Severe back pain. Tips, hand holding and an extrmemely gentle kick up the arse needed please.

[NetflixAddict]

It's new years eve and I'm in bed with the worst back pain I could have imagined. I'm not sure what's caused it but the pain is worse than child birth and gallstones. I can barely move and god knows what I'm going to do when I need the loo.

Can I please get some tips on how to deal with back pain and a gentle kick up the bum. I'm feeling really sorry for myself, I want to cry and I'm feeling pathetic and alone.

Sorry for the rant.

Any other health issues? Numbness?

Is there anyone with you?

Think you should call 111.

You don't need a kick up the bum, I agree with the other poster, if it's that bad and unusual then definitely 111. Just do it eh. Take care

Sciatica? Spasms ?

Yes ring 111, you could of fractured your spine or slipped a disc, you need to get it checked out

Unlikely to be a sudden and spontaneous fracture with no injury.
My back pain was awful after I managed to send the muscles into spasm when reaching for the deodorant. Yep. That athletic.
The pain had me crying. I couldn’t walk. Had to crawl to the toilet. Even that was almost impossible.
Heat and painkillers. Tiger balm and a warm bath when you can safely get in. Walk when you can. Avoid sitting.
Any saddle numbness or loss of bladder control? 999 or straight to A and E.

Thanks all. no other health conditions. A bit of numbness/ almost pins and needles in my legs but think that's just where I've been lying in bed not moving for a few hours.

No-one else here. I've only just recently moved to a new city so friends and family are over 2 hours away.

Will give 111 a call I think but can't help but feel a bit of a drama queen over what is essentially a back ache on what must be a very busy night for them.

The numbness is a concern if it is where you would sit on a saddle.
If it’s like what I had then you have my sympathy. It wasn’t a bit of backache. I would rather give birth than have that again. Agony.

My guess would be sciatica, can you Google yoga for sciatica and have a little go see if any of that helps
also google pictures of the sciatic nerve, or rather diagrams and see if any of it corresponds to where you feel the sensations or the pain
do painkillers not do any good?

I know people moan about them but they are very good for me. You might just be able to get a call back from a doctor.

Any one who can get you hot or cold relief?

My sympathies. My OH has had muscle spasms over Christmas and he has been in agony.

The only mild relief he has had was when I massaged a trigger point (seemed to be deep in his bum cheek) but that was minimal.

The only thing that actually worked was getting to the GP and receiving Diazepam. He also has some anti-inflammatories (diplo-something).

Emergency appointment at the GP as soon as you can. Don't bother with a walk in clinic as they can't prescribe you anything worthwhile (figured that out over Christmas).

You have my utmost sympathy and I’m going to tell you very sternly that sever back pain can sometimes be a medical emergency so you MUST assess yourself very carefully and honestly.

If you have any numbness, unusual pins and needles, or any loss of continence (ie bowel or bladder) you need to get to A&E as quickly as possible. I personally think it is acceptable to call an ambulance in those circumstances.

If you’re confident that it is not that serious, can you tell me a bit more about the pain? Upper, middle or lower back? Anything down your legs? Can you get in any position which provides some pain relief?

Tips just for surviving this horrible acute bit are to gently numb the area with cold, so wrap a bag of peas in a thin tea towel. Get in whatever position is most comfortable and stay there with peas for about 15 minutes. Have you taken any painkillers?

I’m not medical but I have been suffering with the most horrendous nerve pain for the last 2 years so I’m well versed in coping techniques!

I second Wolfie: If the numbness is in the area you sit on and/or you have any problem going to the loo then you need to contact a doctor ASAP.

Do you think it is a back spasm or something more sinister like a slipped disc? The former needs you to get moving, a slipped disc will need anti inflammatories and investigation to gauge the severity

If you really are stuck in bed you need to get help. If it's just because the pain is so severe can you try and push through it to get some pain killers? Once you've got on top of the pain a little you should find it easier to move.

As PPs have said, any numbness in your bottom or thighs or close of bladder or bowel control is a surgical emergency and needs immediate attention to prevent permanent damage.

And Badger ....

You need diazepam which you will only get from a doctor.

The numbness is more pins and needles but goes briefly if I move my legs and is all over my legs not just thighs.

No incontinence, luckily I haven't needed to go to the loo since I got home from work but will address getting to the loo when I need to.

Pain is in my lower back. I googled excersizes for sciatica but can't lift my legs up properly at the moment.

I've taken some ibuprofen and paracetomal that I had in my bedside drawer although this hasn't helped and if anything the pain is getting worse.

I have tendency for lower back pain. If ibuprofen & paracetamol aren't working you need something that will. Sometimes you'll need diazepam or oramorph (I do if really bad) and you can only have these prescribed. So you need to see a dr.

My advice is to call 111 who may be able to make you an out of hours appt or direct you to a&e. If you're in that amount of pain you need to be seen.

Depending on the cause of the pain they may be able to give you other meds, eg gabapentin if it's nerve pain etc.

Sympathies - good luck in getting it under control

The pins and needles - is it both legs or just one? And where?

I wouldn’t do any exercises at the moment. Don’t worry about that until you’ve seen someone. Only you can judge it really - do you think it’s a primary care/walk in job? A&E? Or a stay in bed, keep up with painkillers and emergency GP appointment in the morning (assuming you can get one. In our area it would be call primary care and get an appt with the duty doctor). If you take paracetamol and Ibruprofen take them 2 hours apart, so 2 paracetamol, then 2 hours later 2 ibruprofen and repeat. Make sure you don’t exceed the max daily dose. Try some cold. Try some different positions - I always find lying on my side with a pillow between my knees is quite helpful. Sometimes completely flat on a hard surface is also good for back pain.

I've also been in excruciating pain for the last few days and ended up going to a and E. They gave me cocodamol which I'm alternating with Ibuprofen which is keeping it manageable. Every few hours I'll have a hot bath which helps. I have a chiropractor booked for Wed. Deep breathing through the worst pain helps a little too. Mine is sciatica. Agree with other posters. It's as painful as child birth!

Pins and needles in both legs but like I said it disappears for a short while if I move them. I'm trying to change positions fairly regularly although turning over is painful.

I'm sure I can wait until the morning and will then see about getting an emergency GP appointment. I Will attempt to get some sleep now though and hope it's better in the morning.

Thanks again everyone.

Definately get seen, sciatica shouldn't be worse than gallstones

If you go 12 hours without peeing as well ; that too would be an A&E issue , have seen cauda equina (the syndrome that can come on from a slipped disc impinging on spinal chord) present with both retention and incontinence . Hope it eases up tomorrow 💕

I'm a long time sufferer of lower back pain and three years ago suffered a prolapsed disc with sciatic nerve compression, which recurred a year later and left me with constant pins and needles in my leg, sciatica if I overdo things and constant back pain.

Take regular pain relief but more importantly keep mobile. As painful as it can be you must keep moving to stop the muscle spasming even more. Any loss of bladder or bowel control seek medical advice ASAP, numbness should be investigated too. I know it hurts because I've been there many times but I can't emphasise enough that you must keep mobile!

Get stronger pain relief and/or muscle relaxants too from your GP/walk in centre/out of hours.

This doesn't sound like sciatica. Is it suddenly come on or has it been building?

I think you need to be seen, but unless you've got incontinence or numbness, morning will be OK. Def within the next 24 hours though, given your pain levels.
When you do get seen, you'll likely be offered codeine/cocodamol. Fucking useless for nerve pain.
If you think it's nerve pain, then something like amitriptyline will give significant relief.

Yes and/or muscle relaxants, depending on the cause.