To be at my wits end and hope there's a doctor on mumsnet on a Sunday?

[Whenisright]

I know I am but here goes.... For at least the last couple of months I wake up with horrible aching mid back pain. Every single morning. It means I simply can't lie in or catch up on sleep, despite being exhausted (twins). The discomfort is so bad I have to get up. Nothing I do in bed helps (position change / stretching / moving beds or surface), I have to get up. Within 10 mins of being up I'm absolutely fine. I have a new excellent mattress, have tried a different mattress and memory foam. Tried different sleeping positions. I'm at my wits end as its getting earlier and earlier. By 3am I was gulping painkillers as I desperately needed to sleep and then was up at 5.45 with the twins. Dr said they could refer me for physio and advised to take ibuprofen. Not helpful. Any ideas at all?? It is my whole middle back and comes round to my ribs at the front. Any Drs here? Thanks!

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MNHQ Update
Fed up of waking with back pain? Our guide to the best mattress for back pain is up to date with a wide range of tried and tested options. We hope it’s helpful!

did it start when you got the new matress or did you have it before?
are you hypermobile? dh can't sleep well on memory foam, he gets a backache as you describe.

Hi pink, no it didn't. Just seems to have started randomly. I'm overweight though (damn breastfeeding twins and the carbs addiction it gave me!)

The internet is full of trolls and you're going to trust someone is a Doctor because they say they are?

I'm sorry you're in pain, but from the sound of it your Doctor has been helpful.

Any idea how long the referral will take?

Worra, sorry meant it in a lighthearted way. Just after opinions if people have had the same thing etc. Obviously I have no idea if they are a dr or not. The dr just said, 'well it could be anything so we could try physio and take ibuprofen.' I don't think this is helpful at all as it makes no effort to work out what the problem is. I don't want to be taking painkillers every single morning without knowing why. Also, physio in my area is awful. You see a different person every time and basically just get a sheet with stretches on it to copy.

Pillows? What are you core muscles like?

I agree with Worra, he's offered advice and a referral, both of which sound sensible.

Which doctor? GP? What exams have you done?

He didn't say how long the referral would take, just that it wouldn't be until the new year.

Just a gp. No exams done. Just said exactly what I put above. I was in and out within 5 minutes.

I've tried sleeping with all manner pillows, nothing has helped. My core muscles are non existent since the twins.

I would ask for an MRI as it could be compressed discs. Sounds very similar to what I had - 5 discs involved.
I had an op to widen my spinal cord and no pain now.
THe pain was awful if I lay down, it started after a long haul flight, completely out of the blue.
I hope you find the cause OP

GPs dont do much with backs. If you can afford it, id see a back pain specialist/osteo/chiro

Bird lady - thanks v much, maybe I should suggest Mri when I go back then. I just want something done to try to find out what's causing this.

I used to suffer from a really bad back pain. Still do, due to various reasons but that one was totally immobilising.
I was referred to a physio, who happened to be a sports physio. They pointed out severe issues with my posture, showed me a video of me moving which actually solved a lot as I was horrified to see myself. And they also gave me exercises to improve the posture and a massage.
The problem with core muscles could be one of the issues. Go to the physio, they can give you exercises which can be done even while you are going on about your everyday crazy busy life.
Hope that helps.

Get a second opinion op Also see an oestopath.

whenisright is it a really severe pain sort of around your ribcage,and/or is it around your right shoulderblade? from what you've said, it doesn't sound like it but thought I'd ask.
Is it every day as well?

I had similar( without the twins), started going to a postnatal pilates class run by a physio. I've not had any bother since. Could be coincidence, in fact I'd forgotten about it till now. My core was absolutely non existent after dc1, and dc2 19months later made it much worse.

I would ask for a urine sample test just in case you have a kidney infection or cystitis. Back pain especially when lying down is a very common symptom, even if you have no other symptoms that would usually suggest a urine infection.

I suffer with kidney problems and am on daily long term antibiotics. One of the first signs I need to up my dose is exactly the kind of symptoms you've described.

However, I'm not a doctor and it's more likely to be joint or ligament issues!

Can not recommend Pilates enough - endless physio, massage, osteopathy didn't work but Pilates did. Not necessarily a quick fix but it sorted me out brilliantly.

Could you afford private physio? I have long term back pain and pay for physio every 2/3 weeks. My issue is muscular and permanent. Physio and the right exercise keeps me moving and pain at a minimum. I wouldn't wait till after Christmas.

If you know your core weak, the Dr suggesting physio is a good start. Maybe you could work on it at home too?

An MRI won't show up any muscular issues, and if there's no impinged nerve in the spine etc, they seem to wash their hands of you (as with my neck and shoulders).

Also recommend chiropractic.

I paid for physio privately, £40 for an initial session and £30 for follow ups - went online and found someone and got an appointment next day. Definitely worth it if you can afford it.
Things like swimming and Pilates also worth considering as they strengthen your back.
Ibuprofen lasts 6-8 hours so you're better off taking it before you go to bed so you've got the effect whilst you're asleep - might help keep you asleep a bit longer and you're better off doing that than taking painkillers when the pain is already there. If you wake with the pain, get up, walk around for 5 mins (go get a drink or something) as this seems to relieve the pain then go back to bed and see if you can get a bit more sleep.

Thanks so much everyone, brilliant advice and suggestions, really appreciate it. Black cherries - it isn't around my right shoulder blade. It's my middle back, under shoulder blades and above lower back, goes round to my ribs at the front.

Will ask for a urine sample test and look into all the other things suggested as well, thank you!

I had similar, it was nothing to do with my mattress however, but the sofa I had been sitting on, it was fine while I was sitting but had affected my lower back so that when I went to bed or walked around I was in pain after a while and would wake up unable to move.

Do check what else you are sitting on or even your footwear as that can affect your back too.

Pilates also completely fixed my post natal back pain.
I couldn't lie on my back at all after having my daughter, but through the day I was fine.
A few weeks of Pilates made me feel infinitely better. My class was also with a physio , small very personalised class. Absolutely brilliant.

Have you been prescribed muscle relaxants?

Don't.Freak.Out.
Friend had chronic back spasms in bed... it turned out eventually developed into recognisable epilepsy. Took a while but she's now long been on good meds that keep it very under control. OP seems to be saying that the pain only happens in bed, which makes me think something hormonal/chemical, not something structural.