My back has gone into spasm...help

[Sonolanona]

And yes I'm in charge of Xmas dinner tomorrow (7 of us)
Any suggestions of how to make it as easy as possible to move?
Dh is very willing to help, but seriously... if left to him the veg will be either black or raw and as for the meat....
My daughters are lovely but one has a toddler and the other has ARFID so her diet..and cooking skills, are very limited as she phsyically can't be near many foods (and has an alternative dinner) Son in law (awesome cook) is working, and youngest son is autistic... so I DO need to be in charge.

I do have some diazapam from last time this happened, but can't take it tonight as I've had wine, and it tends to render me useless anyway. Currenly have a hot water bottle against my lower back but moving is very painful.

Is there anything sensible I can do to ease it just enough to do dinner?!

ARFID looks after the toddler. DH and toddler mum do the dinner. Sorry you're in pain.

My daughter had ARFID too x

My back went recently, ibuprofen and a hot water bottle on it helped loads.

If its hot to the touch try cold compress. Try both alternately.

Take ibrophen if you have it otherwise

Try some gentle stretches. Try arms up in the air (and going onto tip toes), palms facing each other then swishing them down beside your legs whilst going into a chair swat. Repeat. Sit in stroppy child's pose if you know it. If you know les mills on demand do just the warm up from body balance

Take a small ball about tennis ball size and sandwich it between the sore bit of back and wall. Leen into the ball/wall. Roll it around.

If you can get to a jacuzzi sit with your back on a jet (tolerate the pain) otherwise if you have a high pressure shower try aiming it at the bit of the back that hurts.

Disclaimer no medical expert but back injury last year

That should say try naproxen if you have it otherwise ibrophen 🙄

Oh yes and if you cant do any of the above (and you can manage it) stand up and walk. Gently. Do not sit down for long. (I have a kneeling chair for bad days)

Absolutely ibuprofen. Deep Heat if you have it. Any gentle stretching you can manage. The one where you lie on your back and let your knees drop to the side is good. But go carefully.

When my back gave in recently it actually helped to keep moving (once I could move). But obv no lifting heavy stuff and no bending over eg chopping veg for ages.

Just in addition to what i wrote.If you can't do the whole swishy thing, do it small to start.

Start with your arms at waist height raise them up as far as comfortable (either tip toes or feet flat square and facing forward) and slowly increase the range of motion.

But yes totally and utterly agree with the above, the key really is to start and keep moving. Allow a little extra time in the morning in case you need it.

Thank you... (especially Icedlatteplease)..
About to try, plus ibruprofen!!!
I will rope inmy daughter-with-toddler tommorrow but she won't be here til most of the prep has needed doing so moving a bit is vital!!

This is the only thing that works for me : lay flat on your back, on a bed or on the floor. Slowly and gently stretch one leg down, as if you’re trying to make one leg longer than the other. Alternate legs. To start with it’ll only move a couple of centimetres, keep going and it’ll gradually loosen your back. Try to keep each foot at a 90 degree angle. Like this 0___|
As pp have said ibuprofen will help and either heat or cold whichever feels right for you. Repeat lying down and stretching each leg as often as you can.

Arghhh was just going to ask if you had any diazepam to hand, I have some for this exact scenario and would take it even if I’d had a drink - walking can help if it’s not too bad, I slipped a couple of discs a few years ago and now walk miles every bloody day as it’s helpful At keeping it at bay. Not much now though!
Just enlist dh, you can issue instructions from a comfortable position tomorrow.
anti inflammatory medication will hopefully be helpful tonight.

If you know anyone who has a tens machine, ask to borrow it.

My back went yesterday. been taking neuromal (sp?) which is ibuprofen and paracetamol combined. Plus a hot water bottle and deep heat. Has kept it at bay. Haven’t had any painkillers since lunchtime and it’s really hurting now although pain seems to have moved from lower left back to deeper into the hip.

DH gets back spasms, I can usually find a 'knot' and massage (pummel, lean on with an elbow...) which relieves it so he can move though it's sore (a proper masseur or physio. can sort it out better but I can manage an emergency fix). Maybe your DH or one of your DDs could try that? Or the tennis ball mentioned upthread - diy massage.

Can you have egg on toast for Xmas lunch and see how you are doing on Boxing Day?