Help with back pain... aibu to be worried?

[backachequeen]

Aibu to be so pissed off with my back. Why? Why now? At Xmas.

I don't know exactly how I did it but in Xmas eve I twinged my lower back. The pain has gotten worse and worse. I suspect it was just an awkward twinge/position/misstep. Nothing major.

It's lower back (left side) but the pain radiates round the front and sort of makes my pelvis is broken or misaligned. Almost like period pains or something hurting my pelvis from within.

Laying still provides some relief. Standing is ok for a while. Sitting is baaad. And walking up stairs.

My pelvis, back just feels awful.

I'm on ice packs, heat pads, ibuprofen, paracetamol, back support.

It's awful first thing in morning. At points the pain has made me feel sick.

I've got an osteo appointment at weekend.

When I had this before, it was "just a strained muscle" and went back to normal after time and a visit to osteo.

At this point I can't imagine getting better.

One slight difference is when I look at my feet or look down (ie move my neck) it slightly twinges the lower back.

You may have inflamed your sacroiliac joint. That’s very painful and can cause the muscles around it to spasm to protect the area.
Tips that can help.
-Tie a long scarf around your hips or buy a sacroiliac support belt.
-Sit on a hard chair like a dining chair with a pillow behind your back to keep you upright
-Massage the side of your thighs because tightness in that area will pull your hips slightly out of alignment
-If you sleep on your side put a pillow between your knees to keep your legs in a more neutral position or if you sleep on your back put a pillow under your knees
-Going upstairs don’t alternate legs. Use the good side to step up and just bring the sore side up to join it.

If the pain gets worse see your GP.
If you get any numbness / weakness in your legs especially the inner thighs or pelvic region or struggle with urination or continence go straight to A&E (risk of Cauda Equina)

Thanks very much! It's definitely pelvis that is causing the issue right now. It's very annoying. I pray the osteo can fix me at weekend.

Do you have a lumbar support pillow? If it helps then try and never round your back (which might be why sitting hurts as you often round your back when sitting) if you dont have one, try and mimic one by putting a rolled scarf in the small of your back

Went to osteo today. It was pretty good and I had a lovely deep massage. I had a few neck clicks but he basically said, low level exercise, just walking around and plenty of regular pain killers. There's just one twingy spot on my lower back now. It's still pretty sore when I move. I feel talker and less clicky. Sitting is problematic. Laying down is bliss.

I'm slightly worried I'll never get better fully. This time two weeks ago I was riding bikes and running with ease. Now I can barely sit on a sofa.

I fell over standing up in September and really did damage to my sacroiliac joint. It is getting better. Try Pilates when you are better as that should help.

I'm only still sore due to the fact I have fibromyalgia. The trauma of the accident flared my fibro causing more pain. I got some good exercises from the NHS physio and treatment from my osteopath. I also started Pilates which has made a big difference.

It will get better.

I'm back. Still in agony.

I've had a physio appointment (on phone). They say it is muscular and gave me some stretches.

They are probably right.

Each morning I wake up fine but when I stand i feel very weird indeed. I feel like my muscles are completely solid. I quite often have pretty bad spasms in my back and in my abs first thing from standing. Then the pain starts and it's agonising first thing in morning. My hips, my back, my pelvis. I feel so old and so sore. I shuffle around and feel like my body doesn't do quite what I wanted.

In bed itself, I feel good. But first thing I am in agony. It's going from laying down for 8 hours to standing.

I'm getting scared I have something neurological due to the spasms and tightening I get.

Then here's the thing, it gets much better in the day. If I do my exercises, if I walk, use heat pads, limit bending, it slowly gets better. I feel almost ok in evening. The it resets.

Can this really take 6 weeks to go away? Anyone had this agony first thing? It's been nearly 4 weeks

I'm finding bending very hard and sore too. I'm almost scared. And I struggle to wipe my own bum as I cannot twist

I'm scared I'll be like this forever.

I wonder if acupuncture might help. I had terrible sciatica last year and others who'd had back/leg/hip pain recommended it, so went for a session and found it made a huge difference. The practitioner did a lot of massage, then the needles, then more massage. You don't feel the needles at all, so don't worry about that. It was a bit sore for a week or so but got better quickly after that. My MiL had similar - she developed sciatica shortly before Christmas and was in tears with the pain, so we booked her in for acupuncture and she had two sessions. On NYE she was out dancing until 1am, and she's 82.

Someone suggested to me that I 'hang' from a door frame . Grip the top of the door frame and let your arms take the weight of your body. i always feel better afterwards

@backachequeen how old are you?

What has your GP said?

Thanks. All good tips. I'm 40. 4 weeks ago, I had been seeing a personal trainer weekly and doing peloton at least 1-2 times a week. That all seems impossible now. The thought of a Russian twist or dead lift makes me feel sick.

I am overweight. Could do with losing a couple of stone. If this is related, this might just be motivation I need

Osteo, bupa gp, and physio all say "it's muscular"

I have similar back issues it started 15 years ago and has got a lot worse in the last few years. I wish I had paid more attention at the beginning.

Everything you are doing is right. Keep going it will get better. When it does improve continue the physio stretches everyday and work to build your core strength . Do Pilates every week.

One other thing and i don't know if it's connected. I've had the mirena coil fitted for first time in end of November. So my pelvis feels weird/different anyway. I've had a period that is on day 11 now but of course it is lighter. Had it fitted to control heavy periods. Connected?!

The pain is right of my spine... that bit hurts to touch. Like a bruise at times. But my hips feel horrendous too. Certain positions feel good. And then I'll move and it will be sore. They way im carrying myself is having a knock on effect to my legs, bum and neck though. I guess because im not moving normally.

Im warmed up now and taken painkillers and pain has gone from 8/10 to 5/10

Did your GP give you any medication for the pain, if not go back. I and many on here have been given nerve blockers to prevent the spasms being severe so that at least you can function.

Well I think you've overdone the exercise, no Biggie. It's more likely that you've trapped a nerve, got a bulging/herniated disc.

Take it slow, get some proper meds and give it more time.

Does it go down your bum and the back of your leg? Is it worse in the morning or after a period of sitting down?

Sounds like it could be your piriformis muscle. The cure for that is movement and stretching - lots of glute bridges and figre of four stretches.

My bum definitely hurts but it's more lower back and hips.

One think I just noticed. I'm sat at my office chair. If I lift my right foot off the ground it is agony! A real ouch twinge.

Walking is definitely when I feel my best.

You are right, it is worse after period of inactivity eg sleep

Left side seems pretty decent. Although lifting left food whilst sitting also pulls a little.

I've had pelvic and back pain on and off for years. Very similar sounding to you - it has radiated between hips, lower back and sacroiliac joint. Absolute agony some days.

It also affects my bowel, gives me period type cramps and can even trigger bladder issues. The 'hammock' between the hips just means it affects everything inside.

I've found good relief from getting up and getting going. The more time I spend in bed, the worse it is. I recently had 2 x viral bugs and spent a fair bit of time in bed. I've since been in a flare of the back pain, and I know it's related to the extra time lying down 🥴

I'm not a doctors or a physio but piriformis syndrome sounds like a candiditate -especially seeing as you said you have been training a lot.

https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/health/injury/a42812515/piriformis-syndrome/

Thought I would come back to update. I saw a physio (video call) who gave me some back exercises. Cat, camel, rotations etc.

I thought I was being fobbed off to be honest BUT I've been doing them all week and they do help.

I also invested in a new pillow and sleep with a pillow between knees. I made my bed softer by adding a mattress topper.

Today is the first day I woke up and didn't reach for paracetamol. It does still twinge but it's getting less and less each day. I'm still a bit scared to bend down but have been doing so very mindfully and carefully!

The only thing I've noticed now is that occasionally my hip clicks (few times a day). It didn't before. It sort of provides relief when it does click. It's not loud but I can feel the click if that makes sense. Not sure what that is all about.

Glad things are getting better. I definitely saw a difference once I had the exercises.

Absolutely. I let the exercises slide over Xmas for the first two weeks no difference, then the back/hip issues worsened. Going back to them again I can feel my glutes and hamstrings grumbling. I'm cross with myself now