Please could you help

I have terrible lower back pain which is due to arthritis, can you recommend a strap or brace that may help? Thanks Peter.

Comments

  • Mike1
    Mike1 Member Posts: 1,992

    I answered on your other post mate.

  • Hi @PeterE

    Thank you for posting on the helpline forum. I’m sorry you are in so much pain.

    I can see from your other posts in the say hello forum that, you have severe arthritis in your knees and have now had one of them replaced. I am unclear whether you have had a diagnosis of a specific type of arthritis (for example osteoarthritis) of the spine or not, but I appreciate that you are in a lot of pain.

    To answer your question about a recommendation for a strap or brace to help with your lower back and neck pain, as Mike1 says on your other post, we would urge caution. The most important things to do to treat back pain is to keep moving, continue with everyday activities and have a healthy lifestyle. We appreciate that’s easier said than done when you are in a lot of pain.

    I can see you have tried all over the counter pain killers and tramadol and codeine through prescription and that nothing works. If you have been following the self-help measures for some time and they are not helping, I would urge you to talk to your GP again about your back and neck pain. It may be that you require further diagnosis. There are specific conditions which are linked with pain felt in the back. You can find out more about back pain, including the causes, managing your symptoms and treatment options on the links below.

    If you do need further support, your doctor may need to make a referral to physiotherapy or a specialist for further investigation. You are welcome to call us on our freephone helpline: 0800 5200 520 so that we can talk your situation through and provide tailored support to help you to prepare for your next GP appointment. I do hope you will call us.

    I hope this is helpful.

    Best wishes

    Mags

    Helpline Team


  • Mini
    Mini Member Posts: 33

    Hi Pete Mags is right depends what arthritis you have you need to be very cautious but keeping moving little & often is a must & certainly doing a lot of cure work. I have spinal stenosis & narrowing in my spine with slipped discs plus both knees replaced and hip I’m 51 I got to a point 2 years ago didn’t know what to do as my back pain cramps my butt all the time & goes down my legs and I was getting terrible electric shocks in my legs I would cry a lot and was so down I found online that doing the plank twice in morning and holding for 1 minute each & getting a dressing band rope or exercise band or broom handle put behind your back and rotate left and hold for 15 counts each side twice on each side everyday plus core and body exercises if you can’t exercise stood up there are loads of sitting ones online believe me your probally thinking like I was I can’t exercise like this but I know it’s very hard to believe but once you get through that initial pain and start building the core omg it has helped me so much now I only get a twinch instead of shocks but if I miss a day or 2 there back 😫

    I have been on many High prescribed pain killers but they have not done my mental health any good helped a bit with pain but I couldn’t cope with not being me anymore had no go in me was constantly in a day dream forgetting things and couldn’t get going in the mornings I now just have 2 ibuprofen 200 mg one in morning & one in evening sometimes another at lunchtime a day and 2 paracetamols 500 mg every 4 hours and rub into my spine and legs Capsaicin it’s a chilly 🌶 cream prescribed from doctor you can buy it thou on ebay rub that in 3 times a day plus put a warm water bottle on my lower back while relaxing in afternoon I also find walking a swimming pool is really good to for bad back if you have nerve pain in legs Like me I rub in Vic menthol rub it’s really good I read for nerve pain hope your pain gets easier have a nice day 🤗😊

  • PeterE
    PeterE Member Posts: 9

    Hi Mini.

    Thanks for your message and I’ll certainly try the exercises you said.

    Hope you stay well, my thoughts are with you.

  • Mini
    Mini Member Posts: 33

    Thank you Pete the hospital orthopaedic s gave me my brace for my leg has metal rods in the sides Velcro straps it’s very supportive hope your ok have a luvly Easter weekend