To think drugs really DON'T work?!

[MummyStruggles]

I'm laid up in bed having been prescribed diazepam today for a "severe muscle strain" in my lower back.

I've been in pain since Saturday. It's complete agony and no matter what tablets I take the pain won't fucking budge!!

Not really an AIBU but I'm in bed and can't sleep. I'm wondering what else can I do? I can barely bloody move and poor DH has to help me with the loo and all sorts.

I'm only 34 and feel about 104!

they are having to be really careful with the giving of diazapam now.really drummed down on it.there has been some real highlighting of its mis-and over use and it high addictivness.and then some terrible out comes from this.
have you trie the rub in brufen gels.or patches.
some really good breathing videos and guided meditation videos can really help get your stress down from it.and that cycle of fear and stress and aaaaaargh going round and round in ur brain.

that dose is pointless

after a back injury, I had back spasms as well as pain and couldn't tolerate painkillers

I later found out I should have been given something to protect my stomach while taking the strong painkillers - maybe look into that?

also you could ask for a different muscle relaxant - I think there are ones that make them freak out less than prescribing diazepam - and I ended up with amitriptaline (sp) and found it helped but didn't upset my stomach.

I hope you feel better asap.

I had a ruptured disc and severe sciatica last year and nothing touched the pain much not even gabapentin

What did help was a TENs. I would set it for 30 mins then fall asleep really fast. It distracts your brain away from the pain somehow it was very fascinating!

Are you using a hot water bottle (in addition to everything else?)

My OH gets a really bad back and often it's only a hot water bottle that really does the trick. (On top of strong painkilling meds).

I’ve got a trapped nerve in my lower back currently and the only thing that helps is opioids. This is going to sound awful but have you considered suppository codeine? It won’t affect your stomach and we’re just about the only country that ingests it so it’s not abnormal.

Another here who agrees that 2mg is a pointless dose.

I have a situation with my back caused by my pelvis being way out of alignment.

Very gentle movement is key to preventing any problems worsening (unless the GP says otherwise). It's a shame you can't take codeine but alternating paracetamol.witj ibuprofen will help with both pain and any swelling.

If it's not changed at all by the morning or has gotten worse then I'd insist on another GP appt.

My mum broke a disk in her back and had various exercises to do every day. Sometimes I joined her, it was quite peaceful on the floor and felt quite good moving into different positions. For the pain I get, if I'm able to then I try and curl into a ball with my shins against the floor (or bed). But I've been told you mustn't do other people's exercises because they might make your problem worse. So check with the GP or a physio if the GP okays it.

I'm another one who is currently experiencing this - hence being awake at this hour. You have my total sympathy. It's fucking awful, I'm exhausted and praying for the medication to kick in over today.

I've done it before, and gentle movement really helps move things along. Getting out of bed is the worst bit, but you have to do it. Take it slowly, roll to your good side and work your way up. Gentle stretches can help. Heat is good for me after the first few days, so I use deep heat and water bottles.

Take care of yourself

Hi, I literally feel your pain having slipped two disks in my back recently. Amongst other medication I was prescribed diazepam. It helps to reduce muscle spasms. (It also has the affect of cheering you up after a while which helps too!)

In my case my whole back and legs went into spasm - it’s your bodies way of protecting your spine but it does take a few days to start to work. It sounds like you need to take this in conjunction with a decent pain medication. I was prescribed tramadol and together these are what put me in the road to recovery, along with a nerve blocker. Maybe speak to GP.

I sympathise, it has been the worst pain I have ever been through and people don’t understand unless they’ve been there, how debilitating back pain can be. Feel free to PM me!

Diazepam is pretty rarely prescribed now- clinical trials shows it does nothing, so not suprised that you're not feeling better on it. Sadly time, mobilising and analgesia is the best chance of it getting better although it takes time.

The only thing that helped when I had back spasms was Tramadol. I think I first got it prescribed from A&E when I went in for a different issue. Didn't use much of them and found them when my back went and was in agony. They really helped! Doctors always try to fob you off with ibuprofine or codine which does nothing, in my experience. Basically like a placebo until the pain going away naturally. It is inhumane! Your in that much pain but its almost like you have to prove it by going in for appointments constantly to prove that your in pain!

DOI:

Orthopaedic surgeon that suffers with back pain...

AS others have said - you need whatever amount of painkillers allows you to move, and then to move.

When I first started getting back pain, I used to instinctively lie down and stay still, took weeks to get better, these days I've learnt better, as soon as I get a twinge - 3 ibuprofen and 2 paracetamol and stay stood-up, gentle walks around the block, and absolutely nothing (bending, lifting) that is likely to exacerbate things.

Diazepam isn't a painkiller. I can't see that being recommend without paracetamol.
As someone has said paracetamol is better than the likes of morphine for this type of pain so don't overlook it

paracetamol is better than the likes of morphine for this type of pain

Statements of fact like this are very unhelpful. We are all different. I’ve been taking codeine (which metabolises into morphine) for almost eight years non stop. I’ve tried other options and probably take slightly more paracetamol daily, it doesn’t touch the pain when bad. I’ve been on stronger opiates and come back down as I’ve got stronger. Post surgery morphine was great, I’d find it helpful to have in an acute flare up.

If you aren’t used to opiates it is very common to feel or be sick. Taking much smaller doses could help, so one 8mg cocodamol with one normal paracetamol initially. Two 30mg tablets from nothing is a huge dose. I was sick a few times before realising this. Although I know some people are allergic.

I was given Naproxen for back pain and it did nothing. A diagnosis is what i wanted and i was given it. SI joint problems which explains the shooting pains/spasms. Exercise at home as directed by the physio, no painkillers but im certainly better. I don’t get up looking like a 90 yr old woman! Bed rest will only stiffen you up.

Sounds awful, if I were you I would see a chiropractor or a massage therapist (or both). I'm not a big fan of strong painkillers either, as far as I can see all they do is make you woozy, not take the pain away.

Eh? What an odd response. Lots of tablets work. It's just finding the right ones.

Plus lots of other remedies, and natural ones, ie ice packs or heat and alternative therapies, and salt etc can also help.

I've had bad pain. Diclofenac was good for me.

Once a locum GP gave me a kind of brain blocker, so the signal of pain didn't reach the brain. That was fab too!

There are options.

Plenty of people have pain that isn’t relieved by medication. It isn’t bonkers. The only thing that gave me any relief was a spinal injection.

Love a tens too
Very relaxing and it does distract you

OP you and @SpamChaudFroid should really see a soft tissue therapist who will be able to help you. They need to be a level 5 therapist and will use massage, soft tissue & muscle energy techniques to help you, especially you Spam it does wonders for piriformis syndrome

2mg won't even touch the sides, especially if you drink regularly