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AIBU?

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Original poster

Partner cracked my back..now I'm in pain!

120 replies

Saju1 · 28/01/2023 06:29

My partner cracked my back ( I had asked him too as I felt stiff) about 2 days ago, and I immediately felt a strange pain. 2 days laters, and the pain is getting worse, I feel like I'm going to collapse when I eat, and I can't even settle in pain due to the pain being so bad.

Has anyone else experienced this?

OP posts:
CosyFanTucci · 28/01/2023 08:18

It’s a truly terrible idea to ‘crack your back’. Same goes for knuckles or any other joint. As the OP has discovered, it’s possible to cause serious injury.

gamerchick · 28/01/2023 08:21

Pain that increases needs medical attention OP. Don't ask him to do something so silly again. You need a doctor.

Patineur · 28/01/2023 08:28

picklemewalnuts · 28/01/2023 08:10

Ibuprofen at the full OTC dose, at the regular times.

And seek medical help- try 111, they'll advise whether A&E or walk in is best.

For the people who don't get it- lucky you! The tension and stiffness in odd areas of joints, including the spine, builds to an unbearable point. If you can't stretch or twist to release it yourself. My neck, sternum, lower back, knuckles, wrists, toes, jaw- all crack. I generally manage it myself but had to go to an osteopath for a while when my neck was bad. I'd lost all rotation in it. I'm keeping on top of it now.

Out of sheer curiosity, what is happening when there is a crack? Is something snapping back into position, or what?

picklemewalnuts · 28/01/2023 08:36

@Patineur it's a bit of a mystery- there's been explanations about gas building up in the joints, and the popping releases it. It feels like fluid around my neck. If I circle my chin, flexing my neck, so my skull rotates on the pivot tip of my spine, the squelchy crunching is unreal.

Sometimes it might be a tendon sliding over a knobble (in my jaw, it's a slightly different kind of crunch rather than a pop. It can be replicated continuously, whereas a popped knuckle takes time to rebuild).

I've been consciously stretching and flexing my joints, to stop the pop from building.

When I was a teen, I used to get one halfway down my back, where my rib joins the spine. It felt like a constant tight pressure, like someone left a safety pin in when they made me. I used to ask my dad to release that one for me.

picklemewalnuts · 28/01/2023 08:38

One favourite stretch and crunch was at a particularly sharp junction on the school run, like a u turn! I'd pull myself very upright, twist to see round the corner, and 'click click pop!', my lower back would release. I'd really miss it in the summer holidays!

If I don't keep those joints mobilised they stiffen to the point I can't move them.

DonatellaBella · 28/01/2023 08:43

Seek out a local osteopath to check you over. Ask on your local Facebook if anyone can recommend one locally.

ginislife · 28/01/2023 08:45

Find a local Dorn Method practitioner. Far more gentle than a chiropractor but will put your body back into equilibrium. Amazing treatment. Fixed my neck that a chiropractor wrecked.

Allergictoironing · 28/01/2023 08:51

I qualified as a sports injury massage therapist, and often worked in tandem with both an osteopath and a chiropractor, and I would NEVER try to crack someone's back - VERY dangerous indeed.

They both taught me a few "tricks of the trade", and I even taught one a couple of my techniques, but there were lines I would never cross both on their advice and from my own knowledge about the subject.

I would personally go to A&E or my GP asap, then if they are happy that you haven't done very major damage then see an osteopath or chiropractor.

BTW to the pp who referred to chiropractors above - "Those above advising a chiropractor etc without having any history or exam to guide them" - the chiropractor will have done at least a 3 year full time degree course plus at least a year working under an experienced practitioner.

Snapplepie · 28/01/2023 08:54

Yikes OP. That sounds painful. For what it's worth, I'm a specialist physiotherapist who has worked in spinal clinics and now spends part of my time in GP practices seeing a bit of everything including things like this! I wouldn't normally give advice but given some of the suggestions up thread I feel like I should in this case!

Please go your GP or A&E depending on how severe the pain is and what is available. Based on the history that you have given the concern would be that there is a fracture or other structural damage to your back and they will both be able to check your neurology and if necessary refer for imaging.

I would hope that a good chiropractor or osteopath wouldn't touch you at the moment. But even if they did they could not fix this and would have the potential to make things worse. The spine is held together by very tough structures, does not get "out of alignment" and you haven't pushed something out of place that needs to be put back.

Definitely head straight to A and E if you develop any changes to your bladder or bowels like incontinence or an inability to pass urine, if you have any numbness in your genital area, if you have any weakness into your arms or legs or start to have problems with your walking.

PlanningTowns · 28/01/2023 08:58

I think you need to get seen by someone with access to scanning or X-ray equipment. Minor injuries sounds like a suitable place and they can refer for urgent physio (I got an urgent 24hr referral after a whiplash injury years ago so may have changed).

to be honest it was foolish to get him to crack your back. I went to a chiropractor once - they cracked my neck and it went into spasm and I have never been in so much pain. Years later I still have issues with it and regularly see a therapist to realign me

hope it feels better soon

darjeelingrose · 28/01/2023 09:07

He's injured you so you need to get medical treatment if you are in pain. I don't think I need to tell you that it was a stupid thing to do, you know that now, but just to say that lots of osteopaths do not do the cracking thing any more, which is considered really old fashioned and possibly damaging by many, (and I guess you now know why). Hope you feel better soon.

darjeelingrose · 28/01/2023 09:10

GoodChat · 28/01/2023 06:38

Why are people acting like this is a really unusual thing to ask your partner to do?

It's like when you have a really good stretch!

OP you do need to get seen if painkillers aren't helping.

I think it's really unusual. I don't know anybody who does this, family, flat mates, never seen it. Anyway, it's clearly not a good idea, is it?

HamFrancisco · 28/01/2023 11:16

What move was your DP doing to crack your back? It sounds scary.

SleeplessInEngland · 28/01/2023 11:18

YABU for being stupid enough to get your partner to do this and then asking our advice. See your GP.

Regularsizedrudy · 28/01/2023 11:18

GoodChat · 28/01/2023 06:38

Why are people acting like this is a really unusual thing to ask your partner to do?

It's like when you have a really good stretch!

OP you do need to get seen if painkillers aren't helping.

Its about as normal as asking your partner to do dental work on you wtf

whereaw · 28/01/2023 11:20

That makes me feel faint just reading it... hopefully you are in A&E now.. good luck

MrsSkylerWhite · 28/01/2023 11:23

I don’t know what cracking your back means but the result sounds pretty bad - especially the pain when eating. You need to go to a walk in or A&E today.

Luredbyapomegranate · 28/01/2023 11:25

GoodChat · 28/01/2023 06:38

Why are people acting like this is a really unusual thing to ask your partner to do?

It's like when you have a really good stretch!

OP you do need to get seen if painkillers aren't helping.

Because it’s an insane thing to have an unqualified person do. It’s nothing like having a good stretch, it’s dangerous.

Go and see an osteopath OP

eurochick · 28/01/2023 11:26

It's really not a normal thing to ask your partner to do...

Alexandernevermind · 28/01/2023 11:26

Seen if you can get an appointment quick with an osteopath. I used to have an appointment for a good cracking, massage and acupuncture every 3 months. Cracking is fine if it's done with the right stretching exercises before and after, but it sounds as though you trapped something. Some of the Chinese medicine shops can do massage and acupuncture, which I've also found very good.

TightFistedWozerk · 28/01/2023 11:27

The person squeezes you, like in a bear hug? Until your backbones make an audible crack? WTF?

Alexandernevermind · 28/01/2023 11:28

@SleeplessInEngland

YABU for being stupid enough to get your partner to do this and then asking our advice. See your GP. I do agree, but think part of the problem is when you can't get in to see a GP people turn to the Internet.

getreadyy · 28/01/2023 11:31

Darwinism

Tired2beyond · 28/01/2023 11:32

I love getting my back cracked even though I know I shouldnt, whether doing it myself or dp, even when I was at school we used to crack each others joints.
But you need to go to a walk in or a+e now, you might have seriously damaged something and that needs investigating whether by xray or whatever.

BiggerBoyMadeMeDoit · 28/01/2023 11:33

Please don’t see anyone but a qualified Dr or physiotherapist.

Chiropractors are not either of these.