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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

A&e, doctors or wait it out?

566 replies

autienotnoughty · 23/11/2024 19:53

Off and on back pain for past 15 years. More on in past two years. Symptoms include lower back pain, painful spasms , shooting pains in thighs. Being managed with physio, Pilates, walking and yoga.

Last six weeks pain has got significantly worse. I keep experiencing weakness in my legs, periods of not being able to stand/needing support to walk and get up.

Today my back has locked three times leaving me unable to walk, getting worse each time. I am now laid flat on my back, I can't sit up. Dh had to drag/walk me to the toilet. I can't walk. I can't turn over. I'm applying heat and cold.
I'm also feverish . I have shooting pains/tingling in my legs plus the back pain and spasms.

Do I go a&e?
Ring doctor Monday?
Ride it out?

OP posts:
Jingle10thWay · 03/01/2025 19:57

Also highly recommend a good massage therapist they can work as light or as deep as needed and are a god send working in tandem with a physio, Get a L5 trained therapist try looking at www.theisrm.com/ for recommendations.

Original poster
autienotnoughty · 03/01/2025 19:54

Unlikely anything surgical. I've been told it's inflammation and surgery wouldn't help. I have a prolapsed disc but the doctor I saw in hospital seemed to think that wasn't the cause of the pain

OP posts:
MyrtleStrumpet · 03/01/2025 19:53

autienotnoughty · 03/01/2025 19:53

@MyrtleStrumpet I requested pain clinic referral with gp but they said to ask the consultant when I see them in two weeks. Apparently there's a wait list too.

How awful for you! I'm so sorry 😞

Original poster
autienotnoughty · 03/01/2025 19:53

@MyrtleStrumpet I requested pain clinic referral with gp but they said to ask the consultant when I see them in two weeks. Apparently there's a wait list too.

OP posts:
MyrtleStrumpet · 03/01/2025 19:48

autienotnoughty · 03/01/2025 19:30

@Porcuporpoise thank you. I was thinking of trying an osteopath. I mentioned it to physio who wasn't overly enthusiastic. He said if results were that good NHS would offer it.

I don't feel ready yet tho. My muscles are still pretty reactive. I think it all needs a bit longer to calm down

I can recommend a sports massage, but it can be quite painful.

I agree with your physio about an osteopath. Osteopathy and chiropracty are not scientifically proven, and chiropractors have left patients with paralysis.

Have you had a referral to a pain clinic? And are they going to do anything surgical to your back?

Original poster
autienotnoughty · 03/01/2025 19:30

@Porcuporpoise thank you. I was thinking of trying an osteopath. I mentioned it to physio who wasn't overly enthusiastic. He said if results were that good NHS would offer it.

I don't feel ready yet tho. My muscles are still pretty reactive. I think it all needs a bit longer to calm down

OP posts:
Porcuporpoise · 03/01/2025 17:54

I'm so glad the heat pad is giving you some relief. Now I have a second suggestion for you: if you can afford it, try and find a massage therapist/sports masseuse that does backs. They work alongside the physio to release spasming muscles (you'll have plenty of these just from being immobile, let alone from the original injury). We paid £60 each for 2 sessions 3 weeks apart and they took dh from where you are now to almost back to normal. I can't remember when after his back originally went that he had the first one but it was when he could sit in a car for half an hour. If you live in Derbyshire I can even recommend someone.
Best wishes

Original poster
autienotnoughty · 03/01/2025 14:52

Porcuporpoise · 20/12/2024 13:11

Nope, any of the ones they sell for the elderly that automatically shut off after 30 min or so. They usually come with a simple temp control, just pick the size you want.

The heat pad is brilliant thank you !

I've also tried a tens machine but unfortunately it aggravated my muscles so I've had to stop. Maybe when everything is a bit less sensitive

OP posts:
Original poster
autienotnoughty · 03/01/2025 14:40

@justasking111 @UncertainWife

Thank you for checking in.

So I'm still on the high dose pain killers, but I'm able to move about more and the pain is more manageable. I still can't sit or walk for more than about 15minutes and need to keep laying down. I can't do more than short car journeys and I can't drive. My world is currently very small.

I'm in physio so have daily exercises, I've got an appointment with the consultant in a couple weeks. I've been off work 6 weeks and just been signed off another 6 weeks.

I feel a bit lost to be honest, the gp doesn't have much of a clue and the physio is exercise only, I'm hoping to get a bit more understanding at consultant appointment. How long this might last, how long I'll be on pain relief etc. The only blessing is the pain is more manageable but it's still up and down.

I feel like I'm guessing how much movement I should do and how much to rest, I have no idea if I'm hindering or aiding my recovery. I'm up and down in my mood although I am starting counselling on Monday so that may help.

OP posts:
justasking111 · 03/01/2025 14:12

Happy new year all. I hope some of you are progressing towards a healthier back.

@autienotnoughty I hope you're in less pain.

UncertainWife · 03/01/2025 13:07

How are you doing now OP?

mommatoone · 22/12/2024 00:15

OP, I'm sure tens are cheap enough to buy nowadays, but I hired one when i was pregnant with my DS many moons ago. It was bloody brilliant (during labour) they had to drag it off me! I'll never forget going into Asda at 2am , having to stop every now and again to crank up the tens machine,I must have looked crazy! Anyways, please give it a try, and if you can hire one to see if you like it before committing, then even better. I've been following your thread from the beginning. Wishing you all the luck in the world x

WinterBones · 21/12/2024 22:43

it helps. a lot

WinterBones · 20/12/2024 15:36

i just bought one of those the other day actually!, I'm planning on putting it between myself and the sofa later to see how effective it is.

Porcuporpoise · 20/12/2024 13:11

Nope, any of the ones they sell for the elderly that automatically shut off after 30 min or so. They usually come with a simple temp control, just pick the size you want.

Original poster
autienotnoughty · 20/12/2024 11:30

@Porcuporpoise any brand recommendations?

OP posts:
Original poster
autienotnoughty · 20/12/2024 11:29

Porcuporpoise · 20/12/2024 10:44

Honestly (and I'm aware that I'm starting to sound like a salesman at this point) try an electric heat pad. They're thin so you can lie flat on them and it really helps with the spasms.

Anyway I promise I won't mention them again. And I'm so sorry for what you're going through, its such a difficult thing in itself (and then the fear that it won't ever get better).

Appreciate all advice I'll look into to it. Was debating wether to try a tens machine

OP posts:
Porcuporpoise · 20/12/2024 10:44

Honestly (and I'm aware that I'm starting to sound like a salesman at this point) try an electric heat pad. They're thin so you can lie flat on them and it really helps with the spasms.

Anyway I promise I won't mention them again. And I'm so sorry for what you're going through, its such a difficult thing in itself (and then the fear that it won't ever get better).

Original poster
autienotnoughty · 20/12/2024 08:43

Porcuporpoise · 20/12/2024 08:37

Have you tried a heat pad to help with your back pain OP? They helped my husband as much as the painkillers (and the painkillers were very important). They're pretty cheap to buy too so worth a punt for some relief.

I'm using a hot water bottle which does help

OP posts:
Porcuporpoise · 20/12/2024 08:37

Have you tried a heat pad to help with your back pain OP? They helped my husband as much as the painkillers (and the painkillers were very important). They're pretty cheap to buy too so worth a punt for some relief.

justasking111 · 20/12/2024 08:33

Well my dentist does light sedation which I had for my implants. Oddly I was also out of pain for hours afterwards..

Original poster
autienotnoughty · 20/12/2024 07:41

Woke up today and discovered my back tooth is broken. This could be the reason for the headache? It's not especially painful but I'm on painkillers so it's probably being masked. I literally don't know if I could sit in the dentist chair. But at this point if I don't get it seen I risk being in pain over Xmas. I just don't know what to do.

OP posts:
justasking111 · 19/12/2024 22:44

I had to do the research and find myself a private physio.

GP who was good with back issues has retired.

MyrtleStrumpet · 19/12/2024 21:48

autienotnoughty · 19/12/2024 21:35

Thank you I can't believe this didn't occur to me!

Show quote history

Why would it?! You're in serious pain. Your body is telling you there is something seriously wrong. Your brain is working out how to deal with the pain. It doesn't have the wherewithal to work out what to do about it.

Please don't blame yourself. You're in instinctive managing the now not intellectual working out what to do about it.

Original poster
autienotnoughty · 19/12/2024 21:35

MyrtleStrumpet · 19/12/2024 21:28

Yes, but also talk to every healthcare person you come into contact with and ask them about it. Make a fuss.

Thank you I can't believe this didn't occur to me!

OP posts: