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?

Are you taking anything to protect your stomach lining with these drugs. Often they prescribe PPIs for that. Might explain the nausea

Just lansasoprole. I was given anti sickness in hospital but they never added it to my prescription for going home

it could be a med reaction headache, i know my friend who has POTs, hEDS, VVS and chronic migraine was told to stop taking pain relief as they felt it was causing her migraines more than helping them.. she used to take aspirin and co-codamol i think.

I went to doctors they said either tension headaches or meds. He suggested giving it a few days and gave me a number for iapt. He offered sumatriptan but I wasn't keen to throw something else in the mix.

I could try stopping the asprin or paracetamol but i don't want the back pain to get worse

Have you taken you blood pressure recently?

Today it was normal

I’m sorry you’re going through all this. I’ve been there and have the T-shirt. I did have surgery and it wasn’t a success now have chronic pain in my back and leg.

im going to post my med regime in case it’s helpful. It was a case of trial and error and an excellent GP.

8am
tramadol x2
naproxen 500mg
pregablin 75mg
omeprazole 20mg

1pm
tramadol x2

6pm
cocodamol 30/500x 2
pregablin 75
naproxen 500

10pm
cocodamol 30/500 x 2
amitriptyline 10mg

some of those doses may be wrong for you but the mixture of opiates, anti inflammatories and nerve pain suppressants makes it possible for me to live my life reasonably well. I’m also absolutely addicted to my plug in heat pads.

I wish you well. I started a long running thread on here called the back story which brought me a lot of support from others who understood.

Keep the faith, you will get through this.

@MatildaTheCat are you taking these meds long term?

Please don’t mess with your pain medication, you need it to get better. Are you making sure you are eating at the right times for the medication? Drinking enough? Dehydration is a bastard for causing headaches and the pain meds mess with your appetite. Sometimes the simple things make all the difference!

Yes. It’s quite complicated but I have an injury that can’t improve ( and widespread joint problems).

With pain control it’s important to keep your pain within a reasonable range and not allow it to peak. It’s far easier to do this when you’re on a schedule rather than trying to brave it out. I obviously also pace myself a huge amount and it’s taken years to get to my current state.

A disc prolapse will almost always resolve itself eventually but it will take time and if you have decent pain control you will be able to start moving around more easily, not tense up and start physio. I winced when I read you were forced into sitting in hospital. I still can’t sit comfortably for any length of time. Do what feels possible. You’ll get there.

Thank you I just feel really alone. The GP doesn't seem to have a clue. They couldn't advise on pain meds. I've started physio but it's very basic on the bed exercises. I have an appointment with the consultant in jan which I'm hoping might help.

I think you should ask to see a pain specialist. You won't be able to progress until you have it under control.

@MyrtleStrumpet through gp?

Yes, but also talk to every healthcare person you come into contact with and ask them about it. Make a fuss.

Thank you I can't believe this didn't occur to me!

Why would it?! You're in serious pain. Your body is telling you there is something seriously wrong. Your brain is working out how to deal with the pain. It doesn't have the wherewithal to work out what to do about it.

Please don't blame yourself. You're in instinctive managing the now not intellectual working out what to do about it.

I had to do the research and find myself a private physio.

GP who was good with back issues has retired.

Woke up today and discovered my back tooth is broken. This could be the reason for the headache? It's not especially painful but I'm on painkillers so it's probably being masked. I literally don't know if I could sit in the dentist chair. But at this point if I don't get it seen I risk being in pain over Xmas. I just don't know what to do.

Well my dentist does light sedation which I had for my implants. Oddly I was also out of pain for hours afterwards..

Have you tried a heat pad to help with your back pain OP? They helped my husband as much as the painkillers (and the painkillers were very important). They're pretty cheap to buy too so worth a punt for some relief.

I'm using a hot water bottle which does help

Honestly (and I'm aware that I'm starting to sound like a salesman at this point) try an electric heat pad. They're thin so you can lie flat on them and it really helps with the spasms.

Anyway I promise I won't mention them again. And I'm so sorry for what you're going through, its such a difficult thing in itself (and then the fear that it won't ever get better).

Appreciate all advice I'll look into to it. Was debating wether to try a tens machine