Fuck. My back has 'gone'

[SeaSaltandLime]

Just sorting out some last minute packing, bent down to sort the bag and boom. Searing pain throughout my entire lower back.
It's also in my arse cheeks and shooting down my left leg.
My left foot feels cold (unsure of the temperature to touch though.)

Most annoying my dad has already taken the bag with toiletries and prescribed meds so I didn't have to lug an extra bag on the train. I have no painkillers in the house apart from paracetamol - which have of course done F all. Can't take NSAIDs.

Have called the GP and am waiting for an emergency call back but don't know what to do with myself in the meantime.
The only thing that helps the pain is laying very still.
If I move slightly I have period type cramps in my lower back and arse cheek - if I try and stand up it's complete searing pain.

What the fuck is it? I've never been in so much pain.

Sciatica, trapped nerve. Find an osteopath ASAP

Yes, get an osteopath

Sounds like you have a prolapsed disc to me-get meds on board if you can, rest as much as possible-it generally takes 6-12 weeks to recover though

Sounds exactly as I felt when I herniated a disc. I couldn’t move for a week and eventually had to have surgery.

Were you packing to go on holiday? If so I suggest not going.

Get yourself to an osteopath or physio ASAP.

No pain killer touched me pain. But diazepam at least made me woozy enough to sleep.

Oh that doesn't sound good.

I'll google an osteopath. I'm waiting for the GP to call me back and hopefully she can prescribe something that'll just knock me out if nothing else.
I'm hoping it's not an A&E job. Really can do without hospital with a 3yo.

Was packing to go on holiday. That looks like a nono now.

It's worse than labour. Fucking back.

Given the circumstances in which you done it I'd say sciatica.... And it is a bitch!! If your lying down can you Google some of the stretches, it will give you some relief.....also found a tennis ball under the bum cheek helped too.

Biggest sympathies though!!

GP has sorted me a prescription for Diazepam and codeine.
Now I've got to get to the pharmacy and get it should be fun.

I have a high pain tolerance. Broke my ankle and walked on it for 2 days, live with chronic pain everyday, tattoos on ribs without flinching.
And this has reduced me to actual tears.

DD even went to her her doctors kit!

Thank you for the tip on stretching I'll have a look!

Take the painkillers. Rest as much as possible- but do get up and walk / shuffle around when you can. I found I could only do these two for at least a week to 10 days: sitting was out of the question. A Tens machine really helped, but I didn’t have anything like as strong pain meds as you have been given. Ice also helps reduce the inflammation- I tucked a bag of frozen peas inside my pj bottoms and tied a scarf round my waist to keep it in place. A friend lent me a back brace / belt which also helped me feel more stable.

I was off work for 5 weeks with mine. An MRI scan showed two bulging discs, one to each side, pressing in the nerves and causing sciatica as well as the back pain. Two months in they are still twanging away and I’m booked for hydrocortisone injections end of August.

I managed to get my neighbour to pick up the meds.

I've taken a diazepam and am spaced out to fuck. Feel like I'm floating, but the pain is still there.
Such an odd feeling.

I've got a cold pack on my back now trying to ease any muscle pains but I can't really feel much difference (apart from a cold arse)
Wanted to get a hot water bottle but no power!
Can't rest much either as I've DD sitting with me. She's been a good girl but is bored and wants to go on her holiday :(

Having a bad day.

DH has had this twice now. What helped was painkillers and stretching. He bought a resistance band and did some stretches off a YouTube video and went from almost crying in pain to walking around with slight twinges.

Get a back brace in Boots or equivalent. Massive relief for me in similar circumstances, but maybe not exactly the same but sounds like it.

Keep moving if you can. Even just doing a circuit around the house every hour.

Lie on floor, lift leg with both hand around the knee, until knee is high, hold, release.

Take the drugs as prescribed. I know what it is like.

Acupuncture. I suffered from sciatica for years. Did a pain management course which helped a bit, but acupuncture from the pain clinic nurse (on the NHS) helped when no drugs touched it. I'd been through every drug possible, all opioids and nerve type drugs. I was so sceptical, but it was incredible. Worth a try!

From someone who has just had spinal surgery...see a chiropractor ASAP ...it should get you through your holiday at least !!! Diazapam on hols sucks !

I was prescribed diazepam but told to only take them at bedtime - maybe you could try that?

Tie something like leggings or tights around your pelvis the way you'd tie a top around your waist, this will give it some extra support. Move your knees together if getting off the bed, couch, out of car. It's a "lean and twist" injury trapping the nerve, I've done it twice and had to be treated exactly like a spinal injury patient by my emergency responder husband because I couldn't budge by myself.

Thermacare lower hip and back wraps, Superdrug/tesco etc have them
I herniated a disc and had emergency surgery, was at 10/10 pain despite the vast amounts of drugs I had shoved down me

Yes to knees together when moving, don't lean over/bend/twist
Be really really careful - some people find chiro helps, personally I would see a physio. Mine spotted it wasn't right and refused to treat me any further and sent me for an MRI scan. Thank god she did, she saved my legs

When my back is really really bad, I sleep either flat on my back with a cushion just under my knees, or

On my side with a pillow between my knees.

Both give instant relief (plus pain relief & deep heat)

I realise this may not work for tou though, mine can 'go' putting my shoes on or bending over the bastard bath to wash my hair.

I hope it goes asap, just dont rush about if you do feel bwtter, still take it easy & in the distant future, maybe do some back exercises to strengthen the back.

Easier said than done with DC I know,

I do not take my own advice

When we moved house (and country) a few years ago my husband got sciatica. He would be inclined towards hypochondria but I have never seen him so ill. He took to his bed (with serious drugs) and was quiet for days. I helped the movers and unpacked all the boxes (constructed and made the bed for him first) myself and when he recovered (about a week later he could work) he had no recollection nor appreciation of all that had happened.

He is always sick with the worst version of whatever it is that he has which I take with a pinch of salt but sciatica would be the one episode that I totally accepted he was genuinely ill. You have my sympathy OP. I have a friend who is a lone parent with a back that causes problems occasionally, she has learned to lie flat on the floor and organise her dc as best she can from there. Everything non essential can wait. I hope you get some relief soon.

Sciatica. I've had it. It's horrible. It used to take me 30 minutes just to crawl to the bathroom. The only thing that sorted it out was an osteopath.

Voltarol gel - the strong one. It gets me moving when i can't stand upright when my back pings. I thought the voltarol tablets were great but sadly diclofenac doesn't seem to be prescribed any more.

@scaryteacher I had the worst reaction to diclofenac years ago. Took one. Just one! I was on my hands and knees screaming with stomach pain to the point my dad was "if you're pregnant, you better say something now"
Me "I am NOT BLOODY PREGNANT"
< starts sobbing >
8hrs of that stomach pain and the doctor said cheerfully "oh yes, some people have that reaction"
Me
It's on my notes I am never ever to have it, i would rather break my ankle than take that

Arghhhh
Get it seen to as fast as is humanly possible.
I had 2 slipped discs last year, have never known pain like it.
Was prescribed diazepam for a couple of weeks but they stopped that and put me on morphine and a bundle of other drugs that basically conked me out for about 3 months.
I went to a chiropractor, physio and osteopath and have continued to see them over the course of the last year and a half. I don’t think I’ll ever be ‘right’ again but I’m back to my normal daily duties and was after those 3 months.
Moving was the most helpful thing after a while even though it was incredibly painful, dp had to help me go to the toilet for a couple of weeks, then when I could stand he had to help me shower.
Where are you supposed to be going on holiday to?

Yesqueen I am not supposed to have diligence as it's not good with low platelets, but it was the only thing that could get me moving. One doc I saw gave me cocodamol...one of those and I was out for hours.