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 suffer with sciatica. Not bad enough for codeine mind. Ibuprofen deals with it well. I follow the NHS website advise about exercising even if it hurts. Pilates is an absolute life saver. I understand that that might not be possible if the pain is too intense though. I find it comes on after a long car journey. So i presume from sitting in one position too long.

Pillow between you knees in bed is very helpful as PP said. And a hot bath or jacuzzi at the gym is really nice. Again, I appreciate my issue might be at the milder end. I find walking helps but not as much as Pilates.

I would try to find the money for a session with an osteopath if I were you. Also agree with the advice to lie down, what helps me is to lie “semi supine” on my back on a blanket with my knees up and feet flat on the floor. I often fall asleep like that with a blanket over me as well. It helps rehydrate the muscles apparently and let’s things relax.
I also use a plug in heat pad so I lie on it or sit against it.
Also have a look on YouTube at pelvic click exercises, that might loosen things up for you, if you can manage it at the moment.

NHS physios are refusing to see patients and only offering phone appointments can you afford private physio as they will see you then.
i had severe sciatica due to inflammation in the facet joint, 4 sessions of physio quickly resolved the issue

Sounds like the pain is in your coccyx and radiating out from there, so could it be a problem with the coccyx itself? This is called Coccydynia if you think it could be that here is a video on some self care. m.youtube.com/watch?v=KMhkqk5xzWE

I have degenerative disc disease and had physio which helped but ultimately i still had so much pain.

I was then referred to a consultant who performed a medial branch block which puts anaesthetic around the nerves. It has really improved the pain and stopped my sciatica too.

Hope ryou can get something sorted

DH had this and it was crippling - I have every sympathy, you poor thing.

The NHS did bugger all apart from prescribing painkillers so we went to an osteopath privately and it made an enormous difference almost immediately. It took him nearly 30 minutes to be able to get out of the car & shuffle with help into the osteopath for the first session - he walked back to the car unaided (albeit slowly) afterwards. As I went with him to the first few appointments, the osteopath was able to teach me how to safely massage DH to help with the tightness. There were lots of exercises to do at home also which made a big difference inbetween sessions.

Good luck!

Are you in or near London? The British School of Osteopathy (it’s called something else now) in Borough sorted me out. Costs are low because you’re seeing students. They usually manage to fit you in quite quickly.

OP this is like me! I posted a few weeks ago - mine lasted for 2 and a half weeks and it brought me to tears - especially lifting my DCs (1&2) in and out of the car/bath. The GP referred me to physio and I had a consultation and I've been referred to a clinic for postpartum women who have had sections who are suffering back pain and start seeing them tomorrow. She said with mine it's like 'the stabilisers have been cut' when I've had my sections because the muscles have been cut and that's causing the pain.

Have you had pregnancies that could have caused it? Definitely speak to your GP about physio

Thanks everyone and I'm sorry there is so many out there suffering it's awful!!
I've woken up today in alot less pain. Still painful but I'm more mobile which is such a relief. I'm being very very careful with my movements still as one wrong move and my back spasms ! Keeping on top of painkillers even though I'm sure they're not working lol
Thanks so much for everyone's tips - I'm going to see how I go over the next couple of weeks and if I have too I'll look into seeing an osteopath/physio.

The pain is still very much around my tailbone so I do think it's coming from there, I'm just not sure where it's come from as it's not like I've hurt myself or done something I can say it's come from.

Haven't had time to read all replies so sorry if this repeats. I get exactly what you describe about twice a year when I'm not seeing my Chiro. Because the last few episodes were so severe, I'm resigned to seeing him for the rest of my life now which costs £36 a month DD. I appreciate you say you can't afford it, it is really expensive when you first go.

What helped me was:

Codeine and diazepam and lying flat and not doing much for about 48 hours
TENS
Gabapentin
Bob and Brad on YouTube
Heat and ice alternating
CHIROPRACTIC

It really sucks, but don't worry, it won't last 🙂

@whatagloriousthingtobe
I hope you are recovering. It was tailbone pain that got me. I had it for several weeks before I discovered diclofenic suppositories. I think I got very constipated and that was what put my tailbone out .

It's absolutely hellish, isn't it, so disabling. I found a chirpratctor did help me, not an osteopath, unlike others.

I can't really advise on long-term solutions because I only ever manage to find medium-term ones. In the end the evil pain comes back.

But, in the short term, diclofenac patches (pricey alas) are brilliant. I would have to take enough codeine to make my head swim to get the same kind of relief that they provide within a couple of hours. For me the gel isn't very effective but the patches are brilliant.

I also recommend a wireless tens machine. I got one on Amazon for about £20 (they're more in Boots etc, for products with fewer features). It won't take the pain entirely away but I move it around over the general area and find it useful on bad back days if I have to walk somewhere, eg school run, first thing.

The most useful medium-term treatment that I've found is acupuncture. But you have to get someone really good: I would recommend only a Chinese doctor trained in China, ideally someone who worked at a hospital after their first degree. The ATCM website lets you search by postcode and then you can go through the doctors' experience and qualifications. In central London the best person I found was at a Herbal Inn, the treatment £35 a session, which I think is reasonable: www.atcm.co.uk. There are also various holistic clinics near me where you can pay through the nose for acupuncture from someone who has done a couple of courses in London, but you want the real deal!

Just a quick update - I had a gp appointment today, I must say she was great !! Did a thorough exam, had me doing all sorts of gymnastics which bloody hurt 😆 she thinks it's sciatica and muscular and has referred me for physio. Said to carry on with pain relief and is looking into giving me amytryptiline (sorry can't spell it) but needs to make sure it's safe with ivf. She has also referred me for an mri scan as I explained the sciatica has been happening on and off since I was pregnant 7 and abit years ago. She thinks there must be an underlying issue for it to have been going on so long