to think there's no point going to the doctor's with this?

[mmmgoats]

Had lower back pain for about a month and a half.
It's not consistent. It doesn't hurt when I sit or lie down, or when I'm walking about, it's mainly a kind of stiff feeling when I straighten up after sitting down.
I also have an occasional nerve like sciatic type pain down my left leg [lower part occasionally].

Sometimes it feels like it's in my hips, but no abdominal pain or anything like that. Accupuncture helps, Ibuprofen gel gets rid completely for a few hours and Rock tape makes a big difference. It's still lingering.

When I went to the doctor's a few years back for a different type of back ache they just told me to take paracetamol and come back in six weeks if I still had it [despite having it for two months before I went].

Am I right in thinking I should wait it out for a few more weeks and see if these things I mentioned get rid of it completely? DH thinks I should go to the doctors but I feel like it will be a total waste of time and they'll just fob me off with sciatica and treat me like an over anxious woman [I get this a lot now that my doctor has been changed over].

I'm being ridiculous aren't I?

They won't "fob you off as sciatica" clinically it's presenting as sciatica. There is no magic wand, takes up to 6 weeks to resolve. Take a cup of man up and try self treating as the responsible adult you should be. Regular pain relief, gentle mobilisation. If you can't manage the pain or have symptoms of caud equina get a urgent medical review (saddle aneasthesia/bowel or bladder dysfunction)

Sacroiliac joint?

Tbh they won't do anything for that either

What do you want your doctor to do?

@notanenabler i’m not being a wuss, or I would have gone already. I’ve already had it for about six weeks hence the starting to wonder if I should go.

I don’t know- maybe the doctor could give me some stronger painkillers?!

But tbh you’ve confirmed what I thought, probably not worth it and will leave it another couple of weeks at least.

You need to learn and regularly do sciatica exercises. A consultation with a physio would be your best bet.
GPs and NICE guidelines are useless for back pain.
I had a back injury at work years ago and Occupational Health sent me to a "back class". It was really good, run by a physio. I still do the lying on the floor, knees to chest/ roll routine. No painkillers.

It's worth looking into private physios for this sort of pain, there might well be something you can be doing to help yourself but you'll be waiting weeks on nhs even if you do get a referral.

If ibuprofen gel works for a few hours, you don't need stronger painkillers :-/

Yes to seeing a physio and learning strengthening exercises. Can you self refer to NHS physio in your area? Have a look online.

This is long but I will try to describe the exercise.
You need a soft mat and pillow.
Lie flat, make sure you have plenty of room.
Keep your shoulders on the floor.
Bend both knees up to your chest and hug tight.
Then lower back to the floor.
Repeat with one leg at a time.
Then bring your right knee up to your chest and roll to your left aiming to rest your right knee on the floor but keeping shoulders flat. Don't strain. Just go as far as youcan.
Repeat with other leg.
Finish by pulling both knees up and relax.
Always roll to your side and onto knees to stand up.
When getting out of bed, roll onto your side, place feet on floor then sit up.
Never sit straight up from horizontal.
Hope that makes sense.
I do those exercises 2 x daily.

I wouldn't go to the doctors either I have a really good osteopath Painkillers are fine but they don't cure the problem but mask it

Is is stiff in the morning ? Any family history of any inflammatory types of arthritis ?

I second the private physio suggestion, all GP is likely to do is suggest or offer pain relief which isn't a solution. If you have something like Simply Health or Medicash you can get money back on cost of physio.

I agree physio but I also read something recently that suggested painkillers earlier in could stop chronic pain neural pathways developing (e.g. your body gets used to certain movements causing pain and still continues to feel pain after the actual cause is gone). On the other hand stronger pain killers can have side effects so it's not always an easy choice.

Get thee to an Osteopath!

Honestly they are miracle workers and should probably be sainted.

Of course go to your Dr. Why wouldn't you?

Realistically they may not be able to do much but like you said ihey can give you more effective pain relief.

My doctor gives me diazepam on the rare occasions that my back "goes" and is its generally muscular it sorts it out really quickly. Also was given exercise to do which really works

*Sacroiliac joint?

Tbh they won't do anything for that either*

Very true. I have sacroiliac joint dysfunction. I just get prescribed painkillers if I ask for them. You (I) just ''get used to'' the pain and learn to live with it.

Thanks for suggestions, especially the stretches.

@blistory no family history. It's stiff when I get up but mainly from sitting, and not worse in the morning. Not sure if that's an indicator of anything.

@LEMtheoriginal mainly because I feel like in my experience they can't do much for back pain.

Physio/osteopath good suggestions, I will look into both and see how much they are/see if I can self refer. Thank you.

@grumpyoldmare what's your pain like? Sorry to hear that :(

There was a tv programme on C4 last week on chronic lower back pain. Three groups were allocated to either yoga, osteopathy or physio. The key point was: they all improved!
The key point is that they all mobilised, strengthened their muscles and improved their flexibility.
I did Pilates for similar reasons and improved a lot.

@mmmgoats I've got so used to it,that I only really notice it when I'm not in pain if you get what I mean?
For me,it's a little less painful than my arthritis.
It's worse in the morning or if I've not been very active (odd I know). I find stretches help ease it though.

I second pilates. Does wonders from chronic back shoulder hip pain. As others have said, painkillers are masking an issue. Unless you have peak core strength, have great posture and alignment already, then likely some kind of pilates /physio will really help.

@grumpyoldmare that sounds like mine, it's actually fine if I've been active, but when i've been lying down or sitting down and stand back up again I get quite a painful stiffness.
I will persist with stretches as well.

Thanks @mayhew that's really interesting I might see if it's on demand. I used to do pilates, so this is a kick up the backside to start again.

I also have chronic pain due to spd and have been told not to have more children or could end up in a wheelchair permanently. Physio and their exercises have proved the most help and I've also got a pilates dvd (too embarrassed to go to a class) and the resulting strengthening of my core muscles has helped. Sadly physio is expensive and currently can't afford to go but if you can would completely recommend. I've tried physio and osteopath and personally found physio much more helpful. Good luck and hope you feel better soon ☺

Go and see your GP. They may not prescribe any meds, but they need to keep your medical records up to date. They may also send you to a physio. Don't do exercises off the internet for an undiagnosed condition, see a physiotherapist.

mobilised, strengthened their muscles and improved their flexibility.

this ^

There are lots of relevant exercise videos on youtube, most of them look like Pilates/Yoga.