To not get this checked out?

[MidnightMystery]

Hi everyone,

I've managed to do my back in this morning after carrying something really heavy up the stairs.

I've never injured my back before now so I'm not sure if what I'm experiencing is worth getting looked at.

So I felt it go at the top of the stairs and ever since I've just been in agony with my lower back, I can't lift my legs up without them having shooting pains up them, I'm not comfortable in any position. Struggling to pick up my little one. Pains getting worse etc.

AIBU to not get this checked out ? Friend has said it's a sprain and nothing can be done, haven't had a bad back before so might just be being a wimp!

Yes you should definitely get this checked out - you may have slipped a disc or something.

What qualifications does your friend have? Unless they are a medic, why would you take their word for it?

Thankyou for the response, @Lightsabre and @Blueuggboots , I'm defo not taking my friends word hence why I've posted here, I've managed to have a bath which eased the pain but now I'm out it's the same which is deliberating! I have three little ones so I'm trying to organise childcare so I can go to the out of hours which seems I won't be able to go until the morning now and I have a feeling I won't be able to walk by then.

You need ibuprofen to keep inflammation down. Full dose, for several days. Take paracetamol as well, you need to get ahead of it.
Keep moving, but don't overdo it. Do lots of gentle stretches. It's going to hurt like hell in the morning. Get a hot pack on it before you try and get out of bed. Stretch gently in bed, flex your muscles, warm everything up before you try and move.

It will get better.

Try 101 (out of hours advice).

I don't think they can do anything for you yet.

@picklemepopcorn Thankyou I've got some pain relief you mentioned and taken that now. It took me ten mins to get up to change my son and ended up crawling back to my bed. This is awful. Will see the doctor first thing in the morning if no improvement if I had childcare I'd be there already.

Think I've done some damage here

Well, I don't know how you feel of course. I've slipped a disk in the past, and had recurring problems when my back spasms. It's not great, but you aren't actually doing any damage. The first time I didn't it GP told me no point going in, take ibuprofen and lie on floor. I got stuck couldn't get up. DF had to talk me through crawling to the door and pulling myself up so I could stagger to the loo. I couldn't bend to get food out of any cupboards. I got a cold from lying on the floor. It was awful.

But there's no need to be frightened of it. It hurts, but it isn't going to kill you. Nothing will fall off. It will get better.

The important thing then is to do exercises that strengthen the area, so it doesn't happen again. Because that sucks.

You must take the full dose of pain meds though- check the labels, ring a pharmacy, make sure you are taking the right stuff. Don't be worried that pain killers are masking the problem, and you might be making it worse- that's a myth. You need the anti inflammatories, and the paracetamol will help you relax, which is important.

I first done my back in when I was 15, 18 years later after it going 3/4 times a year and taking up at least 3/4 if the year in pain, I can say no one gives a shiny shit. Ime over the counter meds don't hekp, but then tramadol and diazepam do feck all for me.

Have you git anyone to go to the chemist? Bio freeze is awesome stuff, literally feels like it freezes you to the bone. Alternate with heat.

@picklemepopcorn Thankyou so much for your kind advice! Sorry to hear you still have back spasms I'm finding the spasms difficult to deal with they are making me shout out and jump, good to know I'm not damaging myself I stupidly read something on google and of course said "can lead to death or paralysis" I was trying to self diagnose never a good idea!

I was trying to determine if I just had a sprain or something else like a slipped disk but seems either way pain relief is the only thing that can help so don't want to waste anyone's time.

@TheCanyon oh my that's a long time to be in pain and for no one to care so sorry to hear about this!

I've taken 2 paracetamol and 2 ibuprofen and no relief just yet. I'm on my own with three children two of them are in nappies I've been struggling and now don't think I can get up again!

Worse pain of my life so can't imagine 18years of it

Try not to panic- even if some of the stuff we say is a bit worrisome!

Is there anyone you can call to help you out? You will be stiff and sore for a while yet.

The spasms are the muscles trying to protect you. They lock up, hoping to take the pressure off the injury.

If you start to get numbness in your groin or any incontinence or in ability to pee or weakness in your legs call an ambulance.

If not minor injuries / walk in tomorrow.

They can give you diazepam or similar to reduce the spasms but you might need someone to help with the DC.

I used a kitchen tongs to pick things up when I couldn’t bend. Sit in a proper chair eg kitchen chair with a hot water bottle behind you if you have one. It will help with the spasms a bit.

It sounds like you might have pinched a nerve & it's causing sciatica, which is very painful. You do need to see your GP as you're going to need muscle relaxants & strong pain killers, rest & stretching type exercise to fix it. It's a problem that flares up fir me from time to time & this is the only thing that will work if it's bad. Good luck.

Oh & Ibruprohen to reduce swelling will help too

How are you doing this am, Midnight?

@TheCanyon, ditto - completely agree no one gives a left bollock about a bad back unless you start displaying symptoms of caudia equina (sp?). If you start experiencing saddle numbness or problems defecating/urinating then you need to go straight to A&E.

Otherwise out of hours/GP might give you better painkillers and advise you to try physio.

Good morning all,

I managed to sleep ok after taking the pain relief, I felt better than last night this morning and was able to get out of bed , I done the warm up stretches but feel like I've aggravated myself.
Also using the bathroom is painful sending sciatic pains down both legs.
Still having the back spasms when walking and constant low back pain.

Will try to eat something and take some more pain relief.

Thankyou all for your kind words and advice x

That doesn't sound too bad then! So gentle movement, don't push the stretches. You're just trying to stop yourself getting stiff, or warm the muscles up a bit before you ask them to do anything.

A hot shower is better than a bath, by the way, as baths force you into a slouch and you need to keep your posture fairly upright.

Hope today goes ok!

@picklemepopcorn
Just thought I'd update, things got worse this morning so I went to the walk in centre, while I was there I felt like I wet myself so I went to the toilet and discovered I was actually bleeding. The doc told me to go to AnE.

Turns out I have a bulging disk and having a miscarriage.

I have had codeine and need to go the the EPU on Monday to confirm the loss.

I am very sorry to hear that.

Oh you poor thing. Very sorry to hear this x

Oh that's awful, I'm so sorry! Were you far along?

On a practical note, drink lots of water/fruit juice. Codeine is very constipating which is the last thing you need right now. Your back will recover, but you need to look after it.

Thankyou for your kind words.

@picklemepopcorn 5.5 weeks, very early. Thank you I will make sure I drink enough water as that's the last thing I need!

The pains and everything makes sense to me now because I was experiencing two different pains, I'm glad I went when I did x