Cant sleep.. Trapped nerve in my spine. In agony!

[Crazyladee]

Had a bad back for a few weeks now. As if that wasn't agonising enough I now have pain/severe cramps and numbness down all one side of my body going from my bottom down to my foot. Today was worse than ever. I can only stand up for a minute maximum before I get searing burning cramps which result in me screaming the place down. I'm seeing a chiropractor but it will be a slow process to untrap the nerve.
Don't know why I'm posting really. I'm just so miserable. Don't suppose anyone else has had the same and is awake??

You have my sympathy. Insomnia keeping me up

But I had terrible back pain. To the point the pain literally took my breath away. Awful. Have to say I saw a chiropractor and it was a lot better after one treatment. Completely gone with two. Little pricey but money well spent.

I assume you’ve had a trip to your GP about it? And good luck sleeping. I know finding the right position to minimise the pain is nigh on impossible.

Sorry not had this but sounds awful. Have you seen a doctor? The numbness down one side sounds quite worrying.

Hope you get some sleep soon.

Sorry to hear that. Have you tried co-codamol (paracetamol and codeine, available over-the-counter)? It's worked for me with back pain, and it makes you sleepy as a bonus!

Sorry you feel so bad. Does a bath help? Or ice pack?

This sounds very much like your sciatic nerve is inflamed. Can you try a cold compress on your bum/lower back. Also if you can lie on your back & bend your sore leg, pulling your knee up to your shoulder, iykwim. This can help take the pressure off a compressed nerve, also take pain relief, its agony & regular pain relief for the acuteness of it all might help.
Hugs, its ghastly, hope you feel some relief soon

I once had a trapped sciatic nerve and it was the worst pain of my life. A doctor told me I’d find childbirth a breeze after the pain, and she wasn’t entirely wrong.

What helped somewhat was sleeping on my side hugging a pillow that’s vertical, so my bad leg was slightly raised up if that makes sense. A bit like if you’re using one of those pregnancy pillows if you know what I mean.

My chiropractor has said I damaged a disc a few years ago due to lifting something heavy incorrectly. Since then I've always had a weakness in my back. A few weeks ago I had a coughing fit which resulted in unbearable lower back pain.
Last week the back pain eased off but in its place, I then developed these excrutiating cramps down the one side. Chiropractor told me the tissue around the damaged disc is causing a nerve to be compressed. I'd rather go back to having the back pain than this. At least I could walk!

I've signed up for a months course of chiropractory treatment and had two sessions so far. I'm taking 30mg Codeine and ibrupofen which is doing nothing. I'm using a heat pad. Should I use a cold press instead?

I've not bothered to go to the GP at this stage.

I’d definitely go as a permanently damaged nerve can cause really horrible problems, like paralysis and incontinence. Not to scare you, but the sooner it’s sorted out the better.

I love chiropractors as they fixed me up a treat. BUT I think you should see a doctor. Bit that worries me is the numbness. Medical professionals tend to get a little upset when you lose sensation in your limbs.

And in my case nothing touched the pain. Guess morphine would really help. Seen that work wonders but that’s an A&E visit and significant levels of begging. Medical professionals don’t like giving that out either.

Keep an eye out for numbness in the saddle area, (around bum and fanny). If you experience that make sure you go to A&E for suspected cauda equina.

I've had similar to what you describe for over 6 months and am on the NHS waiting list for a nerve root block. Sadly painkillers won't work for nerve pain, so you might want to see your GP, who can prescribe something more suitable like amitryptiline or gabapentin.

YY to pulling your knees up to your chest one at a time, you can google how to do it correctly.

Heating pad?

@Crazyladee I don't have the same condition as you, but I have severe Rheumatoid Arthritis and have been up since 2am quaffing (that really is a weird word) painkillers and drinking coffee. I won't be going back to bed now until Sunday night. I'm like this pretty much every night.

It's not much fun at all is it? I guess the silver lining is my wife gets a king size bed to herself and coffee in bed when she wakes up.

You have my sympathy OP. I agree with using cold. Cold pack will help reduce the inflammation & pain. Warmth
relaxes muscles, but irritates inflammation. Like putting heat on a sunburn would. I put my cold pack in an old sock, rather than right against bare skin, it just feels better, and drier.
Heating pad wrapped around the painful leg will help the leg. If you are allowed to take anti-inflamatories, take those, as well as your codeine. They are like magic for inflamation! I even got a little relief from my dh's lose dose ASA (baby aspirin).

Good luck, I know it is hellish to have nerve pain.
I went to the hospital at its worst, lucky for me a pain specialist was there and offered me nerve block injections, which gave HUGE relief. You could ask your reg. Dr. for a referral to one (I am not in the UK and unsure of how it works there). Also, Gabapentin helps my leg pain, and Tradadol helped more than codienne but it was too stong for me, honesty, the best meds (for me) nerve pain wise, are Gabapentin and anti-inflamatories. And the wonderful nerve block injections.

As @QuiteForgetful has said, you can take codeine and anti inflammatories together. Not sure what strength you have, but anything is better than nothing. My cocktail of choice is naproxen and codeine, it takes the edge off for a couple of hours.

I feel your pain.

Woke up this morning with a sore back. Could hardly get out of bed. Can't use pain relief as pregnant. I have quite a physical job so work is going to be fun today.

Thank you so much to the people suggesting cold packs! I'm still in searing pain if I stand for too long, but it's definately eased off since trying a cold pack. Chiropractor said either heat or ice so I've just been using my microwavable teddy bear to treat the pain. Didn't realise I would be making it worse!

I'm also going to take the advice of phoning the GP on Tuesday morning to get an appointment.

Just an update if anyone is interested.
I visited my GP on Wednesday and she has referred me for an urgent MRI scan. Pain is still unbearable all the way down my left side. She's prescribed me dihydrocodeine and amitriptoline. Since taking the medication, the pain seems less intensified. I'm not sure whether the painkillers are doing their job or whether I'm on the mend and it's clearing up on its own. Well the scan will provide the answers I need.

Like a PP said, any saddle area numbness or change in weeing/bowels, go to a&e immediately
I herniated a disc and developed cauda equina

Pay heed to the posters who’ve mentioned cauda equina

I know someone who narrowly avoided paralysis because of this

Yeah my only change was a sensation of water trickling down my legs (I was already numb and dragging one foot)
I took myself to a&e and told them I thought I had CE

Sounds like sciatica which is hell. hot and cold alternating compresses, plenty of a variety of painkillers (I was on tramadol for a bit with mine as well as about 3 other painkillers) and suss out some of the stretches that can help - but fundamentally to get it over quick go to an Osteopath for 2 to 3 sessions and DO the exercises they give you

The CE is also a possibility but as others have said there are other signs as well as tingling don one or both sides