Posting for traffic it is worth going to Gp tomorrow can they give me something stronger

[newlifenewme2020]

Last night went to A and E screaming and crying in agony with lower back pain. I woke up with it yesterday and throughout the day it just got worse and worse
The doctor I saw wanted to give me antiimflammarys but I have had a stomach ulcer in the past. I also take transfix for fibro but i explained this was slow realise to keep my symptoms under control and it had not touched it.
Once I said this is was really dismissive saying “oh you may just have to put up with it”
By this time I am still crying in agony and my mum who I was with said “you can’t leave her like that”
So he said he would give my a dose of oramorph and sent me home with three diaizapan 5mg and told me to take one a day
That was great till about half and hour ago and I am now crying in agony again. I font know what to do. I am banging my hand against the wall in pain. I had back to back labour and this is worse.

Oh I'm so glad you've been properly assessed and I hope you get some relief. It sounds horrific.

Glad the other dr finally helped you

The NHS is not shit. It is grossly understaffed and under funded and hugely abused by legions of the worried well and people who will not help themselves. Unfortunately the OP was given poor care and advice by the first individual she saw. A dose of Oramorph would never last more than 4-6 hours and one diazepam a day was woefully inadequate for acute back spasm. Hope you are feeling better, OP .

Every sympathy op, back pain is awful! Obviously go with the advice they've given you but did they emphasise that now you've had the analgesia gentle exercise and movement is critical to recovery? avoid soft couches/bed which im sure is what you want to do but it's often not helpful to recovery. By gentle exercise I mean walking/ swimming or similar!

The first doctor wasn't necessarily terrible, standard doses of diazepam for back pain is often 2mg and NICE guidelines strongly recommend against the routine prescribing of opioids for back pain. Over use of unnecessary diagnostic tests due to defensive practice is also unfortunately widespread so just because one doctor orders them and another doesn't, doesn't indicate one is a better doctor than the other. A really good history taking and physical assessment will inform what tests are indicated, some just order a load of unneeded tests in the hope if picking something up, which often actually correlates to poor diagnoses.

Another factor which has become prevalent in many countries is over mediating short term pain. These medications are not benign and it can take a worryingly short period to create a life long addiction which causes chronic pains for life. A huge problem in the USA for instance. So some doctors favour short term fixes and load you up but that's balanced against the risk that the practice could cause chronic difficulties.

If back pain is causing anyone difficulties the nhs choices website has some really good advice about what you can do for relief and when you should see a gp. Working on an ambulance the medications we have for back pain are paracetamol and ibuprofen which can be brought over the counter so there's no benefit in "making up any shit" to get one- a very common occurrence unfortunately but you'll just wait an hour or two for us to arrive to either refer you to your gp or drop you off at the a&e for them to deal with (not ideal but sometimes people won't help themselves and ends up being the only option in our defensive practice).

Yes I was told to get moving around which I am doing. Even hoping to go for a very gentle swim tomorrow (or more of a potter) in my gyms very nice heated pool

An osteopath might be able to help you OP and/or an acupuncturist, some do both.

I see a brilliant osteopath who also does acupuncture. That is definitely worth a try once you have a diagnosis, if that NHS can't help . The NHS is brilliant for a lot, but back pain that does not have a clear identifiable cause that can be fixed by surgery or similar is often pretty much ignored so worth having a back up plan . Good.luck. Severe back pain is awful.

I had an appalling back spasm before Christmas, it hurt to breathe - urgent care centre sent me to the ER as they suspected a blood clot or kidney stone - but the experienced doc guessed correctly straightaway and prescribed Baclofen.

It was amazing, started to work within an hour and only needed a couple of tablets and all totally fine now.

Could you ask them if Baclofen would help you?

Sorry OP just saw you went back to A&E and have been prescribed pain relief. I hope it's working!

What do they think is causing the pain? Muscular or something else?

This might not touch the sides but do you have an electric blanket you could try? I’m sorry. It sounds horrendous.

@OhDeez and @Avelinebread the NHSis not ‘shit’ or ‘neglectful’. The OP got what she needed, free. Her first doctor wasn’t very helpful, but that’s not a systemic issue.

@newlifenewme2020

I am glad you have finally got the help you need and hopefully things will start to improve now.

It is still bad. The diazapam is helping but I run out tomorrow and will try and get a gps appointment. Urgent care said they can only prescribe three days worth. When it starts to wear of though it’s agony again.

Hopefully you've called today for a GP appointment tomorrow latest.

If diazepam is working - it sounds like baclofen might help you?

Ask the gp can you try it, it is a muscle relaxant but not in the same class as valium (not a benzo) so the doctor should be less reluctant to prescribe it.

What type of pain is it OP? A dull ache, or spasms like an electric shock shooting through you.

I had the latter four years ago. Oh my god, never experienced pain like it in my life. My back 'went' on my lunch break, getting out of my car at the shops. I couldn't get out and sat there screaming and crying, while gripping my steering wheel. Make-up down my face, looking like a lunatic. Colleagues had to come and find me and help me out of my driver's seat and drive me home.

I arranged a Drs and Chiropractor appointment the next day, but I couldn't even roll over in bed the next morning, again screaming and sobbing hysterically. DP had to help me. Never known such agony. It took my breath away.

Anyway, turned out to be a slipped disc. Acupuncture, chiropractor, ice packs have kept the spasms at bay so far. I too can't take anti-inflammatory tablets.

Wish you luck OP. You've my every sympathy.

I went to see the gp who has given me bacofen. It still hurts.. I am just hoping I can get back to work on Monday. I don’t get paid it I don’t work