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.

When I did my back I couldn’t sit on the couch or stand still, I was pacing up and down the lounge. The only place I could sit was in a garden recliner chair.
And in bed you need lots of pillows/cushions for support.
Have you asked at the chemist ?
Certain antihistamines will help you sleep.

Sorry to hear you feel like this, it can be so debilitating! I’ve recently discovered the ‘miracle solution’ it’s a set of exercises with some small yoga like balls. When nothing else helps if I can get down on the floor I’ll sit and roll on the ball until it eases up ( it can take a while). I got mine from Amazon. I also use an acupressure mat, hot water bottle, tiger balm and a tens machine. Hope you find something to get a bit of relief!

Is the pain going down your leg, or is it confined to your back? Is it one sided or in the middle?

Please watch out for any difficulty weeing or numbness around your ‘saddle area’.
I’ve had disc issues and a fracture over the years but ended up with cauda equina, which resulted in emergency surgery to prevent horrible stuff like paralysis.

Hope you get sorted @Merryoldgoat, you have all my sympathy

Sympathy - it is properly painful. Dr told me it resolves itself but gave me naproxen and valium to handle the pain, and told me to keep a hot water bottle/heatpad on it. Worth getting an emergency appointment to get meds.

Ouch! I had this last week, it’s now under control with copious amounts of naproxen and co-codamol, which has enabled me to sleep(much better than usual actually 😳). Before that a hot water bottle was the only thing that helped when lying down.

Will start having some physio next week too, and work on strengthening the muscles around it, there’s no way I want this back again.

I’ve had chronic sciatica for about 15 years now due to a prolapsed disc (now healed) and piriformis syndrome. I have scar tissue that can cause it to flare up but its very manageable now after treatment, however you need to contact your GP and be seen as sciatica can have several causes. If it’s a disc issue then it’s more serious and you don’t want to be yanked about by a chiropractor etc.

Also look at the symptoms of Cauda Equina - this is a medical emergency and you must go to A&E without delay.

Some things that might help are:

-Alternating heat and ice every 20 mins
-gentle stretches of piriformis, glutes, hamstrings, and lower back
-sleep either on side with a pillow between your knees, or on your back with pillow under your knees
-avoid sitting as this is the position that causes the greatest strain on the spine
-keep moving - never take to your bed for more than 1-2 days as this will cause gradual muscle weakness and make to worse
-see what the GP says about painkillers and treatment ie physio, mri scan if the pain persists, epidural injections

Hello all!

Thank you so much for all of your kindness - waking up to this has made me quite emotional.

At about 4am I refreshed my HWB, took some cocodamol, and made a nest on the sofa with a podcast and managed about 4 hours’ sleep which was a real help.

I’m still exhausted but not quite so manic or panicked.

I did some stretches which definitely helped.

I’m not numb at all so I’ll keep an eye but currently not a medical emergency.

Pain is on the lower left of my back and down my left leg for whoever asked.

The stretches were much more helpful than I thought so I’m going to do more.

This is a bit of a wake up call truth be told - physically I’m a mess. I’m sedentary, physically lazy and quite weak as well as being obese.

I refuse to be like this forever so time for some changes when I’m out of this acute stage.

Honestly - thank you all.

People talk about this place being a pile on but it can be such a helpful and kind one

Sounds like an inflamed disc. I had the same. See Gp and ask for a physio asap and some heavy painkillers. I Crawled into the physio clinic and after an hour of deep tissue massage I walked out almost pain free. Bruised to buggery though. Two further sessions over the next week and some excellent exercises (clams) I was fixed.

OP try clams. Moving leg is the one on the side you have pain. If middle then do both sides. No 7 on this list.

www.rocketcitychiropractic.com/10-piriformis-stretches-to-get-rid-of-sciatica-hip-and-lower-back-pain/

@malin52

I’ll call a physio now it’s hit 9 - I can afford to pay so will do.

Am about to look at clams now 👍🏽

When you say painkillers aren’t helping what are you actually taking? For nerve type back pain you need something like diazepam / Tramadol / amitrytipline (possibly spelt wrong!). You can also get stronger Cocodamol on prescription- 30/500 as opposed to the stuff you can buy over the counter.

@Bagelsandbrie

Yes, sorry - otc aren’t doing it.
I need a prescription.

Tens machine. I find that using one while seated is a fantastic help.
Also piriformis stretches and other excercises, have a look on youtube.
The hip ones always work for me.

Glad you are calling a physio.

Gentle backwards bending (within pain) is great, but until you've been seen by a physio, hold off on any piriformis stretches, hamstrings stretches and the like, because these can make things worse if you don't actually have the condition they were prescribed for. Particularly if you have a disc problem the piriformis and hanstring stretches will worsen it unless you've been instructed on how to do them to prevent this happening.

And for the love of the baby Jesus, please, no-one go to a chiropractor. Osteopath, fine. But chiropractors are charlatans (granted, some may not know they are) who are doing manoevres channeled from a dead person.

Ask for help turning the mattress. Makes the world of difference.

No real advice which hasn't been suggested but sympathy +++. I'm recovering from a fractured shoulder and at its worse I was like you, especially after I had surgery. Couldn't sleep with the pain and was exhausted. Onlybthing that that worked was when my GP effectively doubled by painb relief (dihydrocodeine) . I was spaced out but it did help.

Well. The pharmacist gave me Paramol and a freeze spray.

I fell asleep on the sofa for 3 hours which has done me the works of good.

Even though I’m still in a lot of pain I’m no longer tearful through exhaustion so feeling a lot more positive.

How are you doing?

I'm in week 4 if piriformis pain and it's still pretty awful.

For sciatica I was prescribed Pregabalin and I only take it when I get a flare up. It works great for the pain. I was also going to suggest the freeze spray or freeze gel, they really help. Hope you get some relief sciatica is an awful kind of pain.

I’m not great but ‘ok’ - feeling very drained but the paramol has allowed sleep which is really amazing.

I’ll be calling the doctor first thing and then the physio for an emergency appointment.

I got stuck on the floor earlier which was horrific so I won’t do that again anytime soon.

I’ve told work I won’t be available first thing whilst I sort myself out but I’m hoping some decent painkillers will make a big difference.

Thank you for asking - I’m feeling very low but DH is keeping me well looked after.

Get your magnesium flakes from Amazon,a 10kg bucket. Buy some CBD, you can order on Amazon, I have 5000mg.

@Nat6999 are those things helpful? I’m heading to Amazon now

I have Fibromyalgia & arthritis, they work for me, helps extend the time between tablet doses & a good slug of cbd before bed helps me relax. If you know anyone who can get you some natural stuff space cakes really do help, I used to use a muffin mix & crumble a couple of buds in.

Get a copy of The Back Sufferers Bible by Sarah Keys. It's written by a physio and my husband found the exercises she recommends very helpful. Lent it to a neighbour who said that it was life changing. You should really see GP if pain persists and maybe get a referral for NHS physio. I would always trust a registered physiotherapist rather than a chiropractor or osteopath.