Hi, iam a 40 year old married man with a young daughter, iam in full time employment in the door and window manufacturing industry.
Since my late teens I have been suffering with lower back pain, while i was young and fit my flare ups although extremely painful would only last about a week, after rest and painkillers.
But now iam older and as the back pain has increased and became worse i have also become less fit. My flare ups are now more often and more intense and last longer.
My current flare up has lasted nearly 3 weeks, and all painkillers are doing is taking the edge off, I am currently taking co-codamol 30/500mg and 400mg ibuprofen.
Through my time suffering with my pain I have made countless visits to the doctors and every time its the same, a short examination, prescribed tablets and 1 or 2 weeks off work.
I find it hard to understand why I have never been sent for an x-ray or scan in all this time!
Only due to a minor accident a couple of years ago was i sent for an xray through an insurance claim and although i cant remember everything that was said, i do remember the phrase Sacralization of the lumbar spine, and it being mentioned part of my spine in contact with part of my pelvis.
But after recent visits to my doctor, and asking for more info regarding my x-ray i have been told the x-ray didnt show anything, so i end up leaving with yet more tablets and advise to take a few days off from work.
Currently time off work is the last thing i need or can afford, yet i feel i am simply being dismissed as "another one with back pain who doesnt want to work"!
My pain is affecting play time with my daughter, i wake several times a night needing to change position as the pain has woken me and obviously my work is greatly impacted also.
I can only describe my pain as a sudden sharp flash, that literally almost puts me on the floor it is so intense as though something has been trapped or stretched, followed by a general throbbing pain that comes in waves of different intensity.
My latest flare ups have bee brought on by heavy lifting, right down to tie-ing my shoe laces or even getting out of the bath!
I have slept on a memory foam matteress for the last few years, which i felt almost cured my problem until the minor traffic accident i had.
I also have a stammer that altho doesnt bother me as such, i find it hard when i go into the doctors to say what i want, and insist on further investigations regarding my back.
Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated, thankyou.