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?

Definitely a&e

She’s not having an asthma attack.

Any change in your ability to walk or change in bladder or bowel habits related to a back injury is an A&E visit.
in your case, preferably by ambulance as your ability to sit or stand is not present .
Best wishes

@Icanthinkformyselfthanks Just wondering if you’re an NHS employee?

I bloody hope not.

1000% A&E

This thread is a prime example of why questions like this should not be allowed.

I do hope the op has called 111, as it would have flagged the symptoms of cauda equina which is very serious.

@Icanthinkformyselfthanks

Your anger is misguided. It doesn't matter how long you've had something, if it escalates, that could indicate an emergency. I had unstable angina. It escalated so I went to A&E and I was having a heart attack - see how it works?

A&E isn't just for people whose legs are hanging off with exposed bones showing.

You're being a twat.

If OP can't sit, how else is she supposed to get there, or wait once she's arrived?

You really are displaying breathtaking levels of ignorance and knee-jerk ire on this thread. Are you one of these people who reads the words 'back pain' as 'bit of backache, take some ibuprofen and don't bother the NHS'? Because that's certainly how you're coming across.

I'd phone for an ambulance. You might have a long wait, but I wouldn't want to risk causing more damage by trying to get there by yourself. I know it's a bit controversial on Mumsnet, but there are times when an ambulance is appropriate.

X-rays don’t show disc issues, can you pay for a private MRI?

How on earth would it be an abuse of the ambulance service? What do you think it's for?

I'm so sorry was it cancer? Did he recover?

I’d phone for an ambulance , if you have lost the ability to walk and are in severe pain and cannot sit then it’s an emergency.

If you can manage to wait until tomoz then it’s not an emergency or an an and e job. I would ring your gp on Monday and try to keep moving.

Oh honey. Go and google before replying.
Cauda equina is an extremely serious, medical emergency. If op phones 111, I guarantee you they will send an ambulance out.
Perhaps they should speak to you first though, since you seem to know SO much more than actual medical professionals

OP what have you decided to do? Hope you are ok.

I was warned by my doctor if I had any of these symptoms it was an emergency. So I know to phone for one.

My friend had this was in ambulance to the hospital fast. Cauda equina is serious.

You can not possibly say that with such certainty, even if you are a doctor (you're not).

@SlightlyJaded Glad you’re ok, your post is spot on.
My DM suffered with diverticulitis for many years, all the painful symptoms. However a particularly awful bout of diarrhoea with bleeding revealed Stage 4 Bowel cancer. Sadly things can change/escalate for the worst.

this is an ambulance A&E job.

depending if this is spasm or not, just to let you know, spasms/locking in your back are your own bodies way of trying to protect the disks/spinal cord because of a mechanical problem.. usually drying/bulging disks.

If you're getting issues with pain in your legs then its highly likely its a bulging disk bothering your sciatic nerves, so likely the L5/S1 area of your lower spine.. pain is also known to refer into the hip from this injury.

You need an MRI, and to see a Musculoskeletal specialist and they need to be aware of Cauda Equina.

unfortunately i have a lot of personal experience in all this, 10 years into the journey with disk degeneration. (to clarify, i've had back pain for 26 years, but last 10 have been significant and mobility affecting, i use walking aids/wheelchairs now.

I have called 111 they suggested we drive to a&e . By the way our a&e has appalling wait times. I explained I can't sit so they said they would get a clinician to call me back. Just waiting. If I don't hear back I will stay in bed and go a&e tomorrow morning. I'm thinking it's bulging disc and sciatica but agree better to get checked out

I've had a 'bad back' for much longer than 15 years (given that my issues are congenital) and I was told - by actual medical professionals - that it absolutely can escalate to a medical emergency quite rapidly.