Any physios / doctors around please? Trapped nerve / muscle cramps in back and don’t know what to do

[heretonight]

On Monday I felt a twinge in my back - it’s not unusual for me as I had decompression surgery on L5/S1 15 years ago after a disc had burst, affecting my sciatic nerve. I get the odd twinge and flare and it usually passes with a couple of ibuprofen and keeping moving.

This time though the pain ramped up and it was pretty bad, I called my gp who prescribed naproxen and a few days of diazepam. I took one diazepam which made me feel awful and a two naproxen over the day and it eased so I thought great! I was still in pain Thursday but went back to work and it was slightly better again on Friday.

2am Saturday morning though I woke to go to the loo and was in extreme pain, right across the back of my waist, every movement shot an agonising pain through me. I honestly thought I was going to faint. I felt really sick with it. I was crying out with pain, just didn’t know what to do with myself. I took more naproxen and a diazepam but vomited then up.

I called 111 and they saw me at 9am, how I got to the hospital I don’t know, I thought I would pass out with the pain. Still vomiting at the hospital they gave me an anti sickness drug, codiene and more diazepam to take away. They ruled out kidney stones via urine dip and all obs were fine. Suggested muscle cramps / nerve pain.

i came home with drugs and was pretty zombied yesterday, couldn’t eat at all but today the pain has abated a bit, still sore and terrified it will take off again. I’ve had no advice on what to do now. I was told that if I’d gone to A&E I’d have been scanned but as I’d gone in via out if hours I wouldn’t be scanned. So I don’t know now whether to approach GP to ask for physio for assessment and if I need a scan or not?

From what I remember when I had my previous issues they won’t scan unless you have neurological issues down your leg or bladder or bowel problems. When I was in the terrific pain I couldn’t control my bladder (stop/start my wee) but all of that is back to normal now.

So, anyone with any advice please? I’m terrified of this level of pain happening again. Will the fact I’ve had a previous decompression surgery mean that I’ll need a scan? I don’t want to ignore a failing spine if that’s what’s happening as I age.
Anything I can do in the short term to help?

Bumping for you

So Sorry you're in pain. I went today in A&E with similar pain. I've had back problems for 2.5 years now. It was suspected of bulging discs and the physio wasn't much help. 3 weeks ago I hurt my back again in the gym and since yesterday couldn't feel anything on my right glute and lower back on that side. They just examined me and referred me to physio with no scans or xrays. I did ask for 1 with ongoing issues but he was adamant he knew what it is and the physio should sort it out for me. Hope you get sorted soon xx

I’m bumping this as every few days my back is flaring. I saw a private physio yesterday who wasn’t a lot of help as she massaged it hard and today I’m back to square one. The nerve pain is driving me insane, I have naproxen and codeine but I don’t want ti take the codeine, it makes me feel dreadful.

How can I settle this pain? I’m beginning to be scared there’s something seriously wrong with me like cancer in my spine as it just won’t stop twinging, constant low level pain upping when I move. I can’t sit, lay, stand or get comfortable at all

Are you having any involuntary bowel movements or urinating? I know that cauda equina can be a risk in these circumstances.

I have problems with chronic back pain. It is exacerbated by work when I have to contort into difficult positions ( dentist). I only work one day a week and I think this is the real cause. I’ve tried exercises, painkillers and I already take baclofen low dose to stop muscle spasm.
Anyway this week it was awful. When I had a particularly bad flare up of sciatica a few years ago I invested in a tens machine. It didn’t really help much. However I eventually found it under the bed and had a go with it this week. Within 30mins I was pain free. I used it for a few hours the evening after I worked and it had been fine since.
I plan to take it into work next week and attach it before I set off home. There is no paint work until I stop and sit down then my back ceases up and I can hardly move. I’m hoping it is the solution. Whether I take painkillers or not it has usually settled after 24hrs but if tens works again then I would prefer to use it.

I’ve not involuntarily soiled myself or urinated but I have definitely got less sensation in my rectum. I feel pressure when I need to go but not that ‘ooh I need a poop’ feeling. Saying that the pain is at waist level so I wouldn’t have thought low enough in my back for the cauda equina to be affected.

I shall get a tens machine, I’m pretty desperate at this point. Thank you

Hello, so sorry you’re going through this. Are there any positions that give any relief ? Eg, can you lie on your back with your legs bent over a couple of pillows to take pressure off your spine ? Or on your side with knees bent up and a pillow between your knees? Have you tried a hot water bottle or heat pack ? Muscle spasm is extremely painful and can sometimes be eased by direct heat, worth a try. Do you have any referred pain at all - into your buttocks or anywhere down your leg ?