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Lower back spasm- in agony

15 replies

fedup2010 · 06/10/2025 22:14

I can't move. I can't get out of bed to go to the loo🥺Hurts like hell to the point I feel sick. I tried rolling on my side but I can't sit up! I just can't. I think I pulled a muscle at the gym class. I had 600g ibuprofen half an hour ago. I have a really important meeting in the office tomorrow🫣 I had similar pain two weeks ago, went away after 3 days. it's worse this time. I am doing weight/ cardio classes for a year now, 4 x weeks, I am in a fairly good shape but lower back has always been an issue. I don't understand what triggers this. How do I go the loo?😵‍💫😂🫣 at what point do I call a doctor, are there any pain relief injections I can have?

OP posts:
Peclet · 06/10/2025 22:17

you need to see an osteopath. Happens to me now and again and it will be the straw that breaks the camels back- like leaving over to pick up a pen and then yeeeeks! It’s gone.

if you can gingerly get out of bed try to and lay on the floor on your back . Bring your knees up to your chest and sort of gently gently rock/squeeze. Then extend your legs out to one side and turn your head in opposite direction. Repeat on other side. Do this slowly and with careful gently breaths.

if any of that hurts at all. Stop.

TheGoodOnesAreAllGone · 06/10/2025 22:17

No help for right now I'm afraid but I would recommend pilates if you have lower back pain

Abitlosttoday · 06/10/2025 22:17

You need to move, if at all possible. Active recovery. I had terrible sciatica earlier this year. I spent ages in the local pool, swimming and just stretching. It helped a lot.

shivermetimbers77 · 06/10/2025 22:47

Ouch- I had the exact same thing happen a few months ago. Total agony and I couldn’t even crawl to the toilet at first.. Ice, ibuprofen +codeine and osteopath all helped me. Also a blow up lumbar support cushion from Amazon while it was healing. It was a lot better in a week and totally better in three. Good luck OP. It’s horrible- but it will pass!

Iizzyb · 06/10/2025 22:50

I got naproxen from the gp when my back was really bad - no help to you tonight though. You’ll find a way if you keep trying though. Good luck with it

Grumplechops · 06/10/2025 22:54

You could try putting a pillow (or couple of pillows) under your knees. Might ease tension on your back. Maybe take some paracetamol in between the next ibuprofen dose to increase pain relief. Both of those together might be enough to let you move position? Maybe try rolling onto your side but continuing to almost semi-roll onto your front, just enough that you can use your hands to push yourself up, rather than having to sit up. Hope you feel better soon!

Safxxx · 06/10/2025 22:54

Try to make a appointment with a osteopath in the morning...the few times I was in agony the osteopath definitely eased it off with 1 session... use hot water bottle or ice packs. Hope you feel better soon 🙏

Butteredtoast55 · 06/10/2025 22:59

I found ice packs directly on my back really helpful, alongside codeine and paracetamol at regular intervals. I wrapped freezer blocks in a plastic bag and put the into my knickers to Keep them right next to the affected area!
Keep moving if you can, even if it's just a little bit at a time. Try to gently move from side to side and lift your knees up when lying down to stretch your muscles. I really sympathise as this sudden back pain is absolutely horrific.

CurbsideProphet · 06/10/2025 23:07

Poor you. Sciatica is grim.
I've always been recommended heat for sciatica. Cold for a slipped disc.
My sciatica has been flaring up recently.
I'm doing a mix of acupuncture and a rehab exercise programme. In the initial phase I went to a physio who specialises in back pain and hands on manipulation. That really helped reduce the spasms.

Try to lie on your side and push yourself up with your hands, then gently swing your legs off the bed together.
I have to pretend I'm the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz and not try to bend or lean !

reversegear · 06/10/2025 23:07

Op you have my sympathies it’s horrid you are lifting and moving please see a physio and google and research your QL muscle, it’s a super deep muscle that spasms and will get triggered when lifting or moving.

once it gets into the habit it will flare occasionally, but there are some really good stretches you can do between any issues to get right in and strengthen the area around it, and more specifically if its on the right it will mean you need to strengthen your left glute or left side, it’s basically picking up slack somewhere in your exercise and getting itself knotted up. It’s most common on the right as we tend to be right dominant so the left is weaker.

it’s incredibly painful if this is what you have as it actually shifts the pelvis up slightly so will be impacting on so many parts of your back, hips bum, legs.

if you can find a very gentle physio, if you have any that practice the Hendrickson Method this will gently rock the area stretching and easing out the spasm, I’ll see if I can find the method as you can do some of these moves at home.

So google this: hendrickson method stretches for QL muscles and YouTube has so many methods and recourses that will help.

in the meantime if you can heat pack, or ice, my physio used to say ice but I used to find heat worked better for me, so went do the heat route.

in the meantime I’d go strong pain relief, codine and if it is that muscle you won’t be able to exercise through this tomorrow it’s agony and I’ve spend may times shuffling to the toilet, and that’s all I’ve managed.

keep us posted but I’d say stay clear of osteopathic treatment for now unless you know it’s skeletal, start with some physio.

reversegear · 06/10/2025 23:10

Sorry meant to add of course get medical advice, it could be a disk, nerve pain etc.. but learning about the QL spasm will help as well just as a guide as you can do some exercise when you are better to strengthen that area anyway!

Barney16 · 06/10/2025 23:22

I have had the same thing on and off for ages. Its always in the same spot and it's agony initially and then gradually subsides over a couple of weeks. I try to keep moving, even all crunched up and wobbly, I find it tricky to stand up right, but it's worse if I stay in the same position for too long. I go with ibuprofen every four hours and a strategically placed hot water bottle. I'm never sure if an ice pack would be better but I find heat more comforting. I have been to an osteopath which was really helpful but only after the initial agony stage was over. Ibuleve gel can help too. And a hot bath.

fedup2010 · 07/10/2025 08:04

Thank you all so much. Great advice, and I will definately try and do some pilates, even might try reformer pilates. I managed to get some sleep last night and I am feeling better. I honestly tought I will never be able to move again! Moving still hurts a lot but at least I can get up!!💪

OP posts:
ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 07/10/2025 08:08

It won't help you now, but try taking magnesium and Vit B supplements in the long term.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 07/10/2025 08:09

Barney16 · 06/10/2025 23:22

I have had the same thing on and off for ages. Its always in the same spot and it's agony initially and then gradually subsides over a couple of weeks. I try to keep moving, even all crunched up and wobbly, I find it tricky to stand up right, but it's worse if I stay in the same position for too long. I go with ibuprofen every four hours and a strategically placed hot water bottle. I'm never sure if an ice pack would be better but I find heat more comforting. I have been to an osteopath which was really helpful but only after the initial agony stage was over. Ibuleve gel can help too. And a hot bath.

Careful with a bath.
You might have problems getting out.

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