A&e, doctors or wait it out?

[autienotnoughty]

Off and on back pain for past 15 years. More on in past two years. Symptoms include lower back pain, painful spasms , shooting pains in thighs. Being managed with physio, Pilates, walking and yoga.

Last six weeks pain has got significantly worse. I keep experiencing weakness in my legs, periods of not being able to stand/needing support to walk and get up.

Today my back has locked three times leaving me unable to walk, getting worse each time. I am now laid flat on my back, I can't sit up. Dh had to drag/walk me to the toilet. I can't walk. I can't turn over. I'm applying heat and cold.
I'm also feverish . I have shooting pains/tingling in my legs plus the back pain and spasms.

Do I go a&e?
Ring doctor Monday?
Ride it out?

Shooting pains or tingling in your legs raises concerns over cauda equina, it should be A&E really. I wouldn’t mess about with possible spinal cord issues.
If you want extra reassurance before attending then phone 111 first, I’m pretty sure they’ll confirm you should be at a&e

Friend ignored for a bit and turned out was equina. Get thee to a&e!

Ex has this - he’s usually given muscle relaxants - we called an ambulance as he couldn’t walk - you need to call an ambulance.

Try 111. You may need an ambulance.

Horrendous … A&E for pain relief and find a good chiropractor.
I had all of these symptoms and excruciating sciatica. Umpteen Dr's appointments, physio, acupuncture rattling with painkillers and a chiropractor had me sorted in 6 visits.
I really hope you can get sorted soon 💐

I have a congenital fused vertebra that causes lower back pain, and tingling in my leg at its worst. I was told that if I ever experienced weakness in the leg to go to A&E.

Sounds like sciatica.
I went to A&E with this. They gave me codeine for the pain and left me waiting 14 hours at which point I gave up and went to see a doctor the next day.
Another guy in A & E for the same also gave up as neither of us could cope with sitting there for so long.

I have since found vitamin D has helped significantly.
Ive been taking vitamin B12 as well ( as I was very low ) so this could be helping too as low b12 can cause nerve damage.

Ring 111 and get an out of hours GP appointment.

You need some painkillers and an MRI.

Assuming nothing major then physio and exercises.

Could be Cauda equina. That’s serious enough for A&E.

Not everyone waits hours in A&E, whenever i’ve been with a serious condition i’ve waited less than 20 mins. They prioritise

The only problem is they won’t consider this a serious condition….sorry OP. Despite the pain they will manage that and make you wait.
No idea how busy your A&E gets but it’s Saturday night here.

@autienotnoughty
This sounds like cauda equina syndrome which is "a particularly serious type of nerve root problem. This is a rare disorder where there is pressure on the nerves at the very bottom of the spinal cord.

The condition may cause low back pain and problems with bowel and bladder function (usually not being able to pass urine), numbness in the saddle area, which is around the back passage (anus), and weakness in one or both legs. It needs urgent investigation and treatment to prevent the nerves to the bladder and bowel from becoming permanently damaged.

See a healthcare professional immediately if you suspect CES

This is from patient info.

Call an ambulance now. You are not wasting anyone's time or money.

Osteopath or chiropracter.

Thank goodness you're not a triage nurse

This is terrible advice!
The op can’t walk, there are potential symptoms of cauda equina which can lead to permanent disability.
Boiling your piss or not, the op should be calling an ambulance so she can be checked out properly.

A chiropractor? Are you joking?

I think you need A&E OP.

@autienotnoughty is it not more likely ro be sciatica. you may have had dehydrated lumbar discs over the last few years and perhaps one has slipped out of place. try tying two pairs of tights into loops to loop around your feet to lift them and walk. dont try to turn in bed but get hubby to roll you over. maybe he can sleep elsewhere tonight if his movements in bed are affecting you equilibrium/

Jesus Christ have you actually bothered reading the post? OP can't walk and has potential symptoms of cauda equine. In what world is that not an emergency? Just because she's had back pain for 15 years doesn't mean it can't get worse and become an emergency.

they did for Ds’s friend, she needed urgent surgery. Lets let the doctors make the assessment

Since you don't know what cauda equina is, go and google it. It can lead to permanent disability.

A&E. If it's cauda equina it's serious. Go and get checked out.

@Icanthinkformyselfthanks it's not misuse

I had sciatica for years and years. One day I woke up and it felt different so I saw my GP and ended up on painkillers while waiting for a consultant
Then a few months later I was in bed and it felt like warm water running down my legs. I went to a&e
If I hadn't have gone, I wouldn't be walking now. It took them 5hrs for a neurosurgeon to sort out the mess in my back

That's like saying if you have angina and you suddenly have massively crushing different chest pain, don't go to a&e

You need to call an ambulance. Now.