A&e, doctors or wait it out?

So sorry, thinking of you.

Re pain, I unfortunately had experience of this. Look into the full range and advocate until they get it right. You shouldn't have to suffer. Also make sure your stomach is protected if you have NSAIDs. Do what you can with food to line and protect your stomach and ask about meds to protect it.

Poor you, I've suffered with back pain since my early 20s, and even 'moderate' pain can be very debilitating so you have my utmost sympathy.
I remember a few years ago in bed my back just went into spasm. Dh was still up so I texted him to get me some pain relief - he said he had some strong painkillers left over from when he had his wisdom teeth out but wasn't sure what they were and I said I didn't care just bring them up! Thankfully it abated, but I couldn't really move and it was agony. I hope you are getting decent pain relief as well.

OP you could be me! I've had chronic back issues since my teens and have experienced days/weeks exactly as you describe (although without the supportive husband, thank you so much for the reminder as to why I am now divorced).

YES it can be terrifying but, and this is important, every time I've been like that it HAS got better. It's like childbirth almost, at the time impossible and excruciating but after a few months then 🤷🏻‍♀️ I'm fine (well ish) and I can move.

What I'm about to suggest might sound crazy but it's worked for me, change your diet so something super healthy (mediterranean style with lots of pulses/olive oil/live the humous life), find a good pain clinician (they have them on the NHS but go private if you need to) and get a good regime that helps you. Main one though, get fit, get strong, find your muscles! I've been going to something called TRX for 5/6 years now and my abs are insane, I have a core of mad muscles and I am the most functional and least pain I have been in for decades. TRX is good (it's a suspension system) because you are always holding on to straps so can support your body doing exercise, no one bit gets overwhelmed. But also it's given me back the confidence in my body that I'd lost and <touch wood> I haven't had a debilitating back spasm in years, which feels like a miracle.

You are going to have to learn to live your life for the stupid body you've got not the standard model that most people have that just does what they want without questions. It's not as easy but you can look after yourself, this will get better and you can have a lovely, lower pain, future. DM me if you need, trust me after 30 plus years I'm pretty expert on shit backs. Good luck.

PS also look into CBD/THC, seems to be incredible for dealing with inflammatory pain.

It sounds hellish ( history of back problems and have fibro so recognise the locking type of pain which is another hell)
It’s likely the morphine made you vomit, it does with me. Hopefully you’ll be prescribed gabapentin or similar and that should help. You also need a muscle relaxant which drs in the UK seem reluctant to prescribe ime.
Do you have a tens machine, ice packs ( gel filled ones work best) and also hot water bottles, heated throw at home ?

The worst should be over now and hopefully you’ll recover over the next days and weeks.

as mine has been a gradual degeneration due to my disks drying out, rather than a sudden herniation, i think in my case i just.. learned to live with it. i was getting the back spasms back when i was 17/18. i don't remember ever not being in pain...

The severe hip pain and sciatica that suddenly showed up at 35 were the first hint that something had changed.. i think i had a couple of times where i could barely move or put weight on my leg, but i gritted my teeth through it, took the pain relief and got on with it... but i'm a single mom with a disabled kid, i've had no choice.. i got mobility aids, rested when i needed.

The gabapentin made a MASSIVE difference.. i think my 'blessing' was the worst of my pain refers into my hip, i know my lower back hurts, no-one can touch it (physio did once and i shrieked like a banshee 'i think we found the issue' she says..) but its walking/standing that hurts me like hell.

I'm not saying this to say you should 'get on with it' but there is a point of 'mind over matter' and the fear of it hurting, and focusing on the pain can make it worse, or seem worse.

I'm also an absolute baby with 'new' pain.. recently started having joint issues from arthritis and sacroiliac joint pain and OMG, i think i've cried more in the last few months with this than i ever did with my back!!

Give yourself time to heal, take the meds, do the physio, don't be ashamed if you need crutches.. tbh, i'd absolutely recommend them as they take some of the load bearing off the spine, and give you something to lean on if being upright hurts too much.

Not read the thread but this sounds similar to what I recently had - I was advised to go to the Urgent Care Unit if I got such feelings again, including numbness in the groin. I was lucky but my GP did admonish me for being rather stupid in ignoring clear signs of issues. I've since been referred to various specialists and I'm facing surgery. Hopefully you're not as bad and able to sort yourself out!

Dispite my disk bulging and pressing into my spinal fluid thingies around the nerve, it not yet touching the nerve. I was told surgery is risky and touch wood the symptoms went. Consultant said he seen people with worse MRIs and no symptoms and better MRIs with horrendous symptoms. So lots of people worse than me living a pain free life. I think that's comforting as I really don't want surgery unless I absolutely have no other choice. Even then my friend had to go privately

They mean the cauda equina syndrome. Equina means horse. It's called that because the nerves come down the spine and meet like a horse's tail. It's nothing to do with horses per se though.

My husband unfortunately has has surgery for similar on his back twice, he was involved in an accident which caused damage to his discs. Before surgery he took amitriptyline, naproxen and cocodamol to help manage the pain. If you are close enough to Oswestry I strongly advise you asking for a referral to the spinal centre there , you will be able to get an injection to the site to help with the pain and the specialists can put a plan of action in place for you. Its a long slow recovery, keep on top of your pain relief, keep moving when you're able to as you find you'll ache more if you don't.... although I'm sure you know this x

OP i had a bulging disc and (not UK or NHS) my insurance paid for lumbar epidural steroid injections. I believe it is also available private in the UK.

The treatment was injections every two weeks over a six week period and the pain was completely gone.

I've had it for years and then it happened exactly like yours. Hospital, horrendous pain. I feel so sorry for you. The surgery is the last option and it's not a magic solution. I managed without it. It will go. You will be ok but it will take time. I do circuits now, lift weights and only have occasional minor twiches sometimes so it does go and it's possible to walk and live again without pain.

I was in A&E 2 months ago with excruciating back pain, I had an MRI as suspected Cauda equine @autienotnoughty. It wasn’t it was bulging discs and it’s physio, then injections then surgery as last resort.

Like you I’m used to back pain as I was born with a scoliosis not bad enough for surgery but warned it would only get worse with age. I have always walked a lot kept my weight down and and tried to be healthy, type 2 diabetes also runs in my family. I’m 58 now and the body is just starting to wear a little and that’s something that will just happen. I made my issues much worse by pulling DH in to the recovery position when he knocked himself unconscious a couple of weeks later my back had this issue.

I can hardly remember the first two weeks after it happened, I could walk a couple of steps only, needed help upstairs, struggled to eat or sleep. I was petrified. Childbirth was nothing absolutely nothing pain wise compared to this.

Two months on, I have had physio every week expect two but until last week had to do exercises every 2 hours, now it’s 3 times a day. I have seen a specialist pelvic floor physio as well. I’m now back to walking and have managed almost 3 miles in a day though split in to 2 walks.

My physio said I need to change position every 15 minutes.

Oh gosh! This sounds dreadful. I’ve had experienced excruciating back pain where I couldn’t move and nothing has helped with the pain but doesn’t even seem to be on your level. Nothing to say except I hope things improve ( and they will!) I remember being very frightened that I couldn’t move or help myself in any way and dreaded going to the toilet. So sorry for you and sending good vibes and positive thoughts your way.

I've had this before. DH managed to get me to a&e and I was perched on a chair screaming every time I moved. Absolutely sobbing and sweating with the pain. Didn't get admitted, didn't get a scan. Got given a pack of diazapam and sent home.

Couldn't sit up for a week, couldn't turn over in bed, dh had to take me to the toilet and sit me down and pull me up, pull my knickers down and up for me.

That was probably 2 years ago and touch wood hasn't been that bad since. I do still have back ache every day mind. I spend a lot of time doing back strengthening exercises. Like 5x a week! Weightlifting and mobility type stuff and pilates. You need to think of your back rehab like a part time job. If you've had back ache for 15 years it's been festering all that time but you can hopefully improve it.

Prior to the episode 2 years ago I actually broke my back 20 years ago. Had back ache after that and did get an mri probably about 18 years ago which showed a bulging disc. Dr said that bulging discs dry out and shrink back.

So you didn't have the horse thing then?

You won't be in this pain long term so you won't need the drugs long term.
Acute pain from this usually lasts a few days to a few weeks. You will be left with some residual symptoms but not the acute pain. It is usually a slow process of fully healing after this because nerves heal slowly as they do not have a strong blood supply. It can take up to 6 months for a full recovery but you will heal from this.
Try to relax as best you can as this helps to relax the muscles.

Oh bless you OP, sounds hideous. Take the pain meds and don’t worry about long term. I have a pancreas disease and it’s extremely painful (and had many attacks of acute pancreatitis which is incredibly painful). Yes meds are addictive but i’ve reduced and come off some really high doses of oxycodone and fentanyl. They will reduce you slowly, right now just take what’s on offer and focus on recovery. I really feel for you.