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?

Phone an ambulance, you’ll lie flat, be given pin relief and they’ll get you there safely without further damage.

They aren’t restricted to one hospital either .

A&E now!

If you can afford it I would 100% pay for a private MRI scan. At least then youcan know exactly what is going on - if uts something specific/serious or muscular.

If you need to get to A&E and can’t get there under your own steam, you need to call 999 for an ambulance. You will probably have to wait a few hours for it to arrive but that would be the case if 111 call you an ambulance too. Upshot: don’t bother waiting.

Why are you being so hard headed?

The OP has suffered back pain the last 15 years, however in the last few days it has got SIGNIFICANTLY worse, to the point she cannot move without screaming in pain, and cannot walk unaided to even make it 3 feet to her ensuite toilet, or even SIT on the toilet.

She is displaying symptoms that are red flags for Cauda Equina. The pain level ALONE, never mind the CE symptoms are ambulance A&E worthy. If it IS Cauda Equina, timely treatment may prevent paralysis.

The OP is waiting because like a lot of people, they're scared, they think it will go away, or get better, it won't, and she needs help.

People like you are why folk end up in wheelchairs.

Your symptoms are exactly the same as what I had last summer - minute movements causing excruciating agony. I lay on the floor en route to my ensuite - it took me 20 minutes to get up.

OP has described some flags for Cauda Equina which is a medical emergency. It is rare so hopefully not but the possibility is an emergency.

there has been a sudden deterioration in her condition. If this is a compressed nerve it needs urgent attention to minimise damage. If it progresses to where she can’t pee she will need to be catheterised and admitted, which could be avoided with urgent care. It’s generally best to be cautious with your spine!

My aunt had something similar. Back pain and weird sensations in her legs on and off for years. Had an x ray which showed nothing. Got really bad and she ignored it for at least a week. Turns out she had a bulging disc which herniated and compressed 80% of her spinal cord. Sudden loss of function in legs and bowel function. Thankfully didn't sever it but she did have to learn to walk again. Not saying this is what you have but just wanted to point out that it doesn't matter if you've had this pain for years, you should go to a&e.

Don’t risk it being cauda equina- if you have difficulty passing urine or numbness around your bum/genitals this is an emergency and you should call 111 if this is the case, they should triage you and get an ambulance to take you to a & e. Don’t wait. Best of luck.

I have back trouble, and I was having spasms (or so I thought) in my back and shoulder. I ended up in hospital with a heart condition. You never know. I didn't have typical heart pain at all. In A&E they didn't even think it was my heart at first. Worsening symptoms need to be looked at.

A nurse on this thread believes the OP needs an ambulance.

Your commitment to being so bullish is outstanding.

The op literally said she was finding it hard to pass urine?

Why are you so determined to tell OP (despite everyone else saying the complete opposite) that this isn't an emergency.

Unless you are medically qualified, you really should sit this one out.... starting to sound like you are being deliberately obtuse.

OP I am sat next to a doctor currently who has said yes, a&e, and that presenting there with severe, unmanageable pain on its own will never upset a&e staff if you're not sure what's causing it.

from the op
"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."

Symptoms of cauda equina syndrome include12:

• Lower back pain and/or leg pain (sciatica)
• Leg weakness
• Numbness or sensations (burning, prickling, tingling) in the backs of your legs, butt, hip, and inner thighs (paresthesia)
• Urinary and/or fecal incontinence
• Urinary retention
• Pain radiating down one or both legs and/or severe low back pain
• Numbness or weakness in both legs

I'm seeing several symptoms. Incontinence is not the only red flag.

Yes it was and no he didn’t, it had metastasised to his bones, including his back. That’s why he couldn’t walk. He did live a few years longer though which they did not anticipate, he beat the predictions a few times but it eventually got him.

Not being able to sit or walk IS an emergency. Is hate to think what some of you would class as an emergency if you think the OP is a time waster.

Sudden onset more severe back pain + weakness in both legs + possible inability to pass urine (rather than difficulty to physically get to the toilet, that's a different thing) + fever, definitely a&e. An actual fever alongside all of that, nope, get there some way

I had sciatica and herniated discs for a few years. Pain eventually got so bad that I could barely move and couldn’t wee. I went to A&E in the back of a black cab lying on the floor. Got to A&E and laid on the floor there as well, there was no way I could have sat. I was seen pretty quickly, dosed up on lots of morphine and woke up the next morning on a ward after surgery. This was a few years ago and I know wait time have worsened.

Forget 111 it's a 999. The paramedics can be very useful at this point. I'm sorry but it's not a wait and see situation. My friend was very lucky, she did learn to walk again. Due to that 999 call.

Read the OPs posts. 111 have triaged and advised ED (A&E). Advising otherwise is irresponsible.