I have disc problems and suffer a lot of back pain. I have to take quite a lot of pain killers every day.  I don't like taking pain killers but can't  get through the day without them. I am just wondering if there are  any alternatives people have found to help with chronic pain. thanks

I have two ruptured discs in my back and after weeks of trying to get some relief with extremely strong painkillers, epidural injections and heat (I even ended up with chemical burns after using deepheat on the nerve pain going through my knee!)  I went to a back clinic run by my Dr's, they referred me straight away for physio and I borrowed their back pain TENS machine (different frequency to the labour type).  I can honestly say that I wouldnt be without it now, when my back flares up, on goes the tens machine and over the space of around half an hour the pain reduces to a level I can deal with.  I tried to buy my own tens machine from a pharmacy however it didnt work as well so I bought the same as the one my physio uses, http://www.physio-med.com/TPN-200-Premier.html

Another TENS machine fan and I also like to try and fit in regular acupuncture sessions, I find by using these methods I have to rely on the painkillers less.

Sorry the only thing that worked for me was a wet floor, doing the splits and click everything went back into place.  After blooming months in pain and hardly being able to walk, all those physio's etc!

I too use a TENS machine when the pain is too much. Physio didn't help, and the painkillers only mask the pain. Keep moving, but don't over exert yourself.

A decent chiropracter to put all the bits back where they should be :-d
Chris

A decent chiropracter to put all the bits back where they should be
I agree - or an Osteopath!!
I've never found a Physiotherapist do much other than give exercises....... :(

Osteopath and accupuncture are my first choice.

try a bio flow magnet, it works for me. also physio, and swiming helps to take the stiffness away.

Thanks very much. Seeing all the responses has made me realise I have tried most of these over the years. I did have a Tens machine which I haven't used for years, I will dig that out and try it  again. I can't really remeber how much  use I found it before.
I have tried physio and accupuncture. Tired  a mctimoney chiropracter  but didn't find that much use. the probelm is caused by an old injury  so don't think the minor adjustments she did could really affect a major problem. I have not tried  an osteopath. How would I go about finding a good one? or can my Dr advise.
I am much better if I keep moving until I stop, then it is agony getting going  again. Driving is really bad and so is sitting at the computer. 

I have chronic back pain and take quite a bit of medication for it. I've tried the tens , accupuncture , physio , nothing but the extra strong pain killers work .
But one thing that helps ease my pain is the bed I bought a few years back , which is a mud bed , it supports my whole body and the heat can be adjusted. I have become so used to it now I couldn't be without it. I don't sleep properly but thats another story ( due to child ). They are expensive but I think worth every penny.
I hope you find something that works for you.

How would I go about finding a good one?

http://www.osteopathy.org.uk/ for more information.

The thing that totally improved my severe daily back pain was going from driving a car to driving a van.  Sat nearly straight up, no slouching and as I have long legs a perfect distance between the pedals and seat.  In a car I for some reason had to move the seat close to the steering wheel.

> Sat nearly straight up, no slouching and as I have long legs a perfect distance between the pedals and seat.  In a car I for some reason had to move the seat close to the steering wheel.

Funny you should say that, I have my car seat as upright as possible, and as close to the steering wheel as I can get it. Driving lon distances (as in going to dog shows ;-) ) is a real pain in the back. I have to take frequent stops. My ex has one of those back massagers in his car. Or whatever they are called. You know the thing, it looks like a bead curtain :-p

I have chronic back pain and have suffered for nearly ten years now. I spent the first few years coping with pain killers but it got to the stage the type of pain killers Iwas on was affecting my day to day life and so I asked my Neuro Surgeon forother options. He dismissed surgery as too invasive but suggested this http://www.cepmmd.com/docs/Radio%20Frequency%20Thermal%20Coagulation%20(Rhizotomy).pdf

It has worked wonders and although the procedure can be very painful but as long as they get the sedative right you only feel certain amounts of pain when they stimulate the nerve to make sure they have the right spot. I did have it done without sedation once as the Professor who does the procedure thought he would experiment ( I was a willing guinea pig )  but as I nearly landed on the ceiling as the pain was so bad it has always been done under sedation since ! I have four sets of facet joints done everytime.

You have to have two sessions of facet joint blocks first to ascertain if the procedure will work as some people are not susceptible to the treatments success.

The effect lasts from 6 to 12 months as the nerves gradually grow back and the effect is about 80 % effective for overall pain reduction. It is a such a great procedure and has changed my life as without it I was miserable and was in constant pain.

I am lucky as I get mine done privately but they do do it on the NHS but not sure about what the waiting lists are like. Well worth investigating though ;-)

My daughter has Shermans disease (she's 19) so unfortunately she has to just grow out of it, some days she can hardly walk, in fact it's been so bad recently that she's been walking bent over, and now her muscles have gone into spasm so is waiting for a physio appointment.

After months of back & forth to the Dr's they've now put her on Tramadol, 2 tablets 4 times a day and she's completely off this planet.

Tramadol is horrible stuff so do sympathise with her poor girl :-( I used to be comatosed when I was on it ! I was not fit for anything but sleep !

Tramadol had the same effect on my old dog when used instead of Metacam. She was like a new dog when I stopped it and I felt ever so guilty.

Re: the back pain, my MIL has a crumbling spine and finds it hurts most when sitting. I got her a mesh back support that is held onto the chair with elastic straps and apparently it helps her a lot with support. Got it from Debenhams for a fiver.

I have to be really bad before I reach for the tramadol, I'm relieved in some way that I'm not the only one to behave like a zombie after taking it.

> Tramadol is horrible stuff

Is it only me who loved taking this? Bloody killed off my pain and was so glad to have them.

I haven't been taking my tramadol due to my pregnancy , however I've taken it for a few years before for my back pains and it is the only thing that works for me. I take two at a time up to four times a day and I really am not affected by it like others have said, it doesn't make me sleepy at all.
My husband took one when his knee was bad ( naughty I know ! ) and it knocked him stupid he was in bed for a day and a half , he say's he'll never take another again .

> Is it only me who loved taking this? Bloody killed off my pain and was so glad to have them.

No i take it with no problems.  Doesn't kill all the pain though. I had to have antisickness drugs once with it when dose increased, never again.  At the moment nothing kills the pain, its so frustrating lol.  Doc put me on Dyhracodine at night on top, not a sausage for pain relief.  Still ahve parocetomol on top and Ibruprphen (surprized i wake up in the morning) with Amatriptaline.

I watched this thead when it went up but couldn't offer any help as mine pain meds don't have much effect so was interested that nearly everyone who answered was in the same boat.  It makes you feel a little better, i used to think i was odd the painkillers not working.  physio is a waste of time, again wasted sessions and no help.  I never see the point of sending someone with back issues to a physio, its not a strain or sprain, they're useless.

After trying a variety of remedies and meds I find that walking every day has strengthened my core muscles. I still have pain but usually it is standing still that makes it unbearable. I have heard that Pilates can help but I have yet to try it.

ask your Doctor if the can advice you on a good one, i've seen just about everyone about my back and the Doctors have been very good at pointing me in the right direction.

Funny you should say that lollipop I find if I miss a day or two walking (hubby does it instead) I start to ache and find it hard to get comfortable.