Chronic back pain

[a bloke]

I wonder if anyone can offer some advice?

My 73 year old dad suffers from debilitating, chronic back pain. He has suffered with it for probably around 15 years now. He is on very strong painkillers, but they only give him a brief respite during the day. He has a combination of Sciatica and a trapped nerve in his lower back, at least that's what his doctor suspects. Truth is they've never really been able to help him. He has had back surgery, epidurals and acupuncture, all to no avail. I'm not sure they really know what the cause is as he's booked in for another MIR scan next week.

I just wondered if anyone else has suffered from this and if so, is there anything else that may give him some relief, no matter how small? It breaks my heart as he can barely walk now and shuffles around in obvious pain and discomfort with a crutch. :(

[Ladygooner]

Hi, sorry to hear about your Dad. I should like to recommend an osteopath I used for my back - Graham Yates in Friern Road Tel: 8693 3337. Hope he can help or at least diagnose the problem.

[Damian H]

The Med-X rehabilitation equipment used at the Kieser centre at Mornington Crescent may be worth looking at. I know a couple of people who have been transformed by it. It is carried out after careful medical assessment and can be beneficial to people of almost all ages and with even extremely lengthy and debilitating spinal problems. It may be a bit of a jaunt to North London but the results may well be worth it.

There is a lot of the research and evidence base listed on the site.

http://www.kieser-training.co.uk/

[Damian H]

P.S. It is the Medical Therapy (MST) section of ths site that would be relevant. Find it on the Navigation bar.

[a bloke]

Thanks Damian and LadyGooner for your advice.

[Saffron]

Sometimes this helps my back pain and it's drug free:

http://www.floatworks.com/

You don't specify what painkillers your father takes. If the pain is nerve pain, he might do better with a non-conventional painkiller such as gabapentin or Tegretol (carbamazepine). These two drugs are better known for treating epilepsy, but they also prescribed for some unusual pain disorders. They have a different mechanism of action from conventional painkillers like NSAIDs/steroids/opiates so might be worth a try.

xx

[titch juicy]

marijuana

[another bloke]

Thanks again for the advice.

I'm the OP but I had to re-register because the admin booted me out. Lucky I'm not a sensitive soul.:)

[mockney piers]

Just a stubborn arse.

[another bloke]

Better then a limp pr1ck ;-)

[dulwich22]

If you are interested in giving acupuncture another go I would recommend Hilary Grandon, she has experience in treating chronic back pain and offers free telephone consultations so may be worth giving her a call. Details are on her website: http://www.acupuncturehil.co.uk

[Alan Medic]

What follows 'another bloke'?

[katie1997]

'another stubborn arse'?

[Alan Medic]

How come I'm the last to know this kind of inside information?

[PeckhamRose]

A McTimoney Chiropractor (there are 3 at the Therapy Rooms above the Health food shop on Lordship Lane) did miracles on my back after a motorcycle accident many years ago. Now I go once every 6 months or so just for a straighten up! I am so sorry to read this sad story though, and I hope some of the answers will help.

Here's information about McTimoney Chiropractic. http://www.mctimoneychiropractic.org/

[karter]

mockney piers Wrote:

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> Just a stubborn arse.

Looks like he has been deactivated too. What's the story mockers? Is he banned?

Good topic though, Damian H's post is good. See Lozzyloz's post in the business section too.