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?

111 have said a&e so go to a&e. The clinician will also try and convince you to go to a&e as that's the safest option for you, if the option was ambulance you would have been sent one. Just go to the hospital, I understand it's painful but you've been told what to do, why wait?

Of course your right thank you

You have described "red flag" symptoms of cauda eqina syndrome . Its a medical emergency and you have a 24 hour window to avoid paralysis . Don't wait for tomorrow or a private MRI . Yes its very rare and more likely sciatica with no spinal cord compression but its not a wait and watch situation . I had years or back pain, dismissed by my GP for months before completely losing all feeling from the waist down and despite emergency surgery the damage means i am now in a wheel chair and incontinent . I wish i had gone to A and E . Sit or lie in what ever position in the car you can manage and lie on the floor if you need to at the hospital but you should be seen quickly because of your symptoms.

Get yourself to A and E asap. If you unable to get to or in the car then call for an ambulance. You need to be assessed regardless of waiting time records

You wanted a. "less panicked response" than from 111? Frankly, and kindly meant, you're behaving like an idiot. Go to A and E if they suggest it.

I physically can't walk or sit. Dh could probably get me to the car but I can't get in it . I'm hoping that either clinician will say ambulance or i will have a bit of movement tomorrow and be capable of getting in the car.

I have a onsuite, 3 foot from my bed. to get to the toilet dh had to help me roll to my side. Lower my legs to the floor while face planting on the bed. Then try to lift me under the arms while I brace myself against his legs.. At one point I screamed the pain was so bad. Once up I leant against his body, arms around his neck and I shuffled my feet as he dragged me. I couldn't sit on the toilet just kind of leant over it. Then we reversed it all. It took about 20 minutes and we were both exhausted/sweating be the end.

It really isn't a case of can't be arsed.

No I spoke to 111 after the response

without being rude.. FGS call a bloody ambulance if it is THAT bad. You need pain relief if nothing else, you CANNOT carry on like this.

The pain level alone is worth an ambulance ride, never mind throwing in the red flag CE symptoms.

Stop being an idiot, please.

You know you don't actually have to take 111 advice or wait for their permission you can just call 999 yourself and get an ambulance

I get that you're trying to talk yourself down but honestly however you get there I think you need to be in hospital as you've been advised by 111. It sounds like you couldn't get down the stairs so you're going to need some assistance to do that. Rather than awaiting a clinicians call did 111 say what to do if it got worse. I can't see how you can avoid ring an ambulance and although you'll wait ages at least you'll do that at home and then presumably be transported flat on a stretcher (once you've been chair lifted downstairs)

I'm sorry it sounds scary but this isn't one to ignore

im so sorry for your struggles.

I didn't know there was a time window.

When I'm laid still with a pillow under my knees it's bearable moving is horrific

It really does sound like you need an Ambulance. I had back pain a few weeks ago that I think was sciatica and standing or sitting was near on impossible but it went after a day or so. I phoned my GP who said to look out for the symptoms you have and if I got them to go to hospital.

Take care and I hope you get treatment.

I'm a nurse.

Please call an ambulance now, I very much doubt you'll be left waiting for hours on a plastic chair. Plus we can give you decent pain relief!

Hope you're okay

If you can't walk or sit call 999 for an ambulance.

Not mean in the slightest.

If you dint think being able to walk or pee isn't a medical emergency with the ambulance wait and assessment, that's fine.

Delays in treating caudal equina can cause permanent damage. Speedy treatment is key.

I suggested that but I thought you were already on your way to hospital.

That’s what you’d do once the hospital have ruled out worst case scenarios.

Thank-you . I don't mean to scare you.
It is more likely something like a herniated disc pinching the nerves but you need a MRI to rule out anything more serious.
Its worth a difficult car journey to get properly assessed.
www.spinal.co.uk/get-inf

For goodness sake call an ambulance please. You do not need "permission" from 111 to do this. This situation is what paramedics and ambulances are for

Go to a&e, they had morphine in me within 30 mins of getting in the door, I went straight to triage as they said I was grey with the pain
You need pain management if nothing else

i can imagine, i know i have days when the pain is beyond belief.. a lot of people think it is all just nerve pain, and yes, that IS horrible, feels like a knife being dragged down your thigh, but the back pain when you try and move is something else.

i know how painful it is, and i know when it's that bad that normal OTC pain relief isn't going to cut it. i experience pain daily that would have people behaving how you are right now, but after 26 years of it, i just get on with it best i can.

Please don't wait for 111, call for an ambulance via 999, genuinely, the level of pain you are in right now is 100% ambulance/999 worthy.

Call an ambulance please!!

Another vote for ambulance

Oh god I hate these posts. I'm going to be worried until I hear an update

Call an ambulance!

This is when you call ambulance. I am going to suggest you are absolutely terrified and doing all you can to avoid facing up to this. Please go. It could save your life.

I hope you've called an ambulance. You really need to be seen tonight.