Severe back pain - please read

[whatagloriousthingtobe]

I am in agony. It started with niggling pain in my lower back over the last couple of weeks then 4 days ago it's like my back suddenly went, sharp pain, dull aches, back spasms and the pain is now radiating down into both my hips. I saw a doctor who said it's either sciatic or muscular, sent me off with diazepam and codeine and basically said there is nothing they can do.
The diazepam hasn't touched it. The codeine takes the edge off but it still hurts. When I wake up in the morning I'm stiff and slow but it seems as the day goes on it gets worse and worse. I'm hobbling about and cannot straighten my back up properly so I'm hunched over. The pain seems to be coming from around my tailbone, when I sit down it feels like immense pressure there. If I'm sitting down and try to lift my leg I can't as the pain is too much. I'm getting the odd shooting pain down my left leg.

I know no one can really advise what might be causing it but I'm wondering if someone has been through similar ?

I’d be getting in touch with a physio. Have you put heat on it? Sounds awful for you. I hope you feel better soon!

It does sound like it could be sciatica as the sciatic nerve runs from your bum down the back of your leg to your ankle. Sciatic pain can be absolutely excruciating and it can be impossible to get comfortable as nothing really works - walking, sitting, lying - all bad! I had it both times when I was pregnant and it was bloody awful. The only thing that really helped was seeing an osteopath. She gently manipulated me and she taped me up so I could only move in certain directions and avoid the worst pain. If you can get to see an osteopath, I highly recommend it. Conversely, seeing a chiropractor was a total disaster and I would never set foot in the consulting room of one again. He sent my back into spasms so bad I almost blacked out.

Any issues with numbness or difficulty passing stool or urine? If yes, these are a medical emergency and you need to go to A&E. Otherwise the best treatment is gentle exercise to loosen everything up and reduce pressure on your nerves/disks. Take the drugs and keep moving, it honestly will help 🙂

You aren't alone, there are lots of us on here. Sadly I think the only thing you have is time, and wheat bags - a microwaveable wheat bag is your best friend here. The best thing to do is make sure you don't stay still for too long at a time but also being still is going to help so find a comfy 'down' position arm your self with books and Netflix then make sure you move once an hour and mobilise the area best you can. Take your painkillers to a precise schedule don't wait for the pain to build.

It does take a while to get better, think weeks not days BUT it will gradually get better over the days. Just take it slow and even if it doesn't improve over night it WILL get better, you'll be amazed. I've been there many times and now I'm in pain because I did a full on session in the gym yesterday strengthening my core to prevent further episodes (but oh my thighs today!).

If it’s going down your leg it’s sciatica.
I find the best thing is to keep moving, but I know it’s exhausting.
I find the best place to sit is in a reclining garden chair with a high back, or a dining chair.

I've basically got the same.e are the moment. I hurt myself cleaning up sick after one of the kids vomited. Unfortunately no time to rest it. Dp working and 3 kids with a sickness bug.
I'm pretty sure it's sciatic. Like you it's going down both my legs.

Go see an osteopath who can help with the muscle spasms. I was crippled with sciatica and my osteopath helped loads by releasing the spasms in my back and legs.

A chiropractor might be able to help, they cured by back spasms, I was also bent double in excruciating pain

Thanks so much for all your replies! I do sometimes get sciatica. But it's always always just down my left leg no back pain at all with it. It will start in my bum and move down my leg and it's bloody horrible ! But this time it's lower back where the pain is apart from the odd shoot down my leg. Is this amount of back pain normal with sciatica ? I'm also confused as both my hips are hurting, but only when I sit so I feel like it's pressure from me sitting down.
Hot water bottles are massively helping though even more so than the drugs.
I did wonder about physio or something but the way the nhs is atm I doubt I'll get seen anytime soon ! I can't afford to go private unfortunately not atm anyways

@Thatsplentyjack

I've basically got the same.e are the moment. I hurt myself cleaning up sick after one of the kids vomited. Unfortunately no time to rest it. Dp working and 3 kids with a sickness bug. I'm pretty sure it's sciatic. Like you it's going down both my legs.

That sounds awful for you!!

Ice it. And try and find a gateway physio, as they can make nhs referrals even if you pay them privately. Mine is amazing.

Sounds like you might have some disc degeneration to me.

www.amazon.co.uk/Way-Out-Revolutionary-Scientifically-Approach-ebook/dp/B081DNNRYZ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+way+out&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1639226213&sr=8-1

I developed sciatica after similar back pain, so kind of the other way around to you. If you have long term issues with sciatica you will be compensating by altering your posture without realising putting strain on different parts of your back. It’s sounds to me like this may be a continuation/consequence of your longer term issues with sciatica.

Ultimately it’s time that will help resolve the worst of it (but yes if you develop issues with the toilet or numbness you need to seek further medical assessment). I know physio is a bit of a lottery on the NHS but I would recommend shopping around, sometimes you can find someone surprisingly reasonable, but do try and research them as much as possible.

You poor thing - it sounds awful 💐 I agree re seeing a physio and doing the exercises they give you. Codeine is often more effective in combination with a painkiller like Naproxen. (I know Codeine and Diazepam wouldn't do a lot for me when I have a flare-up). And you'll need to take it religiously for quite a few days for full-effect. Pilates for prevention when you're better. Hope you feel better soon.

I recommend osteopath or physio but ask around to find a good one. You may not need to go lots. Avoid any that want you to sign up to a whole series of treatments.
My osteopath diagnosed my back problem accurately. I was pregnant so little they could do but she gave excellent advice, especially as I couldn't take painkillers other than paracetamol.

I found cold treatment on my back (where the disc is). And heat treatment where the muscle hurts (buttocks and calf muscles in my case)
Sounds like a disc problem and many will go back on their own in about 6 weeks. If it doesn't, go back to GP and insist on a referral for a scan.

Bloody agony, you have my sympathy

Tbh, the NHS are shit at this sort of thing IME. If it was me I'd be shelling out on an osteopath or chiropractor as that's probably the fastest route to some comfort. Not on option for everyone due to the cost tho. My old GP practice had a cut price service for patients so worth checking that out as an option. My current GP has a physio who you can self refer to.

I forgot to say, I found amitriptyline brilliant for my back pain. It’s known to target nerve pain so it might be worth asking to try it alongside your other medications if it’s not contraindicated.

Best thing for that type of pain I found was diclofenic suppositories. Really effective 1 per day . Only thing that worked . Trouble with codine is that it makes you constipated, exacerbating things “down there”

@GinJeanie

You poor thing - it sounds awful 💐 I agree re seeing a physio and doing the exercises they give you. Codeine is often more effective in combination with a painkiller like Naproxen. (I know Codeine and Diazepam wouldn't do a lot for me when I have a flare-up). And you'll need to take it religiously for quite a few days for full-effect. Pilates for prevention when you're better. Hope you feel better soon.

When I have any flare ups now I find diazapam is great if my back is inn spasms but only take for 1 - 2 days as a muscle relaxant. The combo of naproxen and co-cocodomal works well if pain is more long term. The naproxen seems to keep it under control and co- cocodomal deals with the pain.

@GinJeanie

You poor thing - it sounds awful 💐 I agree re seeing a physio and doing the exercises they give you. Codeine is often more effective in combination with a painkiller like Naproxen. (I know Codeine and Diazepam wouldn't do a lot for me when I have a flare-up). And you'll need to take it religiously for quite a few days for full-effect. Pilates for prevention when you're better. Hope you feel better soon.

Meant to also say 'I agree with this advice !

these are all things that help me, not diagnosed sciatica, general back pain that flares up and at its worst goes into spasm and i can't stand straight, walk normally or do very much.

heat packs or alternate hot and cold. swimming, especially if you can get into a hydrotherapy pool. when in the shower or bath try to loosen things a bit. I find lying flat on my front and then coming up onto my forearms helps - there's a book called treat your own back pain and it's a suggestion in there. some very gentle pilates (youtube)

I suffered for years and ended up having an L4 L5 fusion, I literally feel your pain. One thing that helped ease things a little was to lie on my back on the floor with my lower legs on a bed so I made Z shape.

Some brilliant advice and tips on here, thank you all! Honestly haven't been in pain like this with my back before, if I was like this for the rest of my life I'd actually be fucked because I physically cannot do anything !
I'm going to call my gp Monday and beg them to refer me for some physio or something. I thought it would have started to get better by now it's been 4 days of severe pain 😢

Get a TENS machine. (You still need to investigate the cause, though.) Some days it's the only thing that helps me to function when my back is in spasm.

If you can take them
Paracetamol, ibuprofen with the other meds is fine. Space them out according to instructions
Try not to sit down, stand or lie
Use a pillow under knees if you're on your back or between knees if you're on your side
Google log roll for getting out of bed
Don't bend, squat down instead and try to avoid lifting anything
Keep moving gently
Thermacare lower back and hip wraps are great
Physio - mine sent me for an NHS MRI

(Several years of sciatica, herniated disc, spinal surgery, cauda equina)

ANY numbness in your groin/bum or change or bowel or bladder movements, go to a&e without delay