Lower back pain help please. Getting me down

[KipperSlippers]

I'm feeling a bit low with mine right now. It came on a couple of weeks ago after a plane journey - bizarrely not one of many hours... literally 2 and a half! Stood up and my lower back was in some sort of spasm which went slightly into my right leg. Very painful and wore off with walking. It then came back and well, here we are!

I've had all this before rather a lot of times! I'm sure it's muscular - it gets better with movement and worse if I curl up on the sofa so I have to sit on a bloody bar stool at my breakfast bar and I don't always want to do this! Sitting for too long just makes it seize up and I have to walk about for a good half an hour to feel like I'm loosening up a little

It doesn't hurt when I lie down at all. It twinges when I turn over though.

Just getting a bit down about it now. Not had a bad back for over 6 months and now it's returned and I just want it to go away. I don't think it's a disc issue but who knows? The pain can spread into either leg but not much past my upper thigh and most of the time it's just concentrated across my lower back


I do the following ..

Hot water bottles
Ice packs
Walk 10,000 steps a day
Sleep with slim pillow between legs
I have naproxen and painkillers
Voltarol gel
Tried a mctimoney chiropractor but not convinced it helped
Deep Heat, patches, cold gel
Just started some exercises to try and strengthen it

Why else can I do I can feel myself really tensing and cautious all
The time which probably doesn't help

[CatToddlerUprising]

Have you been to your GP? I wouldn’t go to a chiropractor without having the issue confirmed medically (speaking from experience from years of major spinal issues)

[Jennygentle]

Sounds like sciatica to me, especially if it’s down your leg. I have it.
Gentle ‘back yoga’ (YouTube has loads) and ibuprofen gel are very helpful.

[KipperSlippers]

I've seen my GP in the past for it - it felt like it completely 'went' 2.5 years ago - needed help getting up and down the bloody stairs. Anyway, they prescribed diazepam for a few days and other painkillers and meh - that was about it! The doctor believes it's muscular - I've been known to do it opening the fridge on one memorable occasion. Another time when putting on my trainers. I clearly have a weak back

It cleared up gradually and has made a reappearance several times since but not for over 6 months until the stupid plane journey the other week.

I'm a bit low as I'm so tentative with it. I've been awake for a good hour and a bit but don't want to get out of bed because it currently doesn't hurt a bit but it will when I get up!

Yes I use lots of gel - ibuleve and voltarol. Put it on a couple of times a day but doesn't seem to do an awful lot really

[KipperSlippers]

I'll try the exercises I think. I'll look up back yoga

[CherryPavlova]

Forget the Chiropractor.
Download the NHS back exercises for mechanical back injury.
Swim as excellent non weight bearing exercise.
Take painkillers routinely in acute phase, rather than waiting for extremely painful times. Keep pain dulled as it’s easier to prevent pain than treat it. Take tablets rather than over the counter gel. Be mindful of your stomach lining though.
Use warming rather than cold once immediate injury period has passed. Baths are good.
Prevent in future. Good lifting technique. Don’t sit for several hours without moving - many worse backs at moment due to working on laptops on beds/sofas etc.

[KipperSlippers]

@CherryPavlova thank you. I'll stop the gels and switch to paracetamol and naproxen regularly instead of just as and when

I've seen the chiropractor a few times over the past 18 months as this back issue flares up and then goes away completely. He recommended preventative treatment but I'm not convinced by that. He used a hand held massager - I have one of those myself! However he's also told me my pelvis is twisted and something about my sacroiliac joint which he sorts out each time apparently. I'm aware I put my weight through one leg though so maybe he's got something there