To ask when you would seek help for severe back pain?

[TheFloorisYours]

I’m in a lot of pain with my lower back on the right side just above my glutes. It feels like a tight or trapped nerve but I can’t be sure. Definitely doesn’t feel like sciatica as I get no shooting pains in my legs.

If I’m lying flat and I raise my right leg or even just turn my foot upwards , I get a sharp pain in the right side above my glute. When I stand I get an adrenaline rush and then the area seems to throb or pulsate before it tightens and the pain kicks in.

I’m on painkillers but I can barely walk! I’m shuffling standing up along the floor but I’m getting sharp pains up my back. I’m close to tears

My GP just told me to try some exercises which I’ve been doing but they aren’t helping they make me more stiff. I’ve been like this for nearly a week but the pain is definitely worse today .

When do I go back to the GP?

When I bend my neck forward I also get the pain in my lower back .

Osteopath or if the pain is intolerable A and E for some decent pain relief

In my experience it’s best to bypass the GP and try and get an appointment with an osteopath. Dh suffers a lot and osteo always sorts him out.

Chiropractor helped my bad back and also continued with Pilates x

Get thee to an osteopath!

Are you more comfortable sitting on the loo or if your back is at a sloping a great rather than a right angle?

Sharp pain - sounds like a disc. I have torn/popped a few discs and have tried loads of things.

Painkillers do absolutely nothing (there is a gel you can get on prescription that does ease it a bit). The osteo is the only thing that works for me (my sister swears by her chiropractor but they only seemed to make me worse).

Watching with interest. I injured my back years ago, have a constant and unyielding pain between my hip and upper glute but the gp couldn't be less interested (even though it has become worse with each pregnancy - welcome to being a woman apparently ). I was considering saving for a private MRI but if there's a cheaper option....

The pain is worse sitting down. I have to lie flat to get relief.

My osteo is a bloody miracle worker! She specialises in sports (she was a sportswoman in her past career) and she is extremely good at diagnosis (she explained my back problems root cause to me by looking at me clothes and bending - correctly as I’d seen the x-rays).

Just checking: Do you have any numbness or tingling in your legs, feet or perineum? Are you having any difficulty going to the loo (urine or bowels)? Those are red flags for emergency with low back pain.

Otherwise, it's really difficult to manage because the main advice for back pain is not to stop moving, which is exactly what you will be inclined to do, as it hurts to move.

@Lougle no numbness or difficulty but I feel when I need to pee there’s more sense of urgency .

But you have to more a tiny bit so that you don’t seize up completely! Just a little movement but it can take weeks to ‘feel completely normal’ again.

I generally end up sleeping on the floor (on thick covers).

After years of back and forth with GPs I finally bit the bullet and went to a chiropractor, after 4 sessions I am finding a huge difference - would recommend you seek out one as soon as possible!

I phoned my GP in tears when I literally couldn’t get out of bed - I needed strong painkillers and muscle relaxants and then was able to do some of the recommended exercises which eventually helped. Couldn’t have gone straight to exercises without the meds though.

I would second an osteopath. You don't say what pain relief you are taking but it sounds like you need something stronger, your GP can provide this for you. The exercises may make things worse if you are pushing yourself to the point of pain particularly if your pain is caused by muscle spasm which can be extremely painful. My advice, from experience, is to do your best to keep moving, I do know this sounds like a tall order and as if I haven't read your OP properly but I promise you I have. It doesn't matter if your walk is a 2 minute shuffle to start with just keep trying, don't push yourself too hard, little and often. Gentle self massage and warm baths help before you try a little bit of walking but you will still need effective pain relief to make this possible.

You need urgent attention if you develop significant numbness or weakness or become incontinent, although this is rare given how common back pain is.

Hope things improve soon, I know it's miserable.

Osteopath definitely. They work miracles

Try Sarah Keys (by royal appt!) Back Sufferers' Bible. (Amazon)

Detailed explanations of exactly how to do which exercises, how your back got into the state it did, and how you are going to get out of this mess.

You need strong meds to do the exercises though. If you're screaming every time you move, the meds aren't strong enough...

The urgency when needing to pee is a red flag. I'd go to A&E and give them specific details about this.

You can also ice your back and put pillows under your knees (when lying on your back) If you're on your front, put a pillow under your hips.

Another vote for an osteopath. And agree with PP that moving around gently, little and often, will really help as well.

BrumBoo

I paid for a private MRI in the end. I was referred by my osteopath, it cost £220 for lumbar spine iirc about 7 years ago, There was quite a lot wrong but nothing which would necessitate surgery which was the reassurance I was hoping for. I became pain free enough to start walking 5 miles a day a few years ago and the back pain is significantly better. I walk even if I need to take pain relief as it shortens the duration of the episode.

If you have private health cover I'd get a referral to an Orthopaedic and get an mri. If you don't have cover and the pain is so bad you can barely move and have some issues with toileting I would go to a&e. I ignored my back pain for a long time and went to an Osteopath and a Physio but got no relief used my private health cover and had an MRI turned out I had a fracture and a disc herniated. Agony.

I’ve had a scalding bath and now I have a heat pack on it. I’ve done some stretches and will attempt to walk in a little while when the cats start meowing for food .

Keep an eye on your bladder & bowels. Make sure you can tense your back passage & pelvic floor. If there's any changes go to A&E - there's a (small) risk of cauda equine syndrome which can result in paralysis if not treated.

@FOJN

BrumBoo

I paid for a private MRI in the end. I was referred by my osteopath, it cost £220 for lumbar spine iirc about 7 years ago, There was quite a lot wrong but nothing which would necessitate surgery which was the reassurance I was hoping for. I became pain free enough to start walking 5 miles a day a few years ago and the back pain is significantly better. I walk even if I need to take pain relief as it shortens the duration of the episode.

That's amazing, I will keep a fund going then! Pregnant at the moment so not possible to do much regardless. However, constant pain for 13 years is enough, I'm done being ignored over it.

Sorry for the sidetrack op, hope your back issue are resolved quickly.

i had over 10 years of back pain and tried it all the pain killers were going up and up and ended up on omeprazole no matter how much i ate before the pain killers they still messed up my stomach ... not once was i scanned or x rayed .... anyway i ended up going private and they scanned my back and i had a herniated disc, i went had an operation and now im pain free i could have kissed the surgeon ..... if you can demand a scan from the doctor just in case, please be careful when it comes to chiropracters i went and never again and now i know what it was i think what a stupid thing to have done.. everytime i think of it i could cry because i trusted my doctor but didnt get any help thank god i was able to do go private.... i totally feel your pain PLEASE push for a scan i could barely walk when i had a flare up

Sympathy. I’ve had a wrecked spine for 10 years. In contrast to @elletram having scans and surgery ruined my life. Back pain without leg pain responds very poorly to surgery. Even if a disc is herniated the vast majority will self resolve in around six weeks.

Most GPS will advise you to take the meds, stretch and potter and rest. Heat can be hugely helpful. Hoping for a miracle cure even from a great osteopath is a bit optimistic, it just takes time. If you have spasm, which it sounds as if you do, a short course of diazepam can help.

If you tell us what pain meds you are taking we may be able to help. Combining paracetamol (with or without an opiate) plus an anti inflammatory is a good start.

Try not to panic and dash from one person to the next for a cure. Resting is important and just accepting it will take some time. I wish I had taken this advice I really do.