To wander wtf ive done to cause this pain, panicking!

[sadkittymum]

looking for some advice/reassurance. So this morning I was kneeling and leant over to pick something up, and felt a pop in my lower back. For context I’m only 24 and generally reasonably fit so no idea what happened. After this I literally screamed and couldn’t get off the floor - I had to call my MIL who lives down the road to come and help me up, and was stuck on the floor for about 40 mins!!!

Over the course of the day my mobility has improved and I can now get up and walk around/bend a little etc, but this is very painful. Its also very painful to lie down and literally hurts in every position. I had an online GP appt and they suspect muscle strain as I have no radiating pain/numbness etc to point towards a disc injury. I’ve been prescribed naproxen.

Im a vet so my job is very physical and I had to call in sick today, in a lot of pain so don’t think I’ll be in tomorrow/Friday either. Obviously working from home isn’t an option and the nature of the job involves constant lifting, bending etc.

Has anyone else had this happen to them before, how long did it take to get better? What should I be doing? Trying to get up and move around every so often but god it really hurts and I’m panicking. I definitely can’t afford to have weeks off work!!!!

I've done this a few times and have been okay a day or so later.

However a friend of mine has just damaged her back and been signed off for six weeks, so be careful.

Try a TENS machine, incredibly effective

My back is knackered and I have had this happen a few times now. I like using an ice pack to reduce inflammation, you could alternate with a warm pack if that brings you comfort. And take painkillers, ibuprofen if you can take it. I know not everyone likes chiropractors but mine literally has magic hands so might be worth trying to see one or an osteopath if you prefer. Also if you feel it is going to be a weakness I would recommend pilates, it's so good for strengthening your core muscles which in turn will help your back. Hope it feels better soon!

This is what I’m terrified of - my mortgage is £1600 and my DP can’t pay this by himself😂 I really can’t afford more than a couple weeks off work max

thatll teach me for not having income protection insurance!!!

Go and see a chiropractor and get some proper advice. Waiting for an appointment through the NHS would take time, so if you can afford it, pay for a few appointments. My husband hurt is back last year, and paid to see a chiropractor, and the problem was diagnosed quickly and he was given exercises to do. I would recommend that you rest. Don't follow advice online etc, as the advice may make your issue worse.

Luckily I have private health through work (how I got a GP appt so fast), so will definitely look into this

DM used to see an osteopath for something similar - I don't understand the dark arts of osteopathy but it worked like magic

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/back-pain/

Another vote here for the Tens machine. I had mine strapped to me during 12hr shifts which got me through.

It's quite personal though - what worked for me may not work for you.

I used wheat bags, Tens machines, gentle but specific stretching and at night painkillers.

It took time though and long term I needed to strengthen my core and lower back through weight training/yoga.

Second the osteopath.
Some physios are osteopaths as well, which is a fantastic combination.

Get a wheat heat pack that you microwave which can be very soothing.

TENS machines are great too for dramatically reducing discomfort IME.

Lie on a hot water bottle, heat will ease the pain and help the muscle relax. Warm bath also if you, can get in and out ok, order the sea salt Epsom salts are good Amazon prime next day delivery, how is your electrolyte balance. Dehydration can also cause back pain. Magnesium oil on the back supplements are best glyconate is the best absorbable form. Rehydration drinks. Doctors probably won’t do much jus5 tell yo7 to rest.

I often find myself commenting to say go and see an osteopath. I wouldn't be surprised if anyone stalking my posts think I am an osteopath myself, which I'm not. It is just that I have been fixed up so quickly by various osteopaths over the years, I can't understand why anyone wouldn't see one (or a chiropracter of course).

You back hasn't done this in isolation today. It is a build up of stresses that have made you susceptible to this. An osteopath can explain why and how to avoid it.

Read the first few lines of your post and started thinking "naproxen, naproxen, naproxen". And yes you've been prescribed it. I had absolutely annihilated my hip (!), I suspect pulling weeds. The pain and absolute inability to move was insane. Indescribable. Still genuinely baffled by it. Anyway, I was prescribed naproxen. Absolutely miraculous medication. Sorted me right out.

Naproxen ❤️

It sounds like a 'bulging disc' which is not quite a slipped disc but the same kind of sharp excruciating pain and difficult moving. I get it occasionally doing very little (eg bending down or standing up from a low chair). It takes about 3 days to feel much better. What helps is gently walking around during the day rather than resting too much or sitting at a desk, and sleeping on my back on a very flat surface (eg yoga mat on a woodblock floor). Getting up from the floor is painful and slow work, but it's worth it.
Hope you feel better soon.
ETA: In my bitter experience GPs are not good at all at diagnosing back problems, and yours may be incorrect in saying it's not a disc problem. An osteopath or chiropractor would be a better person to ask.

Could it be sciatica? This can happen if some of the jelly in between your spinal vertebrae "pops" out and touches the sciatic nerve. Can cause numbness, or excruciating pain. I had it once and heard the "pop" sound, and then had no feeling in one of my legs for weeks. But, I know someone else who had it and was in immense pain. Usually takes around 4-6 weeks to go completely back to normal, there are stretches and exercises you can do to help if you look online

As the user name suggests, I swim. A lot. And when my back goes I can’t properly swim but I have to get in the pool and do gentle lengths with rests and light stretches (ones the physio gave me) at each end. Nothing else resets my back Like moving in water and swimming a few times a week keeps it at bay.

well worth the time to not end up losing hours laid on the floor in pain.

It’s your sacroiliac joint, a lean and twist injury and it has misaligned. Take ibuprofen, alternate ice and heat on it, tie leggings or a support belt or something around your hips if you need extra support for a bit. Go see an osteopath or a deep tissue masseuse asap.

Had this with my neck, improved in 48 hours and gone within 10 days or so. Could not move my neck at all, it was awful.

Registered physiotherapist if it doesn't improve.

I've had something that sounds like this twice, several years apart, and each time it was a muscle spasm. It sounds innocuous but is incredibly painful - I ended up in A&E by ambulance. In my case I was prescribed tramadol for the pain and diazepam to relax the muscles and started to feel the effect almost immediately. It still took a couple of weeks each time for a full recovery.

You've got the best medicine for pain. Unfortunately I can't use it any more. You need to take it at the right time, no missing doses as it builds up in your body.