps as i have a constant pressure pain on my lower back. Is there any advice regarding something I can try to help myself with the pain also regarding working with atheritis.

Thank you

Ellen

Hello @JJHOSM and welcome to the online community. It is very difficult to live with back pain I agree and am glad to hear you had a scan and know what is actually going on. Well done to your Dr sending you on teh Escape pain programme and to you for completing it too.

You asked for information about working with Arthritis:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/work-and-arthritis/

I wondered whether you had seen a physiotherapist yet? They can be very useful teaching you exercises for your back. These stretches below are for our backs, but you should perhaps check with your GP before starting them:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/exercising-with-arthritis/exercises-for-healthy-joints/exercises-for-the-back/

This article contains information about managing your pain (section entitled 'managing your symptoms):

Back pain | Causes, exercises, treatments | Versus Arthritis

Hopefully some of our members might have experience they can share.

Best wishes

Ellen.

frogmorton

Hi @JJHOSM nice to meet you. I hope you are doing ok today. Sounds as though you have had a tough few years and are still working through it all. It is shocking and frighteneing when something like this happens to us.

Getting a drs appt these days is really hard. I go to the actual surgery to make my appointments now - it may be a month away but at least I've got one. You have to be assertive these days with your own health. Unfortunately.

Check your employment rights reading the stuff the moderator Ellen has given you possibly the chair isn't right. A physio might be able to suggest the right seating for you. Some people use ones you almost kneel on.

Does heat help you at all? If it does I use those heat patches from supermarkets to give me comfort when my back is particularly sore.

Do please let us know how you get on.

Toni x

Enajyram

Hi Ellen, If you are UK based, you can access an occupational therapist come and assess your work space, this is something your HR can apply for through the access to work scheme. More information can be accessed through the NHS OT page and also through the .gov website both links are below. You don't have to be out of work or starting a new job to use the service.https://www.nhsinform.scot/tests-and-treatments/counselling-and-therapies/occupational-therapy/

https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work

Poppyjane

Welcome @Enajyram

Thank you for your first post offering such useful information to @JJHOSM . It always great to see peer support being offered so quickly to a new member.

Do join in again with us soon , there is always something of interest going on in the community.

Best wishes

Poppyjane