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General health

Constant lower back pain

19 replies

GreenIvy · 05/05/2020 18:19

I've had bouts of sciatica in the past since my late teens where is has flared up suddenly and been incredibly painful and difficult to walk for a week or two and then has gone away and I've been fine for a few months until the next bout.

But for the last four or so months I've had constant lower back pain, not as painful as sciatica during the day but it gets pretty painful at night when I'm lying down to the point that I can't turn over any more.

It used to go away an hour after waking up and starting moving but for the last couple of months it's stayed all day as well.

I'm getting to the point that I'm struggling to bend down or even walk normally.

I'm 27 and am slightly overweight so I thought it could be due to that so am starting to lose weight now to see if that helps.

Does anyone else suffer with this, are there any kind of exercises I can do to help it. I was thinking of going to a chiropractor before the lockdown started as I've never been to one before and wondered if that may help.

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GriseldaChop · 05/05/2020 18:23

I get similar back pain, worse when I'm sitting or lying down but can also be painful when walking, particularly when I first start moving. I started seeing a chiropractor in February and was sceptical but it actually really helped, can't wait for them to reopen. The treatment was mainly 'hands on' but also had acupuncture and shockwave therapy too. I'm a bit overweight too and also trying to lose weight, not always as easy as exercise hurts my back more but I'm persevering!

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GreenIvy · 05/05/2020 18:38

That's great that the chiropractor is helping! It's definitely something I'd like to try because I feel like I'm too young for this kind of back pain! I reckon weight loss will help too so I'm sticking to a diet while we're on lockdown as the last thing I need is even more weight pulling on my back!

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LifeBeginsNow · 05/05/2020 19:56

I get sciatica pains all the time. It's like my hamstrings are too short and they pull when I try to do anything.

Anyway, its early days but I've been doing a 30min exercise on youtube called Hasfit. I typed in exercises for low mobility and I've really found them helpful. There's a modified version where you can sit down.

I'm in my late thirties and recovering from spinal surgery so I've got to be careful but I do feel as though I'm moving more. I even managed a 60min slow walk this afternoon (although I did have to lie down for a couple of hours after).

Otherwise I'm on gabapentin and paracetamol which helps for a few hours at a time.

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Thighmageddon · 05/05/2020 20:03

See your Gp, it could be Ankoloysing Spondylitis and would need to be referred to a rheumatologist for an opinion.

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GreenIvy · 05/05/2020 22:05

The pain definitely improves with exercise once I get moving during the day and is always worse at night after lying down for a few hours.
I don't suppose I'll be able to see a GP at the moment but I will book an appointment when I can. I have been to the GP about sciatica in the past and got referred to physiotherapy but I couldn't do any of the exercises as they kept making the sciatica worse.
The back pain I have now is different from before.

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Destinysdaughter · 05/05/2020 22:08

Ive had back pain for years. Ive found Pilates, yoga and massage a good way of managing it. Obviously massage isn't possible right now, but it is a condition that you can greatly improve by gentle exercise.

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nolovelost · 07/05/2020 08:46

I have Ankylosing Spondylitis and it does sound similar to my pain.

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MaccaPacca81 · 07/05/2020 09:04

Im 39 and I have degenerative disc disease at L5 S1.

Bothered me for years now but I don't get the sciatic pain I used to get. The following really helped....

Google: "Eldoa L5 S1 stretch" - game changer!

Static hangs also really help...just grab something and hang from it with a completely relaxed body for as long as you can a few times a day.

Yoga is fantastic obviously. I find it a bit boring. I do a few minutes of cat cow every morning.

Sort your mattress. I spent a fortune getting the right one but I'd spend that money again tomorrow for the relief it gives me.

Rather than a chiropractor, I'd be more inclined to see a good physio who specialises in low back pain.

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scarfaceace · 07/05/2020 09:06

Emma is one of the lovely Physiotherapists at Addenbrooks Hospital. She's put together some exercise videos for people that are not 100% fit, whether it's because of age, disability, or injury. I wonder if any of them might help?

//www.youtube.com/channel/UCFF11SfoWkpy67WGmTvqqmQ

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MaccaPacca81 · 07/05/2020 09:07

Oh...and sitting down always brings on back pain for me.

We have adjustable desks in the office now and I always do an hour sitting, an hour standing.

Makes the world of difference to spend less time sitting.

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GreenIvy · 07/05/2020 12:21

Thank you for the links and exercise ideas. I will definitely be doing some of them until I can get to see a doctor.
I'm a bit scared of it being Ankoloysing Spondylitis, I hope it's just weak muscles that I can help through exercises.
I have been very stiff again this morning but it's gradually loosened up after some stretches and going for a walk but I definitely notice pain when I'm walking at my tail bone.

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allypally999 · 07/05/2020 13:52

Could be you need a new bed? Take your time buying it and really try it out - also make sure its on a free exchange scheme so you can change it if you have to.

Also I'd go for physio as well and not chiropracter when they are available again. Keep with the gentle stretches and walking as long as its not making things worse. Just from my personal experience

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PragmaticWench · 07/05/2020 19:54

Definitely a physio over a chiropractor, they're much better qualified.

It sounds like my back when my disc is bulging, the sciatica plus it being worse after lying down for a few hours.

Can you ask your GP to refer you to a rheumatologist, to rule out arthritis, ankoloysing spondylitis or any other degenerative condition? You may need an xray or mri.

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GreenIvy · 07/05/2020 20:53

Thanks for the advice, I don't know why but I had always assumed a chiropractor was more qualified than a physiotherapist but I'll definitely go to a physiotherapist once I can. In my area I think you can self refer so I will do that.
My family has a history of arthritis, my mum has it and her dad was wheelchair bound because of it so I wonder if perhaps I may have it too. I hope not.

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psychedelephant · 08/05/2020 01:11

Macca I've got arthritis at L5/S1 and a slipped disc. I've had/done physio, acupuncture, osteopathy, chiropractic and Pilates and have never heard of this stretch! Going to have a go now before bed.

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MaccaPacca81 · 08/05/2020 09:00

It's complex and is not a gentle stretch, infact, I hate it but has been proven to add space in between vertebrae and does give me relief when I start getting sciatic pain.

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CockCarousel · 08/05/2020 09:24

An MRI scan would be a good idea OP, although I realise there's going to be a long old waiting list now. That will show whether you have any spurs or any ruptures.

I had an L5 discectomy in Jan after really not being able to walk at all for a year. I'd had lower back pain from a similar age to you, but unlike you I ignored it then eventually it temporarily crippled me.

I've recently started doing some gentle beginners pilates to build up my core strength and can feel the muscles strengthening already, so I'd really recommend that. As a side effect, pilates is a great mood/energy booster I've found.

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psychedelephant · 08/05/2020 19:33

Macca can I ask you what you hate about it?

It felt like it got at the area I'm always trying to stretch (usually kind of uselessly), and I didn't feel like it was particularly unpleasant but maybe I've got it wrong, like when I learned that I needed to drop my tail to get a good hamstring stretch if that makes sense. It suddenly became a much less pleasant stretch Smile

Sorry to divert your thread OP, I haven't got much to add to all the good advice above except to agree that you should address it sooner rather than later. I wish I'd seen the GP sooner. I spent a lot of years acclimatising to back pain and assuming it would pass (which it usually did) but now it's quite hard to manage and I don't sleep well.

Like someone upthread I love Pilates and find it kind of addictive. I don't like yoga much but I'm already too flexible so it's less use to me than Pilates. That said, if you have pain this problematic it's might be better to find out what's wrong rather than risk making it worse with inappropriate exercise.

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Sabee · 22/05/2020 21:57

Hi

I have these issues - is everything ok with your diet/bowels etc?

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