Help me - unbelievable back pain

[Merryoldgoat]

I’m in a state - I’ve barely slept for days now as I have awful back pain which I think is sciatica.

I can’t sleep and I can’t lie down.

Once I get moving it’s largely fine, just a twinge but after sitting a bit it becomes unbearable.

I’m so tired I can barely keep my eyes open.

Painkillers are making ZERO difference.

Are there any exercises I can do to get some relief? I’m desperate.

Osteopath emergency appointment

I find a hot pack, rolled into a ball shape and sat on (wiggle around till you find the spot in you backside, you'll know it) is really helpful. You can also do some trigger point releasing with a firn, cricket ball sized ball. Mine is the piriformis muscle, it's hideous when it locks up.

Thank you - I’ll see if I can get to an osteopath tomorrow.

I’m surgically attached to my hot water bottle at the moment.

Google some good yoga poses for back pain for when you're up and about. I'm thinking cat pose, general stretching and mobility exercises for your back. Don't overdo it though. Also do some exercises for your quads. Try some relaxation exercises too lying on your back, play it very very gently and build up. Hot baths, keep mobile but not too much. It's a balance game, good luck OP sciatica is a bitch x

I’m not sure if it’s the correct thing to do but I always preferred ice when my back was at its worse ( bulging disc ) infact sometimes that was the only thing that helped at all

I sympathise op it’s awful isn’t it

Diazepam really helped when I had muscle spasm which didn’t respond to paracetamol or codeine. Hope it’s better soon

How can I get help on the weekend? 111?

A session with a Chiropractor! X

How can I get some sleep? I’m losing my mind

Possibly a disc problem. Knew it slipped once I physically could not move. Thankfully I’d seen my dr about the pain a few days previous and we were going to monitor it over the coming weeks. An emergency phone appointment and she was happy to prescribe painkillers containing morphine that luckily my husband could collect for me.
I was given an appointment the following day and referred for emergency mri - microdisectomy done by the nhs within 2 weeks of referral. Pre covid obviously.

Oh gosh OP, I'm sorry.

Could you try using some spare bedding to put down on the floor, and make some pillow props to get some kip in child's pose? I'd recommend some deep pillows on your thighs so you can really let your upper body go but it has plenty of support to just relax. I think you might be able to nod off in that position.

My other thought was again, on the floor, but on your side? Not sure if this is doable? I feel like the floor might be better than the bed?

Also, do you have a bath? Not recommending to sleep in there, but to relax the muscles a little? Maybe once you've had 20 mins sleep so you're not at risk of falling asleep?

@Merryoldgoat Holland and barratt sell magnesium flakes, which you add to a bath and take a soak. Helps with muscle related pain.
I've had sciatica in the past. Shooting pain bum cheek right down to my foot. I found a tennis ball against a wall and using my bum rolling it around helped.
Siting on this helped me to. I still use it after the pain has gone.

Feagar Seat Cushion for Coccyx... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077G7D73D?ref=ppxpoppmobappshare

I also had treatment from a private chiropractor. Google one local to you. You could even get seen tomorrow afternoon if they are available.
I hope you can manage to get some shut eye tonight. Sleep deprivation is making you worse. Get well soon!!

I have sciatica. I find a hard surface helps so in the past I have slept on the floor and brought garden chairs into the living room to sit on. As you have already discovered, heat helps and gentle movement when you can. I have never found any physio to help and rely on strong painkillers. When recovered, to reduce the number and severity of reoccurrence, exercise that strengthens your core muscles such as swimming has helped.

@Merryoldgoat forgot to add. Lie on your side that isn't hurting. Stick a pillow between your thighs and one between your calf's.
That will provide relief and hopefully you can sleep.
If your partner can give you a foot massage. maybe even pull the leg that hurts it might help. It did me!

Alcohol will help until you get meds.
It's a muscle relaxant.

Do you have paracetamol and ibuprofen, and can you take these? if so, take the maximum safe dose and hopefully you can sleep the. get help in the morning

OP I sympathise. I have piriformis syndrome (similar to sciatica). I slipped over in the swimming pool last week and have made it 10x worse. Lying here wide await from the pain while everyone else sleeps. Im exhausted and uncomfortable. You have my sympathies.

Diazepam is what you need here. Instant muscle relaxant and makes you woozy enough to sleep. Haven’t needed it for more than a decade but IIRC initial dose of ?2?mg doesn’t touch the sides but ?5?mg kicks in on the pain. Maybe call gp or ask OOH for emergency prescription?

My DH was in agony with sciatica. Spent ten days destroyed by it with meds barely touching it. For him, acupuncture was an absolute game changer. Not a miracle cure, but he limped in to the appointment and walked out upright with a smile. Stopped the hardcore painkillers that day too. X

I have long term chronic pain sciatica caused by bulging disk
One thing I wouldn’t recommend is getting in a Bath if it’s that bad you might not be able to get out again 😂
Mine was that bag I passed out at one point with the pain
It’s been several years and I manage it with strong tablets tramadol amatrypiline and Cocodamol

My friend had this recently. Doctor prescribed a cocktail of drugs including muscle relaxants, told her to take them, stay in bed full time as would make her very woozy and only get up for bathroom. She practically slept full time for a few days allowing the spasm to relax and was then fine. She was in agony with it and it took a lot out of her.

@Merryoldgoat

How can I get help on the weekend? 111?

If you have an out of hours GP service - then yes, they can prescribe stuff.

I take this CBD oil for sciatica pain. I started 5 drops three times/daily, now I take only twice or even once. It has been a lifesaver for me:

ilovegreengorilla.com/product/organic-full-spectrum-cbd-oil-3000/

When in pain, as others have already mentioned, I stay on the floor, on my belly, sometimes on my elbows (like the cobra pose). I use pillows to ease the weight on my elbows/shoulder. Hope you feel better!

Try alternating heat and ice?

Anti inflammatories, ice it, tie something around your hips for support like a pair of leggings or tights in lieu of a pelvic support belt, until you get to see an osteopath.